"Nightbitch" by Marielle Heller at the festival at only cinema screenings
The human body: fascinating, unsettling, a focal point for social roles, and a battleground for defining what is "normal." In recent years, the body has emerged as a fully realized, full-blooded hero (or more fittingly, heroine) in films that have won critical acclaim and sparked dynamic conversations. Marielle Heller's Nightbitch adds to this wave of exceptional storytelling, offering a powerful reflection on modern life through the lens of physicality.
We are thrilled to announce that Nightbitch, starring the outstanding Amy Adams, will be featured in the Highlights section of the 15th American Film Festival (November 5-11). This is your exclusive chance to experience Nightbitch on the big screen.
Pass sales, as well as media and industry accreditations, are now open for the 15th AFF.
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We also invite you to join the American Film Festival team as a volunteer! Applications are open until October 7.
The Body, Positively
The body as a starting point for a frenetic tale of parenthood in Julia Ducournau's Palme d'Or-winning Titane; the body as a mirror reflecting the toxic cult of youth and the equally toxic world of show business in Coralie Fargeat's The Substance; and now, in Marielle Heller's Nightbitch, the body becomes a vessel for a twisted exploration of societal traps and the primal instincts within us. These three films, created in close succession, are connected by remarkable women both behind and in front of the camera – Agathe Rousselle, Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and the ever-surprising Oscar-nominee Amy Adams. What unites them further is the fearless directorial vision, sharp authorial style, and playful mastery of film language. Nightbitch encapsulates all this with brilliant humor and equally brilliant observations on motherhood and love.
Nightbitch: a dog’s life?
The "Mother" (Amy Adams) is an artist trapped in the monotonous routine of motherhood, having put her career and social life on hold. Each day feels like a loop – like in Groundhog Day – with the same breakfast of toast and fruit popsicles, followed by a walk with her toddler. But as her frustration mounts, so does her body hair, along with a sudden craving for raw meat. Is her life really going to the dogs?
A perspicacious librarian suggests some unexpected reading suggestions, and childhood memories only fuel the call of nature.
In her third feature, based on the bestselling novel of the same title, Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, The Diary of a Teenage Girl) seamlessly transitions from comedy to fairy tale, blending magical realism with elements of body horror. In an acting tour de force, Amy Adams undergoes a transformation that’s not only physical but profoundly emotional. Exploring the complexities of motherhood, biological entanglements, maternal identity, and the often-overlooked facets of female existence, Nightbitch has the potential to spark intense discussion, much like Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance – a Cannes award-winner for its screenplay and a groundbreaking work in "bodily" feminism (description by Ula Śniegowska, translated by Barbara Feliga).
The 15th American Film Festival will take place from November 5-11, as always, in Wroclaw. The full program will be revealed on October 22 at noon, with single ticket sales for on-site screenings starting the following day at the same time. This year, the online component returns, allowing you to bring the festival into your home once again. More details on the online portion of the event will be shared soon.
