Screen Daily
By Elbert Wyche
October 20, 2017
Film Movement has acquired all North American
distribution rights to the classic 1968 spaghetti western The Great Silence.
The deal was brokered by president of Film Movement
Michael E Rosenberg and Oliver Bachert of Beta Cinema. Following its 2K HD
theatrical release of Mexican auteur Arturo Ripstein’s feature film debut Time
To Die, Film Movement will bring The
Great Silence to North American screens for the very first time,
with a blu-ray and digital release
to follow.
Set in Snow Hill, Utah (but shot in Italy’s rugged
Dolomites), during an unforgiving and bone chilling winter near the end of the
19th century, The Great Silence opens on a group of bloodthirsty bounty
hunters, led by the vicious Loco, as they prey on a band of persecuted outlaws
who’ve taken to the hills. As the price
on each head is collected one-by-one, only a mute gunslinger named Silence
stands between the innocent refugees and the greed and corruption that the
bounty hunters represent. But, in this
harsh, brutal world, the lines between right and wrong aren’t always clear and
good doesn’t always triumph.
Sergio Corbucci directed the film, which stars Jean-Louis
Trintignant, Klaus Kinski and Vonetta McGee.
“The Great Silence is widely considered to be one of the
best and most influential spaghetti westerns ever made,” Rosenberg said.
“Following our experiences releasing Time To Die in the states for the very
first time, we’re excited to saddle up to bring yet another restored classic
western to North American moviegoers, certain to be thrilled by Corbucci’s
masterful dark vision.”
In addition to The Great Silence, Film Movement has also
recently acquired Atsuko Hiryanagi’s offbeat romantic comedy Oh Lucy!, Oren
Jacoby’s street art documentary Shadowman, and Laurie Simmons’ feature film
debut My Art.
