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CONTRABAND Kicks Off Program Dedicated to Filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger at the 22nd FICM

Alan Rodríguez

Con la presencia del crítico inglés Nick James y Daniela Michel, fundadora y directora general del Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia (FICM), fue presentada la película Contraband (1940, dir. Michael Powell), que dio inicio a las actividades del ciclo dedicado a Powell y Pressburger. 

Daniela Michel tomó el micrófono para dar paso a la inauguración del ciclo curado por Nick James, quien agradeció la invitación al festival y aseguró que es su favorito a nivel mundial. 

Contraband tells the story of a Danish captain who reluctantly goes to a British port to await customs clearance but two of his passengers disappear with their landing passes and he suddenly finds himself embroiled in an espionage adventure that will turn his life upside down.

Nick James explained that the film had already gone into production as soon as World War II was declared, which gave it its propagandistic tone.

The film also features a performance by German actor Conrad Veidt (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1920). “What makes Michael Powell different from the directors of his time is that he had learned the craft in the south of France, under the tutelage of Rex Ingram, a famous silent film director,” added Nick James.

Michael Powell's filmography had remained in low-budget productions until producer Alexander Korda made him team up with Hungarian screenwriter Emeric Pressburger. Together they formed their own production company, The Archers. The Powell & Pressburger retrospective will continue with screenings of I Know Where I'm Going (1945), Black Narcissus (1947), The Red Shoes (1948) and Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger (2024).