We’re currently in desperate need of stories about resistance. Given the current political climate in the U.S., the need is especially great for female-led stories of resistance. Fortunately Kino Lorber and Zeitgeist films have teamed up to bring an award-winning, politically-charged women-centric film to theaters. And it’s written and directed by a woman. ScreenDaily reports that the companies have snagged all the U.S. rights to Petra Volpe’s “The Divine Order.”
Set in rural 1972 Switzerland, the drama tells the story of a young mother’s political awakening. Formerly submissive Nora (Marie Leuenberger, “The Circle”) “realizes that the private is political and starts to fight for women’s right to vote,” Volpe shared in an interview with us. The film “is a look back into a shameful chapter of Switzerland’s history — but it also shows the importance of civil courage, which makes the film very timely.”
When we asked the “Dreamland” writer-director what drew her to tell this story, she explained “that the women in Switzerland got to right to vote so late, and that they had to fight for it over 100 years. This fact has been swept under the rug and isn’t talked about much in history lessons. This is so typical of women’s history, which is so often untold,” she observed. “I made this movie because I wanted to honor all the women who fought for so long and so hard. And by looking back at history, I also found an opportunity to show what still has to be done in order to achieve gender equality.”
The film made its North American premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, where it received one of the fest’s Audience Awards, which includes $10,000 and a piece of artwork. Volpe also won Tribeca’s Nora Ephron Prize for “The Divine Order,” and Leuenberger was named Best Actress in the International Narrative Feature Competition.
“We couldn’t be more excited that ‘The Divine Order’ will be the first collaboration between Kino Lorber and Zeitgeist Films,” commented Zeitgeist Films co-presidents Nancy Gerstman and Emily Russo. “We were totally bowled over when we saw it at the Tribeca Film Festival this year, and not at all surprised when it won the audience award. It has everything that would entertain viewers — a compelling story, great acting, and fine direction — and it’s sexy too!”
“I want [audiences] to be moved by the injustice [depicted in the film,] but also feel encouraged to fight for freedom and justice,” Volpe told Women and Hollywood. “It’s a movie about civil courage — and we need this today more than ever.”
“The Divine Order” is set to open at New York’s Film Forum on October 27 with a national rollout to follow.
