FWSCI Filmies

African Cats

2011-04-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Disney’s “African Cats” tells a somewhat universal tale for African
wildlife and will remind most adults of the Sunday nights and the
“Wonderful World of Disney.”

The setting is Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and follows the lives of
two female cats – a cheetah named Cita and a lioness named Layla.

While the setting is far north of Mbabne, Swaziland (one of Fort Worth’s
Sister Cities), there are some similarities in wildlife and terrain.

I realize the danger in saying Swaziland is like Kenya. It’s like saying
Houston is like Dallas/Fort Worth and El Paso.

But for me, the most important parallel is educating others about wildlife
and ecological conservation across Africa. My oldest son, age 5, was
mesmerized – as was my mother-in-law. And that is perhaps the best part of
this documentary. It can galvanize across the generations.

Beautiful cinematography and an interesting storyline are melded together
in this film. It also comes with educational materials that can be
downloaded from the Disney Nature website.

Swaziland is home to cheetahs, lions, elephants, hyenas and many other
animals featured in this film.

Swaziland too is home to several species that are threatened. The Black
Rhino is critically endangered (the species is in imminent risk of
extinction in the wild.). Marley’s Golden Mole and the African Wild
Dog/Painted Dog are two Swazi animals listed as endangered (the species is
facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.).

For information about Swaziland nature reserves, visit the Swaziland
National Trust Commission web site.

This Just in … 4.19.2011

2011-04-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

This week’s DVDs & Blue-ray. If we can’t watch ‘em in the theater, we’ll
watch ‘em at home. Look for them at Amazon, Netlfix, RedBox, Blockbuster
and CDUniverse.

Gritos de muerte y libertad
Directors: Gerardo Tort, María Fernanda Suarez; Starring: Diego Luna, Lumi
Cavazos, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Cecilia Suárez
Synopsis: Prominent historians, writers, directors and leading actors come
together to produce the historical miniseries to commemorate Mexico's
bicentennial. Gritos de Muerte y Libertad depicts Mexico's struggle for
independence against Spain in 13 half-hour episodes. With a star-studded
cast and lavish set and costume design, the miniseries is the definitive
portrayal of Mexico's prominent heroes and key historical moments integral
to winning the country's freedom.

http://www.amazon.com/Gritos-Muerte-Libertad-Diego-Luna/dp/B004IF4EVY/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1303182578&sr=1-1

Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster
Director: Wilson Yip, Starring: Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung, Simon Yam, Sammo
Hung, Darren Shahlavi
Synopsis: International superstar Donnie Yen reprises his iconic role as
the real-life kung fu Grandmaster Ip Man, widely known as the man who
brought Wing Chun to the world with the help of his star pupil, Bruce Lee.
Master Ip, a new arrival in British-occupied Hong Kong, wants to open a
martial arts academy to teach his unique Wing Chun style. A corrupt group
of martial arts masters, led by Master Hung (Sammo Hung) refuses to allow
him to teach in peace until he proves himself as a kung fu master. Ip s
troubles continues when he is forced to enter a brutal King of the Ring
boxing match against Twister, a Western-style boxer who insults the Chinese
locals, in a East versus West knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish.

http://www.amazon.com/Ip-Man-Legend-Grandmaster-Collectors/dp/B004I1AGTM/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1303183451&sr=1-1

The Princess Blade
Director: Shinsuke Sato; Starring Yumiko Shaku, Hideaki Itô, Yôichi Numata,
Shirô Sano, Kyûsaku Shimada
Synopsis: In the near future, Japan is ruled once more by a monarchy. But,
rebels opposed to this rule seek to overthrow the government. The House of
Takemikazuchi, a band of assassins is hired by the government to suppress
the rebels. As a conspiracy from within signals the shadowy organization's
impending demise, Yuki, the last of the Takemikazuchi bloodline befriends
one of the rebels and seeks revenge against the group's leader.

http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Blade-Yumiko-Shaku/dp/B0000E6FON/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1303184046&sr=1-1

Tokyo Gore Police
Director: Yoshihiro Nishimura; Starring: Eihi Shiina
Synopsis: In the near future, the Tokyo Police Corporation is locked in a
bloody war with the "engineers." These genetically modified super-criminals
can bio-fuse their open wounds with weapons, turning self-mutilation into a
combat form. Ruka, the daughter of the police chief's murdered right-hand
man, is now the top engineer hunter. With cold-blooded efficiency she cuts
through the psychotic engineers and tracks down their home base, a truly
bizarre fetish club. Nothing keeps her from her sworn duty, even when she
finds out the truth behind her father's death.

http://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Gore-Police-Eihi-Shiina/dp/B001I82RVS/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1303184594&sr=1-1

Vision - From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen
Director: Margarethe von Trotta , Starring: Barbara Sukowa
Lushly shot in original medieval cloisters of the fairytale-like German
countryside, Vision is the profoundly inspirational portrait of Hildegard
von Bingen, a woman who has emerged from the shadows of history as a
forward-thinking and iconoclastic pioneer of faith, change and
enlightenment. A visionary in every sense of the word, this famed
12th-century Benedictine nun was a Christian mystic, composer, philosopher,
playwright, poet, naturalist, scientist, physician, herbalist and
ecological activist. Reuniting with recurrent star Barbara Sukowa, New
German Cinema auteur Margarethe von Trotta brings the story of this
extraordinary figure to cinematic life. In a staggering performance, Sukowa
portrays Hildegard's fierce determination to expand the responsibilities of
nuns within the order, even as she fends off outrage from some in the
Church over the visions she claims to receive from God. She was truly a
woman ahead of her time.

http://www.amazon.com/Vision-Life-Hildegard-von-Bingen/dp/B004KCAYXC/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1303184746&sr=1-1

Goemon
Directed by Kazuaki Kiriya
Snyopsis: Crafted with over 2500 visual effects, the director of Casshern
weaves action with Japanese history and folklore into a moving masterpiece
evocative of the classic Robin Hood tale.

Once a lethal ninja, Goemon put down his sword to master the art of robbing
the nobility to share the stash with the less fortunate. On one such
escapade, he swipes an artifact that, if opened, will unleash misfortune of
a massive scale. Hunted by an infamous henchman and former ally, Goemon
tears a torrential path to assassinate the king. With a conscience clouded
by conspiracy, Goemon struggles to save his friends—and an entire
nation—from the grips of poverty and corruption.

http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B004DMIIUU

Claymore: Complete Series Box Set
Directed by Todd Haberkorn
Synopsis: A brutal scourge stalks the land. Yoma, monsters driven by a
hunger satisfied by only one quarry – Humanity. The dark breed knows but a
singular foe: Claymore. Human-Yoma hybrids of extraordinary strength and
cunning, the Claymores roam from skirmish to skirmish delivering salvation
by the edge of a blade.

Thus begins the twisting tale of Clare, one such sister of the sword driven
by pain in both victory and defeat. A child silent and suffering hidden in
her past, Clare’s march toward vengeance unfolds along a path marked by
violence, solitude and scorn. In a land where even the predator is prey,
the haunted hearts of hunter and hunted alike wear the scars of the age.

http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B002Y0KR66

Darker Than Black: Complete Season One (Classic)
Directed by Tensai Okamura
Synopsis: A new and deadly breed of covert agent walks the streets. Known
as Contractors, these assassins and spies wield bizarre supernatural powers
to carry out the dirty work of others. They thrive in the underworld,
between rumor and reality, their loyalties always in question. One among
these operatives is more mysterious than the rest - The masked killer
BK201, the Black Reaper. His true identity and intentions remain unknown,
but as his path weaves through the shadows and alleys of Tokyo, blood is
spilled on both sides of the law. It's a new age of confusion, and the
rules of engagement have changed.

http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B004GZZH6W

30th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards

2011-04-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

The film "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame" won six awards at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards on April 17, but the Best Picture Award remained elusive and instead went to "Gallants," a tribute to kung fu films of the '70s.

Detective Dee nabbed the Best Director Award for Tsui Hark, Best Actress Award for Carina Lau, plus awards for art direction, sound, visual effects, costume and makeup design.

"Gallants" won awards Best Supporting Actor for Teddy Robin Kwan, Best Supporting Actress for Susan (Yin Yin) Shaw, and best original film score.

Nicholas Tse won Best Actor for his role in "Stool Pigeon," pulling off an upset over front-runner Chow Yun-fat in "Confucius."

The best Asian Film Award was presented to Japanese Director Tetsuya Nakashima's "Confessions."

'Even the Rain' at the Modern

2011-04-15T13:35:00.001-07:00

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth hosts "Even the Rain," starring Mexican Actor Gael Garcia Bernal. The film is by Spanish Director Iciar Bollain.

In the film a Spanish crew has landed in Bolivia to shoot a movie about Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas and the following impact on natives. As the shoot unfolds a water crisis develops. We learn that little has changed in the exploitation of others.

The film shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, April 15; 5 p.m. Saturday, April 16; noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 17.

The cast includes Luis Tosar, Karra Elejalde and Cassandra Ciangherotti.

Bernal and 'Miss Bala' off to Cannes

2011-04-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

Gael Garcia Bernal happily announced he and the folks behind Director Gerardo Naranjo's action film "Miss Bala" are off to Cannes Film Festival.

Bernal, who welcomed his second child recently, Tweeted "Nos vamos a Cannes!" (We're going to Cannes!) earlier this morning.

The film will be screened in the Un Certain Regard portion of the fest.

Bernal and Diego Luna own Canana Films, the Mexican production company for "Miss Bala." Bernal and Luna co-starred in the breakout film "Y Tu Mama Tambien" in 2001.

Bernal's daughter, Liberty, was born to him and his girlfriend Dolores Fonzi. They have a son named Lazaro, who was born in 2009.

This Just in 4.12.11

2011-04-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

This week’s DVDs & Blue-ray. If we can’t watch ‘em in the theater, we’ll watch ‘em at home. Look for them at Amazon, Netlfix, RedBox, Blockbuster and CDUniverse.

Ga Rei Zero: Complete Series - Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack (Limited Edition)
Directed by Zach Bolton
Synopsis: The creative team behind the Full Metal Panic! trilogy is back with a nightmare-inducing series about teenage exorcists forced to draw swords against bloodthirsty creatures of unholy origins.

Kagura and Yomi may look like ordinary school girls as they walk the streets of Tokyo clad in short skirts and knee-high socks, but they’re the heroes you scream for when monsters creep out of the darkness. These sword-totting sisters are part of an elite counterattack unit that specializes in suppressing outbreaks of supernatural activity. They train together, live together, eat together, and spend their nights disemboweling demons with sacred blades. Tragedy strikes when Yomi is possessed by a dark spirit, and Kagura must choose between raising her weapon against the eerily familiar face of ultimate evil – or watching her flesh and blood slaughter innocent citizens. In a life or death battle that pits sister against sister, survival may be the greatest agony of all.
http://www.amazon.com/Ga-Rei-Zero-Complete-Blu-Ray/dp/B004DMIIW8/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1302642620&sr=1-1

2033
Directed by Francisco Laresgoiti, Starring: Miguel Couturier, Sandra Echeverría, Alonso Echánove, Luis Ernesto Franco , Raúl Méndez, Genaro Hernandez, Claudio Lafarga, Marco Antonio Treviño
Synopsis: The year 2033 has arrived to Mexico City, re-baptised as Villaparaiso (Paradise City). The mechanical, caothic and hot megacity is ruled by a military and tyrant government. It is an oppressed society with its religious faith and liberty of expression stolen. Pablo, the main character, is a young finantial yuppie that gets shelter in drugs and alcohol. He leaves his privileged life in order to help the unprotected and destroy the system that controls the human being. Pablo meets Lozada, a hidden priest, Father Miguel, that will eventually transform his life. Pablo lives with the needy and helps sick people that suffer due to chemical products they eat sold by the main company of Villaparaíso. Addictive products that make them work for long hors. Pablo fights with other believers in order to destroy the regime. On his way, he meets Lucía, a girl that gives a higher sense to his life.
http://www.amazon.com/2033-Future-Apocalypse-Miguel-Couturie/dp/B004KDYR52/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1302642589&sr=8-5

Love a la Carte (Adua e le compagne) 1960
Director: Antonio Pietrangeli, Starring: Simone Signoret, Sandra Milo, Emmanuelle Riva, Marcello Mastroianni
Synopsis: This Italian effort from director Antonio Pietrangeli, reminiscent of neorealism, stars Simone Signoret as one of four prostitutes trying to go legit. When a new law closes Rome's brothels, the quartet pools their resources to open a cafe, but they can't get a license. A shady ex-client helps them out, but insists they conduct their former pursuit upstairs while paying him an exorbitant monthly fee.
http://www.amazon.com/Adua-Her-Friends-Compagne/dp/B004KDYR2A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1302643015&sr=8-4

Desde La Tumba
Directed by Raul Trujillo; Starring: Fernando Saenz, Valentin Trujillo Jr., Celia Huertas, Alfonso Munguia, Leslie Rano, Roberto Munguia
Synopsis: A Mexican native gets a rude welcoming upon returning to his home country after an extended trip abroad. Years ago, Hilario left his ranch in Mexico to work in the United States. Before leaving, he asked his best friend Augustin to make sure that his ranch didn't fall into disrepair in his absence. Upon returning home years later, Hilario is targeted for harassment by powerful drug lord Antonio Meza, who insists the rancher give up his land. When Hilaro refuses, their bitter dispute quickly erupts into all out war.
http://www.amazon.com/Desde-Tumba-Fernando-Saenz/dp/B004KDYQZS

El Plebe Chakaloso
Director: Eleazar Garcia Jr.; Starring: Eleazar Garcia Jr., Max Hernandez Jr., Max Hernandez "El Butcher," Fabian Lopez, Roberta D'Nero, Pedro Quintero, Isidoro Rojas, Alejandro Raygoza.
Synopsis: In the tradition of "The Departed" and "Carlito's Way," this is a story of corruption and greed between two deadly cartels and the police, whose job it is to stop them. Uriel has been the number one Lieutenant for El Tejano, however his need for power and his own cartel has caused him to betray the cartel. Pacheco is a corrupt cop who works for the Lieutenant in charge of the capture of the cartel leaders. Each seemingly wants what they cannot have and in the end, the same corruption , power, and greed will ultimately force someone to pay the ultimate price.
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8446728

Vida Por Mi Barrio
Cast: Agustin Bernal, Luis Gatica, Bernabe Melendrez, Alfonso Zayas Jr., Amador Granados, Carlos Perez, Xochitl Violeta.
Two best friends fall into a life of crime while struggling to build a brighter future in this tense crime drama from Mexico. El Roy and El Tio will do whatever it takes to escape poverty. Upon encountering three aspiring drug kingpins with the power to make all of their dreams come true, El Roy and El Tio find themselves hopelessly drawn into the dangerous worlds of drug trafficking and black market organ smuggling. Later, when the two friends realize just how much of their moral codes have been compromised, their treacherous struggle for redemption begins.
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8446725&style=movie

Good Year for Grant

2011-04-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Swazi actor Richard E. Grant is on a roll this year with eight productions in the works including the new BBC drama “The Crimson Petal and the White” and “The Iron Lady” starring Merrill Streep as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Grant’s other projects include the Italian thriller “Sotto il vestito niente - L'ultima sfilata,” “First Night,” “Foster,” “Zambezia,” “Horrid Henry: The Movie” and “How to Stop Being a Loser.”

I’ll try to keep track of his films as they premier and make their way into US theaters or onto TV screens

The Telegraph offers this article on Grant and Crimson/White.

This Just in ... 4.5.11

2011-04-05T19:58:00.000-07:00

This week’s DVDs & Blue-ray. If we can’t watch ‘em in the theater, we’ll watch ‘em at home. Look for them at Amazon, Netlfix, RedBox, Blockbuster.

Arabesque (1966)
Sophia Loren (Actress), Gregory Peck (Actor), Alan Badel (Actor) | Rated: Unrated | Format: DVD
Product Description
Filmies says: There’s a reason this sounds like “Charade.”
Legendary Italian actress Sophia Loren joins actor Gregory Peck in this 1966 film. Enter the world of Arabesque – a high-speed high-class tale of international intrigue. In this exciting romantic thriller an American hieroglyphics professor (Peck) is hired by a mysterious Arab oil magnate to decipher a secret message. When the hidden meaning is revealed the chase is on as he and the oil magnate’s exotic yet unpredictable companion (Loren) find themselves caught in the middle of an assassination plot. Produced and directed by Stanley Donen (Charade) and filled with the stylish music of Henry Mancini Arabesque is an unforgettable adventure of a lifetime.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004I1K066

Wallenberg: A Hero's Story (1985)
Richard Chamberlain (Actor), Kenneth Colley (Actor) | Rated: Unrated | Format: DVD
Product Description
Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story is an incredibly riveting, Emmy award winning fact based story about a hero who helped over 100,000 Hungarian Jews escape from the Nazis during the Holocaust.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004KL0OVU

Hero Tales: Part One (Limited Edition)
Directed by Tyler Walker
Product Description
For citizens of the Xian Empire, justice is a myth. Lord Keiro, the deranged Shogun of the Imperial Army, blazes a trail of terror across the countryside in search of the sacred sword that will make him a god. Standing in his way is Taito, an omnipotent star reborn in human form – a young hero who vows to use his celestial strength to avenge those slaughtered by the villainous Shogun. Taito’s mystical powers steer him toward a violent showdown with Keiro, and if used recklessly, his newfound abilities could shred the very fabric of his being. To master the art of control and become a heroic martial artist, Taito must seek the guidance of others like him: the seven star-born warriors with the strength to shatter a corrupt empire.
http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B004GZZH9Y

Hero Tales: Part Two
Directed by Tyler Walker
Product Description
Darkness settles over the Xian Empire, and Taito – an omnipotent star reborn in human form – is drawn into a cosmic clash with Lord Keiro, Shogun of the Imperial Army. Though blessed with the celestial strength to extract vengeance upon the Shogun, Taito’s heroic journey is wrought with peril. The undead minions of a villainous demon haunt his every step, and a shocking betrayal shakes the fellowship of noble star-warriors to its very core. As Keiro’s lust for power transforms him into a bloodthirsty monster, Taito will realize that his strength alone is not great enough to defeat the Shogun. With the prophesized final showdown between good and evil looming, Taito must draw upon the combined powers of his star-born comrades to defeat Keiro and shatter a corrupt empire!
http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B004GZZH6C

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part 4 [Blu-ray]
Directed by Yasuhiro Irie
Product Description
Edward and Alphonse Elric’s reckless disregard for alchemy’s fundamental laws ripped half of Ed’s limbs from his body and left Al’s soul clinging to a cold suit of armor. To restore what was lost, the brothers scour a war-torn land for the Philosopher’s Stone, a fabled relic which grants the ability to perform alchemy in impossible ways.

The Elrics are not alone in their search; the corrupt State Military is eager to harness the artifact’s power. So too are the strange Homunculi and their shadowy creator. The mythical Stone lures exotic alchemists from distant kingdoms, scarring some deeply enough to inspire murder. As the Elrics find their course altered by these enemies and allies, their purpose remains unchanged – and their bond unbreakable.
http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B004GZZGVI

Dragon Ball: Season One
From Funimation
Product Description
The greatest adventure of all time begins now! pGoku may be small, but this fearless warrior packs a punch as powerful as any on the planet. Left alone after his grandfather’s death, this unusual boy is happy to spend his days hunting and eating and eating some more. But everything changes on the day he meets Bulma – a bossy, blue-haired beauty with boys on the brain. Together, they set out to track down the seven magic Dragon Balls and make the wish that will change their lives forever.

And that’s just the beginning! Goku also spends some time on Turtle Island where he and Krillin study martial arts under the legendary Master Roshi. The old hermit may not look like much, but if his new pupils can find him a woman, he’ll make sure they’re ready to rumble at the upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament!
http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B002FOQXTQ

The Secret of the Urn (1966) Tange Sazen: Hien iaigiri (original title)
Director: Hideo Gosha
Product Description
Loyal samurai Samanosuke is attacked, mutilated, and left for dead while carrying out a mission for his clan. He recovers but has lost an eye and an arm. Taking a new identity as Tange Sazen, he searches for a stolen urn which has hidden significance to his clan. But Tange Sazen has his own reasons for seeking the urn.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=The+Secret+of+the+Urn+

Done Deal? Boneta may take 'Rock of Ages' lead

2011-04-02T15:26:00.000-07:00

Actor Diego González Boneta is slated to audition for the coveted role of Drew Bowie in Adam Shankman's film version of "Rock of Ages." Many media outlets are saying it's a done deal, but Shankman tweeted that Boneta "is auditioning" and for everyone to hold their horses.

The film is based on the Broadway musical, which starred Constantine Maroulis and features music by classic '80s rock bands like Journey, Whitesnake, Styx and Bon Jovi.

