ANGELO

A young African boy is bought and transplanted into slavery to 18th century Vienna, where he is named Angelo. The Countess who purchased him wants to teach him how to appeal to the court, which turns the boy into an attraction and a novelty against his will. Going from owner to owner and from success to success, this brutal educational experiment buried under the sophistication and artistic inclinations of the era follows Angelo through his childhood and into adulthood, when the inevitable clash between a fully formed consciousness and the rigid cruelty of the situation finally explodes. Inspired by the true story of Angelo Soliman, one of the most controversial figures in the Viennese high society.

An accomplished sophomore effort from director Markus Schleinzer after his remarkable 2011 debut MI CHAEL , ANGELO is a marvel of restraint and control, depicting the absurd with both respectful incisiveness and knowing humor. In its mannered compositions, tight aspect ratio and chilly performances, this thought-provoking film invites audiences to revel in the uncomfortable.