Indonesian Film Turmoil

The film industry in Indonesia is in the midst of several conflicts: one dealing with regulation and the other with the top award presented to a film during a recent festival. The two controversies seem to pit young filmmakers against the established film industry.
I’m the first to admit I don’t know much about Indonesian film, but from the outside it looks like young filmmakers are rallying against a federal law that involves a government censor. http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southeastasia.asp?parentid=62370
The second controversy surrounds accusations of copyright infringement against the producers of Ekskul, a comedy-drama. http://www.ekskul.com/ Apparently the score of another film was lifted without consent and used in Ekskul.
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=60337
In response, more than 20 directors, actors and film professionals returned their Citra Awards to the Indonesian Film Festival in protest.


Indonesia Flood Relief Effort

http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6030,00.html

You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.

This Just In

Several Japanese films make their DVD debut tomorrow, and I’ll profile some this week starting with what looks like a fun movie, Shinobi: Heart Under the Blade, directed by Ten Shimoyama. http://www.shinobithemovie.com/.

Shinobi is promoted as a cross between X-Men and Romeo and Juliet, (sounds like great marketing even if the film doesn’t hold up to the comparison). However it won the 2005 Bunshun Kiichigo Award, the equivilent to a Razzie Award, as the worst Japanese film of the year. I'm not sure what criteria they use.

In the story, which was adapted from the novel The Kouga Ninja Scrolls by Futaro Yamada, two Japanese villages that train Shinobi (something like a ninja), have been forbidden to come in contact with each other. The villagers have possessed mysterious, superhuman powers for the last 400 years, but now are compelled to meet in a duel.

The tournament-style duel pits Oboro, the granddaughter of Iga Tsubagakure’s chieftan, and Gennosuke, the heir of Koga Majidani’s chieftan. The two don’t know their respective positions, and fall in love destined by fate.

Let me know if you’ve seen this movie, and tell us what you think.

Go Go Grant

Mbabane native Richard E. Grant has had a busy year following his directorial debut in 2006 for Wah-Wah – a drama set in Swaziland. Grant is the ubiquitous actor I mostly remember from Robert Altman’s Gosford Park.

He currently has four projects under way, according to Independent Movie Database http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001290/. Two TV projects Freezing and Miss Marple: Nemesis, and two film projects Ecstasy and Jackboots on Whitehall.

Ecstasy, directed by Rob Heydon, is in preproduction and Grant plays Father Brian. According to IMDB, “Ecstasy, a collection of three short stories, was published in 1996 and became No. 1 in its first week of publication. The film is based on "The Undefeated", the last novella in Welsh's book, which was previously adapted into a play and performed to sold-out audiences in Canada and Scotland. After seeing the play, Welsh called it the best adaptation of his work, opening the door for Heydon to obtain the rights to produce a film adaptation. Ecstasy is a transformational love story; from the love of ecstasy to the ecstasy of Love.”

Jackboots is slated for 2008 and is an animated satirical comedy about the Scottish defeating the German invasion of England during World War II. I guess director Edward McHenry has a vision. But apparently it’s a good enough vision to also attract Ewan McGregor, Tom Wilkinson and Alan Cumming to the cast. Grant does the voice of The Vicar.

Grant has a loyal fan base and an official website: http://www.richard-e-grant.com/.

El Bombero Atómico

The Dallas Latino Cultural Center’s successful “Cine en el Centro” series focuses on Mexican cinema during the month of February. Films are shown at 2 p.m. Saturdays at the LCC Oak Farms Dairy Performance Hall and are free to the public. All films are in Spanish.

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007: “El Bombero Atómico” (1952). Featuring the legendary comedian Mario Moreno “Cantinflas.” Internet Movie Database http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042269/ says “Cantinflas is a clumsy fireman, who one day receives the visit of his little goddaughter, whose mother recently died in the jungle. After having worked in a few fires, Cantinflas decides to quit and become a policeman, because it is less dangerous. Everything goes well until gangsters kidnap the girl, for her inheritance.”
This black-and-white film has no English subtitles and was directed by Miguel M. Delgado.

Dallas Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St., Dallas, 214.671.0051

Titanic Budapest International Film Festival

Several of our Sister Cities host film festivals, and I’ll be trying to keep you up to date on activities, films, winners, directors, actors and all things surrounding the festivals.

First up is the Titanic Budapest International Film Festival. The 14th edition of this festival runs April 12-27, 2007. You can check out the festival at their web site: http://www.titanicfilmfest.hu/.

Language barriers are always a little tough, but the site has some info in English.

In 2006, Titanic had 15,000 spectators and hosted films from 31 countries.

The inaugural Breaking Waves Award was presented last year to the film 4, which is based on a Russian novel. The Audience Award was presented to the American film Me and You and Everyone We Know – which is a really fantastic film. Both 4 and Me and You are available on DVD. You can watch a trailer for 4 at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445161/ and Me and You at http://www.meandyoumovie.com/.

As I learn more about the 2007 Titanic festival, I’ll update you.

Best Foreign Language Film Nominees

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the Best Foreign Language Film nominations last week and two films from our Sister Cities’ countries made the final cut.

El laberinto del fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth) from Mexico and Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others) from Germany made it to the final group of five films. The winner will be announced Feb. 25 at the 79th Academy Awards.

El laberinto del fauno is playing at multiple theaters throughout the Metroplex, but Das Leben der Anderen hasn’t made it to our area yet. It’s slated for release in the United States in early February. You can track its release or watch the film’s trailer at http://movies.aol.com/movie/the-lives-of-others/26624/main. There’s a really cool official web site for El laberinto. Check it out at http://www.panslabyrinth.com/.

Each year countries may select one film to represent their film industry – a complicated and often controversial process. Can you imagine if the United States had to pick one film to represent the entire country in an international competition? Talk about politics and matters of taste.

As for the films from our other Sister City countries? Fehér Tenyér (White Palms) from Hungary; Berbagi suami (Love for Share) from Indonesia; Nuovomondo (The Golden Door) from Italy; and Hula gâru (Hula Girls) from Japan were the official entries from their countries. Swaziland had no entry.