According to Playbill.com, "The film will also feature Alec Baldwin as Dennis, Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx, Julianne Hough as Sherrie Christian, Mary J. Blige as Justice, Russell Brand as Lonnie and Paul Giamatti as the manager of the rock band."

The movie is slated for a June 2012 release.

Boneta was born in Mexico City in 1990 and after appearing in a Mexican music competition he shot to fame. He's appeared in American productions of the new "Beverly Hills 90210," "Mean Girls 2" and "Pretty Little Liars." In Mexico, the teen heart throb has appeared in "Rebelde," "Don Darvelio's Secret" and "Misión S.O.S. aventura y amor."

Dallas International Film Festival

2011-03-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

The Dallas International Film Festival runs March 31 – April 10 and features films from four of our Sister City countries -- Mexico, Indonesia, Japan and Germany. Check the schedule for locations and times.

Adiós Mundo Cruel (Goodbye Cruel World) (Mexico)
Director: Jack Zagha
When a hard-working accountant is let go from his job because of the economic slump, he finds a new way of earning a living: becoming part of a criminal gang. ADIÓS MUNDO CRUEL is a creative comedy from Mexico that finds humor in a series of unfortunate events. Starring Carlos Alberto Orozco, Mónica Bejarano, José Montini, Lourdes Villarreal, Sandra Sánchez Cantú, Carlos Aragón, Justo Martínez and Pedro Gámez.
http://www.adiosmundocruel.com

Blood of Eagles (Darah garuda – Merah putih II) (Indonesia) – US PREMIERE
Director: Yadi Sugandi, Conor Allyn
An epic, action-packed intrigue thriller set in Java during Indonesia's War of Independence in 1947, BLOOD OF EAGLES follows a heroic band of guerrilla soldiers recruited to halt the construction of an enemy’s key airfield. The cast includes Doni Alamsyah, Ario Bayu and Atiqah Hasiholan.
http://bloodofeagles.com

13 Assassins (Jûsan-nin no shikaku) World Cinema (Japan) 2010, 141 mins, 35mm)
Directed By: Takashi Miike
Cast: Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada and Yûsuke Iseya
In feudal Japan, a group of unemployed samurai are enjoined to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into war. 13 ASSASSINS is a gritty, old-school samurai film that pulls no punches and isn’t shy about spilling blood.
http://www.13assassins.com

She Deserved It (Sie hat es verdient)(Germany) 2010, 89 mins, Digital Betacam)
In German with English subtitles
Directed By: Thomas Stiller
Cast: Renate Delfs, Martin Feifel, Veronica Ferres
Susanne, a protected, spoiled girl, has a crush on one of her classmates. Linda, however, is jealous and comes up with a plan for revenge. Thomas Stiller’s film is based on the real story of young adults who, for no obvious reasons, turn into cold-blooded killers.

By Day and By Night (De dia y de noche) Latino Showcase (Mexico) 2010, 95 mins, 35mm)
In Spanish with English subtitles
Directed By: Alejandro Molina
Cast: Sandra Echeverria, Manuel Balbi, Marius Biegai, Richie Mestre
After kissing a stranger in a bar, Jenna wakes up the next day to discover a nasty lesion has appeared on her lip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxeR0v4S4JE

The Future (Germany) 2011, 91 mins)
Directed By: Miranda July
Cast: Miranda July, Hamish Linklater, David Warshofsky
Sophie and Jason live in a small apartment, have jobs they hate, and in one month they'll adopt a stray cat. He'll need around-the-clock care — he may die in six months, or it may take five years. Despite their good intentions, the couple is terrified of their looming loss of freedom, so they quit their jobs, and the internet, to pursue their dreams.

Royal Wedding

2011-03-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a leap here and am assuming that actor and Swaziland native Richard E. Grant will be attending the wedding between Kate Middleton and Prince William on April 29. Grant was one of the few in attendance at the wedding between Camilla Parker-Bowles and Prince Charles in 2005.

Free Films for Fast Responders

2011-03-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Global Film Initiative is offering films for schools to be shown during World Cinema Week 2011, April 11-15, but you must apply online by March 31.

The Chinese film "Dooman River" from Director Zhang Lu is one of the offerings. "Dooman River" takes us to rural China rural. GFI says, "The story revolves around 12-year-old Chang-ho, living with his grandfather and mute sister along the frozen river-border with North Korea. Although fraught with unemployment and other tensions, his community seems sympathetic toward the Korean refugees fleeing famine and misery; Chang-ho even bonds over soccer with one young border-crosser who comes scavenging food for a sibling. But he soon turns on his new friend as suspicions mount against the illegal immigrants and his sister reels from unexpected aggression, provoking a quandary over his loyalties in an exquisitely detailed story of compassion and strife across an uneasy geopolitical border."

Click here for full details and registration.

Indonesian Casting Call Girls

2011-03-29T13:56:00.001-07:00

The New York Times has an interesting article on a controversial casting practice in Indonesia. Apparently Japanese porn stars, such as Sora Aoi, are being cast in Indonesian films to draw larger audiences. The public is paying top dollar to see these clothed actresses in hooror flicks.

Indonesia has one of the largest Muslim populations in Asia, and the government often takes a conservative stance on film industry issues. Obviously not all directors follow the practice.

Read the full story via the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/world/asia/29indonesia.html?_r=1.

This Just in ... 3.29.11

2011-03-29T10:37:00.001-07:00

This week’s DVDs. If we can’t watch ‘em in the theater, we’ll watch ‘em at home. Look for them at Amazon, Netlfix, RedBox, Blockbuster.

The Vanquished (I Vinti) (1953)
Anna-Maria Ferrero (Actor), Franco Interlenghi (Actor), Michelangelo Antonioni (Director) | Rated: Unrated | Format: DVD
Product DescriptionDirector Michelangelo Antonioni's unique triptych film features three murders, one taking place in Paris, another in Rome, and another in London. All of the perpetrators are affluent youths, each killing for his own dubious motive. In the France segment, a group of adolescents kill for money, even though they don't need it. In the London segment, a poet uncovers a woman's body and tries to profit from the discovery. And in the Italian segment, a student becomes caught up in a smuggling ring, with deadly results. Though each crime is investigated, the guilty are rarely singled out for their actions.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004H0M2WI/comingsoon

Silent Naruse
A five-film collection from Japanese director Mikio Naruse released by Criterion Collection. The collection includes “Flunky, Work Hard” (1931); “No Blood Relation” (1932); “Apart From You” (1933); “Every-Night Dreams” (1933); and “Street Without End” (1934).
Product DescriptionMikio Naruse is one of the most popular directors in the history of Japanese cinema, a crafter of heartrending melodramas often compared with the work of Yasujiro Ozu and Kenji Mizoguchi. From the outset of his career, with his silent films of the early thirties, Naruse focused on characters, mostly women—geisha, housewives, waitresses—carrying on despite the compromises and disappointments of confined daily lives, a subject that would continue to fascinate him for the next three decades. Though he made two dozen silent films, only five are known to exist today; these works—poignant, brilliantly photographed and edited dramas all—are collected here, on DVD for the first time and featuring new scores by noted musicians Robin Holcomb and Wayne Horvitz.
http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/789-eclipse-series-26-silent-naruse

Sgt. Frog: Season One
Directed by Jamie Marchi
Product DescriptionKeroro is Sergeant Frog - the leader of a platoon of warriors sent to conquer planet Earth. But when the amphibious invaders discovered how much humans enjoy dissecting their comrades, the troops were scattered, the mission was aborted, and Keroro was abandoned. Now, this once proud soldier spends more time wielding a vacuum than he does the weapons of war. It's a far cry from the glory of battle, but hey, at least he's got his own room. And though the invasion may have slowed to a hop, Sergeant Frog still occasionally yearns to overcome his karaoke addiction and reassemble his troops. Watch out world, the frogs are taking over. 26 episodes on 4 dvds.
http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B0049TC8DA

Linebarrels of Iron: The Complete Series (Seasons 1, 2 and OVA) Directed by Caitlin Glass
Product DescriptionKouichi dreams of being a hero, but in reality, he’s a punching bag for every bully on the block. His life flatlines when the mysteriously naked Emi crash lands on his pitiful existence, thrusting Kouichi into the middle of an intergalactic showdown between rival races of self-regenerating Machinas. Through his death-bed partnership with the Linebarrel mecha, Kouichi gains the strength to stand up to his tormentors and crush the alien invasion force that’s determined to conquer Earth. There’s just one problem. All this newfound power and special attention from nearly-naked babes is turning Kouichi into a jerk. His friends can’t stand him, he makes his dream girl sick, and those aliens want to kill him extra dead! Kouichi may have the mechanized muscle to save the world, but he has much to learn about being a true “Hero of Justice”.
http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B004GZZH8K

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone
Directed by Hideaki Anno
Product DescriptionThe stunning rebuild of the anime masterpiece is now extended and enhanced with never before seen new animation and 266 visual and audio improvements. Tokyo-3 still stands after most of civilization was decimated in the Second Impact. Now the city endures the ceaseless onslaught of the deadly Angels, bizarre creatures bent on eradicating the human race. To combat this strange and ruthless enemy, the government agency NERV constructs a fleet of towering humanoid machines – the Evas – and Shinji Ikari is called into action, reluctantly taking his place at the controls of Eva Unit 01. Living a life of loneliness and questioning his existence, Shinji struggles to accept responsibility for mankind’s battle for survival in this visually striking rebuild of one of the most important anime of all time. Shinji will fight the Angels alongside the only person who might understand his plight – Rei Ayanami, the elusive and frail pilot of Eva Unit 00. In this film experience not to be missed, Shinji and Rei will struggle to learn a simple truth: when carrying the burden of humanity’s survival on your shoulders, you are not alone.
http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B0030ZOYJ0

Evangelion: 2.22 You Can [Not] Advance
Directed by Mike McFarland, Hideaki Anno Product DescriptionThe landmark anime Evangelion evolves, reaching new heights of intensity in the feature film: Evangelion 2.22. In this explosive new story, brutal action and primal emotion clash as a group of young pilots maneuver their towering cyborg Eva Units into combat against a deadly and disturbing enemy. In the battle to prevent the apocalyptic Third Impact, Shinji and Rei were forced to carry humanity's hopes on their shoulders. Now, as the onslaught of the bizarre, monstrous Angels escalates, they find their burden shared by two new Eva pilots, the fiery Asuka and the mysterious Mari. In this thrilling experience for fans of giant robot destruction, the young pilots fight desperately to save mankind - and struggle to save themselves.
http://astore.amazon.com/funreleaseschedule-20/detail/B004EC5I

Mexican Ariel Award nominees announced

2011-03-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

"Abel", "Chicogrande" and "El infierno" (Hell) were nominated for Best Picture in the 2011 Premio Ariel (Ariel Awards) presented by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences. "El inferno" received 14 nominations, "Chicogrande" received eight nominations and "Abel" received seven nominations.

The award ceremony will be May 7 at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.

Best Director
Felipe Cazals, Chicogrande
Luis Estrada, El infierno (Hell)
Diego Luna, Abel

Best Actress
Karina Gidi, Abel
Mónica del Carmen, Año bisiesto (Leap Year)
Maricel Álvarez, Biutiful
Úrsula Pruneda, Las buenas hierbas (The Good Herbs)

Best Actor
Javier Bardem, Biutiful
Damián Alcázar, El infierno (Hell)
Demián Bichir, Hidalgo, la historia jamás contada (Hidalgo, the Untold Story)
Hansel Ramírez, La mitad del mundo (Half the World)

Best Supporting Actress
María Rojo, El infierno (Hell)
Carolina Politti, Hidalgo, la historia jamás contada (Hidalgo, the Untold Story)
Luisa Huertas, La mitad del mundo (Half the World)
Ofelia Medina, Las buenas hierbas (The Good Herbs)

Best Supporting Actor
Daniel Martínez, Chicogrande
Ernesto Gómez Cruz, El infierno (Hell)
Joaquín Cosio, El infierno (Hell)
Juan Ignacio Aranda, Hidalgo, la historia jamás contada (Hidalgo, the Untold Story)

Best Newcomer
Cristopher Ruiz-Esparza, Abel
Gerardo Ruiz-Esparza, Abel
Natan Machado Palombini, Alamar (To the Sea)Iván Rafael González, Chicogrande

'Carried Away' screening in Fort Worth

2011-03-23T22:21:00.000-07:00

Fort Worth’s Tom Huckabee will present a screening of his film “Carried Away” at 7 p.m., Friday, March 25 at Photosphere Micro Gallery, 3023 Lackland Road, Fort Worth.

The semiautobiographical film tells the story of a Fort Worth man who returns from Hollywood to find his grandmother has been placed in a nursing home against her will. The young man decides to spring his granny and take her back to Los Angeles. Soon his family begins a cross-country chase to stop the two.

The film has a couple film festival awards to its credit and is a great local film.

If you’re interested in attending the “donations requested” showing, contact Hucakbee on Facebook. A director’s Q&A will follow.

Plus Tom’s a nice guy. Check it out.

Fifth Annual Asian Film Awards

2011-03-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

South Korea won five awards at the Fifth Asian Film Awards, but the Thai film “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives” was named Best Film at the March 21 awards ceremony in Hong Kong.

The Thai film bested “Aftershock” (Mainland China/Hong Kong), “Confessions” (Japan), “Let the Bullets Fly” (Mainland China/Hong Kong), “Peepli Live” (India) and “Poetry” (South Korea) in the annual competition.

Korea won Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Editing

The winners were
BEST FILM – UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES (Thailand)
BEST DIRECTOR — LEE Chang-dong / POETRY (South Korea)
BEST ACTOR — HA Jung-woo / THE YELLOW SEA (South Korea)
BEST ACTRESS – XU Fan / AFTERSHOCK (Mainland China / Hong Kong)
BEST NEWCOMER – Mark CHAO You-Ting / MONGA (Taiwan)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – Sammo HUNG Kam-po / IP MAN 2 (Hong Kong)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – YOON Yeo-jeong / THE HOUSEMAID (South Korea)
BEST SCREENPLAY – LEE Chang-dong / POETRY (South Korea)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER – Mark LEE Ping-Bin / NORWEGIAN WOOD (Japan)
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGNER – HAYASHIDA Yuji / 13 ASSASSINS (Japan)
BEST MUSIC SCORE – Indian Ocean / PEEPLI LIVE (India)
BEST EDITING – NAM Na-young / I SAW THE DEVIL (South Korea)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – Phil JONES, ZHANG Yan-ming / AFTERSHOCK (Mainland China/ Hong Kong)
BEST COSTUME DESIGNER – William CHANG Suk-ping / LET THE BULLETS FLY (Mainland China / Hong Kong)

This Just In ... New DVDs

2011-03-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

This week’s DVDs. If we can’t watch ‘em in the theater, we’ll watch ‘em at home. Look for them at Amazon, Netlfix, RedBox, Blockbuster.

The Perfume of the Lady in Black (Il Profumo della Signora in Nero) – 1974
Directed by Francesco Barilli
Starring: Mimsy Farmer, Maurizio Bonuglia
Italian
Promotional Notes: Mimsy Farmer portrays Sylvia, a chemist who begins to suffer from strange visions. She sees a mysterious woman in black applying perfume in a mirror, strangers following her everywhere she goes, and a ghostly little girl reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, who may be Sylvia herself as a child. It turns out that Sylvia stabbed her mother's sexually abusive boyfriend to death long ago, and now her visions are driving her to madness and cleaver-murders. The other possibility, however, is that literally all of Sylvia's friends are Satanists conspiring to cause her suicide. This is a remarkable film, weaving reality, fantasy and memory into an almost seamless fabric to dizzying and poetic effect.
Buy or rent it: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004H0M34A

Filmies says: “Who doesn’t love a good cleaver-weilding chemist movie?”

Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne: The Complete Series (Classic)
Directed by Christopher Bevins
Funimation: Anime
Promotional Notes: Rin Asogi is an immortal private detective with a thirst for vodka and a talent for attracting things that go bump in the night. In a series of nightmarish vignettes spanning sixty-five years, Rin’s lush body is sadistically pierced, blown up, and mulched to a bloody pulp. The fiend behind her tortured existence is Apos, an eternal being obsessed with sacrificing Rin to Yggdrasil, the tree of all life. While Rin struggles to unravel the secrets of her endless agony, Apos lurks in the shadows, eager to tear into her ripe body and devour the memories of her countless lives. Rin’s no stranger to the realm of the dead, but her next visit could last forever.
Buy or rent it: http://blog.funimation.com/release-schedule/

Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - Season Two
Directed by Monica Rial
Funimation: Anime
Promotional Notes: Kenichi’s a lot tougher than he used to be – living in a dojo with six martial arts masters will do that to you. But thanks to his reputation as a skilled fighter, the guy’s got more problems than ever.
The goons in Ragnarok are gunning for him in a big way, especially the gang’s leaders: the Eight Fists, a dangerously unpredictable crew known to play dirty. Luckily, Kenichi’s got allies like Miu by his side. She’s as tough as she is hot, and even if he still hasn’t scored with the blonde brawler, her very presence makes Kenichi train harder to be the best. Yeah, he’s come a long way – but Kenichi’s fight to be the mightiest disciple isn’t over yet.
Buy or rent it: http://blog.funimation.com/release-schedule/

Dubai Festival Focuses on German Film & Financing

2011-03-10T22:08:00.000-08:00

The Dubai International Film Festival, slated for Dec. 7-14, will focus on German film providing a valuable opportunity for producers.

In addition to showcasing contemporary German cinema and talent, the In Focus: Germany presentation will also introduce German producers, distributors, sales agents, studios, scouts, festivals and development agencies to their counterparts in Dubai and the wider Arab world.

“German organizations, producers and investors from The World Cinema Fund to ZDF/Arte have long supported filmmakers from around the Arab world through co-productions, funding, broadcast and knowledge sharing, and this year’s DIFF focus is both a recognition of their valuable support and an effort to boost these collaborations,” said DIFF Managing Director Shivani Pandya said in a release.

Read the full release here.

Bela Tarr's Win at Berlinale Comes with Strings

2011-03-10T21:50:00.000-08:00

Following his win a the Berlin International Film Festival, Hungarian Director Bela Tarr reportedly told a German newspaper, "The government hates intellectuals because they are liberal and oppositional. It has insulted us as traitors."

Days later her recanted in the Hungarian media, only to change his tune again several days later.

Tarr and other artists have accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban of forcing film production companies into bankruptcy and Cultural Warfare.

Tarr's film "The Turin Horse" won the Silver Bear at the Berlin fest, and later Hungarian film distributor MOKEP-Pannonia canceled plans to distribute the film.

Read more here.

Del Toro Debuts Dreamworks Trailers

2011-03-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

Mexican Director Guillermo del Toro debuted the trailers for his first films as a creative consultant for Dreamworks. The animated films "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "Puss in Boots" will hit theaters this year.

"Kung Fu Panda 2" features the return of comedian Jack Black in the title role and premieres May 26. "Puss in Boots" extends the "Shrek" franchise Nov. 4 and stars Antonio Banderas, reprising his role as Puss.

Watch the trailers: "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "Puss in Boots."

Hungarian Film Fest gets go ahead

2011-03-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

The Motion Picture Public Foundation of Hungary (MMKA) announced that Hungarian Film Week is now slated for May 5-8.

The dates for the troubled film festival have moved several times, but the MMKA appears to have gotten a handle on the event. Organizers are now accepting and reviewing submissions. An announcement on showcase films is expected closer to the event.

The details are spelled out in the non-English version of the festival site.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the story earlier this week.

Mexican film ban overturned

2011-03-09T19:55:00.000-08:00

A Mexican appeals court ruled that the governnment's decision to pull a documentary film from theaters violates freedom of information.

The film "Presumed Guilty," which became Mexico's all-time grossing documentary, details the wrongful conviction of Antonio Zuniga. But the Mexican government sought it's removal because one of the people featured in the film did not give his consent to use trial footage. The producers said the public venue did not require permission.

Human rights groups and some Mexican legislators decried the ban. Read more about the case in this article from The Guardian.

Mexican Documentary Censored

2011-03-07T22:08:00.000-08:00

The popular Mexican documentary "Presumed Guilty" is being forced out of theaters by the Mexican government. The film covers the 2005 murder trial of Antonio Zuniga, whose conviction was later overturned.

The government claims producers did not receive permission to use footage of an individual from the trial. But the producers say the footage was filmed during a public portion of the trial.

Human rights activists and Mexican legislators are decrying the films censorship.

Read more in this Hollywood Reporter article.

Give Indonesian Film A Chance

2011-03-06T14:00:00.000-08:00

Over the last couple of weeks the Indonesian film industry and government have been feuding over film subsidies.

I don't understand the ins and outs -- nor for that matter the players -- of the local market.
The Jakarta Globe put together a series looking at the issue, film history and reader feedback.

It gave me a little more understanding and also helped me find a couple more films to research.

