The documentary “Shadowland,” which will make its world premiere at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles on October 5, was supposed to be a “happy story” set in the mysterious French Pyrenees Mountains.
Embracing magic and sorcery, spiritual “seekers” from all walks of life settle there, hoping to find the greatest treasure, the Holy Grail, or experience a supernatural encounter.
One of them was the cult’s director, Richard Stanley, who claimed to have seen the local deity, the White Lady, and gained the respect of the close-knit community. Not only has Stanley lived in the area for many years, he also worked there as a tour guide.
Stanley made a name for himself with horror films such as The Hardware and The Dust Devil, but after being fired from The Island of Moreau starring Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer, he stopped making feature films for 20 years. I was closed for more than that. In 2019, he returned with the film “The Color Out of Space” starring Nicolas Cage.
Watch an exclusive clip of “Shadowland” below.
“Shadowland” co-writer and producer Kale Kinnunen said: “The movie we were trying to make at the beginning of 2021 was [Stanley] Calling the region and people [seeking healing] In a world of magic and pretend. ”
During the crew’s first filming trip, allegations were posted on a blog written by Stanley’s ex-partner Scarlett Amaris, who accused Stanley of domestic violence, assault and battery, but Stanley refused to follow French court precedent. He quoted and strongly refuted Stanley’s claim. of the event. This accusation was detailed in a January 2023 Daily Beast article.
“Shadowland”
Courtesy of Bufo
Instead of shelving the project, the Finnish team decided to confront him. This suspicion led him to “ [film’s] The adversary,” Kinnunen said.
“Having known him for many years, I wanted to shoot another interview on the spot. That’s when everything turned upside down,” added director Otso Tiainen. “We had planned a documentary about how this place healed a wounded soul and gave him the strength to return.Rather, he was a noble and humble knight touched by a white lady. It was the exact opposite.”
“It’s very difficult to talk about this process, because it’s insane,” Kinnunen says. “Richard Stanley is a master of self-mythologising. He has reinvented himself at least three times, first as an underdog hero in 1995’s The Island of Dr. Moreau.” Hollywood Career A young genius director who has always been on a quest to become a dissident genius.In fact, he was a tourist guide in the Montsegur region.He had a supernatural experience at the castle. is.”
“Shadowland”
Courtesy of Bufo
At first, Stanley’s accusers did not want to talk to the two men. “No wonder, it seemed like we were making a documentary within the realm of Stanley,” Kinnunen says.
“We waited in vain for the legal process to end, but we were able to build a relationship of trust with his most outspoken accuser. [Amaris]. Then we talked to other ex-partners. We realized that the story of the seekers in this film is also our story. We wanted to love this area, and we still do, but we almost became myth creators and enablers in the service of Richard Stanley. ”
Stanley, who is from South Africa, says: variety“My legal battle against my internet accusers will go to court in 2022, and the High Court of Carcassonne, France, my second homeland, has decided that I have no case to answer. The vindictive accusations leveled against him were found to be without evidence or basis.
It added: “Their actions resulted in the cancellation of two feature-length projects and a popular television series, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in potential revenue.” .
Stanley’s full press statement can be found here.
“Shadowland”
Courtesy of Bufo
As of this writing, he had not seen the completed film.
Kinnunen, a film journalist and critic for 25 years, and the man behind the documentary series Sami Jaffa – Soundtracker, as a “joyful trip to the south of France” turns into an arduous eight-year journey. Self-taught filmmaker Tiainen has come together. ” aimed to explore the themes of “loss, exploration, faith, confusion, the inevitable nature of secrets, and the responsibility that comes with power.”
And there were all the legends associated with that place.
“Montsegur is said to be the Castle of the Holy Grail, Rennes-les-Châteaux holds the key to finding the Ark of the Covenant, and there is also an underground UFO base in the area. It is said that he fled to the Pyrenees,” Tiainen said.
Mr. Kinnunen further added: “This area was a major center of Catharism, a Christian movement that opposed the Pope and the King of France in the 13th century. People project everything they want onto this rebellious religion. The Cathars Equally suitable for history buffs, occultists, new ageers, and hippies.
They all continue to meet there, building friendships and searching for deeper meaning. The shrine maiden Anaiya, the magician Uranie, and even the “chaos magician” Iranon.
“I think it’s a spiritual film, but not in the traditional sense,” Tiainen says.
“My interest has always been in marginalized people and the margins of society. I saw fascinating characters and a commonality of shared trauma. When you lose everything and start anew, faith is your guide.
You can also look to movies and pop culture. Kinnunen said seekers often write their own legends and tap into well-known stories.
“They love ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Conan the Barbarian,’ ‘The Lord of the Rings’ as much as they love Arthurian legends and local mysteries. It could be a cross between Close Encounters of the Third Kind and a Dario Argento movie.”
At Stanley, the connection to the world of film and pop culture continues, albeit not in the way the Shadowland team originally envisioned.
The Sam Lake executive co-produced “Shadowland” with Helsinki-based Bufo’s Mark Lwoff and Misha Jaari, and most recently produced Aki Kaurismäki’s smash hit “Fallen Leaves.”
