Film still of Sorcerer © RR
Why you should go to see Sorcerer at the Cinema de la Plage?
In 1978, William Friedkin revisited The Wages of Fear by Henri-Georges Clouzot. Sorcerer charts the fraught mission of four strangers wanted in their respective countries who are driving a convoy of nitroglycerin through the South American jungle. Two trucks travelling a road lined with ambushes, in an explosive, unmissable film.
Because of all his films, it's William Friedkin's favourite. The film corresponds exactly to what the director wanted to make, on every level, but it was far from an easy ride. During the shoot, he had to face a series of refusals from his actors, the civil war in Ecuador, and the expulsion by the Mexican authorities of part of his team after they were caught using drugs.
Because the bridge-crossing scene is simply breathtaking. Without a doubt one of the most thrilling in all action cinema. Along the way, in order to cross the river, the two lorries laden with explosives have to cross a bridge made of creepers, in flood conditions. Twelve heart-stopping minutes – with no trick photography – in which everything could go wrong.
Because it took Sorcerer some time to be recognised as a classic. After his $100-million blockbuster The Exorcist, expectations of William Friedkin were unreasonably high, but his new film was not a crowd-pleaser and the critics panned it. American cinemas removed the film from their schedules in favour of Star Wars, which had nevertheless come out a week earlier. Over time, film buffs have changed their mind about Sorcerer, which is now appreciated for its suspense, its blackness and its bleak beauty.
Because today, William Friedkin will give his Masterclass, an opportunity for a dialogue with an audience of enthusiasts. After the Masterclass, the screening of Sorcerer will be a perfect illustration of the filmmaker’s work.
Presented by La Rabbia. Restauration Warner Bros, under the supervision of Ned Price, head of restoration at Warner and William Friedkin. Scan 4 K based on a 35 mm negative.