Give Indonesia Films a Chance

Indonesian Films That Give Reel Satisfaction

Subsidies from Government

Hollywood Film Ban Debate

Pozsgai Film in Dallas

2011-03-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

The Hungarian Multicultural Center in Dallas will host Director Zsolt Pozsgai's "The Earth's Lover" at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 19.

Pozsgai is a Europa Prize winning playwright, theatre and film director. He was born in 1960, Pecs, Hungary. "The Earth's Lover" is about the maker of world-famous porcelain of Pecs, the inventor of eosin, Vilmos Zsolnay. It's a story from Hungary which takes place at the end of the 19th century.

Indonesian Film Industry & Government at Odds Over Funding

2011-03-02T20:24:00.001-08:00

The Indonesian film industry and the Indonesian government are at odds over a program in which the government would provide funding for films that "instill love to the nation, raise patriotism and national defense."

Director Joko Anwar, told the Jakarta Globe, "If the ministry only subsidizes films that improve patriotism, it would actually just foster the creation of bad patriotic movies. Filmmakers will try to meet the criteria needed to get the subsidy instead of focusing their creative efforts on producing a quality film."

Click here to read more from the article.

'Biutiful' at the Academy Awards

2011-02-20T06:36:00.000-08:00

Only 'Biutiful' made it through from our Sister Cities countries to the final five nominees at this year's Academy Awards. However it's really a Spanish film directed by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Iinarritu. That's not to say it isn't an amazing film and Javier Bardem probably deserves the Academy Award for his performance.

Generally the purpose of this blog is to talk about the culture of our eight Sister City countries as portrayed in film. A similar situation happened a few years ago with Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labrinth."

If you can find "Biutiful" in a theater, go see it. It is a dark, often depressing film. but the performances are amazing and there are many interesting production elements. I love the scene in which Bardem crosses a bridge in the city and the camera pans to a foreboding flock of birds sweeping and diving the city and its inhabitants below. Are they birds or spirits?

Watch the trailer.

The Baader Meinhof Complex

2010-10-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to watching this film.
I had no idea this antiestablishment terrorist organization existed. It had some thrilling moments, but at points felt like "and then this happened and then this happened ..." I was looking for something more along the lines of "The Lives of Others," which was amazing.
I don't have any political or historical reference for this film, so it felt mostly like a documentary.
It's still worth a watch. But I wouldn't put it at the top of your Netflix list.

Tivo & Netflix partnership makes foreign film watching easy, even in Fort Worth

2009-03-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

So I found a solution to finding foreign films no matter where you live. Through a partnership, you can instantly watch many Netlflix films on your Tivo. (Blockbuster just announced a similar arrangement, but I don't know the details.)

I also found out through Tivo that you can watch You Tube films on your TV. The quality is not so hot, but you can get access to a lot of films that just aren't available.

During the planning for the Lone Star International Film Festival two years ago, I was trying to get "Kala: Dead Time" as the representative from Indonesia. We never came to terms, and I could never get a screener or view the film. But this week I found in on You Tube and finally go to watch it. Cool film and would have been great to premiere in Fort Worth.

On Netflix I recently watched "Without the King," "The Counterfeiters" and "Rape of Europa".

"Without the King" gives an interesting perspective on the lives of folks in Swaziland. I don't have any idea how accurate it is.

"Rape of Europa" is a great documentary about theft of artwork across Europe during World War II. It's amazing the lengths people went to to save art from theft and destruction. Check it out.

Asian Film Awards

2009-03-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

The Japanese film "Tokyo Sonata" won the top award and best screenwriting at the third annual Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong.

Masahiro Motoki" Masahiro Motoki won the best actor award for his work in "Departures," which won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film last month. Director Hirokazu Koreeda Hirokazu Kore-eda was honored for his work on "Still Walking."

Other Best Picture nominees were Chen Kaige's Peking Opera film "Forever Enthralled," Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's "Ponyo on the Cliff," Director John Woo's Chinese historical epic "Red Cliff" and Indonesia's "The Rainbow Troops."

"Rainbow Troops" (Laskar pelangi) premiered at Berlinale in the Panorama division. "Departures" won nine Awards of the Japanese Academy in addition to the Oscar. The animated "Ponyo on the Cliff (Gake no ue no Ponyo)" featured an all-star cast with the voices of Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin and Betty White. "Forever Enthralled (Mei Lanfang)" lead actor Kaige Chen was nominated for a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Tivo/Netflix Revelations

2009-03-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

So my foreign film watching has escalated ever since I found out you could instantly watch Netflix movies on Tivo.

You can start watching and pause and go on with your life and eventually get around to watching a full movie. Nice to know when you've got kids.

Here are a couple films I found.

Without the King (Swaziland) -- There aren't a lot of Swazi films out there.

My Brother is an Only Child (Italy) -- Still proud to say I brought this to Fort Worth for the film festival two years ago.

Paprika (Japan) -- Better on the big screen.

Kontroll (Hungary) -- Haven't been able to watch yet.

Academy Awards: Foreign Language Nominees Announced

2009-01-25T09:19:00.001-08:00

Two of our Sister City countries received nominations for their film entries in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Germany's "Der Baader Meinhof Komplex" (The Baader Meinhof Complex) and Japan's "Okuribito

おくりびと" (Departures) received nominations. Other nominees were France's "Entre les murs" (The Class), Austria's "Revanche", and Israel's "Vals Im Bashir" (Waltz with Bashir).

"Waltz with Bashir" is playing in Dallas at the Angelika.

The rest, we'll have to wait to see.

Mexico submitted "Arrancame La Vida" (Tear This Heart Out). The film made the semifinals, but failed to make the final cut. Italy submitted "Gomorra". As far as I can tell Indonesia had no submission, which is sad because the country is one of only six to receive three or more nominations over the last decade. Controversy has plagued the Indonesia film selection process over the last couple of years.

Academy Award Update

2008-09-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

Submissions for Best Foreign Film are due to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scienes by Oct. 1.

So far 21 submissions have been announced and the submissions from three of our seven Sister City countries are in.

Germany has submitted “The Baader Meinhof Complex” (Der Baader Meinhof Komplex) directed by Uli Edel. The film stars

Hungary has submitted “Iska’s Journey” (Iszka utazása) directed by Csaba Bollók.

Japan has submitted “Departures” (Okuribito)directed by Yojiro Takita.

Mexico is considering 11 films to represent the country: Arrancame La Vida, Cochochi, Cumbia Callera, Déficit, Dos Abrazos, El Viaje de la Nonna, Familia Tortuga, La Zona, Lake Tahoe (film), Partes Usadas and Quemar Las Naves.

AMPAS awards the Best Foreign Language Film to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue. The diaglog, however, does not have to be the native language of that country. An AMPAS committee reviews submissions and generally narrows the list of submissions by late fall. Then nominees will be announced Jan. 22, 2009, with the winner announced at the Feb. 22 awards ceremony in Hollywood.

Edge of Heaven in Center of Dallas

2008-09-11T05:33:00.000-07:00

Fatih Akin's Lola Award-winning film has rolled into Dallas at the Angelika. The film was Germany's nominee for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, edging out one of my favorites of 2008 -- "Four Minutes."

I haven't seen "Edge" but Star-Telegram film critic Christopher Kelley told me at the time that this was a film worthy of accolades.

Akin is no stranger to the award circuit. "Edge of Heaven" received the best screenplay award at Cannes 2007 and he previously was recognized at Cannes for his film "Head-On."

So head on over to the Angelika this weekend and check out Akin's latest.

Trailer

Edge of Heaven

Directed by : Fatih Akin

From the director of Head-On andCrossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul.

Nejat initially disapproves of his widower father Ali`s choice of prostitute Yeter for a live-in girlfriend. But the young professor warms to her when he learns that most of her hard-earned money is sent home to Turkey for her daughter’s university studies. After Yeter`s accidental death, Nejat travels to Istanbul to search for Yeter`s daughter Ayten. Political activist Ayten has fled the Turkish police and is already in Germany. She is befriended by a young woman, Lotte, who invites rebellious Ayten to stay in her home, much to the displeasure of her conservative mother, Susanne. When Ayten is arrested and her asylum plea denied, she is deported and imprisoned in Turkey. Passionate Lotte abandons everything to help Ayten. A tragic event brings Susanne to Istanbul to help fulfill her daughter`s mission.

Winner – Best Screenplay Award, Cannes Film Festival 2007.
Winner – Best Screenplay Award, European Film Awards 2007.
Winner – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing 2008 German Film Awards (LOLA)

Hungary Wins Tax Breaks

2008-09-10T05:23:00.000-07:00

Last year I wrote a lot about Hungary's efforts to pass tax breaks for film production and the impact it would have on the booming studio business, particularly in Budapest.

Well those breaks passed the final hurdle recently with EU approval.

John Nadler's article in Variety gives the full story.

Tax breaks set stage for Hungary
Local industry to benefit from ECC approval
by John Nadler

BUDAPEST -- After months of uncertainty the Hungarian film industry
breathed a sigh of relief following a recent European Commission (EC)
decision to approve its tax-incentive program.
Industry insiders admit there was concern the EC might not ratify an
amended Hungarian Film Law passed in June because of its tax scheme.

But Brussels surprised Hungarian producers by ratifying the 20% rebate
contained in the original law, and ordering Budapest to extend tax
incentives to include costs incurred by productions while shooting outside
Hungary.

"Frankly, I think the new scheme is an improvement," says Andras Simonyi,
chairman of Korda Filmstudio, Hungary's largest studio complex, located
just west of Budapest. "In this competitive world, the expanded incentives
(of national and foreign tax deductions) are a good combination."

El Orfanato

2008-09-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

It's been months since I last posted -- I feel like this is a confessional.

While on a vacation to Miami recently, I pursuaded my wife to watch 'El Orfanato' the Spanish film with a connection to Del Torro that I haven't quite figured out.

Anyway, my wife can't stop talking about it and recommending it.

It's a great film, out on DVD now.

It's in the vein of old thriller movies. Not bloody and not hokey. A great, enjoyable film.

So check it out.

Academy Award nominees announced: Where are my selections?

2008-01-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

Academy Award nominations were delivered today with an odd result for foreign films. The awards will be Feb. 24 and Sister Cities will host a watching party at the Shamrock on West Seventh Street in Fort Worth, located between the Cultural District and Downtown.

After pouring over films the last year in preparation for the Fort Worth Sister Cities Film Series, I thought I was becoming an expert. So what do I know?

The films I thought were shoe-ins for nominations based on buzz and previous awards were bypassed in the category – although some did receive nominations in other fields.

None of our Sister City countries faired well in the nominations – and I still think Germany would have been better served to have entered “Four Minutes” into the competition rather than “Auf der andere Seite” (The Edge of Heaven).

Best Foreign Language Film nominees are: “Beaufort” from Israel, “Die Fälscher” (The Counterfeiters) from Austria, “Mongol” from Kazakhstan, “12” from Russia and “Katyn” from Poland.
I had assumed that Romania's Palme d'Or winner “4 luni, 3 saptamini si 2 zile” (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) and France's animated hit film “Persepolis” would have made the final cut.

The nine films that made the cut to the semifinals included Austria's “Die Fälscher” (The Counterfeiters); Russia's 12; Italy's “La sconosciuta” (The Unknown Woman); Poland's “Katyn”; Serbia's “Klopka” (The Trap); Romania's “4 luni, 3 saptamini si 2 zile” (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days); France's “Persepolis”; Spain's “El orfanato” (The Orphanage); Germany's “Auf der andere Seite” (The Edge of Heaven); Brazil’s “O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias” (The Year My Parents Went on Vacation); Kazakhstan’s “Mongol” ; Israel's “Beaufort “and Canada's “L'age des ténèbres” (Days of Darkness).

In other categories French Edith Piaf biopic “La môme” (La Vie en Rose) had three nominations: for Best Actress (Marion Cotillard), Best Makeup and Best Costume Design. The France-USA “Le scaphandre et le papillon” (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) had four nominations, including a Best Director for Julian Schnabel, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay. “Persepolis”, another France-USA film was nominated for Best Animated Feature.

Opera Jawa Bows in NYC

2008-01-17T17:13:00.000-08:00

If you’re in the NYC area you might want to check out Opera Jawa the Indonesian fantasy movie that retells the Hindu epic “The Ramayana.” The 2006 film was reviewed this week by the NYTimes.

We had hoped to make the film part of the FWSCI Film Series last November, but couldn’t come to terms with the distributor. It probably won’t be playing anywhere in North Texas, so you’ll have to wait for it to arrive on DVD.

The film has been a hit at festivals around the world and features Javanese dancer Eko Supriyanto.

This Just In: New Releases

2008-01-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

The Tiger and the Snow (La Tigre e la neve), 2005, directed by Roberto Benigni, Italy
Borrowing a bit from the plot of his Oscar-winning film Life Is Beautiful, Italian actor-director Roberto Benigni plays a romantic poet who vows to follow his love (Benigni's real-life wife, Nicoletta Braschi) to the ends of the earth -- even if that means going to Iraq at the dawn of the American invasion. Skirting political bias, Benigni's whimsical comedy presents a world in which all camps are absurd. French actor Jean Reno co-stars.

Holy Mountain (La Montaña Sagrada), 1973, directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky, Mexico
Avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky weaves a grotesque tale rich in allegory and sacrilegious imagery as a thief (Horácio Salinas) is first crucified, then enlisted by an alchemist (Jodorowsky) to join a group of elites who seek divinity and immortality. Juan Ferrara, Adriana Page, Richard Rutowski, Valerie Jodorowsky, Zamira Saunders and Ana De Sade also star in this surreal mind trip.

Sansho the Bailiff (Sanshô dayû), 1954, directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, Japan
After deliberately disobeying a cruel feudal lord, a governor and his family are exiled and forced to fight for their survival, standing up to a pack of slave drivers determined to capture them and tear them apart. Extras include interviews with Japanese film critics Tadao Sato, Tokuzo Tanaka and Kyoko Kagawa, who discuss the influential work of director Kenji Mizoguchi and the film's status as a cinematic masterpiece.

El Topo, 1970, directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky, Mexico
In this surreal Western, avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky uses allegory and religious iconography to tell the story of a gunfighter, El Topo (Jodorowsky), who wanders the desert on an odyssey seeking enlightenment. But first, he must defeat four master gunfighters and dig a tunnel to free a colony of deformed underground dwellers from their dark confines. This experimental film reached cult status as the first of the "midnight movies."

The Burmese Harp, 1956, directed by Kon Ichikawa, Japan
Set during World War II's last days, this indelible antiwar drama chronicles a Japanese soldier's transformation after coming face to face with the human cost of war. Sent to inform another platoon the war is over, Cpl. Mizushima (Shôji Yasui) can't persuade the men to surrender and becomes the lone survivor when the British attack. But the casualties he sees on the way to rejoin his unit overwhelm Mizushima, and he soon finds a higher calling.

Woman in the Dunes (Suna No Onna), 1964, directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara, Japan
Hiroshi Teshigahara's award-winning drama centers on a bug expert (Eiji Okada) conducting research who's captured by locals. Held captive in a sandpit with a young widow, he struggles with his imprisonment -- and his growing attraction to the woman (Kyôko Kishida). Based on Kobo Abe's novel, the provocatively erotic allegorical film earned the Cannes Special Jury Prize and two Oscar nominations.

Casshern (Kasshân), 2004, Japan
After decades of warfare, Earth has become a toxic wasteland, and the survivors are slowly dying from a terrible disease. Dr. Azuma (Yusuke Iseya) has developed a genetic treatment that might help regenerate the population, but his experiment goes horribly wrong. Inadvertently creating a race of mutants that threaten the future of mankind, Dr. Azuma must seek an unlikely ally to help defeat the monsters he's created in this sci-fi adventure.

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (Onna Ga Kaidan Wo Agaru Toki), 1960, directed by Mikio Naruse, Japan
From acclaimed Japanese director Mikio Naruse comes this somber and moving tale of Keiko (Hideko Takamine), a middle-aged bar hostess who entertains businessmen after work in the postwar Ginza district of Tokyo. Soon, she finds herself at an unwelcome crossroads -- marry a rich client or buy a bar of her own. Naruse, in one of his most socially conscious films, examines the system that traps Keiko in this dehumanizing and merciless lifestyle.

Fires on the Plain (Nobi), 1959, directed by Kon Ichikawa, Japan
In director Kon Ichikawa's harrowing film set in the Philippines during World War II, a Japanese soldier, his emotional and physical resources nearly depleted, endures the vicissitudes of war. Ichikawa, whom some cineastes say was as talented as his better-known contemporaries, including Akira Kurosawa and Kenji Mizoguchi, had a way with infusing light in the darkest places.

Train Man: Densha Otoko (Densha Otoko), 2005, directed by Masanori Murakami, Japan
While riding the train, a desperate geek meets the girl of his dreams, prompting the socially deprived but brave young nerd to start a chat room thread asking his faceless Internet compatriots, "How do you talk to girls?" The courtship advice he receives from his online pals -- and what he does with their expert counsel -- form the basis for this charming romantic comedy, a love story for the 21st century.

Requiem, 2006, directed by Hans-Christian Schmid, Germany
Set in 1970s Germany, this taut drama from director Hans-Christian Schmid follows troubled 21-year-old Michaela Klingler (Sandra Huller), a devout Catholic whose epilepsy results in a tragic exorcism. Michaela is determined to get a college education regardless of her condition, but the pressures of school and sexual awakenings give rise to seizures that she ascribes to demonic possession. Based on a true story, the film also stars Imogen Kogge.

Verdict on Auschwitz (The Frankfurt Auschwitz Trial 1963-1965), 1993, directed by Rolf Bickel and Dietrich Wagner, Germany
Twenty-two former members of Hitler's SS, many of whom had carved out comfortable lives for themselves in postwar West Germany, stood trial in 1963 before 360 witnesses who accused them of murdering millions. This riveting, heartbreaking documentary re-creates the momentous Frankfurt trial. Filmmakers Rolf Bickel and Dietrich Wagner build the film around taped testimony from more than 200 Auschwitz survivors.

Antibodies (Antikörper), 2005, directed by Christian Alvart, Germany
After confessed killer Gabriel Engel (André Hennicke) is captured, small-town cop Michael Martens (Wotan Wilke Möhring) interrogates him, hoping a journey into the madman's twisted mind will give clues to an unsolved murder committed in the same heinous manner as Gabriel's crimes. Gabriel claims to know the killer's identity but turns the investigation into a psychological game, leaving Michael questioning his own sanity in this German thriller.

Equinox Flower (Higanbana), 1958, directed by Yasujiro Ozu, Japan
In his first color film, acclaimed director Yasujiro Ozu explores the tension between modern romance and family tradition in postwar Japanese society. A prosperous businessman (Shin Saburi) with a reputation for doling out sound, objective relationship advice to his friends finds it difficult to practice what he preaches when his oldest daughter (Ineko Arima) announces her engagement to a man he doesn't like.

Late Autumn (Akibiyori), 1963, directed by Yasujiro Ozu, Japan
Acclaimed director Yasujiro Ozu explores the flipside of the traditional mother-daughter bond in this touching family comedy set in postwar Japan. Reluctant to marry and leave her widowed mother (Setsuko Hara) all alone, a dutiful daughter (Yôko Tsukasa) resists selecting a suitor. But her late father's friends, who are eager to see both women happy, insist on stepping in to play matchmaker.

Reincarnation, 2006, directed by Takashi Shimizu, Japan
A Japanese actress (Yûka) comes face to face with a slew of restless spirits when she signs on to star in a horror film -- the true story of a crazed professor's murderous rampage that left 11 victims, including his young daughter, in its wake -- being shot at the very site where the grisly killings took place. J-horror master Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge) directs this darkly mesmerizing tale of crime, punishment and redemption.

Suo Wins Kinma Junpo; 'Tokyo Tower' Leads Nippon Awards Nominations

2008-01-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

Courtroom drama I Just Didn't Do it, poised for more wins.

The Japanese magazine Kinema Junpo has named its 2007 best picture. I Just Didn’t Do It (Soredemo boku wa yattenai) is a courtroom drama by Masayuki Suo, known for the light-hearted Shall We Dance. The award was presented in a ceremony this week.

The drama is about a young man falsely accused of molesting a high-school girl on a train. He is arrested and charged, and goes through endless court sessions, all the while insisting that he is innocent.

Suo also won the Kinema Junpo top director prize, and I Just Didn’t Do It was Japan’s submission for Best Foreign Film in this year’s Academy Award Competition.

Kinema Junpo is the oldest film magazine in Japan and it’s award is considered one of the most prestigious, according to Variety.

Nominees for the Nippon Academy Association’s Best Film Awards were announced last
onth and will be presented Feb. 15. The Nippon is Japan’s version of Hollywood’s Academy Award’s.

Best picture nominees are: I Just Didn’t Do It (11 nominations); Tokyo Tower, Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad (13 nominations); Always 2 (12 nominations) and Kisaragi; and Bizan. (I’m having trouble finding out much about Kisaragi and Bizan. When I find out more, I’ll report back.)

