Mexican film ban overturned

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.