Television New Zealand feature on Frank Habicht by Jane Skinner & Ian Sinclair. 10 mins.
Frank features and co-wrote his son Florian's film Love Story. 90 mins USA 2011
Starring Masha Yakovenko, Florian Habicht, Frank Habicht and the people of NYC.
Soundtrack by Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone, Marc Chesterman, Georges Delereu and Lalo Schifrin.
Director of photography: Maria Ines Manchego
Written by Florian Habicht, Peter O'Donoghue, Frank Habicht & the people of NYC.
Edited by Peter O'Donoghue
Florian Habicht directs and stars in this no-budget romantic comedy and film within a film. Playing himself, Habicht spots a beautiful girl in New York City carrying a piece of cake on a plate. He is instantly fascinated by Masha and she becomes his muse and co-star in a film about their blossoming romance. Throughout this meandering story of budding love, Habicht continually keeps us guessing about what is spontaneous and what has been staged. Love Story is both an engaging romantic fable and a film about filmmaking – an essay in the form of fiction, in which Habicht bares his soul, mind, and body. Taking a cue from Woody Allen’s more self-referential films, Habicht offers a disquisition on his own directorial choices and artistic decisions. But he is not alone in his deliberations – in fact he openly invites criticism from a collection of various characters he meets along the way, including New Yorkers and wandering tourists. Mentoring him throughout by video chat is his father, who keeps offering advice on how to make a hit that will rake in millions. Habicht’s improvisational, hybrid romance crosses the boundaries of genre while exploring the various meanings of love in film.
Ewa Szablowska – New Horizons Film Festival, Wroclaw, Poland 2012