Edge of Akin

2008-01-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

Fatih Akin’s Edge of Heaven gets the star treatment in the New York Times. Check out the article. Edge of Heaven was Germany’s entrant for Best Foreign Film in this year’s Academy Award competition.

There’s also a good feature about Akin on German Films web site.

2007 The List

2007-12-30T07:38:00.000-08:00

Everyone does a top 10 list. I’m following suit, but I’m also doing my list of movies I missed out on for 2007. Some weren’t available in my area, and some I just never got around to.

I’m not ranking the films in any particular order (mostly because I keep changing my mind).

Here’s looking forward to 2008 and maybe catching up!

My Top Movies for 2007

Pan’s Labyrinth – Mexico

Babel – Mexico

Lives of Others – Germany

Four Minutes – Germany

El Violin – Mexico

Hands Off Mississippi – Germany

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer – Germany

Paprika – Japan

My Brother is an Only Child (Mio fratello è figlio unico) – Italy

Children of Men – Mexico

Love For Share – Indonesia

Films I missed out on in 2007

Memories of Matsuka – Japan

Yella – Germany

Red Like the Sky – Italy

Grave Decisions (Wer Früher Stirbt Ist Länger Tot) – Germany

The Counterfeiter –Germany

Winter Journey –Germany

Taxidermia –Hungary

The Unknown Woman (La Sconosciuta) – Italy

The Golden Door (Nuovomondo) – Italy

Along the Ridge (Anche libero va bene) – Italy

Letters From Iwo Jima – Japan

Hula Girls – Japan

Kala – Indonesia

Edge of Heaven (Auf der anderen Seite) – Germany

European Film Promotion Names Nine Shooting Stars

2007-12-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

An Italian, Hungarian and German were among nine Shooting Stars names by European Film Promotion – including two who starred in films during the FWSCI Film Series last month.

The nine will be honored at Feb. 11 at the Studio Hamburg Shooting Stars Award Ceremony during Berlinale, the Berlin Film Festival held in early February. Twenty-two were nominated for the recognition.

Germany’s Hannah Herzsprung the troubled pianist from Four Minutes, Italy’s Elio Germano (center) the young red-headed brother from My Brother Is an Only Child and Hungary’s Zsolt Nagy (bottom) who starred in Nosedive will be honored at the festival. Herzprung is slated to star with Nicole Kidman in Stephen Daldry’s The Reader – cementing her global status.

They’re joined by Romania’s Anamaria Marinca, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days; the U.K.’s Andrew Garfield, Lions for Lambs and Boy A; Denmark’s Stine Fischer Christensen, After the Wedding; France’s Nicolas Cazale, The Grocer’s Son; the Netherlands’ Maryam Hassouni, Kicks; and Switzerland’s Joel Basman, Life for Sale.

The stars will meet international casting directors during the fest and their films will be showcased at the European Film Market. The award is part of the European Union’s media program.

Mexican film industry reaches agreement to promo local films

2007-12-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

Variety reports that Mexican film producers, distributors and theaters have reached an agreement to promote and show locally produced films.

The agreements would in part lead exhibitors “to run more trailers, guaranteed minimum two-week runs, as well as an increased percentage of ticket sales for films from first- and second-time directors,” the paper reported

After the past couple years when Mexican cinema felt the boost of such films as Pan’s Labrynth, El Violin and Babel, it will take the agreements from local theaters to carry Mexican films. Without a commitment from venues, the Mexican film industry will continue to languish.

Berlinale to Honor Italian Director Francesco Rosi

2007-12-15T06:45:00.001-08:00

The Homage of the 58th Berlin International Film Festival will be dedicated to the renowned Italian director Francesco Rosi. In his work, Rosi has critically reflected on political, economic and intellectual developments in Italy. Within the scope of the Homage, Francesco Rosi will receive the Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement on February 14, 2008.

"With their explosive power, Rosi’s films are still persuasive today. His works are classics of politically engaged cinema," comments Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick on the Homage.

Francesco Rosi, who is now 85, has helped shape 50 years of Italian film history. The Berlinale Homage will present a selection of 13 films documenting Rosi’s oeuvre over the decades. With the film Salvatore Giuliano (1961/62), he first found his own personal style and established himself internationally: the film won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlinale in 1962 and will be screened at the Honorary Golden Bear award ceremony on February 14, 2008.

When Francesco Rosi made his directorial debut with La sfida (The Challenge) in 1958, he had already had years of experience as assistant director and screenwriter for several filmmakers, including Visconti. Neorealism defined his use of original locations and non-professional actors. In I magliari (1959, The Magliari) he drafted a realistic picture of rivalling Italian cloth salesmen in Hamburg, who were trying to make a place for themselves in the affluent West German society. In Salvatore Giuliano, Il caso Mattei (1971/72, The Mattei Affair, which won the Palme d'Or in Cannes) and Lucky Luciano (1972/73), he explored how economic and political power structures were intertwined with the Mafia. Set in his hometown of Naples, he exposed hushed-up building scandals in Le mani sulla città (1963, Hands Over the City), for which he received the Golden Lion in Venice. In the late 1970s, Francesco Rosi broke new ground, both aesthetically and thematically. In Cristo si è fermato a Eboli (1978/79, Christ Stopped at Eboli) and Tre fratelli (1980/81 Three Brothers), Rosi turned his attention to the inner lives of his characters. These films also mirrored the conflicts between Italy’s rich north and its poorer agricultural south - the latter presented in the archaically poetic landscape of Lucania in Cristo si è fermato a Eboli.

Francesco Rosi made his films with both Italian and international stars, including Gian Maria Volonté, Alain Cuny, Philippe Noiret, Rod Steiger and John Turturro. Rosi was also at all times responsible for the screenplays of his films – which he usually co-authored with a team of several writers; in addition, he did the research for his investigative films. On a number of films he collaborated with screenwriter Suso Cecchi d'Amico as well as with Raffaele la Capria and Tonino Guerra.

"Francesco Rosi’s films never fail to display great commitment and passion and still have an enormous impact today - a fact that underscores their greatness as works of art,” remarks Dr. Rainer Rother, Artistic Director of the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen, which is responsible for the Homage.

Many of Rosi’s films on highly topical issues in recent Italian and European history have sparked fierce public debates. In his cinematic (re-) construction of authentic cases, he lays out the evidence and in so doing adds a historical dimension to events.

- Berlinale Press Office

'El Violin' Takes New York Bow

2007-12-14T14:45:00.000-08:00

After its regional debut in Fort Worth as part of the Fort Worth Sister Cities Film Series during the Lone Star International Film Festival, El Violin premiered last week in New York City.

The first full-length film by director Francisco Vargas is a Mexican film set during the 1970s during a period of revolutionary uprisings.

The beautifully shot, black-and-white film was popular among Fort Worth filmies during the FWSCI Film Series.

Check out the review from the New York Times.

The film is set for a wider distribution in Texas and the United States after the first of the year.

Let Award Season Begin

2007-12-13T19:35:00.001-08:00

Scene from "My Brother is an Only Child".

Golden Globe Nominations Announced
So The Golden Globe nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association came down today and no films from our Sister City countries were nominated. Boo.
So those of us who saw three spectacular and eligible films during the FWSCI Film Series and Lone Star International Film Festival last november have reason to to be annoyed.
Ignored were Vier Minuten (Four Minutes) from Germany, Mio Fratello (My Brother is an Only Child) from Italy and Taxidermia from Hungary.
I was hoping View Minuten would make the cut and am a little surprised that Taxidermia didn't either. Taxidermia is Hungary's nominee for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and Vier Minuten received the best picture award at the German Lola Awards this summer.

Four Minutes (Vier Minuten) - Germany

2007-11-01T19:27:00.000-07:00

Jenny is young. Her life is over. She killed someone. And she would do it again.
When an 80-year-old piano teacher discovers the girl’s secret, her brutality and her dreams, she decides to transform her pupil into the musical wunderkind she once was.

In feverish images, Director Chris Kraus’s second feature film Four Minutes tells the story of an impossible relationship.

For more than sixty years, aged pianist Traude Krüger has been teaching piano at the women’s prison. But she’s never met someone like Jenny, a killer beating everything around her to a pulp just to amuse herself. But Jenny used to be a great musical talent. And she still is under her impenetrable facade. She could manage to win a prestigious piano contest she is allowed to participate in despite her prison sentence. However, a contest is no challenge to someone who wants life to stand still.

Director Kraus is considered one of the most captivating young filmmakers in Germany. His debut Shattered Glass was the year 2002’s revelation, winning two Bavarian Film Awards, the German Screenplay Award, the German Award for Best Photography, the Golden Camera Award for lead actor Jürgen Vogel and the New Talent Award for best directorial effort.

Chris Kraus also wrote several screenplays for German celebrity directors like Detlev Buck (LiebesLuder – Bundle of Joy) and worked for Academy Award winners Pepe Danquart (C(r)ook) and Volker Schlöndorff (The Tin Drum II). His screenplays have garnered numerous awards.

This Just In: New DVD Releases

2007-10-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

Apartment 1303, directed by Ataru Oikawa, 2007, Japan
While celebrating her new apartment with her friends, a young woman suddenly and inexplicably leaps from the balcony, killing herself. Unconvinced that it was a suicide, the victim's sister searches for the sinister truth behind the tragedy. Her investigation into the apartment reveals a dark history and the existence of an unspeakable, powerful evil. What fate awaits the next tenant in this tale of terror?

Autumn Moon (Qiu Yue ), directed by Clara Law, 1992, Japan
When Japanese tourist Tokio travels to Hong Kong, he unexpectedly begins a relationship with 15-year-old Wai, a Chinese girl who cares for her ailing grandmother. Wai invites Tokio for a home-cooked meal, sparking a new friendship. As her family prepares to immigrate to Canada, Wai forms a surprising bond with the young man. This tender coming-of-age story explores the differences in Asian cultures and the joys and sorrows of young love.

Carnival in the Night, directed by Masashi Yamamoto, 1982, Japan
Punk rocker Kumi Ota (Kumiko Ota) leaves her son with her ex-husband and embarks on a long, strange trip through the underbelly of early 1980s Tokyo in this mishmash of narrative and documentary from indie maverick Masashi Yamamota. Featuring a cast of locals from the Japanese punk scene, Yamamota's cult hit is shot in gritty 16 mm black-and-white. The film was an official selection at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The Third Heaven (Los 3 Cielos) directed by Octavio Gasca Holguin, 2007, Japan
The ghost of a young man observes and protects a living woman named Doris in this delightful Mexican drama. Though Doris can't see him, the ghost has fallen in love and spends his time keeping an eye on her as she goes about her daily life. Originally enchanted by her beauty, he grows to love her spirit as well, and as he waits for the eventual day when she'll join him in the afterlife, he considers the meaning of life and love.

Scrap Heaven, directed by Sang-il Lee, 2007, Japan
Humiliated and dejected by his failure to handle a bloody bus hijacking, desk cop Shingo (Ryo Kase) is easily coaxed by one of the victims, Tetsu (Jô Odagiri), into taking part in an underground revenge-for-hire operation. Scribbling on bathroom walls to advertise their business, Shingo and Tetsu journey down a dangerous path and discover who they truly are. Director Sang-il Lee's stylish thriller also stars Chiaki Kuriyama of Kill Bill fame.

Tequila 5, directed by Luis Monterrubio, 2005, Mexico
Love is like a shot of tequila -- strong, hot and intoxicating. For four lonely singles living in Monterrey, Mexico, love will not only make them drunk with passion, it will give them courage to do the impossible and experience something beautiful. That is, until the day love makes them desperate, miserable and downright crazy! Luis Felipe Ibarra stars in this modern-day romance where love tastes great, even when it's hard to swallow.

The Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio, directed by Agostino Ferrente, 2006, Italy
After rounding up musicians from a thriving immigrant neighborhood in Rome to create the eclectic Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, filmmaker Agostino Ferrente captured their heartwarming individual stories in this captivating documentary. The film reveals that, for many members of the group -- which is made up of Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus and atheists from 11 countries -- making music is as second nature as breathing.

Traces of Stones (Spur der Steine), directed by Frank Beyer,1966, Germany
A married East German Communist Party secretary finds himself disgraced, his morals scrutinized and his career in shambles after his affair with a young woman is exposed. Meanwhile, a construction foreman -- who happens to be an outspoken critic of the government -- professes his love for the woman, sparking a complicated love triangle. Banned for 25 years, this 1966 drama released after Germany's reunification met with critical acclaim.

Mio Fratello e Figlio Unico

2007-10-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

I'm anxiously awaiting info on "My Brother is an Only Child," our Italian film. The U.S. distributors are as well.

It's a couple weeks out and we need to get clips, images and text the media. We'll make it. It always comes together.

I'm really excited about this film. I have been since I first heard of it last spring. It, along with 'Vier Minuten', was one of the films I never figured we could land.

It's a little unnerving waiting to see what the public reaction will be to all of our films.

You know how tough it is to pick out the perfect film from the local video store? All the selections. Imagine going to Blockbuster to pick out some movies you'd like to show to all of North Texas.

So welcome to my world for the last couple months.

In the meantime, here's something I found in the 'Hollywood Reporter'.

http://fwsci-filmies.blogspot.com

My Brother Is an Only Child
Bottom Line: A fine and engaging study of two personalities, seemingly in sharp contrast, that prove awfully alike in the end.
By Kirk Honeycutt

May 23, 2007

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/awards_festivals/fest_reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=9257

Daniele Luchetti keeps the story focused on people's inner lives.

CANNES -- Italian filmmakers have a unique facility for tracking the lives, loves and coming-of-age of a group of characters, usually families, through the social and political changes within Italy over a number of years.

Daniele Luchetti's "My Brother Is an Only Child" (Mio Fratello e Figlio Unico) is one of the better examples of the genre, focusing on a pair of brothers who struggle to make sense of the social turbulence of the 1960s and '70s.

For all the concentration on politics, the film isn't really political at all, but rather a fine and engaging study of two personalities, seemingly in sharp contrast, that prove awfully alike in the end. All the characters are immensely charismatic, and Luchetti shows a firm hand though a light touch in keeping the story focused on people's inner lives rather than the eye-catching turmoil that surrounds them. Theatrical prospects look promising throughout the world in specialty adult venues.

The two brothers, first seen at an early age in the small town of Latina in 1962, are enough to drive a mother crazy as they grow older. Manrico (Riccardo Scamarcio) is handsome and intelligent, a smart catch for any of the young women who eye him. But his younger brother, Accio (Elio Germano), is a born rebel, causing trouble at the seminary to which his parents have so misguidedly sent him. He questions everything with vigor as a self-righteous anger smolders within him.
Naturally, Accio is our protagonist in this script by Luchetti, Sandro Petraglia and Stefano Rulli, based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Antonio Pennacchi. Accio veers from the family when he senses his elder brother and sister, Violetta (Alba Rohrwacher), are the more favored.

He is thus susceptible to the poisonous blandishments of an unrepentant Fascist. He soon joins the party to the horror of his left-leaning, working-class family. While his elder brother gets involved in agitation for better working conditions and housing with communist organizations, Accio learns how to disrupt leftist protests and to smash things including, sometimes, people.

Manrico never accepts his brother's rightist politics, thinking -- correctly, as it turns out -- that this stems more from issues of personal insecurity and identity than conviction. What really unites but also divides the brothers is Manrico's new girlfriend, Francesca (Diane Fleri), with whom Accio has fallen madly in love.

Accio eventually loses his innocence with the wife (Anna Bonaiuto) of his Fascist mentor, but he still longs for Francesca. She is the one that, in a sense, draws him back to Manrico and his family, if only to argue politics with Francesca.

Meanwhile, as Accio grows repulsed at the Fascists' increasingly violent tactics -- especially when his brother and, later, sister get caught up in melees -- Manrico drifts into the dangerous fanaticism that Accio himself gave up, that of crime and terrorism.

Things play out in unexpected and dramatic ways in a terrific third act. For all the intriguing plot twists though, Luchetti remains firmly committed to all the action springing from characters.

In this regard, he is blessed with a terrific leading performance by Germano. The young actor convincingly conveys the shifting personal and political perspective as his character matures. You enjoy watching Accio grow and learn from life, in contrast to his brother who seems to regress as ideology engulfs him.

All tech credits gleam with professionalism, especially the camerawork by Claudio Collepiccolo, who often favors close shots of actors even when they are embroiled in hot and heavy action.

MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY CHILD
Warner Bros. and Cattleya in association with Babe Films and StudioCanal
Credits:
Director: Daniele Luchetti
Screenwriters: Sandro Petraglia, Stefano Rulli, Daniele Luchetti
Based on a novel by: Antonio Pennacchi
Producers: Bruno Ridolfi, Matteo De Laurentiis
Director of photography: Claudio Collepiccolo
Production designer: Francesco Frigeri
Music: Franco Piersanti
Costume designer: Maria Rita Barbera
Editor: Mirco Garrone
Cast: Accio: Elio Germano
Manrico: Riccardo Scamarcio
Francesca: Diane Fleri
Violetta: Alba Rhorwacher
Mother: Angela Finocchiaro
Father: Massimo Popolizio
Bella: Anna Bonaiuto
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating

"Vier Minuten" Makes Regional Debut at FWSCI Film Series

2007-10-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

Sister Cities Adds 2007 Top German Movie to International Film Series

Fort Worth, TX (Oct. 10, 2007) – Fort Worth Sister Cities (FWSCI) today announced that “Vier Minuten” will join its spectacular line up for the Sister Cities Film Series, a sidebar event during the Lone Star International Film Festival in downtown Fort Worth, including one U.S. and four regional premieres.

“After months of negotiating, we’re proud to bring this film to Fort Worth and Texas,” said Steve Roth, Sister Cities film committee chairman. “It fits nicely with our other two German films, the U.S. premiere of ‘Hands Off Mississippi’ and the Contemporary Classic film ‘Run Lola Run’.”

‘Vier Minuten’ won Best Picture at the Germany Academy Awards this summer and was surprisingly edged out as the country’s entry in the Best Foreign Film competition here in the United States. Actress Monica Bleibtreu won a best actress LOLA award. Producers are currently marketing the film as a candidate for a Golden Globe.

Movies in the Fort Worth Sister Cities Film Series represent six of Fort Worth’s seven international Sister Cities: Trier, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Bandung, Indonesia; Reggio Emilia, Italy; Nagaoka, Japan; and Toluca, Mexico. Mbabane, Swaziland, the city’s seventh Sister City, will be honored during the festival with a reception hosted by The Africa Channel.

The Films
VIER MINUTEN (Four Minutes), directed by Chris Kraus, regional debut, Germany
HÄNDE WEG VON MISSISSIPPI (Hands Off Mississippi), directed by Detlev Buck, US debut, Germany
EL VIOLIN (The Violin), directed by Francisco Vargas, regional debut, Mexico
MIO FRATELLO E FIGLIO UNICO (My Brother is an Only Child), directed by Daniele Luchetti, regional debut, Italy
HORUMAIKA, documentary, directed by Shinichi Hashimoto, Japan
HANA YORI MO NAHO (Hana), presented by FUNimation Entertainment, directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, Japan
FEHER TENYER (White Palms), directed by Szabolcs Hajdu, Hungary
BERBAGI SUAMI (Love for Share), directed by Nia Di Nata, regional premier, Indonesia
“Contemporary Classic Film” LOLA RENNT (Run Lola Run), directed by Tom Tykwer, Germany

Swaziland has no film industry, and therefore is not represented with a feature film.
-more-
Page 2 of 2, FWSCI Film Series – Vier Minuten

A special pass for all eight Sister Cities Film Series movies is $45 (a $19 savings) and individual tickets are $8. Tickets for the FWSCI Film Series are on sale now at www.fwsistercities.org until Oct. 31, 2007. Beginning Nov. 1, tickets will be available via Lone Star International Film Festival and at theaters during the festival. The FWSCI Film Series will be presented at the AMC Palace Theater, 220 E. Third St., in downtown, Friday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007.

Additionally, Sister Cities will host cultural performances representing each of the seven Sister Cities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10 on the patio stage at 8.0 Bar and Cafe in downtown Fort Worth.

The annual Fort Worth Mayor’s International Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 will be the official kick-off event for Sister Cities during the Lone Star International Film Festival. Second City comedy group will be the featured entertainment. Second City alums include Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, and Stephen Colbert. Come see tomorrow’s film and TV stars while they’re unknown. Tickets are $125 for individual tickets and can be purchased through Sister Cities at 817.392.2650.

The Lone Star International Film Festival runs Nov. 7 through Nov. 11 and promotes the work of emerging international filmmakers by providing resources to distribution and cutting edge technology. Through both competition and showcases, the Lone Star International Film Festival aims to cultivate global cultural awareness through the art of the moving image by selecting quality independent films, and showcase Fort Worth, Texas, as an international destination, highlighting both cultural and professional resources.

