A new film is creeping into awards chatter unexpectedly. After premiering at several film festivals last year to critical acclaim, Benedict Andrews’ Una has finally reached U.S. distribution with Swen Releasing. The company has set the film for an October premiere (Oct. 6 in New York, Oct. 13 in Los Angeles followed by a wide rollout). Just as the film took viewers by surprise last year and has seen a slow build up since, its awards contention may tell a similar story as a dark horse in the season’s lineup.
Una stars Oscar-nominee Rooney Mara as the eponymous troubled woman who decides to pay an unexpected and emotional visit to the much older man, played by Emmy-winner Ben Mendelsohn, with whom she had a sexual relationship when she was just 13-years-old. Critics have billed the film has quite the tense and emotionally visceral ride that will likely put Mara back into awards contention. And it would be a disservice to rule out Mendelsohn, who is notorious for turning out quietly powerful and unique performances in films such as Mississippi Grind, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Starred Up.
Andrews’ film is based on David Harrower’s play Blackbird. Harrower also penned the adaptation. Una also stars Emmy-nominee Riz Ahmed, Ruby Stokes, and Tara Fitzgerald. See the film’s international trailer below.
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