REVFF26 Opening Night: Dead Man's Wire

OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION

Wednesday, 8 July
Luna Leederville
7:30pm

Join us for our famous Opening Night celebration and after party, with drinks by Ampersand Wines, Lucky Bay Brewing and tasty finger-food provided by Tastescape.

The morning of February 8, 1977, Anthony G. “Tony” Kiritsis, 44, entered the office of Richard O. Hall, president of the Meridian Mortgage Company, and took him hostage with a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun wired with a “dead man’s wire” from the trigger to the Hall’s head. This is the true story of the stand-off that took the world by storm as Tony demanded $5 million, no charges or prosecution, and a personal apology from the Halls for cheating him out of what he was “owed.”

A lean, unnerving study in drift and dislocation, Dead Man’s Wire unfolds as a quiet tale of alienation on the margins of contemporary America.

Working in his signature lean observational style, Van Sant the players moves through anonymous spaces where like 'Dog Day Afternoon' time becomes the film’s central character.

From start to finish, the film is filled with striking stylistic flourishes and lovely attention to detail. An excellent and thoughtful return of Van Sant.

Festivals & Awards

Rotterdam International Film Festival | Official Selection

Feature
Dir. Gus Van Sant
USA
2025