About the Lone Star Film Society
The Lone Star Film Society exists to preserve and present the art of the moving image and to examine its influence on world culture. LSFS is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation, dedicated to cultivating an appreciation of the Visual Arts; engendering visual literacy, supporting community efforts regarding the film; and to building recognition for Fort Worth as an international film destination. The LSFS supports its mission through a variety of activities including Classics at The Modern: Celebrity Choice, Lone Star Open Screen Night, Teen VideoFest, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and debuting November 07, the Lone Star International Film Festival. For more information call (817) 735-1117 or visit http://www.lonestarfilmsociety.com/.

About Fort Worth Sister Cities International, Inc.
Fort Worth Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network dedicated to creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, to promote cultural understanding and to stimulate economic development. Fort Worth Sister Cities include Reggio Emilia, Italy; Nagaoka, Japan; Trier, Germany; Bandung, Indonesia; Budapest, Hungary; Toluca, Mexico; Mbabane, Swaziland. For more information, call (187) 392.2650 or visit www.fwsistercities.org.

# # #

Sister Cities Announces Festival Film Series

2007-09-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

FWSCI Film Series Boasts Fun & Thrilling
US & Regional Film Premieres and Live Entertainment

Fort Worth, TX (Sept. 27, 2007) – Fort Worth Sister Cities (FWSCI) today announced its line up for the Sister Cities Film Series, a sidebar event during the Lone Star International Film Festival in downtown Fort Worth, including three regional premiers.
“Sister Cities International has drawn on our global connections to bring fun and edgy films to Fort Worth for this series,” said Steve Roth, FWSCI film chairman. “Our goal is to show people that today’s foreign films aren’t stodgy. They’re exciting and eye opening. They’re where Hollywood often turns for tomorrow’s blockbuster.”
The films represent six of Fort Worth’s seven international Sister Cities: Trier, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Bandung, Indonesia; Reggio Emilia, Italy; Nagaoka, Japan; and Toluca, Mexico. Mbabane, Swaziland, the city’s seventh Sister City, will be honored during the festival with a reception hosted by The Africa Channel.
The Films
• HÄNDE WEG VON MISSISSIPPI (Hands Off Mississippi), directed by Detlev Buck, US debut,
Germany
• EL VIOLIN (The Violin), directed by Francisco Vargas, regional debut, Mexico
• MIO FRATELLO E FIGLIO UNICO (My Brother is an Only Child), directed by Daniele Luchetti, regional
debut, Italy
• HORUMAIKA, documentary, directed by Shinichi Hashimoto, Japan
• HANA YORI MO NAHO (Hana), presented by FUNimation Entertainment, directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, Japan
• FEHER TENYER (White Palms), directed by Szabolcs Hajdu, Hungary
• BERBAGI SUAMI (Love for Share), directed by Nia Di Nata, regional premier, Indonesia
• “Contemporary Classic Film” LOLA RENNT (Run Lola Run), directed by Tom Tykwer, Germany
Swaziland has no film industry, and therefore is not represented with a feature film. A special pass for all eight Sister Cities Film Series movies is $45 (a $19 savings) and individual tickets are $8.
Tickets for the FWSCI Film Series are on sale now at http://www.fwsistercities.org/ until Oct. 31, 2007. Beginning Nov. 1, tickets will be available via Lone Star International Film Festival and at theaters during the festival. The FWSCI Film Series will be presented at the AMC Palace Theater, 220 E. Third St., in downtown, Friday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007.
Additionally, Sister Cities will host cultural performances representing each of the seven Sister Cities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10 on the patio stage at 8.0 Bar and Cafe in downtown Fort Worth.
“We’re providing a day of international excitement during the festival with our free performances,” said Peter Fekety, FWSCI Film Series entertainment chairman. “We wanted to bring the flair of the festival out of the theaters and into the streets. We’ll have everything from drummers to dancers.”
The annual Fort Worth Mayor’s International Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 will be the official kick-off event for Sister Cities during the Lone Star International Film Festival. Second City comedy group will be the featured entertainment. Second City alums include Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, and Stephen Colbert. Come see tomorrow’s film and TV stars while they’re unknown. Tickets are $125 for individual tickets and can be purchased through Sister Cities at 817.392.2650.
The Lone Star International Film Festival runs Nov. 7 through Nov. 11 and promotes the work of emerging international filmmakers by providing resources to distribution and cutting edge technology. Through both competition and showcases, the Lone Star International Film Festival aims to cultivate global cultural awareness through the art of the moving image by selecting quality independent films, and showcase Fort Worth, Texas, as an international destination, highlighting both cultural and professional resources.
About the Lone Star Film Society: The Lone Star Film Society exists to preserve and present the art of the moving image and to examine its influence on world culture. LSFS is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation, dedicated to cultivating an appreciation of the Visual Arts; engendering visual literacy, supporting community efforts regarding the film; and to building recognition for Fort Worth as an international film destination. The LSFS supports its mission through a variety
of activities including Classics at The Modern: Celebrity Choice, Lone Star Open Screen Night, Teen VideoFest, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and debuting November 2007, the Lone Star International Film Festival. For more information call (817) 735-1117 or visit www.lonestarfilmsociety.com.
About Fort Worth Sister Cities International Inc.: Fort Worth Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network dedicated to creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, to promote cultural understanding and to stimulate economic development.
Fort Worth Sister Cities include Reggio Emilia, Italy; Nagaoka, Japan; Trier, Germany; Bandung, Indonesia; Budapest, Hungary; Toluca, Mexico; Mbabane, Swaziland. For more information, call (187) 392.2650 or visit http://www.fwsistercities.org/.

###

This Just In: New DVD Releases

2007-09-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

Bitter Sweet (Nôkô furin: torareta onna), 2004, directed by Mitsuru Meike, Japan
When young Shoko (Konatsu) begins to have doubts about her impending marriage, she sets out to explore the boundaries of love by seducing and having an illicit affair with an older man (Hitoshi Ishikawa). This provocative and erotic study of love, betrayal and sexual awakening makes for a notable entry in the catalog of Japanese "pink" films. Yuya Matsuura, Rinako Hirasawa, Mutsuo Yoshioka and Kazuhiro Sano co-star.

A Woman Without Love (Una Mujer Sin Amor), 1951, directed by Luis Buñuel, Mexico
Married to an old and ailing antiques dealer (Julio Villarreal), lonely society wife Rosario (Rosario Granados) has an affair and becomes pregnant. She successfully hides the true identity of the child's father for 20 years -- until a large inheritance arrives for her son. Filmed in Mexico by master surrealist director Luis Buñuel, this melodrama is based on a short story by Guy de Maupassant.

Grandes Muralistas, 2004, Mexico
Art and politics converge in this dramatic exploration of two famous Mexican muralists, Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller to paint a mural, the fiery Rivera ultimately saw it destroyed when he refused to remove a portrait of Communist Party leader Lenin. The film further canvases the work of Siqueiros, a socialist whose paintings were strongly influenced by the Mexican Revolution.

Leyendas Del Cine Mexicano: Vol. 2, 2004, directed by Luis Kelly, Mexico
Originally produced for television, these programs pay tribute to two of Mexican cinema's beloved stars: María Félix and Pedro Armendáriz. Known to her fans as La Doña, Félix enjoyed a long, celebrated career as an actress, a profession she came upon by accident. Similarly, Armendáriz made his start as a railroad worker and tour guide when a chance encounter with a film director led to movie stardom.

Robinson's Garden (Robinson No Niwa), 1987, directed by Masashi Yamamoto, Japan
A contemporary take on the Robinson Crusoe story, this lyrical Japanese drama takes place in Tokyo, where a young woman, Kumi, loses herself in an abandoned factory and the surrounding lush gardens she discovers on the edge of town. Entranced by the beauty she finds there, Kumi starts spending more and more time in this haunting paradise, until she withdraws completely from the world outside. Cutting-edge filmmaker Masashi Yamamoto directs.

"Edge of Heaven" edges out "Vier Minuten"

2007-09-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

We haven't even gotten to the Academy Awards and already I'm shocked.

I haven't even seen either movie, but somehow The Edge of Heaven snuck up on Golden LOLA winner Vier Minuten (Four Minutes) to be named Germany's entry for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award.

The German government made the announcement yesterday.

I've heard nothing but good things about The Edge of Heaven, the Best Screenplay winner and winner of the Award of the Ecumenical Jury at Cannes Film Festival this summer.

I guess what surprises me is the storyline and feel of Vier Minuten seems like a better fit for American audiences. Edge of Heaven is the story of a German father who marries a Turkish prostitute and the relationship between his son and the woman after the father dies. Vier Minuten is the story of a prison music teacher who finds a star pupil, who also happens to be serving a life sentence for murder.

Vier Minuten won the top prize (the Golden LOLA) at the Germany Academy Awards, as well as a Best Actress nod for Monica Bleibtreu

Meanwhile, Vier Minuten will console itself with a run for the Golden Globes, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Let the battles begin.

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN Representing Germany in the Race for the OSCAR

The independent expert jury, appointed by German Films to select the German entry to compete for the 80th Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language Film, has – under the chairmanship of Dagmar Hirtz – chosen THE EDGE OF HEAVEN by Fatih Akin.

The jury on its decision: “Before a background of political and cultural differences in a globalized world, an exceptional love story and family story is told between Germans and Turks. The film convinces with its dramaturgical composition, visual arrangement and its emotional portrayal.”

The production by corazón international/Hamburg (producers: Fatih Akin, Andreas Thiel, Klaus Maeck), in co-production with NDR/Hamburg, Anka Film/Istanbul and Dorje Film/Rome had its world premiere in the international competition of the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival, where it won the prize for Best Screenplay and the Award of the Ecumenical Jury.

Fatih Akin on the jury decision: “I am extremely happy. What luck, that Tom Tykwer filmed PERFUME in English.”

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN was also screened in the official competition in Bangkok and at Cinemanila (winning the award for Best Film) and celebrated its successful North American premiere just recently at the Toronto International Film Festival.

World sales agent The Match Factory has already sold the film to over 50 territories, including France, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, Korea, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Canada.

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN will be released in German cinemas on 27 September 2007 by Pandora Filmverleih.

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN was supported by the German Federal Film Board (FFA), BKM, FilmFoerderung Hamburg, Filmstiftung NRW, Nordmedia, and the Kulturelle Filmfoerderung Schleswig-Holstein.

On 22 January 2008, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will nominate five films from the international entries to participate in the final selection to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The official awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on 24 February 2008.

Edge of Heaven

Vier Minuten

2007-09-19T05:22:00.001-07:00

Eduardo Lucatero

Corazon Marchito (Wilted Heart) 2007, directed by Eduardo Lucatero, Mexico
El (Mauricio Ochmann) is just like his friends, engaging in the time-honored traditions of falling in love, dating, breaking up, making up and breaking up again. Of course, now that he's found the perfect woman, Ella (Ana Serradilla), he expects that this time it'll be for real. Luis Fernando Peña, Ivan Esquivel and Fernanda Castillo co-star in writer-director Eduardo Lucatero's knowing romantic comedy.

Coleccion Pedro Infante: A Toda Maquina (A.T.M.: ¡¡A Toda Máquina), 1951, directed by Ismael Rodríguez, Mexico
Pedro Chávez (Pedro Infante) arrives in Mexico City, where he befriends Luis (Luis Aguilar), a cop with the city's elite motorcycle unit. Luis takes Pedro in and finds him a position with the police department and soon discovers he has competition for his job and his girlfriend (Aurora Segura). Infante did all his own motorcycle driving for this musical comedy, which features his signature tune, "Bésame Mucho."

Coleccion Pedro Infante: Los Tres Garcia, 1947, directed by Ismael Rodríguez, Mexico
Three cousins, Luis Antonio (Pedro Infante), José Luis (Abel Salazar) and Luis Manuel (Victor Manuel Mendoza), raised by a strict, cigar-chomping grandmother (Sara García), fall for their American-born cousin Lupita (Marga López). Their infatuation threatens to tear them apart, until Grandma steps in to solve the matter. Meanwhile, a specter from the young men's past returns to endanger the entire family.

Coleccion Pedro Infante: Los Tres Huastecos, 1948, directed by Ismael Rodríguez, Mexico
Separated after the death of their mother, the three Andrade brothers -- Juan, a priest, Victor, a soldier, and Lorenzo, a dangerous outlaw -- are unexpectedly reunited as adults, creating moral conflicts and cases of mistaken identity. Pedro Infante plays all three roles in this musical comedy directed by frequent Infante collaborator Ismael Rodríguez. Blanca Estela Pavón, María Eugenia Llamas and Fernando Soto co-star.

Coleccion Pedro Infante: Vuelven los Garcia, 1947, directed by Ismael Rodríguez, Mexico
In this sequel to Los Tres Garcia, the three Garcia cousins -- impulsive Luis Antonio (Pedro Infante), reserved José Luis (Abel Salazar) and worldly Luis Manuel (Victor Manuel Mendoza) -- are threatened by their family's rivals, the Lopez clan. Guided by their strict, cane-wielding grandmother (Sara García), the trio find themselves reluctantly drawn into a duel. Marga López and Rogelio A. González co-star.

El Mago (The Magician), 2004, directed by Jaime Aparicio, Mexico
Street magician Tadeo (Erando González) discovers he has a terminal illness and only a few months to live. Embarking on a personal journey of closure, he reconnects with those who have affected his life the most. He reaches out to his ex-wife, a dead friend's son, his blind assistant, a neighbor -- all in hopes of giving his final days a sense of meaning. Julissa, Gustavo Muñoz and Maya Zapata co-star in director Jaime Aparicio's moving drama.

In the Sight, 2006, directed by Koji Kawano, Japan
A woman stuck in an alternate reality must get to the bottom of a murder before she can return to her dimension in this eerie Japanese horror flick. During a stint in the hospital, a young lady crosses paths with a spectral boy who roams the halls endlessly and, after being released, she receives a mysterious e-mail that propels her into a parallel universe. Can she solve the mystery behind the youngster's demise and get back home?

Ang Lee Helms Venice Festival Upset

2007-09-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

Raunchy Ang Lee film wins Venice festival's top award

Richard Brooks, Arts Editor

A sexually explicit film by the former Oscar winner Ang Lee won the coveted Golden Lion top prize at the Venice film festival last night. Lust, Caution is a Mandarin language espionage thriller which has already caused a stir with very graphic sex scenes.

Lee, who won the Golden Lion with Brokeback Mountain at Venice in 2005 before it went on to take Oscars, has argued that his film is “not pornography” although he did admit that it is not suitable for children.

The high hopes of many for the British film Atonement, starring Keira Knightley, were dashed, however — it won no awards.

There was some British success, including a prize for Paul Laverty, screenwriter for the Ken Loach film It’s a Free World.

Lee’s film, based on a novella by Eileen Chang, follows a Chinese woman in Japanese-occupied Shanghai during the second world war. She finds herself at the centre of a plot to seduce and kill a married enemy collaborator.

In America, where the film opens later this month, Lust, Caution has been given the NC17 rating. This can sometimes lead to only a limited release because many American cinema chains refuse to show such adult-only films for fear of putting off families.

The film also contains some violent scenes, especially one in which students stab and bludgeon a man to death graphically. It has already been announced that some of the sex scenes will be removed for the film’s release in China.

Lee is now acknowledged as one of the best and most versatile directors in the world. His output varies from Sense and Sensibility, based on the Emma Thompson screenplay of the Jane Austen novel, to The Ice Storm, a Hollywood story of suburban sexual politics. Other Venice winners include Cate Blanchett for her role as the young Bob Dylan in I’m Not There.

Ang Lee Film Wins Golden Lion at Venice Festival
By Iain Millar

Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, an erotic thriller set in 1940s Shanghai, won the Golden Lion top prize at the Venice Film Festival, closing the 64th competition.

I'm Not There, a U.S. movie directed by Todd Haynes and inspired by Bob Dylan, and La Graine et le Mulet, a French film by Abdellatif Kechiche, shared the Special Jury Prize.

Accepting the award, Lee paid homage to Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, who died on July 30. ``When I was in preproduction, I visited Ingmar Bergman on his island,'' Lee said. ``He touched my face liked a mother touches a child. He hugged me. Tonight, I pass that hug to you.''

Brian De Palma was voted best director for Redacted, which is about the conflict in Iraq. "Prizes are always great because it helps your film to be seen,'' De Palma said. "But critics and prizes just tell you what the fashion of the day is. We don't make movies to win prizes.''

The award for best actor went to Brad Pitt for his performance in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, directed by Andrew Dominik. Cate Blanchett won the best actress prize for her role in I'm Not There.

"Cate turned what could have been a stunt into a compelling performance,'' director Haynes said.

Paul Laverty won the award for best script for It's a Free World' by Ken Loach, and Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci was presented with a special Golden Lion for his career. The seven- member jury was headed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou.

In this year's festival, 23 films vied for the Golden Lion, which last year went to Still Life' by the Chinese director Jia Zhang-Ke. Veteran French filmmaker Alain Resnais won the Silver Lion for best director in 2006 for Private Fears in Private Places.

The first Venice Film Festival was held in 1932. Among the earliest prize winners were directors Rene Clair and Rouben Mamoulian and actors Frederic March and Helen Hayes.

(Iain Millar is a critic for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

Hungary Selects 'Taxidermia' Academy Award Entry

2007-09-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

LONDON (Hollywood Reporter) - Taxidermia, a controversial Hungarian film that both shocked and delighted critics and audiences when it premiered in Budapest last year, has been chosen as the Central European country's nomination for best foreign-language Oscar.

Gyorgy Palfi's second feature is a strange and disturbing parableAbout post-World War II Hungarian history featuring graphic representations of masturbation, overeating in the name of competitive Olympic "speed eating" and a shocking conclusion in which a man performs machine-assisted taxidermy on himself.

Taxidermia was the main prize winner at last year's Hungarian Film Week, and its world premiere came as part of Cannes' Un Certain Regard sidebar that same year.

Produced by Budapest-based Eurofilm Studio, headed by Peter Miskolczi and Gabor Varadi, the film also has picked up awards at the Chicago and Antalya Eurasia film festivals.The film, which is handled for world sales by Netherland's Fortissimo Films, has seen theatrical releases in parts of Europe and the U.K., with releases in the United States, the Far East and Middle East planned soon, Hungarian film body Filmunio said Thursday.

Visit HollywoodReporter.com for more ...

Oscar-winner Miyoshi Umeki dead at 78

2007-09-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

TOKYO (Hollywood Reporter) -- Miyoshi Umeki, the first Asian to win an Oscar, died Aug. 28 at a nursing home in Licking, Mo. She was 78.
Umeki won the Academy Award for best supporting actress in 1957 after playing opposite Red Buttons in Sayonara, the screen version of the James Michener novel about a U.S. soldier who falls in love amid the chaos at the end of World War II.
Fated to be parted when he is ordered to return to the U.S., the pair commits suicide.
"This is a major loss to the Japanese movie industry," said Yuko Nakano, a spokeswoman for the Motion Pictures Producers Association of Japan.
Born in the northern city of Otaru in 1929, Umeki began her performing career by singing jazz numbers at military camps during the occupation.
After spells on radio and TV in Japan, she moved to the United States in 1955, when she quickly caught the attention of Sayonara director Joshua Logan.
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Germany selects finalists for entry at Academy Awards

2007-09-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

German Films, the German film commission, today announced the seven German films that will compete for the country’s entry for the 80th Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language Film.
My early favorite for the German entry is Vier Minuten. The film won the Lola for best film in Germany this summer. The media and public have raved and everything I’ve read or seen about the film looks amazing.
A nine-person independent expert jury with representatives from the most important associations of the German film industry will decide after viewing the seven films which of them will be sent into the Oscar race for Germany.
The films are:
AND ALONG COME TOURISTS (AM ENDE KOMMEN TOURISTEN) by Robert Thalheim (23/5 Filmproduktion, Berlin)
THE EDGE OF HEAVEN (AUF DER ANDEREN SEITE) by Fatih Akin (corazón international, Hamburg)
THE HOUSE OF THE SLEEPING BEAUTIES (DAS HAUS DER SCHLAFENDEN SCHOENEN) by Vadim Glowna (Atossa Film Produktion, Berlin)
MY FUEHRER - THE REALLY TRUEST TRUTH ABOUT ADOLF HITLER (MEIN FUEHRER – DIE WIRKLICH WAHRSTE WAHRHEIT UEBER ADOLF HITLER) by Dani Levy (X Filme Creative Pool, Berlin)
STRIKE (STRAJK – DIE HELDIN VON DANZIG) by Volker Schloendorff (Provobis, Gesellschaft für Film und Fernsehen, Berlin)
FOUR MINUTES (VIER MINUTEN) by Chris Kraus (Kordes & Kordes Film, Berlin)
WINTER JOURNEY (WINTERREISE) by Hans Steinbichler (d.i.e. film, Munich)
The result will be made known by GERMAN FILMS on September 18 and must be submitted to the Academy in Los Angeles by October 1 at the latest.
The names of the selection jury have been published at www.german-films.de, German Films & the Academy Awards.

