Emma Laird (“A Haunting in Venice,” “Mayor of Kingstown”), Fionn Whitehead (“Dunkirk,” “Port Authority”), Zar Amir (“Holy Spider,” “Shayda”) and Adwoa Aboah (“Top Boy,” “Willow”) star in psychological drama “Satisfaction.”
The film is the narrative feature debut of theater and commercial director Alex Burunova, who is also known for the acclaimed shorts “Pale Blue” and “Lonely Planet.” Set against the backdrop of the Greek isles, the film follows Lola (Laird) who takes revenge against her sexual partner Philip (Whitehead). Things begin to unravel when they encounter the enigmatic Elena (Amir), who intoxicates Lola with her uninhibited way of being and emboldens her to face the roots of her pain. Amir, best actress winner at Cannes 2022 for “Holy Spider,” also serves as executive producer for the female empowerment tale.
The film, which has wrapped principal photography, is shot by Budapest-based cinematographer Mate Herbai (Oscar-nominated “On Body and Soul”). The film is a Ukrainian co-production with Ukrainian companies Constant Production and Kristi Films.
Burunova said: “I wanted to make a film that challenges our ideas about love and relationships, gender and sexual identity. And what’s allowed. But underneath the veneer of a romantic three-hander, there is a difficult personal story that’s been 10 years in the making.”
Kyle Stroud of Carte Blanche, one of the producers,added: “We were deep in the casting process trying to find our Lola; the soul of the film, and around that time I was watching dailies for a film that I am beyond honored to be a part of, Brady Corbet’s upcoming ‘The Brutalist.’ I saw Emma’s nuance and confidence, and called Alex – who delved into her work, and instantly felt she had both the intensity and fragility that embodies Lola.”
Rafael Thomaseto of producer Driven Equation said: “’Satisfaction’ invites audiences into the profound beauty of life’s unspoken moments and the layered eloquence found in silence. The film proposes a universal language that transcends borders and unites diverse audiences through shared human experience. This project stands out not only for its thematic inclusivity but also for the commitment to diversity, with a talented ensemble both in front of and behind the camera, ensuring an authentic and representative portrayal that speaks to the hearts of viewers from all walks of life.”
Laird is represented by Dara Gordon and Doug Wald at Anonymous Content, Alexandra Trustman and Jon Teiber at CAA and Kirk Whelan-Foran at United Agents. Whitehead is represented by Sophie Holden at Curtis Brown Group and Kevin Volchok and Shani Rosenzweig at UTA. Amir is represented by Das Imperium, Agence Adequat andUTA, Untitled Entertainment and ALH PR. Aboah is represented by Harrison Davies and Kate Buckley at 42 and Jamil Shamasdin at Jamil Artist Management.
