And is worth a watch.
Bahraini filmmaker Hala Matar’s Electra tells the story of a couple of con artists who pose as journalists to gain access to a wealthy young couple’s prized possession.
If you needed any more reasons to watch Electra — which won’t disappoint with its Roman setting and Valentino accessories but also its cool story of power and the means some are willing to go to in order to obtain it — the film also stars young British actor Jack Farthing as a rockstar, which is simply perfect casting for the Spencer and The Lost Daughter star.
And the Oscar nominated Bulgarian thespian Maria Bakalova as the rockstar’s rich girlfriend. Because another thing Hala Matar does beautifully is cast her films, with stars and cool actors, like Daryl Wein (the film’s co-writer and co-producer) himself, who inhabit her stories and bring them to life. This is the same woman who got Chloë Sevigny to star in her first short film.
The Santa Barbara IFF runs from February 7th to the 17th, and also features special awards sessions for Bradley Cooper and Mark Ruffalo, among many more celebrities of today, and tomorrow.