2007-09-04T05:05:00.001-07:00

In the Pit, 2006, directed by Juan Carlos Rulfo, Mexico
Monumental in scope -- and requiring Herculean toil -- Mexico City's Periférico freeway construction project employs hundreds of workers, a group as diverse as the myriad motorists who zip by the building site. Documentarian Juan Carlos Rulfo captures the laborers on the job -- and in moments of well-deserved repose -- as they strive to complete the ambitious structure, a project that ultimately reflects all human endeavor.

Ping Pong, 2002, directed by Fumihiko Sori, Japan
Starring Yosuke Kubozuka (Go, Laundry) & Naoto Takenaka (Shall We Dance). Two high school students, complete opposites, compete in an extreme sport version of ping pong. The eye popping special effects have been compared to The Matrix.

Reggio Emilia Announces Competitors

2007-09-02T13:18:00.001-07:00

Reggio Film Festival 2007 has announced the entrants to its short movies competition for the sections Women (Donne) and Open (Spazio Libero) categories. The list is now online at http://www.reggiofilmfestival.com/.
The short movies Spazio Libero competing for the 2007 Festival will be screened in loop in some spots of Reggio Emilia (libraries, book shops, museums, pubs and bar) from September 17 to 23.
The public can vote for the favorite movie using the cards placed on the stands next to the "Punto Corto" spots. The most voted movies will be shown on September 29, the final day of ReggioFilmFestival.
There are 28 Italian, two German, and two American shorts competing in the Open Category.
The short movies included in the section Donne will be shown at Cinema Al Corso from September 27 to 29.
Therea are 19 Italian, three German and two American shorts in the Donne category.
The programme of events and projections will be available soon.
For any further information and hotel agreements please check on our site http://www.reggiofilmfestival.com/.

This Just In: New DVD Releases

2007-08-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

Antibodies (Antikörper) 2005, directed by Christian Alvart, Germany
After confessed killer Gabriel Engel (André Hennicke) is captured, small-town cop Michael Martens (Wotan Wilke Möhring) interrogates him, hoping a journey into the madman's twisted mind will give clues to an unsolved murder committed in the same heinous manner as Gabriel's crimes. Gabriel claims to know the killer's identity but turns the investigation into a psychological game, leaving Michael questioning his own sanity in this German thriller.

Flower and Snake '74 (Hana to hebi), 1974, directed by Masaru Konuma, Japan
Frustrated by his lackluster sex life, businessman Senzô Tôyama (Nagatoshi Sakamoto) conspires to have one of his employees (Yasuhiko Ishizu) -- a sex shop owner's son -- kidnap Senzô's frigid spouse (Naomi Tani) and train her as a sexual submissive. But the domineering industrialist gets more than he bargained for in director Masaru Konuma's erotic, adults-only tale that explores the boundaries between sexual pleasure and perversion.

Great African Films: Vol. 1: Faraw! Mother of the Dunes, 1997, directed by Abdoulaye Ascofare
Director Abdoulaye Ascofare's drama follows Zamiatou (Aminata Ousmane), a mother who struggles to support her family in the wake of her husband's unjust incarceration. Life is already difficult in the desolate desert of Mali in Africa, but when her husband returns from prison a mentally and physically reduced man, Zamiatou will do anything to keep her two sons and daughter alive.

Great African Films: Vol. 2: Sia, the Dream of the Python (Sia, le rêve du python), 2004, directed by Dani Kouyaté
Dani Kouyaté's visually stunning film is an adaptation of a seventh-century African legend about a woman chosen as a sacrifice to a snake god to save a destitute village. The emperor picks the beautiful virgin Sia (Fatoumata Diawara) but no one tells her fiancé, Mamadi (Ibrahim Baba Cissé), about his lover's fate. Kerfa, a government leader with plans to oust the emperor, helps Sia and Mamadi, but can she live with being known as a traitor?

Great African Films: Vol. 2: Tasuma, The Fighter, 2004, directed by Daniel Kollo Sanou
In Daniel Kollo Sanou's comedy, Sogo (Mamadou Zerbo), a West African World War II vet, purchases a mill on credit believing he'd get paid his due pension. But when the money doesn't come through, Sogo finds himself in jail for not being able to pay off the mill. Having already waited over 50 years for his pension, Sogo joins in with the local women who come to his side in support.

Horrors of Malformed Men (Edogawa ranpo taizen: Kyofu kikei ningen), 1969, directed by Teruo Ishii, Japan
A medical student searching for his father discovers a deranged scientist on a remote island whose experiments combine humans and animals to produce terrifying creatures in this surreal and horrifying tale. The student soon unearths disturbing facts that link him to some appalling truths. Adapted from stories by horror author Rampo Edogawa and directed by Japanese exploitation auteur Teruo Ishii, the film remains banned in its native Japan.

Over at the Big Ranch (Allá En El Rancho Grande), 1936, directed by Fernando de Fuentes, Mexico
Poor ranch hand José Francisco (Tito Guízar) falls in love with homely girl turned beauty Cruz (Esther Fernández). Unfortunately, his boss, rancher Felipe (René Cardona), also adores her, and the resulting love triangle threatens José's job and their friendship. Director Fernando de Fuentes's romance launched the comedia ranchera genre, which combines Mexican folklore with musical comedy and melodrama.

Samba (Szamba ), 1996, directed by Róbert Koltai, Hungary
Larger-than-life Ottó Szamba (Róbert Koltai) is a theater actor in his small Hungarian village. Everyone in town loves him -- except his son Ottó Jr. (László Görög), who's so embarrassed by his hammy father that he shuns the stage. But when he enters college, the younger Ottó discovers he can't escape the acting bug. Koltai co-wrote and directed this satire on small-town attitudes and big-time egos, co-starring Éva Kerekes and Judit Pogány.

Snake Woman's Curse (Kaidan hebi-onna), 1968, directed by Nobuo Nakagawa, Japan
When a wealthy landlord causes the death of a poor farmer, enslaves the man's wife and daughter, and then kills a snake the wife was protecting, he unleashes the serpent's curse. Before long, the landlord finds himself being driven mad by deathly spirits as terrible misfortune rains down on his family -- including his son, whose young bride starts growing scales and green skin in this film from Japanese horror auteur Nobuo Nakagawa.

The Beautiful Washing Machine (Mei li de xi yi ji), 2004, directed by James Lee, Indonesia
Teoh's (Loh Bok Lai) secondhand washing machine has a personality as strong as that of his ex-girlfriend. After exploiting the temperamental appliance, Teoh sells her to the Wongs, whose son (Berg Lee) develops an attachment to her that causes a rift in his family. Teoh Kah Yong co-stars in writer-director James Lee's award-winning surrealist satire that's drawn comparisons with the work of visionaries such as Luis Buñuel and Jim Jarmusch.

Rome was Burning

2007-08-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

Last week the world-famous Cinecitta movie studios in Rome was badly damaged by fire. The blaze broke out in the lots being used for filming the production "Rome," which tells the story of the rise of the great Roman empire. Flames said to be more than 40 metres high quickly destroyed a hangar which stored set decorations to be used in the production, and went on to attack other buildings.
Guido Parisi, Rome's fire chief, said: "The fire has destroyed the set of ancient Rome, an area more than 4,000 square metres."
Cinecitta is a huge complex of more than 40 hectares a few kilometres from the centre of Rome. Thousands of films have been made at Cinecitta, including William Wyler's "Ben Hur" in 1958, and Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" and "Cleopatra" in the 1960s.

This Just In: New DVD Releases

2007-08-21T05:31:00.000-07:00

The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen ), 2007, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Germany
Set in 1980s East Berlin, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's debut feature (which earned an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film) provides an exquisitely nuanced portrait of life under the watchful eye of the state police as a high-profile couple is bugged. When a successful playwright and his actress companion become subjects of the Stasi's secret surveillance program, their friends, family and even those doing the watching find their lives changed too.

Crazy Cartoons, 2006, directed by Juan Miguel Figueroa Vega, Mexico
This compilation features more than 50 maniacally funny shorts from Mexico's CineFilms Animation Studios, the outfit spearheading Mexico's animation renaissance. Fans of "Beavis and Butt-Head," "The Simpsons" and the faux cartoon "The Itchy and Scratchy Show" will not be disappointed with this delightful collection, which includes episodes from four south-of-the-border series: "Cimerias," "Dobos," "Obeso" and "La Prepa."

Human Beings (Seres Humanos ), 2002, Mexico
After struggling for years to ignore their agony, a seemingly successful Mexican couple slips into despair a decade after the accidental death of their young daughter in this complex examination of the value of family. Dulce (Clarissa Malheiros), the mother, is a popular celebrity who's unable to reconcile her increasing popularity with the tragedy in her past, while her husband, Derek (Rafael Sánchez Navarro), retreats into a quiet insanity.

The Castle (Das Schloss ), 1997, directed by Michael Haneke, Germany
When land surveyor K. (Ulrich Mühe) arrives at a small village that houses a castle, local authorities refuse to allow him to enter. As he tries to convince the officials that they sent for him, they clamp down with increasingly complicated bureaucratic obstacles. Directed by renowned European filmmaker Michael Haneke, this visually stunning adaptation of Franz Kafka's absurdist novel first aired on Austrian television.

As You Like It Asian-style

2007-08-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Kenneth Branagh has returned with his fifth Shakespearean translation to film. As You Like It premieres Tuesday on HBO and stars Kevin Kline, Alfred Molina and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Branagh’s twist on this version is the setting: 19th Century Japan.

He developed the idea while meditating in Kyoto, Japan, several years ago.

"One of Shakespeare's most enduring plays," according to the LA Times, "As You Like It is set in the magical Forest of Arden, where the beautiful Rosalind (Howard), the daughter of a banished duke (Brian Blessed), is forced to flee her uncle's (also Blessed) court. Accompanying her on her journey is her cousin Celia (Romola Garai). Fearing she'll be discovered by her uncle's men, Rosalind disguises herself as a boy. The guise proves advantageous when she decides to test the love and devotion of her admirer Orlando (David Oyelowo), who has also been exiled from the court with his jealous brother (Adrian Lester) in pursuit and trying to kill him.

"Kline, who has played such Shakespeare heroes and villains as Falstaff, Hamlet and Richard III on the New York stage, plays the lonely, melancholic philosopher Jaques, who Shakespeare scholars believe represents the playwright himself."

More Korda Coverage

2007-08-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hungary's new tax breaks, facilities are key draws

By Nick Holdsworth
Aug 7, 2007

EYTEK, Hungary -- Sweeping fields of sunflowers dotted here and there with the smaller enclosures of Chardonnay-producing vineyards roll away from a sun-baked hilltop that sits above this small village 16 miles northwest of Budapest.
The chalky soil is good for the grapes -- the white wines of Eytek are among the best in Hungary -- and the panoramic vista from the hilltop offers uninterrupted views of green below and blue above stretching to the Buda hills far on the horizon.
Once home to Soviet ballistic missile silos, today the hillside has been cleared of its Cold War contamination of bunkers, machine oils and munitions and a new world is taking shape.

(Click here for full article.)

Garcia Bernal, Luna Gala for Human Rights

2007-08-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, stars of Y Tu Mama Tambien, hosted a $300-a-plate gala dinner benefiting Mexico’s Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights and Witness.
Witness was founded by rocker Peter Gabriel to promote video and film that document human rights abuse.
"Documentaries show us the injustices in the country where we live, that this problem exists," Garcia Bernal told a news conference before the dinner. "We can't escape it."
Luna and Garcia Bernal, who recently launched the Canana production company, also want to use documentaries to raise awareness about failures of the Mexican judicial system, including the unsolved murders of more than 300 women in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas.
"Each day it's harder to live in this country and in this city'' and turn a blind eye to the poverty and injustice, said Luna, who recently premiered his directorial debut Chavez, a documentary on the legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez

Bond is Back

2007-08-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

The next installment in the James Bond series is set to be filmed in Italy this Thursday in the Tuscan city Siena.
The scene is slated to coincide with the traditional barback horse race of Pulio through the town. As the race winds its way through the town, Bond – played by Daniel Craig – will be chasing his villain along the cobbled streets and across rooftops.
However, Craig isn’t likely to be around during the shoot. A helicopter crew will be filming overhead and Craig will likely be inserted into shots later.

2007-08-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

Carved: The Slit Mouthed Woman (Kuchisake-onna) 2007, directed by Kôji Shiraishi, Japan
Three decades ago, a Japanese suburb was terrorized by the vengeful spirit of a woman in a surgical mask who asked victims, "Am I pretty?" before slaughtering them. Now, children in this community are disappearing again, leaving police and teachers to discover the reason and put an end to the new wave of carnage. Eriko Sato, Haruhiko Katô and Miki Mizuno star in director Kôji Shiraishi's terrifying chiller.

Graveyard of Honor (Shin Jingi No Hakaba) 2002, directed by Kinji Fukasaku, Japan
When Rikuo Ishimatsu (Goro Kishitani), a simple dishwasher, saves the life of a notorious yakuza boss, he's rewarded with a warm welcome into the criminal fold. Before long, Rikio has become a powerful gangster with several kills to his name. But has he also become a monster in the process? Controversial filmmaker Takashi Miike helms this bloody revamp of cult director Kinji Fukasaku's Japanese classic by the same name.

This Just In: New DVD Releases

2007-08-07T05:27:00.001-07:00

Perfidia (2007) directed by Christian Gonzalez, Mexico
Standed in a remote area, a gang of gun traffickers finds shelter at a widow's sprawling ranch in this crime thriller. The men decide to rob their wealthy host, but when strange events occur, the crooks start to lose their grip on reality. As their fear of the uknown increases, the men suspect that there's more than meets the eye when it comes to the mysterious woman. Roberto Ballesteros and Carlos Cardan star.

Falling (Fallen) 2006, directed by Barbara Albert
OK, so this isn’t a German film, it is in German with English subtitles. Five former high school friends -- now in their 30s -- reunite for a funeral. What begins as a sad gathering turns into a night of fun, bittersweet memories and surprising revelations in this drama from Austrian director Barbara Albert. The classmates --pregnant Nina, office worker Alex, prison parolee Nicole, actress Carmen and teacher Brigitte -- revisit the past, divulge present disappointments and face their fears about an uncertain future.

"Lives of Others" Star Ulrich Mühe, 1953-2007

2007-08-01T05:07:00.000-07:00

New York TImes
July 26, 2007
Ulrich Mühe, Film and Stage Actor, Dies at 54
By SARAH PLASS
FRANKFURT, July 25 — Ulrich Mühe, a popular German actor who won acclaim as a tormented Stasi officer in cold-war East Germany in the Oscar-winning film “The Lives of Others,” died on Sunday in his family home in Walbeck. He was 54.
The cause was stomach cancer, his family said. They said he was buried Wednesday in Walbeck, in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, where he lived with his wife, the actress Susanne Lothar, and their two children.
Mr. Mühe officially confirmed he had cancer only in the last week, in an interview that first appeared in the online edition of the German newspaper Die Welt on Saturday. He said he first learned of his illness in February and underwent surgery shortly after the Academy Awards ceremony that same month, when “The Lives of Others” was named best foreign film.
The film, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck and released last year, received many German and European movie awards, won rave reviews and attracted a worldwide audience. Mr. Mühe won Germany’s golden Lola Award as best actor.
He played Capt. Gerd Wiesler, an agent with the East German secret police, who is assigned to keep a successful playwright and his lover under constant surveillance, only to become fascinated by them and protective of them as he grows disillusioned with the Communist state.
Born in Grimma, in the eastern state of Saxony, Mr. Mühe established his acting career in East Germany’s thriving theater scene and furthered it in the reunified Germany, becoming a popular presence in television and film as well.
The East German playwright Heiner Müller, who died in 1995, discovered Mr. Mühe in 1979 while Mr. Mühe was performing in the East German city of Karl-Marx-Stadt, now Chemnitz. Mr. Müller took him to East Berlin’s renowned Volksbühne theater. Mr. Mühe later joined the ensemble at Deutsches Theater in 1983, where he became a celebrated actor.
This year, Mr. Mühe had a major supporting role in “Mein Führer: The Truly Truest Truth About Adolf Hitler,” a comedy by the filmmaker Dani Levy, which received a mixed reaction by German critics but did well at the country’s box office.
Besides Ms. Lothar and their two children, his survivors include three other children, one of whom is the actress Anna Maria Mühe, from his two previous marriages.
Last year, Mr. Mühe lost a highly publicized legal battle waged against him about his right to continue to refer to one of his ex-wives, the actress Jenny Gröllmann, as a former Stasi informant, an accusation she denied. Ms. Gröllmann died of cancer last year at the age of 59, before the matter was resolved.
Mr. Mühe fought against the government as one of several artists demonstrating before the Berlin Wall fell. On Nov. 4, 1989, shortly before the wall fell and before a half-million people on Alexanderplatz in East Berlin, he declared the Communists’ power monopoly to be invalid.

Michelangelo Antonioni dead at 94

2007-07-31T04:52:00.000-07:00

ROME (AP) -- Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni, whose depiction of alienation made him a symbol of art-house cinema with movies such as ''Blow-Up'' and ''L'Avventura,'' has died, officials and news reports said Tuesday. He was 94.
The ANSA news agency said that Antonioni died at his home on Monday evening.
''With Antonioni dies not only one of the greatest directors but also a master of modernity,'' Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said in a statement.
Antonioni depicted alienation in the modern world through sparse dialogue and long takes. Along with Federico Fellini, he helped turn post-war Italian film away from the Neorealism movement and toward a personal cinema of imagination.
In 1995, Hollywood honored his career work -- about 25 films and several screenplays -- with a special Oscar for lifetime achievement. By then Antonioni was a physically frail but mentally sharp 82, unable to speak but a few words because of a stroke but still translating his vision into film. The Oscar was stolen from Antonioni's home in 1996, together with several other film prizes.
His slow-moving camera never became synonymous with box-office success, but some of his movies such ''Blow-Up,'' ''Red Desert'' and ''The Passenger'' reached enduring fame.
His exploration of such intellectual themes as alienation and existential malaise led Halliwell's Film Guide to say that ''L'Avventura,'' Antonioni's first critical success, made him ''a hero of the highbrows.''
The critics loved that film, but the audience hissed when ''L'Avventura'' was presented at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival. The barest of plots, which wanders through a love affair of a couple, frustrated many viewers for its lack of action and dialogue, characteristically Antonioni.
In one point in the black-and-white film, the camera lingers and lingers on Monica Vitti, one of Antonioni's favorite actresses, as she plays a blond, restless jet-setter.
''In the empty, silent spaces of the world, he has found metaphors that illuminate the silent places our hearts, and found in them, too, a strange and terrible beauty: austere, elegant, enigmatic, haunting,'' Jack Nicholson said in presenting Antonioni with the career Oscar. Nicholson starred in the director's 1975 film ''The Passenger.''
Antonioni was born on Sept. 29, 1912, in the affluent northern city of Ferrara. He received a university degree in economics and soon began writing critiques for cinema magazines.
Antonioni's first feature film, ''Story of a Love Affair'' (1950) was a tale of two lovers unable to cope with the ties binding them to their private lives.
But Antonioni grew more interested in depicting his characters' internal turmoil rather than their daily, down-to-earth troubles. The shift induced critics to call his cinema ''internal Neorealism.''
After the international critical acclaim of ''L'Avventura,'' which became part of a trilogy with ''The Night'' (1961) and ''Eclipse'' (1962), Antonioni's style was established. He steadily co-wrote his films and directed them with the recognizable touch of a painter. His signature was a unique look into people's frustrating inability to communicate and assert themselves in society.
On Oscar award night, his wife, Enrica Fico, 41 years his junior, and ''translator'' for him since his 1985 stroke, said: ''Michelangelo always went beyond words, to meet silence, the mystery and power of silence.''
The first success at the box office came in 1966 with ''Blow Up,'' about London in the swinging '60s and a photographer who accidentally captures a murder on film.
But Antonioni with his hard-to-fathom films generally found it hard to convince Italian producers to back him. By the end of the 1960s, he was looking abroad for funds. American backing helped produce ''Zabriskie Point'' (1970), shot in the bleakly carved landscape of Death Valley, California.
Asked by an Italian magazine in 1980, ''For whom do you make films'' Antonioni replied: ''I do it for it an ideal spectator who is this very director. I could never do something against my tastes to meet the public. Frankly, I can't do it, even if so many directors do so. And then, what public? Italian? American? Japanese? French? British? Australian? They're all different from each other.''
Using sometimes a notepad, sometimes the good communication he had with his wife and sometimes just his very expressive blue eyes, Antonioni astonished the film world in 1994 to make ''Beyond the Clouds,'' when ailing and hampered by the effects of the stroke.
With an international cast -- John Malkovich, Jeremy Irons, Irene Jacob, and Fanny Ardant -- the movie wove together three episodes based on Antonioni's book of short stories ''Quel Bowling sul Tevere'' (''Bowling on the Tiber'') to explore the usual Antonioni themes.
Worried that Antonioni would be too frail to finish the movie, investors had German director Wim Wenders follow the work, ready to step in if the Italian ''maestro'' couldn't go on. But Wenders wound up watching in awe and letting Antonioni put his vision on film.
Antonioni is survived by his wife. He had no children. ANSA said that a funeral would be held Thursday in Antonioni's hometown of Ferrara in northern Italy.

