During the European Film Market (EFM), Playtime has been making significant strides with its film 'The Devil's Bath,' a period psychological thriller competing at the Berlin Film Festival. Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, the Austrian duo behind 'Goodnight Mommy,' the film is set in rural Austria in 1750 and stars Anja Plaschg, also known as Soap & Skin.
In 'The Devil's Bath,' Plaschg portrays Agnes, a young married woman feeling stifled in a world devoid of emotions and filled with chores and expectations. Struggling with deep depression, Agnes eventually commits a shocking act of violence as a means of breaking free from her inner turmoil.
The film has garnered significant attention at EFM, securing major deals with international distributors. Klockworx (Japan), Cine Canibal (Latin America), Russian World Vision (CIS excluding Ukraine), September Films (Benelux), Movies Inspired (Italy), Caramel Films (Spain), and Arthouse Traffic (Ukraine) have all acquired rights to 'The Devil's Bath.' Additionally, Shudder has acquired the film for North America, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
'The Devil's Bath' draws inspiration from historical accounts of women resorting to committing murders as a means of escaping the societal constraints and religious dogma of the era, shedding light on the struggles faced by women during that time.
Notably, 'Goodnight Mommy,' the previous work by Franz and Fiala, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2014 and received critical acclaim, representing Austria in the Oscar race. The film was later remade in English, starring Naomi Watts.
Playtime is also showcasing 'Suspended Time' at the Berlinale, a film by Olivier Assayas featuring Vincent Macaigne and Nora Hamzawi.
