THE EYES OF MY MOTHER, the “hauntingly beautiful and shockingly original” debut from filmmaker Nicolas Pesce, has been acquired by Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, for release.
The film fuses classic horror ingredients with gothic black-and-white imagery and was called the “discovery of this year’s Sundance” by Indiewire’s Eric Kohn. It also features a breakout performance from newcomer Kika Magalhaes. Magnet is planning a 2016 theatrical release.
In the film Magalhaes plays Francisca, a young woman who has been unfazed by death from an early age. Francisca’ mother, a former surgeon, imbued her with a thorough understanding of the human anatomy. When tragedy shatters the family’s idyllic life in the countryside, Francisca’s deep trauma gradually awakens some unique curiosities. As she grows up, her desire to connect with the world around her takes a distinctly dark form.
The film was rapturously received by critics at Sundance. “It contains some of the most memorable, almost poetic visual compositions in a very long time” wrote Roger Ebert.com critic, Brian Tallerico. Variety was equally enthusiastic, calling the film “a Sundance standout” and “an impressive, highly original horror fable” while Vulture dubbed it “a slick, simmering nightmare.” Eric Kohn added that “Francisca is a movie monster for the ages.”
“Nicolas Pesce has crafted an auspicious and unforgettable debut that immediately establishes him as one of the most exciting genre filmmakers to watch today,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “This is the kind of film Magnet was started for.”
“I’m very excited for the film to have found a home with Magnet,” said Nicolas Pesce. “They’re responsible for releasing so many of the movies that inspired me, so to be included in this family is incredible. The life they’ve given to both foreign and domestic genre films is unparalleled, so for THE EYES OF MY MOTHER to be released through them is a dream come true.”
THE EYES OF MY MOTHER was produced by Jacob Wasserman, Schuyler Weiss, and Max Born and executive produced by Borderline Films’ Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin and Josh Mond under their new Borderline Presents label. Filmmaker Nicolas Pesce recently signed with United Talent Agency and Washington Square Films, while lead actress Kika Magalhaes was snatched up by Anonymous Content.