Laszlo Kovacs, Hungarian Cinematographer

2007-07-26T05:32:00.000-07:00

Legendary cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, a Hungarian, has died. He was 74.

His films included Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Paper Moon, Shampoo, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid, Frances, Mask, and Miss Congeniality. He also worked on The Last Waltz and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Recently he was working on the documentary Torn from the Flag, about the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

Kovacs died in his sleep at his Beverly Hills home on Sunday. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, Julianna and Nadia; and a granddaughter.

His family and friends are in our thoughts.

This Just In: New DVD Releases

2007-07-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus), 2005, Mexico
To distance himself from Adolf Hitler and a war he philosophically opposes, a young German (Peter Ketnath) moves halfway around the world to Brazil, where he meets a hitchhiker (João Miguel) with his own motivations to keep moving. Together, they drive across the country making pit stops in various villages to sell the locals a "miracle" drug. Marcelo Gomes directs this multilingual Cannes Film Festival selection.

Django, 1966, Directed by Sergio Corbucci, Mexico/Italy
In a lawless frontier, a master gunman carries a dark secret -- and a coffin filled with chaos. Franco Nero stars as Django, a mysterious stranger caught up in the violent crossfire between Mexican bandits and sadistic vigilantes. This landmark classic is packed with indelible images and some of the most shocking brutality of any Spaghetti Western ever made. Fully restored from original camera negatives.

Morisma, 2006, directed by Edin Alain Martinez, Mexico
Throughout the Mexican states of Zacatecas and Jalisco, the Moors continue to hold traditional and religious celebrations that date back to medieval times; this documentary explores the rich history of these largely unknown Franciscan rituals. Following Moorish leader Hilario Espinosa, the film reveals a spiritual heritage that remains cherished and vital. The presentation also includes two documentary shorts, "Bracho" and "Burrito de Agua-Miel."

Sangre Costena (Coastal Blood ), 2002, directed by Amado Portillo Ortega, Mexico
Obsession and forbidden love spark a series of tragic events in the story of Isabel, a beautiful woman whose passionate nature tempts those who meet her. Having traveled from her small hometown to Mexico City, Isabel finds work as a maid for a powerful politician who soon becomes obsessed with her. The attraction is mutual, and Isabel surrenders herself to an illicit affair that leads to dangerous consequences.

The Guerrilla and the Hope: Lucio Cabanas (La Guerrilla y la esperanza: Lucio Cabañas), 2005 directed by Gerardo Tort, Mexico
Director Gerardo Tort's compelling documentary explores the life of Lucio Cabanas, a guerrilla leader who headed one of the most significant peasant revolts in Mexican history and became a figure of inspiration for the poor of southern Mexico. Revealing interviews from companions, family members, former guerrilla fighters and historians make obvious that Cabanas's story of courage and hope continues to live on.

Film Supporters

2007-07-23T05:35:00.000-07:00

Last year when we began talking about launching Filmies, we did so for two reasons. We figured there was a group of film buffs out there that would be interested in getting together regularly, and we figured film was a good way for people to learn about the cultures in and around Fort Worth’s seven international Sister Cities.
I was reading some articles last week on Reuters and the BBC online and it made me think maybe there’s another more important reason we should support the Filmies group and film in general.
Film is an incredible vehicle for freedom of speech and perhaps an even more important spark for debate and discussion.
Reuters reported Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, launched its second film festival. That might be hum drum news in many places. But in Saudi Arabia there are no operating movie theaters due to governmental and religious restrictions. In fact at the festival launch announcement the Jeddah mayor carefully referred to it as the “Festival of Visual Art,” because a “film festival” sounds too risqué.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that South Africa’s broadcasting entity, SABC, is attempting to block broadcast of a documentary that apparently reflects the South African president in a bad light. SABC is using copyright law as the foundation for the injunction, but critics say it’s because the broadcaster is soft on the administration.
We in the United States are much more used to freedom of speech. That’s not to say there can’t be abuses and rampant propaganda distributed. Many people dislike Michael Moore and view his films, such as “Sicko,” as nothing more than liberal propaganda. It has, however, caused the media and average people to talk about the state of healthcare and insurance in the United States.
Aside from being entertaining, film can be life changing and affirming.
And without the ability to view, educate, learn and discuss, how can we gain other viewpoints and understand other cultures. How can we become better citizens, leaders, families and friends?
How can we become better people?

This Just In: New DVDs

2007-07-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

Yo-Yo Girl Cop, 2006, directed by Kenta Fukasaku, Japan
Aya Matsuura stars as K, a teenage delinquent from New York who's recruited by Japan's National Police Agency to thwart a terrorist plot by a group of anarchist private school students. When a credible threat traced back to the school appears on an underground Web site, K has 72 hours to save the day. Directed by Kenta Fukasaku, this action thriller also stars Rika Ishikawa, Shunsuke Kubozuka and Erika Miyoshi.

47 Ronin (Shijushichinin No Shikaku) 1994, directed by Kon Ichikawa, Japan
When their leader commits ritual suicide for dishonoring nobleman Kira (Kô Nishimura), 47 samurai warriors band together, vowing to avenge him. After spending a year preparing themselves for battle, they launch a massive attack against Kira and his army. Ken Takakura and Hisaya Morishige star in director Kon Ichikawa's sweeping version of the classic Japanese tale, inspired by true events.

Basic Tsukamoto, 2003, Japan
Filmmaker and actor Shinya Tsukamoto is one of the most celebrated cult figures in Japanese cinema. Creator of landmark films such as Tetsuo: The Iron Man and Gemini, Tsukamoto is revered not only in his home country, but around the globe as well. Join the renowned director as he recounts the evolution of his impressive career with archival footage of unreleased films, TV commercials and rarely seen recordings of his live shows.

Ciudad Juarez: Tan Infinito Como el Desierto, 2004, Mexico
Over the past decade, hundreds of women have been brutally murdered in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico -- deaths that for the most part remain unsolved. This miniseries dramatizes the tragedy, presenting it through the eyes of a young reporter. Searching the city for her nanny's missing daughter, the journalist and her boyfriend slowly begin to realize the magnitude of the crimes as they're drawn deeper and deeper into the mystery.

Demon Hunting, 2006, Japan
Miho Yabe heads the cast in this spine-chilling Japanese horror flick that follows a private school student whose disturbing visions of satanic activities on campus are blithely dismissed as figments of her imagination. But after one of her dreams gives rise to a gruesome death, she finds herself in a race against the clock -- can she stop the murderous demons before they claim another innocent victim?

Ghost Gate, 2006, Japan
A weekend outing in an old castle turns into a harrowing ordeal for six adventurous students when they unwittingly release a wicked quiescent presence in this hair-raising chiller starring Miho Yabe and Noko Ninomiya. After a succession of bizarre events, the horrifying truth about the spirit's past emerges -- and the petrified youngsters soon come face to face with their biggest fears and nastiest nightmares.

Ghost Train (Otoshimono), 2006, directed by Takeshi Furusawa, Japan
Erika Sawajiri, Chinatsu Wakatsuki and Shun Oguri co-star in this spooky sci-fi thriller based on the urban legend of the haunted train. High schooler Nana has plenty on her plate already -- including a sick mother and a looming graduation -- when her younger sister disappears. Desperate to find her, Nana and her friend Kanae encounter a series of bizarre phenomena during their search -- including a female spirit who inhabits the train platform.

Trippy Spice

2007-07-14T15:34:00.000-07:00

Paprika is one trippy movie.
Filmies attended a showing last night at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
The entire movie is a series of crazy dream sequences. It’s a swashbuckling, stream-of-consciousness trippy movie.
Most of us really enjoyed it. It’s not a particularly deep movie, just fun.
Directed by Satoshi Kon, Paprika is based on a book by Yasutaka Tsutsui who also published a collection of short stories called "Salmonella Men on the Planet Porno" – what’s not to like about that title?
The plot summary on Wikipedia goes like this, “In the very near future, a revolutionary new psychotherapy treatment called PT has been invented. A device called the "DC Mini" allows the user to act as a "dream detective" and view inside people's dreams, exploring their unconscious thoughts. The head of the team working on this treatment, Dr. Atsuko Chiba who begins using the machine illegally to help psychiatric patients outside of the research facility, using her alter-ego "Paprika," a persona she assumes in the dream world. Paprika is literally a "dream girl," with her cute face and red hair, she is the more playful half of the serious, though attractive, Chiba. It also seems that Paprika is the most expert of these "dream detectives."
That description is a bit tedious. Check out the Paprika site on MySpace to learn more and hook up with Paprika obsessed fans.

Ekskul Awards Revoked

2007-07-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

Following months of protest by the Indonesian film community, the Indonesian National Film Advisory Board (BP2N) has withdrawn the Best Film and Best Director awards given to Ekskul and Nayato Fio Nuala.
The board announced its decision to revoke the awards at a June 28 news conference because the musical score was apparently lifted from several Hollywood movies.
The film was generally panned by critics “mainly due to its many plot holes, unrealistic settings and characterizations, overly-flashy editing style.” Still the film won the 2006 Indonesian Film Festival’s Citra Award for Best Picture.
The awards outraged many in the Indonesian film industry leading to protests and past winners returning their trophies.
The movie is about a high school student who is bullied by day and abused by his parents at home. He lashes back by taking students hostage. A 10-minute chunk is available on YouTube.
Nuala’s most recent film is Nagabonar Jadi 2, in which he starred as well as directed.

Reggio Film Festival Last Call for Entries

2007-07-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Reggio Film Festival has announced the theme for the sixth annual fest: Women.
The deadline for entries to the short film festival is July 28. The festival runs Sept. 27-29 held in Reggio, Italy. Reggio Emilia is one of Fort Worth’s seven international Sister Cities.

OFFICIAL RULES
1. The 6th Reggio Film Festival is dedicated to the theme of Women

2. The competition is open to all short film filmmakers and includes the following sections:

Women - open to short-movies of 8.00' or less

Open Category - not limited to the theme, open to short-movies of 20.00’ or less

3. Movies must be sent in DVD format and will not be returned

4. There is no cost for applying and submit works

5. It's mandatory to send a copy with english or italian subtitles if the movie is not in italian

6. The DVD must be sent along with the application and (optional) a few photos from the movie, no later than the 28th of July (the postal print is a proof) to the following address:

CONCORSO REGGIO FILM FESTIVAL

c/o Vincenzo Campi

Centro Postale Operativo

via Piccard 14

42100 Reggio Emilia

Italy

7. The festival organizing committee will select the movies that will be shown at the September 2007 Festival, chosing the right section for each movie.

8. The committee reserves the right to use the films for other non-profit and cultural purposes although the copyrights belong to the authors.

9. The movies sent to the committee will not be returned and will be included in the video file of Reggio Film Festival and University of Modena and Reggio. The organizers are committed not to use the works for commercial purposes.

10. The following prizes will be given:

First Prize of 2000 euro for the best short-film about the theme of Women

Zavattini award offered by ARCI-UCCA to the best short-movies made in the style of Cesare Zavattini

People's choice award for the best short-movie in the Open Category section voted by the Reggio Film Festival audience

11. All filmmakers entering the Film Festival will receive the festival program and the awards-winners will be contacted by phone or e-mail. For info about your entry please contact the artistic direction or check the official website.

The acceptance of the whole regulations is mandatory to enter the competition; the final judgment on any controversy is up the Reggio Film Festival direction.

2007-07-09T20:29:00.000-07:00

This Just In: New DVD Releases Ziyi Zhang

Princess Raccoon (Operetta tanuki gotten), 2005, directed by Seijun Suzuki, Japan
Love blooms in Seijun Suzuki's dreamlike musical, which chronicles the romance between Prince Amechiyo (Jô Odagiri) and a raccoon spirit (Ziyi Zhang) who's transformed herself into a beautiful woman. Banished by his jealous father, Prince Amechiyo wanders the forest until Princess Raccoon finds the handsome royal and takes him back to her magical castle. Hiroko Yakushimaru and Mikijiro Hira co-star in this joyfully extravagant production.

The Face of Another (Tanin No Kao), 1966, by Hiroshi Teshigahara, Japan
A commentary on plastic surgery and self-image, Hiroshi Teshigahara's sci-fi drama centers on a man (Tatsuya Nakadai) who gets a new face after a horrible accident. But he soon learns that the lifelike mask he's donned comes with a terrible price. Meanwhile on the other side of town, a scarred young woman finds her own way of coping with facial disfigurement. Machiko Kyô, Miki Irie and Mikijiro Hira co-star.

Woman in the Dunes (Suna No Onna), 1964, directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara, Japan
Hiroshi Teshigahara's award-winning drama centers on a bug expert (Eiji Okada) conducting research who's captured by locals. Held captive in a sandpit with a young widow, he struggles with his imprisonment -- and his growing attraction to the woman (Kyôko Kishida). Based on Kobo Abe's novel, the provocatively erotic allegorical film earned the Cannes Special Jury Prize and two Oscar nominations.

Pitfall (Otoshiana), 1962, directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara, Japan
Hiroshi Teshigahara's crime drama mixes murder, the supernatural and postwar commentary into an eerie tale about a Japanese miner (Hisashi Igawa) who's stalked by a ghostly man in white (Kunie Tanaka) with one intent: to imprison the down-and-out laborer in a ghost town. The plot moves deeper into sociopolitical realms as rival union leaders try to solve a mystery surrounding the miner. Kazou Miyahara co-stars as the miner's son.

Amor Xtremo (Extreme Love) 2006, directed by Chava Cartas, Mexico
Two brothers embark on a life-changing course when Sebastián (Aarón Díaz) persuades his older brother -- who quit bike racing after an accident -- to join him in his quest to become a professional racer. The siblings soon set off for Sin City for a motocross event, where they push themselves to the limit. Irán Castillo, Plutarco Haza and Ximena Sariáana also star in director Chava Cartas' adrenaline-fueled action adventure.

Bodyguard Kiba 2: Combat Apocalypse, 1993, directed by Takashi Mike, Japan
Prolific director Takashi Miike (Audition, Dead or Alive) helms this bloody martial arts thriller. When Naoto Kiba (Hisao Maki) takes on a new security job to earn money for the upkeep of his dojo, he unwittingly finds himself matched up against the Soryu-kai -- the most dangerous gang in all of Okinawa. And to make matters worse, Kiba finds himself falling for his client's beautiful girlfriend, Yoko -- also a target of the Soryu-kai.

Hana & Alice (Hana to Arisu), 2004, directed by Shunji Iwai, Japan
A seemingly innocent scheme to trick a cute boy into believing he has amnesia causes a rift between 15-year-old schoolgirls Hana (Anne Suzuki) and Alice (Yû Aoi). After the boy suffers a bump on the head, the more unconventional-looking Hana succeeds in convincing their confused target that she's his longtime girlfriend. But when he begins to show a preference for the prettier and more popular Alice, the girls' friendship starts to sour.

Mujer Coqueta, 2007, Mexico
A greedy beauty who manipulates men for their money sees her luck run out when she's kidnapped by a rival gang bent on destroying her father's drug ring. The femme fatale's flirty ways won't help this time, and it's up to her husband to rescue her. But the task won't be easy as the husband -- a simple rancher -- must pose as a drug dealer to save his wife. This crime thriller stars Oscar Traven and Abraham Ramos.

Von Donnersmarck Supports Cruise Film

2007-07-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

Academy Award-winning director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has joined the chorus of protests against the German government blocking filming of a film about an attempted assassination of Adolph Hitler.

Von Donnersmarck slammed the government in an ad in the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

The film, Valkyrie, directed by Bryan Singer, would star Tom Cruise as Count Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg who was involved in a failed assassination of Hitler.

According to the Deutsche Welle, “While some German politicians have said that Cruise, 44, is unwelcome because of his involvement with the Church of Scientology, officials have said that the decision to prevent filming at the Bendlerblock, now part of the defense ministry, was unconnected with the star's beliefs and was based purely on the disruption it would cause.”

Von Donnersmarck countered that the government for wasting "a golden opportunity," and that the film would promote Germany's image "more than 10 soccer World Cups."

Spikey Italian

2007-07-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

Director Spike Lee is scouting locations in Italy for his upcoming movie on African American soldiers fighting in World War II.
The movie is based on the book “Miracle at St. Anna” by James McBride. Lee expects to begin shooting next year at Rome’s Cinecitta Studios with locations in the United States and Tuscany, Italy.
Roberto Cicutto and Luigi Musini, executive producers on Hotel Rwanda, are slated to produce and the film is estimated to cost $45 million.
“This is a wonderful story and what makes it even more wonderful is that it is based upon true incidents,'' Lee told media. “If you look at the history of Hollywood, the black soldiers who fought World War II are invisible”
McBride’s book tells the story of an all-black infantry division trapped in a small Italian village behind enemy lines. The soldiers teamed with locals to fight. Nearly a quarter of the 15,000 African American soldiers died in Italy during the war.
Lee’s movies generally focus on racial themes. Among his most famous are Malcom X and Do The Right Thing.
Casting has not been settled, but there are lead parts for four African American actors, plus German and Italians. Lee said the crew will be largely Italian.

Apply Here for Film Funding

2007-07-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

The Global Film Initiative is seeking applicants for the fall feature-film cycle of grants. The GFI, an U.S.-based non-profit, awards grants twice a year to filmmakers whose works “exhibit artistic excellence, authentic self-representation and accomplished storytelling, while contributing to the development of local film industries and offering audiences a variety of cultural perspectives on daily life around the world.”
Grants of up to $10,000 for each applicant are available in this cycle. Application deadline is Sept. 30, 2007.
The Global Film Initiative accepts grant applications from countries in the following regions: Latin America, The Caribbean, Africa, The Middle East, Asia (excluding Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan), and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand).
Of Love and Eggs (Rindu kami padamu), directed by Garin Nugroho of Indonesia, was a recent recipient and is currently showing around the country.
For Applications & Guidelines, please visit:www.globalfilm.org/granting.htm.

This Just In: New DVDs

2007-07-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji), 2004, directed by Katsuhito Ishii – Japan
Director Katsuhito Ishii's whimsical episodic tale chronicles a summer in the lives of the quirky Haruno clan, who passes the unhurried days trying to realize their ambitions. As Mom (Satomi Tezuka) attempts to revive her career, her hypnotherapist hubby (Tomokazu Miura) practices on the family. Meanwhile, their pubescent son (Takahiro Sato) feels the pangs of love, and their 6-year-old daughter (Maya Banno) grapples with a pesky dopplegänger.

Look to the Sky (Jon ache Visse Nella Balena), 1993, directed by Roberto Faenza – Germany/Italy
A Jewish boy struggles to survive when he and his parents are thrown into a German concentration camp during World War II in this touching drama that explores the Holocaust from the perspective of a young Dutch child. As Jona (played by Luke Petterson and Jenner Del Vecchio) grows up in the midst of horror, he tries to retain his humanity by clinging to his family and to his fading memories of a world where kindness is not a rarity.

Sodom the Killer (Sodomu no Ichi), 2004, directed by Hiroshi Takahashi, Japan
When his bride dies during the wedding, Lord Sodomu Ichibei kills two innocent girls in a vengeful rampage. Fast-forward 300 years to the present-day wedding of Ichibei's descendant Sodomu Ichiro, who will pay dearly for his ancestor's sins. The ghosts of Ichibei's victims return in unexpected places, prompting a matrimonial massacre that will drive Ichiro to unprecedented depths of despair and wrath. Takashi Urai plays both Sodomu men.

Mexico Pursues Major Studios

2007-07-02T20:15:00.001-07:00

The Mexican national film institute has dissolved Conafilm – the National Film Commission – and created a new office for promoting Mexican films and developing addtional world-class studios.

A new division of the Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografia (Imcine) has been created to provide logistical aid to foreign and domestic producers and will manage a catalog of local film service providers and a photo bank of locations, provide consulting services and act as a liaison with local governments, according to Variety’s Michael O’Boyle.

The Mexican Film Union last year were unhappy with Conafilm’s management and apparently political pressure led to it's elimination.

Imcine is charged with developing the country’s infrastructure and creating new studio facilities within a few years. The country’s film industry relies on Estudios Churubusco Azteca in Mexico City – the only major facility in Mexico – for Hollywood-style productions such as William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet.

Evening out?

