Ambassador, The
Synopsis
What happens when a very white European man buys a diplomatic title which turns him into an African diplomat overnight – right in the middle of one of Central Africa’s most failed nation states?
A strange, enigmatic and decadent white European with diplomatic credentials arrives in The CAR to head a diplomatic mission representing Liberia.
Officially he is there as a do-good business man to start a factory that produces matches – this, to employ locals and teach how to make this simple piece of fire-making equipment. Unofficially he is there to gain access to vast reserves of diamonds.
The Ambassador is a genre-breaking, tragic comedy about the bizarre and hidden world of African diplomacy, where gin-tonics flow on a daily basis and diamond hustlers and corrupt politicians run free.
Credits
Director:
Mads Brügger
Producer:
Peter Engel and Carsten Holst
Editor:
Casten Søsted, Kimmo Taavila and Leif Axel Kjeldsen
Original Music:
Niklas Schak and Tin Soheili
Written by:
Maja Jul Larsen and Mads Brügger
DOP:
Johan Stahl Wintereik
Cast
Mads Brügger
Eva Jakobsen
Production details
Original title
The Ambassador
Year
2011
Length
94 minutes
Language
English, French, Danish, Sango
Subtitles
Norwegian, English, Danish
Format
DCP, HDCam SR, HDCam
Production company
Zentropa Real Aps. Norwegian distribution: Kudos Family. World Sales: TrustNordisk.
Production country
Denmark
Sales/Distribution
Norwegian distribution: Kudos Family. World Sales: TrustNordisk. Festival Distribution: The Danish Film Institute
Website
http://www.theambassador.dk/
Awards & Festivals
2012: Budapest Titanic International Film Festival
2012: New York New Directors/New Films, USA
2012: Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Greece
2012: Tempo Documentary Film Festival, Sweden
2012: Geneve, Forum on Human Rights, Switzerland
2012: Colombia, True/False Film Festival, USA
2012: ZagrebDox, Croatia
2012: Göteborg International Film Festival, Sweden
2012: Sundance Film Festival, USA
2011: IDFA, The Netherlands (Opening film)
Presskit
Images
Mr. Cortzen is appointed ambassador by Liberia's Foreign Minister, Toga MCINTOSH
Credit: Sine Vadstrup Brooker
Mr. Cortzen, Paul and Minister Gaston Mackouzangba in the Pygmy village
Credit: Johan Stahl Winthereik
Mr. Cortzen and son of the president, Minister of Defence Jean-Francis Bozize
Credit: Johan Stahl Winthereik