{"id":63949,"date":"2012-09-17T14:04:46","date_gmt":"2012-09-17T14:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2012\/09\/17\/elza\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T10:29:46","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T10:29:46","slug":"elza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/elza\/","title":{"rendered":"Coming Soon:Mariette Monpierre’s feature film debut ‘Elza’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Elza<\/strong>Will open at MIST HARLEM beginning November 30th<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Based on the real-life experiences of the filmmaker and the growing issue of African American and Caribbean children who are estranged from their fathers, writer\/director Mariette Monpierre<\/strong>\u2019s feature film debut ELZA<\/strong> is a tale of hope, family and acceptance. A new film from the Caribbean, ELZA presents a touching story about a young college graduate who returns to her hometown in Guadeloupe in search of a fleeting childhood memory and a father she barely remembers.<\/p>\n

The film will make its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York\u2019s new MIST Harlem Cinemas on Friday, November 30th presented by Autonomous Entertainment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong>ELZA<\/strong> makes its U.S. premiere following acclaimed screenings at film festivals around the world, including the Pan African Film & Arts Festival, where it received Special Jury Recognition for Best First Feature, British Academy of Film & Television Arts\/LA Festival Choice Award and the Programmer\u2019s Award for Narrative Feature. ELZA also was nominated for Best Picture of the Diaspora at the African Movie Academy Awards in Lagos, and won Best Narrative Feature at the Roxbury International Film Festival.<\/p>\n

Elza (Stana Roumillac<\/strong>), a beautiful young woman who lives in Paris with her mother (Mariette Monpierre<\/strong>), has reason to celebrate, as she\u2019s just become the first in the family to earn a college degree. But on the eve of her great achievement, Elza realizes that she has never come to terms with her sense of identity, prompting her to return to her hometown in Guadeloupe to make contact with her long-lost father (Vincent Byrd Le Sage<\/strong>). Bringing passion and perseverance to her shocking discoveries on the sun-kissed Caribbean island, Elza discovers hard truths beneath the beauty and lushness of Guadeloupe\u2019s gorgeous landscapes.<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

ELZA<\/strong> is inspired by director Mariette Monpierre<\/strong>\u2019s personal story of searching for her biological father in her native Guadeloupe. With a reported 50% of African American and Caribbean children estranged from their fathers, the issue that Monpierre addresses is a real one. In many cases, these communities have a history of slavery, while in others the father simply neglects his responsibilities. As the story unfolds, the deep-rooted ELZA presents a breathtaking look at the troubling hardships that lay beneath the sun-kissed Caribbean island.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A wonderful and altogether fresh combination of coming-of-age family drama, and search for sense of self, ELZA is set to a soundtrack of sensual ballads and vibrant beats by such entrancing Caribbean artists as Victor O, Soft and neo-folk-soul performer St\u00e9vy Mahy.<\/p>\n

Born in Guadeloupe and raised in Paris, Monpierre earned her Master\u2019s degree in Media and Languages at the Sorbonne University and Smith College before taking up residence in New York City. After sharpening her skills as a producer at BBDO in New York where she produced commercials for Pepsi Cola, Visa, Pizza Hut, Gillette and FedEx, Monpierre won acclaim with her short film Rendez-vous at the Director\u2019s Fortnight at Cannes, which then went on to festival screenings around the world. ELZA is Monpierre\u2019s first feature film.<\/p>\n