The Match Factory, Planta Board Lisandro Alonso’s ‘La libertad doble’

Nearly 25 years after his acclaimed 2001 debut feature “La libertad” competed in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, Argentina’s Lisandro Alonso is set to direct its follow-up, “La libertad doble.”

Amsterdam-based Ilse Hughan of Fortuna Films, Fernando Bascuñán of Chile’s Planta and Augusto Matte of London-based Deptford Film join Alonso’s 4L in producing the drama. Germany’s The Match Factory, which secured backing from the World Cinema Fund, and Luxembourg-based Les Films Fauves have boarded as co-producers.

“Given the current economic climate in Argentina, securing the necessary gap financing has become a crucial step in moving forward with the project. Despite the challenges, the team is committed to starting production as planned by early 2025,” said Hughan, Bascuñan and Matte, adding: “The need for additional funding is not just a financial requirement but also a strategic decision to maintain the film’s independence and creative integrity.”

Like “La libertad,” its sequel will explore themes of freedom and personal evolution two decades later. The production seeks to recapture the intimate, minimalist style that characterized Alonso’s early work while exploring the complexities of adulthood and the evolving concept of freedom, its producers pointed out.

“La libertad doble” follows Misael who, some 25 years later, continues to live alone, wielding his axe to fell trees deep in the forest, far from the presence of others. His quiet freedom is disrupted when he’s forced to care for his older sister, and the familiar rhythm of his days in the wilderness begins to unravel in a place where human reason holds no sway.

“Argentina has always been a steady co-production partner for our local industry and their current unstable institutional situation makes it vital for us to work out ways to support independent cinematic voices beyond our borders in Latin America,” said Bascuñan and Matte, both from Chile, who are partners in the recently launched production entity, Maquina.

As preparations move forward, the producers are actively seeking partners who share their vision and can offer the support needed to bring the film to life.

“La libertad” was the first of a trilogy that continued with “Los muertos,” which premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight in 2004. Two years later, Alonso completed his trilogy with “Fantasma.”

His 2008 drama “Liverpool,” follows a young sailor searching for his mother in the remote villages of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.

He followed it up five years later with “Jauja,” set in late 19th century Argentina and then Denmark and starring Danish-American actor Viggo Mortensen, which won the Fipresci award in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard.

Alonso’s recent film, “Eureka” (2023), showcases his penchant for merging genres and storytelling. Described as an “Amerindian fable,” “Eureka” explores the lives of indigenous communities across various regions and historical periods, spanning from the United States to Mexico and South America. The film’s production was complex, involving shoots in four countries, multiple technical crews, and overcoming challenges such as harsh weather and pandemic-related delays.