Lando Calrissian
The Central Character: A former gambler and friend of Han Solo, Calrissian once won the Millenium Falcon in a game of sabacc, after which, Solo helped him to train as a pilot. Solo eventually wins the Falcon from Calrissian and in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back finds him as administrator of Cloud City – an operation that he won in another game of sabacc, and which he protects from Imperial interference.
This peace is shattered when Solo and his group arrives seeking refuge – closely followed by Darth Vader and his troops, who threaten to invade. Calrissian betrays Solo and hands him over to Vader, but when Vader in turn betrays Calrissian, Lando attempts to help the Rebels and joins the Alliance. Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi sees Calrissian save Han, help the Rebels escape and lead the attack on the Death Star II.
The plot: With the Battle of Endor won, and the Death Star II destroyed, Lando Calrissian busies himself with the development of a mining complex on the planet Nkllon. In the style of High Noon, his peaceful civilian lifestyle is suddenly under threat from the reappearance of an old foe, and Calrissian finds himself drawn back into battle, with tragic consequences.
The director: Ana Lily Amirpour, whose fantastic, individual style would mirror the isolated setting of Calrissian’s Nomad City on planet Nkllon. As seen in her feature length debut, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Amirpour is able to create an entire environment, and unspool an atmospheric, tension-filled tale within it, to great effect.
