The Phantom Father

“STRANGER THAN PARADISE” meets “CINEMA PARADISO” in this bitter-sweet story of an unusual quest. Unique, yet symbolic is the story of the American professor of Jewish descent who is compelled to turn his back on a successful carrier and get on the road that takes him through danger, the unknown and the surreal , back to the roots to reclaim his identity. The quest takes Professor Traum, masterfully portrayed by Peter Greenaway and Coppola actor Marcel lures, back to the Old World that rewards our traveller with a double love story. On the one hand he finds romantic love, on the other the passion for old cinema. An out-of-the-box road movie, The Phantom Father used a short story , called “Almost Oriental” by the writer of “Wild at Heart”, “Lost Highway” and “Perdita Durango”, Barry Gifford as a starting point. A tender and nostalgic homage to a past era, The Phantom Father combines stylistically the postmodern and classical cinema, assisted by superb photography, a haunting sound-track and great performances. Marcel lures' credits include “Pirates of the Caribbean3”; Francis Ford Coppola's “Youth Without Youth”, Brian de Palma's “Mission:Impossible”, Costa Gavras” “Amen” and”The Tulse Luper Suitcases” by Peter Greenaway.