Hala Matar Says Her Film Electra Is Like ‘Talented Mr Ripley-meets-Saltburn’, Hints At Exploring ‘Themes Of Identity’

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As an ardent cinephile with a penchant for international cinema, I find myself utterly captivated by Hala Matar‘s journey and her groundbreaking work, Electra. Her ability to intertwine classic Italian cinema with contemporary storytelling is nothing short of remarkable. It feels as though she has taken the best of Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley and Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, blended them together, and created a unique masterpiece that resonates deeply.

Hala Matar made history as Bahrain’s first female feature director with her movie Electra. This independent film, due to premiere at the Oldenburg Film Festival on September 12th, focuses on a character named Dylan, portrayed by Daryl Wein who also co-wrote the script, and his girlfriend Lucy (played by Abigail Cowen), who is a photographer.

The couple finds themselves living with an arrogant rockstar (Jack Farthing) and his artistic companion (Maria Bakalova). Over time, the true intentions concealed beneath their snobbish demeanor begin to surface. This film presents a captivating fusion of traditional Italian cinema and contemporary narratives, evoking a sense reminiscent of Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn (2023).

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Matar shared that she “was keen to delve into the topic of identity” and found herself frequently contemplating the character of Mr. Ripley during filming. She further explained, “While writing it, I often thought about The Talented Mr. Ripley. In a sense, it felt like working on a stage production.

 

When the interviewer highlighted the connection between Electra, Ripley, and the critically-appraised but contentious Saltburn movie featuring Barry Keoghan, Matar empathized with the observation.

She remarked, “Indeed, isn’t it intriguing?” As Electra was produced before Saltburn, there are striking parallels in themes and visual styles. “When I saw the other movie, I found myself laughing… [chuckles.] I believe that makes for a fitting comparison,” she concluded.

Electra is truly a tribute to Italian cinema, as the director, who has long been fascinated by Italian films, planned it from the start. She expressed, “I’ve always dreamed of making a film in Italy, and I also have another script set in Italy. Plus, I lived in Rome for a while. So, creating a film in Italy has always been my goal.

As an ardent admirer, let me share with you a fascinating tidbit about the stunning Italian backdrop in the film. The magic happened when we stumbled upon this exquisite palazzo and ended up shooting most of the movie there. It was Matar, along with co-writer Wein, who made the brilliant decision to construct their tale around this breathtaking Italian location.

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2024-09-12 19:07