2007-06-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Evening comes out this weekend, and it scares me.
It looks so good in the trailers and advertisements. It’s got an incredible cast of the best actresses. And it’s directed by Hungarian Lajos Koltai.
Stars include: Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Meryl Streep and Glenn Close.
That’s what scares me. Everytime I see ads for a movie with that many top-notch folks working on a movie, it’s guaranteed to be terrible.
Examples: Gangs of New York and The Score.
Gangs was even nominated for an Academy Award – Sheesh! Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz and Leo DiCaprio all directed by Martin Scorsese. My wife and I actually booed afterward.
The Score stole $15 from my wallet. Robert De Niro, Ed Norton, Angela Bassett and Marlon Brando. It was completely unintelligible.
So, I’ll go to see Evening, but I’ll be picking out from behind my hands.
What are the worst movies you’ve seen that appeared to have amazing promise? Any of you regulars have a comment? Margaret, Leo, Heather, Lisa Gail, Beth, Joe?

This Just In: DVD Releases

2007-06-26T05:07:00.000-07:00

Chased (Perseguido), 1993, Mexico
After witnessing a murder, a teenage skateboarder becomes the target of a merciless gang. The thugs chase the boy all over town in an attempt to silence him forever, but somehow he keeps dodging their increasingly ridiculous schemes. Starring Roberto Trujillo, Nelly Godoy and Hernán Casariego, Leopoldo Laborde's comedy gives a nod to filmmaker Juan Orol (the Ed Wood of Mexican film).

A Good Death Beats a Dull Life (Hijas de Su Madre: Las Buenrostro), 2005, directed by Busi Cortés, Mexico
In the Buenenrostros family, the women are in charge. Facing life in their Mexico City apartment complex with romance and laughter, along with a little death, they interrupt their clandestine business deals only for the occasional love triangle. It's a good thing the neighbors are on their side. Pilar Ixquic Mata, Lumi Cavazos, Marta Zamora and Jesús Ochoa star in this wickedly dark comedy from director Busi Cortés.

A Dedicated Life (Zenshin Shosetsuka), 1994, directed by Kazou Hara, Japan
Venerated filmmaker Kazou Hara trains his lens on author Mitsuharu Inoue -- whose sociopolitical novel Chi No Mure earned high praise from literary critics -- in this compelling documentary filmed as he copes with terminal cancer. From Inoue's communist beliefs to his controversial works, Hara paints a double-edged portrait of a maverick writer admired by students and peers -- who was also a brazen liar and shameless skirt chaser.

Child Murders (Gyerekgyilkosságok), 1993, Hungary
Set in Budapest, this drama reveals the emotional and physical abuse endured by children including motherless Zsolt (Barnabás Tóth), who is the sole caretaker of his ill grandmother. For better and worse, Zsolt's entire world changes when he helps a gypsy woman. Co-starring Mari Balogh, Ildikó Szabó's stark black-and-white drama earned the Fipresci Prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.

Frankenstein Conquers the World (Frankenstein vs. Baragon), 1965, directed by Ishirô Honda, Japan
Wrongly accused of destroying the countryside, a 20-foot-tall mutant dukes it out with the true culprit -- the giant reptile Baragon -- in this classic 1964 Japanese monster movie from Ishirô Honda, director of the original Godzilla. When Frankenstein's heart gets a dose of radiation from the Hiroshima bomb, the organ grows into a giant monster-boy destined to battle nasty Baragon.

The Law and the Fist (Prawo I Piesc), 1964, directed by Jerzy Hoffman, German
At the end of World War II, a group of Poles move to what was once German-occupied territory and must defend their rights and property from opportunistic villains disguised as officials in this modern drama with a classic Western story line. In the end, a lone hero steps up to run the bad guys out of town and save the day. Filmmaker Jerzy Hoffman's drama stars Gustaw Holoubek, Wieslaw Golas and Zofia Mrozowska.

Paprika Showing, Free to New Members!

2007-06-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Join FWSCI Filmies for a showing of the Japanese anime film Paprika at 6 p.m., Friday, July 13, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Tickets are $7 for adults and can be purchased through FWSCI offices at

New Members Attend Free
Anyone joining FWSCI through Filmies between now and July 13 will receive a free ticket to the movie.
Click here to join FWSCI online or here by mail. Remember to write/type Filmies in the “Recruited by” blank.

Reservations
For reservations, email Felecia Bouyer at felecia@fwsistercities.org or call 817.392.2650

Paprika
Dr. Atsuko Chiba is a genius scientist by day, and a dream warrior named PAPRIKA by night. In this psychedelic sci-fi adventure, it will take the skills of both women to save the world...
In the near future, a revolutionary new psychotherapy treatment called PT has been invented. Through a device called the “DC Mini” it is able to act as a “dream detective” to enter into people’s dreams and explore their unconscious thoughts. Before the government can pass a bill authorizing the use of such advanced psychiatric technology, one of the prototypes is stolen, sending the research facility into an uproar.
In the wrong hands, the potential misuse of the devise could be devastating, allowing the user to completely annihilate a dreamer’s personality while they are asleep.
Renowned scientist, Dr. Atsuko Chiba, enters the dream world under her exotic alter-ego, code name “PAPRIKA,” in an attempt to discover who is behind the plot to undermine the new invention.
Paprika was directed by Satoshi Kon and is based on the literary works of Yasutaka Tsutsui. The film was an Official Selection of the New York Film Festival. The film opened in New York on May 25 and Los Angeles on June 1.

Hungary & Korda Studio Get Raves

2007-06-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

The opening of Korda Film Studio in Budapest at a former military installation is wowing Hollywood and the film world.

Variety touts the operation as top of the line. And with the opening late last year of the Stern Studio Film Studio and Media Center in Pomaz, north of Budapest, Hungary is attracting attention.

Now, California-based Raleigh Studios is opening of an office in Hungary offering production services. The studios offer local crews and craft, facilities and English-speaking keys, plus 24/7 connection to its North American operations.

Korda is currently host to Guiermo del Toro’s Hellboy II, which began shooting in early June.

Caboodle, a Hungaran website reports:

"We are very proud that one of the world's largest studios and most famed directors who recently won three Oscars with his movie 'Pan's Labyrinth' have chosen the Sándor Korda Film Studio as shooting location for their new movie," said László Krisán, director of Korda Filmstúdió Kft.

The filmmakers are currently building the film's large sets and plan to begin shooting in June. The first "Hellboy" was released in 2004. "Hellboy 2" is expected to be released at the end of next summer.

The "Hellboy 2" production team will use the four studios, and storage and workshop centers that were completed at the Etyek studio for the first phase of the investment.

The second phase of the investment, including a 21-meter-high water studio for shooting underwater scenes, will be finished by December. It also will be possible to open one of the studio walls to incorporate the Etyek landscape into films. The total area of the studios will be 6,500 square meters and cost €91 million to build.

Krisán said the production will be carefully separated from ongoing construction so work on the film is not disturbed.

The studio also acts as a community liaison for filmmakers, providing assistance with accommodation, opportunities for recreation in the area, and finding available manpower.

Thanks big brother!

2007-06-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

Carlos Cuaron

Carlos Cuaron is directing the first film by Cha Cha Cha, the partnership recently created by Mexico’s film heavyweights Gonzalez Inarritu, Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro. The three directors struck a deal this year with Universal Studios to produce five films for $100 million.
The film Rudo y Cursi (Rough and Course) is a comedy starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, who were last paired in the 2001 breakout Mexican film Y Tu Mama Tambien. The storyline features two soccer-playing brothers in a life-long rivalry. Y Tu Mama Tambien was also written by Carlos Cuaron and directed by Alfonso.
Filming began three weeks ago in Cihuatlan. The movie also stars Guillermo Francella and Ivan Esquivel.

On a side note, I watched The King, starring Bernal and William Hurt last night. Great, creepy movie. Not sure why it never generated any buzz. Bernal is a really amazing actor. I have yet to see him in a bad movie.

Luna & Bernal

Palm of Your Hand

2007-06-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

White Palms (Fehér tenyér), a Hungarian film about the competitive lives of gymnasts, opens this week in New York.
The film tells the true stories of gymnasts ranging from behind the Iron Curtain in the ‘80s, to current-day Canada.
The interesting angle is the actors and director are all gymnasts, and the stories unfolding on screen were derived from interviews about their own personal lives.
Director Szabolcs Hajdu (photo below) relays the story of his life as a young gymnast and features a warts-and-all story about his family life as an athlete under communist rule. His brother, Miklós Zoltán Hajdu, is also a gymnast and stars as a modern-day trainer who arrives in Canada from a stint in Cirque du Soleil to train a self-absorbed gymnast, played by Olympic gymnast Kyle Shewfelt.
The New York Times describes the movie this way: “An athlete recalls his troubled youth while helping to coach a talented but headstrong youngster in this drama from Hungarian filmmaker Szabolcs Hajdu. Miklos Dongo (Miklos Zoltan Hajdu) is a world class gymnast who competed in the Olympics before taking on his current career as a performer with Cirque du Soleil. Miklos has been hired to help coach some contenders for the Canadian Olympic team, and finds himself working with Kyle Manjak (Kyle Shewfelt), an unusually talented young man whose mood swings make him difficult to work with. As Miklos tries to help Kyle focus his talents and come to terms with his demons, he finds himself frequently looking back on his own early career as a gymnast in Hungary.”
Director Hajdu said it was difficult to coax some of the rougher, unpleasant scenes out of his brother and Shewfelt. Hajdu said neither wanted to relive some of the scenes they told him about during the interview/writing process. Once he had his screenplay completed, he didn’t share upcoming scenes with the two actors/gymnasts, for fear of scaring them from the project.
In the end all sequences of the movie are juxtaposed throughout, rather than told in a chronological order. The harsh training methods of the communist program appear grim against the more coddling style of Western athlete training. Yet the prima donnas of the Western system don’t fair to well against the dedicated communist athletes.

Szabolcs Hajdu

This Just in: New DVDs

2007-06-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

This week is a slow week for releases. In fact I couldn’t find anything from our seven Sister City countries. However, I’m posting info on a film from South Africa that might appeal to folks with interest in Mbabane, Swaziland. Films from Swaziland are few and far between, but the culture in surrounding South Africa can be similar.
Notice the difference in the two Max and Mona posters (above and below). The top one looks very Western and marketing driven, or like an indie film poster. At least that's my take.

Max and Mona, 2004, directed by Teddy Mattera, South Africa
Max (Mpho Lovinga) is a professional funeral mourner who wants to escape his small village and study medicine in the city. But when he suddenly finds himself responsible for some of his uncle's debts and Mona, the village's sacred goat, he must shelve his schooling and use his mourning talents to raise money. Max teams up with a shady funeral director, a transvestite and his uncle's beautiful neighbor to fend off the unsavory debt collectors.

Top German Films

2007-06-13T09:42:00.001-07:00

What exactly does that mean? As in the United States the top grossing films aren’t necessarily the top artistic films. But just because a film is a top income producer, doesn’t mean the film is terrible either.

The Filmies met last night and watched a presentation on recent German films. Here’s a quick overview of the presentation.

Thanks to everyone who made it out to Rahr Brewery for our June Filmies meeting. Next month we’ll be gathering for a showing of the anime film Paprika at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Lives of Others
2006 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film
7 2005 Lolas, including Best Film & Director
No. 6 Grossing Film 2006
Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Starring: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Muehe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur, Thomas Thieme
Trailer/Website

Four Minutes (Vier Minuten)
2006 Gold Lola
2006 Best Actress Lola - MonicaBleibtreu
Directed by Chris Kraus II
Starring:Monica Bleibtreu, Hannah Herzsprung, Sven Pippig, Richy Mueller, Jasmin Tabatabai
Trailer/Website

Grave Decisions (Wer Wer früher stirbt ist länger tot)
2006 Best Director Lola
No. 7 Grossing Film 2006
Directed by Marcus H. Rosenmueller
Starring: Fritz Karl, Jurgen Tonkel, Julie Ronstedt, Markus Kroier, Saskia Vester II
Trailer/Website

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
2006 Silver Lola
No. 1 Grossing Film 2006
Directed by Tom Tykwer
Starring: Ben Whisaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Corinna Harfouch
Trailer/Website

The Thief Lord (Der Herr der Deibe)
No. 10 Grossing Film 2006
Directed by Richard Claus
Starring:Vanessa Redgrave, Caroline Goodall, Alexei Savle, Aaron Johnson IV
Trailer/Website

Seven Dwarfs (7 Zwerge)
No. 3 Grossing Film 2006
Directed by Sven Unterwaldt Jr.
Starring: Otto Waalkes, Boris Alijnovic, Gustav-Peter Wohler, Ralf Schmitz, Martin Schneider
Trailer/Website

Hui Buh
No. 5 Grossing Film 2006
Directed by Sebastian Niemann
Starring: Michael Herbig, Christoph Maria Herbst, Heike Makatsch, Ellenie Salvo Gonzalez, Nick Brimble
Trailer/Website

This Just In: New DVDs

2007-06-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Silk (Guisi), 2006, directed by Chao-Bin Su
A team of paranormal researchers investigates the strange death of a Canadian scientist, a case that yields just one clue: a photo of a boy in an empty room. The team soon discovers that the boy is actually a ghost, and using the latest technology, they physically capture his spirit. But as they unlock the secret of his death, the researchers realize that there's a much more powerful supernatural force at work.

Id (Ido), 2005, directed by Kei Fujiwara, Japan
A string of gruesome accidents in an isolated town seems to be tied to a wanted murderer, until a local woman is implicated in the violent death of a factory manager. The murderer and the woman realize they share a powerful connection, making it clear that there are mysterious forces at work. This psychological thriller examines the id -- the subconscious force that taps our deepest desires -- and asks what happens when it can't be controlled.

Late Ozu: Early Spring (Soshun), 1956, , directed by Yasujiro Ozu, Japan
Acclaimed Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu explores the bleak hopelessness of the white-collar corporate world in this postwar tale of marriage, infidelity and passion. In an attempt to break out of a mind-numbing daily routine, an ordinary office worker embarks on a risky affair with a stenographer, all the while hoping that his colleagues -- and his wife -- never find out.

Late Ozu: Tokyo Twilight (Tokyo boshoku ), 1957, directed by Yosujiro Ozu, Japan
In this black-and-white drama, acclaimed Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu shines a light on the dark side of sisterhood, exposing shame and family secrets in postwar Tokyo. While living at home with their aging father (Chishu Ryu), two sisters (Setsuko Hara and Ineko Arima) face shocking revelations, the most profound of which is that their mother -- whom they long assumed to be dead -- may still be alive.

Late Ozu: Equinox Flower (Higanbana), 1958, directed by Yasujiro Ozu, Japan
In his first color film, acclaimed director Yasujiro Ozu explores the tension between modern romance and family tradition in postwar Japanese society. A prosperous businessman (Shin Saburi) with a reputation for doling out sound, objective relationship advice to his friends finds it difficult to practice what he preaches when his oldest daughter (Ineko Arima) announces her engagement to a man he doesn't like.

Late Ozu: The End of Summer (Kohayagawa-ke no aki), 1961, directed by Yasujiro Ozu, Japan
In his penultimate film, acclaimed Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu examines the relationship between an aging father (Ganjiro Nakamura) and his three caring daughters (Setsuko Hara, Yôko Tsukasa and Michiyo Aratama), who needlessly worry that he'll spend the rest of his life alone. Little do they know that dad is anything but solitary, having recently reconnected with his former mistress.

Late Ozu: Late Autumn (Akibiyori), 1963, directed by Yasujiro Ozu, Japan
Acclaimed director Yasujiro Ozu explores the flipside of the traditional mother-daughter bond in this touching family comedy set in postwar Japan. Reluctant to marry and leave her widowed mother (Setsuko Hara) all alone, a dutiful daughter (Yôko Tsukasa) resists selecting a suitor. But her late father's friends, who are eager to see both women happy, insist on stepping in to play matchmaker.

Munich Film Festival 25th Anniversary

2007-06-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

This June marks the 25th Anniversary of the Munich Film Festival. The Festival runs June 22 through June 30.

In celebration we’re focusing on award-winning or top box office German films tomorrow – 6 p.m., June 12 – at the Filmies gathering at Rahr Brewery. (See details at the right)

Hope you can make it!

As for Munich, obviously there are lots of German films making their debut and many U.S. films. Additionally 10 films from our Sister City countries will light up the screens.

If you’re near Munich, check out the festival. If not, hopefully some of these will make it to a festival or DVD player near you.

Here are the films representing Italy and Mexico.

Born & Bred – Argentina, Italy

Gardens in Autumn – France, Italy, Russia

The Missing Star – France, Italy, Switzerland

Napoleon & Me – France, Italy, Spain

Our Country – Italy

Salty Air – Italy

Salvatore – This is life – Italy

The Session is Open – Italy

Sodom Carnaval – Mexico, Spain

Two Embraces – Mexico

Nugroho takes Australia

2007-06-08T09:26:00.001-07:00

Scene from Opera Jawa

Indonesian filmmaker Garin Nugroho (left) is a special guest of the Sydney Film Festival this weekend.

Nugroho’s work has debuted at film festivals globally from Cannes to Seattle. His Opera Jawa will play Sunday and Monday in Sydney.

"Garin Nugroho is a very talented and prolific filmmaker. He has created many movies that have won international awards and created great interest in Indonesian film," said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer. "This is another example of the ongoing and exciting cultural collaboration between Australia and Indonesia in many areas of the arts," he said.

You can see Nugroho’s work as part of a traveling film series across the United States this year. His Of Love and Eggs (Rindu kami padamu) is part of The Global Film Initiative, which played at the Museum of Modern Art in New York last year.

Additional articles:
Kinema
Screening the Past
Indonesia Now

Grant in Madonna film

2007-06-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Swaziland’s Richard E. Grant is taking a roll in Madonna’s first film directing project.

The low-budget comedy is called Filth And Wisdom and is based on Madonna’s life experiences. Hmm. That doesn’t really narrow the topic down, does it?

Media reports quote Maddona saying, "I am happy to confirm I am working hard on a new project, directing my first short movie. While I cannot tell you more about it for now, I am happy to officially reveal its title: Filth And Wisdom. "I will finish this in time to go back to the recording studio in July. I hate to be such a tease, but you know how I am."

Madonna’s husband Guy Ritchie is a well-known British filmmaker. The Ritchies and Grant apparently know each other socially.

Grant made his directorial debut last year with the film Wah-Wah. An in-depth article in the Courier Mail gives the low-down on all things Grant.

Awakening Japan

2007-06-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

Naomi Kawase

The recent Cannes Film Festival win by Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase has at least one newspaper calling for increased emphasis on Japanese culture on film.

We’d support that.

The Japan Times online article went as far as saying, “Sending a steady supply of high-quality films overseas to festivals and commercial theaters alike will prove a wise move in the long run.”
The article laments the fact that arthouse films from Japan have a bigger following outside the country than inside the Land of the Rising Sun. I’m sure U.S. filmmakers feel the same.

Anyway, I wouldn't exactly call the Japanese film industry dead.

Perhaps it’s appropriate that Kawase’s film is called Mogari no Mori (The Mourning Forest). Maybe attention from this great honor will encourage Japan and Japanese artists to rise to the occasion and offer the world more great films.

This Just In: New DVD Releases

2007-06-05T05:01:00.000-07:00

The Glamorous Life of Sachiko Hanai (Hatsujô kateikyôshi: sensei no aijiru ), 2003, directed by Mitsuru Meike, Japan
When call girl Sachiko Hanai (Emi Kuroda) gets shot in the head, she not only survives, she emerges with psychic powers and a genius IQ. Soon, the slut turned brainiac is living a life of danger, having unwittingly walked off with George W. Bush's finger. With the president's fingerprint all that's needed to launch a nuclear missile, just about every spy in the world is after the digit -- and Sachiko -- in this surreal sexploitation romp

Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster (San daikaijû: Chikyu saidai no kessen ), 1964, directed by Ishirô Honda, Japan
Three-headed mutant dragon Ghidorah goes nose to nose with Mothra, Godzilla and Rodan in director Ishirô Honda's classic Japanese monster flick. Released from a meteor that crash-landed, Ghidorah rampages through Tokyo, with Mount Fuji becoming the climactic battleground for a four-beastie smack down when Mothra, Godzilla and Rodan show up. Yosuke Natsuki, Yuriko Hoshi, Akiko Wakabayashi and Takashi Shimura head the cast.

Invasion of Astro-Monster (Kaijû daisenso ), 1965, directed by Ishirô Honda, Japan
Aliens from Planet X borrow Godzilla and Rodan, claiming the monsters can help eradicate the ferocious triple-headed Ghidorah. But the extraterrestrials actually intend to invade Earth. Now, American astronaut Glenn (Nick Adams), his fellow space traveler Fuji (Akira Takarada) and brilliant inventor Tetsuo (Akira Kubo) must stop the sinister plot. Directed by Ishirô Honda, this classic sci-fi adventure co-stars Jun Tazaki and Kumi Mizuno.