The 2017 edition of the Lucca Film Festival e Europa Cinema will open with director Aki Kaurismaki’s The Other Side of Hope (Toivon tuolla puolen), a timely release exploring the unlikely friendship between a traveling salesman-turned-restaurateur and a group of refugees. Set and produced in Finland, the comedy-drama will be screened on Sunday, April 2 at 8.30pm at the Astra cinema in Lucca.
Having earned a Silver Bear for Best Director at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, The Other Side of Hope is part of the “Fuori Concorso” section at the Lucca event, which will feature a series of Italian premieres outside of the main competitive categories. Actor Sherwan Haji will present the film.
For the full Lucca Film Festival lineup and guest list, which includes three-time Academy Award winner Oliver Stone, see the festival website.
