Spiner to helm 'Olvido'

MADRID -- Fernando Spiner, whose Gaucho Western "Aballay" walked away with the lion's share of kudos at Monday's Argentine Academy awards ceremony, will now adapt another Argentine classic: "Mas alla del olvido." Argentina's foreign-language Oscar submission, "Aballay" adapts a celebrated short story by Antonio Di Benedetto. Helmer-scribe Spiner's "Olvido" is a remake of the Argentine movie of the same title directed by Hugo del Carril in 1956. The amour fou tale has Del Carril as an Argentine ranch-owner stumbling in Paris upon a cabaret dancer who is a dead ringer for his deceased wife. Taking her back to Argentina, he tries to change her into the spitting image of his former spouse. But tragedy strikes once more. "Del Carril is the Orson Welles of Argentine cinema, a director, actor, producer, screenwriter and musician," said Spiner. The 1956 "Olvido" adapts 1892 novel "Bruges-la-Morte," by Belgium's Georges Rodenbach. Spiner said it inspired 1954 French crime novel "The Living and the Dead," sourced by Alfred Hitchcock for the 1958 pic "Vertigo." "Olvido" is set up at Spiner's Buenos Aires label, Boya Films. Spiner aims to go into production late 2012, shooting in Argentina. On Monday, Spiner scooped eight Argentine Academy awards for "Aballay," including director, actress (Moro Anghileri), cinematography and adapted screenplay. "Aballay" is now rolling out major territory sales for Kevin William's KWA, Willams told Variety. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com