The 50th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 26–May 10), will open on Thursday, April 26 at the majestic Castro Theatre with Golden Door, Emanuele Crialese's sweeping tale of early 20th century Sicilian emigration to the United States. Golden Door will screen at 7:00 pm with guests from the film in attendance, followed by the gala Opening Night party at 9:30 pm in the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda.
Combining a lavish visual style with a thoroughly contemporary sensibility, Golden Door is the story of a Sicilian family’s tumultuous journey to America at the turn of the last century. Also on the journey aboard the overcrowded ship is a British woman with a complicated past, played by the ravishing Charlotte Gainsbourg. They all face further life-changing challenges on arrival at Ellis Island. This novel and ambitious epic is a feast for the eyes and ears. Golden Door was Italy's official submission for the 79th Annual Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film category.
"We can't imagine a more beautiful or moving film with which to open the 50th International,” says Graham Leggat, San Francisco Film Society executive director. “Crialese's stirring tale is enough to give all of us at the Film Society courage as we embark on our own voyage to the New World of our second half-century."