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SYNOPSIS

In a small rural community a sheriff protects the freedom and peace.

An older cowboy named Archie, rich with new money, buys the hand of the picture-perfect Claudia.
On the day of the wedding the humiliated Bride refuses to say her vows. 
After questioning the two cowboys, Clay and Bryan, the sheriff finds out that Claudia is not a virgin.

Archie swears revenge but the unappreciated maid beats him to it. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

TITLE
I PAY YOU

COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION
Germany

YEAR OF PRODUCTION
2020

GENRE
Western

RUNNING TIME
30:37 min

COLOUR
Colour

ASPECT RATIO
1 : 2,35 (16 : 9 Letterbox)

SOUND
5.1 / Stereo

AVAILABLE SCREENING COPIES
DCP / File

AVAILABLE SUBTITLES
English 

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

"I PAY YOU" is a western with all the classic characteristics of the genre. The film is based on true events that took place in my personal environment and that stayed with me, so I wanted to realize them in an artistic form.

It's about the existential question: Who did what to whom? And it's about the conflicts within a society that is doomed by the fact that it doesn't put much stock in words. These cowboys turn out to be men with severe psychological problems, who very rarely acknowledge their vulnerability, their needs, or even experience a relationship. You could say: They live in a constant emotional stasis. Violence is an obvious solution for them. The pressure is simply passed on. It's a relentless, slow business. And this feeling of relentlessness, of inexorability, like being caught in a rat race – that's the feeling I want to convey with the film. 

The actors are always at the very center of my work. For me it's interesting to see them immerse themselves in a world that is not their own. I've directed a lot of Shakespeare and love it when women play men and men play women. In this context, the role reversal we see in the film is not just for artistic alienation. The androgynous aspect can be very exciting. It opens up new perspectives, for example on certain idiosyncrasies, in other words everything that a woman observes in a man and vice versa. Naturally, I also look for the comic element in it, with a woman playing a cowboy or a man playing the landlady. Comedy is a means of telling something abysmally evil with a dash of humor.

During filming, it's important for me to really involve the ensemble in the subject-matter. By that I mean a form of artistic participation that is more extensive than just being allowed to have a say. That can be difficult and also exhausting, but it really pays off when each and every one starts to come forward. And that is what I want.

DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY 

Nora Somaini was born in Locarno and grew up in Zurich.

She studies drama in Hanover at the HMTMH, works as an actress in Vienna and Berlin, decides on a second degree: Theater directing in Hamburg, becomes a freelance director, works at many theaters in Germany, experiments with dance, video and music and becomes professor for drama in Hanover. 

In 2019 she founded the free ensemble flüsterasphalt.  I PAY YOU is her debut short film.

DOP'S BIOGRAPHY 

Till Caspar Juon is from Graubünden (Switzerland). 

He trained as an electronics technician, worked at Staatstheater Kassel as a lighting technician, studied film at the Kunsthochschule Kassel and worked three years for the company ARRI in Berlin. Afterwards he worked as freelance DOP and founded MEDIA BRICKS as his own company in 2010. Currently he works as DOP for advertising, film and TV and as a video artist for theater productions.

STILLS 

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