FILTH AND WISDOM
Madonna is to unveil her debut in the director's chair at the Berlin Film Festival.
Billed as a London-based comedy, Filth and Wisdom stars Eugene Hutz, the Ukrainian frontman for Gypsy punk rock band Gogol Bordello, as well as British star Richard E Grant.
Critics have already begun sharpening their pencils at the plot which revolves around a Ukrainian immigrant who finances his dreams of rock stardom by moonlighting as a cross-dressing dominatrix, and his two female flatmates.

Hutz plays AK a self-proclaimed philosopher and poet, whose sideline career sees him assume characters ranging from a Marine drill instructor to former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

Madonna said: "I have always been inspired by the films of Godard, Visconti, Pasolini and Fellini and hope that I may one day make something that comes close to their genius."

The Material Girl not only directs, but also co-wrote the screenplay and acted as executive producer.
Source: ITN Posted: ITN - Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 02:37 pm
Filth And Wisdom
Great Britain, 2008
Lenght: 81 min
Format: 35 mm, 1:1:85
Written by Madonna and Dan Cadan
Cinematography by Tim Maurice-Jones
Camera operator: Peter Wignall
Edited by Simon Hayes
Choreographies: Stephanie Roos, Tiffany Olson
Production design: Gideon Ponte
Art Director Max Bellhouse
Costumes by B
Make up: Sinden Dean
First assistant director: Tony Fernandes
Casting: Dan Hubbard
Production director:. Sue Hiller
Unit Production manager: Gavin Milligan
Produced by Nicola Doring
Executive Producer: Madonna
Associate Producer: Angela Becker
Co-Production: HSI London
ColourCast:
A. K. Eugene Hutz
Holly Holly Weston
Juliette Vicky McClure
Professor Flynn Richard E. Grant
Harry Beechman Stephen Graham
Sardeep Inder Manocha
Sardeeps Frau Shobu Kapoor
Businessman Elliot Levey
Francine Francesca Kingdon
Chloe Clare Wilkie
Businessman's wife Hannah Walters
DJ Ade
Lorcan O’Neill Guy Henry
Nunzio Nunzio Palmara
Source: Berlinale.de by Deborah Cole Wed Feb 13, 10:10 AM ET
Filming of "Filth and Wisdom"
Source: AFP
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Filth And Wisdom
Great Britain, 2008
Lenght: 81 min
Format: 35 mm, 1:1:85
Premiere Date February 13, 2008 at 58th Berlin International Film Festival
Written by Madonna and Dan Cadan
Director Madonna
Studio Exposure/HSI

Genre: Comedy / Drama / Music
Plot the story features a Russian immigrant, ballet school, lap dancing, cultural revolution, poetry, night club, punk rock band, book writer, dominatrix and gypsy.
Starring
Stephen Graham ... Harry Beechman
Richard E. Grant ... Professor Flynn
Eugene Hutz ... A.K.
Vicky McClure ... Juliette
Ade ... DJ
Olegar Fedoro ... A.K.'s Father
Gogol Bordello ... Themselves (also archive footage)
Elena Buda ... Ballet Student
Francesca Kingdon ... Francine
Clare Wilkie ... Chloe
Shobu Kapoor ... Sardeep's Wife
Tim Wallers ... Mr. Frisk
Elliot Levey ... Benjamin Goldfarb
Holly Weston ... Holly
Hannah Walters ... Mrs. Goldfarb
Inder Manocha ... Sardeep
George Keeler ... Frail Man
Produced by Nicola Doring
Associate Producer: Angela Becker
Cinematography: Tim Maurice-Jones
Camera operator: Peter Wignall
Edited: Simon Hayes
Choreographies: Stephanie Roos, Tiffany Olson
Production design: Gideon Ponte
Art Director: Max Bellhouse
Costumes by B
Make up: Sinden Dean
First assistant director: Tony Fernandes
Casting: Dan Hubbard
Production director: Sue Hiller
Unit Production manager: Gavin Milligan
Additional Details
Runtime: UK:81 min (PAL Version)
Country: UK
Language: English / Russian
Color: Color
Filming Locations: London, England