The Match Factory Acquires Alice Rohrwacher, JR’s ‘An Urban Allegory’ Ahead of Venice Premiere

The Match Factory has acquired international sales rights for “An Urban Allegory,” a short film by Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher and French artist and director JR, ahead of its world premiere at Venice Film Festival, where it plays out of competition.

“An Urban Allegory” marks the second collaboration between Rohrwacher, best known for “La Chimera,” “Happy as Lazzaro” and “The Wonders,” and JR, whose credits include “Faces Places,” “Women Are Heroes,” “Paper and Glue” and “Tehachapi,” after premiering “Omelia Contadina” at Venice Film Festival in 2020.

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The film stars César winner for most promising actress Lyna Khoudri (“The French Dispatch,” “Papicha,” “The Blessed”), Palme D’Or winner director Leos Carax (“Annette,” “Holy Motors,” “Les Amants du Pont-Neuf”) and Na?m El Kaldaoui in his first role.

According to a press statement, the synopsis is as follows: “In the ‘Allegory of the Cave,’ Plato ponders: What would happen if one of the prisoners managed to free themselves from their chains and escape from the cave? What if that prisoner were Jay, a little 7-year-old boy?”

“An Urban Allegory” is produced by Ad Vitam Films, in co-production with Social Animals.

The Match Factory has been in charge of international sales for all Rohrwacher’s feature films, starting with her directorial debut “Corpo Celeste” (2011), and then “The Wonders” (2014), “Happy as Lazzaro” (2018), “Futura” (2021), and last year’s “La Chimera,” as well as the short films “Four Roads” (2020) and “Omelia Contadina” (2020).

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