Kei Kumai, a Japanese film director who created true-life films with social themes, died this week in Tokyo. He was 76.
In 1974, his Sandakan Hachiban Shokan Bokyo (Sandakan Brothel No. 8), which detailed the lives of Japanese women forced to work as prostitutes before World War II. The film brought him international acclaim. Kinuyo Tanaka, who starred, won the best actress Silver Bear at Berlinale for her work.
In 1987 Umi to Dokuyaku (The Sea and Poison) won a special jury prize at Berlinale. Sen no Rikyu (The Death of a Tea Master), won a Silver Lion at the Venice International Film Festival in 1989.
Kumai’s last film, Umi wa Miteita (The Sea is Watching), was released in 2002 and featured a script by legendary director Akira Kurosawa.

Silent No More

Carlos Reygadas’ Stellet Licht (Luz silenciosa) or Silent Light, has been getting a ton of buzz at Cannes, and on the Internet. In fact whenever I write about the film, hits to this blog shoot skyward.

The film was shot in Chihuahua, Mexico, and was funded in June 2006 by the World Cinema Fund.

The story takes place in a little known Menonite community in Mexico. Reygadas’ slow-building style apparently suits the emotionally closed atmosphere of the community.
The lead character is a respected father and farmer who falls for another woman. He doesn’t hide the attraction from his wife, and neither woman meets. The farmer believes the hand of God can be seen here, others believe the devil is at work, but not in an Exorcist Hollywood way.

The Hollywood Reporter raved, “"Silent Light," or "Stellet Licht" in the Plautdietsch tongue, continues to dwell within your mind long after the lights have come back up.”

H2O sign Lajos Koltai to two films

Lajos Koltai

by Mike Goodridge
May 16, 2007
Screendaily.com

Cannes, France -- Andras Hamori and Mark Horowitz’s H20 Motion Pictures has signed Lajos Koltai to direct two features – Under The Frog and Born Of Fire.
Oscar-nominated cinematographer Koltai directed Hungarian Holocaust epic Fateless and next month’s US release Evening for Focus Features with a cast including Meryl Streep, Claire Danes, Glenn Close, Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson.
Under The Frog, set to shoot in Hungary and Germany in November, is a co-production with New York’s Vox3 Films.
Hamori will produce alongside Christina Weiss Luric, Steven Shainberg and Andrew Fierberg, and H20 will start selling here.
The company is in advanced talks with Germany’s EuroArts and Ireland’s Element Pictures to join the production.
Based on Tibor Fischer’s novel, a love story set against the backdrop of Hungary’s 1956 anti-Soviet uprising. Lindsey Shapiro and Dezso Magyar have written the screenplay.
Budgeted in the $50m range, Born Of Fire is the story – written by Axel Melzener and Heiko Burkardsmaier - of 16th Century English cannon-maker Adam Dreyling.
He was a superstar of his day in perfecting the most effective weapon of his time but to assure the Protestant government of his loyalty, the Catholic Dreyling’s wife and two children are taken hostage by the queen’s secret service.
The film is budgeted in the $50m range and will feature epic battle scenes. “It is a true European story which is going to be a European multi-country co-production,” said Hamori.

This Just In: New DVD Releases

Afro Samurai, 2007, Directed by Fuminori Kizaki, USA, Japan
Produced by Tarrant County-based Funimation. In a futuristic Japan where conflicts are settled by the sword, Afro Samurai, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson (photo at left), must avenge his father's murder by challenging a powerful warrior named Justice (Ron Perlman) in this anime miniseries. If he can defeat Justice, considered the premier samurai, Afro will become the new No. 1. He's joined on his quest by Ninja Ninja, who provides excellent strategic advice in combat -- but who also may be a hallucination.

Apocalypto, 2006, Directed by Mel Gibson, Mexico
Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson moves on from biblical fare to tackle the end of the Mayan civilization in this gripping action-adventure set just before Spain's conquest of Mexico and Central America in the 16th century. When an invading force threatens his peaceful existence, a courageous native risks everything to protect his way of life -- even if it means leaving his beautiful mate and unborn child behind.

Letters From Iwo Jima, 2007, Directed by Clint Eastwood, USA, Japan
As tens of thousands of Allied troops push further inland, the Japanese troops defending Iwo Jima during World War II prepare to meet their fate in this Clint Eastwood-directed Oscar nominee for Best Picture, a companion piece to his hit film Flags of Our Fathers. Japanese Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) knows his men are outnumbered and, with no hope of rescue, that most will eventually die in battle -- or end up killing themselves.

The Good German, 2007, Directed by Steven Soderbergh, USA, Germany
U.S. Army correspondent Jake Geismar (George Clooney) gets caught in a web of intrigue involving ex-flame Lena (Cate Blanchett) in Steven Soderbergh's drama set in post-World War II Berlin. Lena's missing husband is hunted by U.S. and Russian military, and in desperation, she looks to Jake for a way out. Tension mounts as Jake discovers Lena's been keeping secrets and the black market dealings of his shady driver (Tobey Maguire) come into play.

As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me (So Weit Die Fube Tragen), 2003, Directed by Hardy Martins, Germany
After escaping from a Siberian labor camp in the wake of World War II, German soldier Clemens Forell (Bernhard Bettermann) makes his way toward his wife and children, traveling more than 8,000 miles over the course of three long years to reach his final destination. Hardy Martins directs this critically acclaimed adaptation of the best-selling book by Josef Martin Bauer, a true story of survival and courage.

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.

Urban Tribes (Tribus Urbanas), 2006, Directed by Director: Guillermo Lagunes, Mexico
In an effort to halt violent gang battles in Mexico City and stop the barrio kids from killing one another, an idealistic priest proposes a graffiti competition to bring everyone together. The plan works for a while … until a lover's feud explodes and covers the streets with renewed bloodshed. Real-life inhabitants from the streets of Mexico City co-star in this tragic tale of urban life and loss.

Cha Cha Cha Deal

Mexican directors v have inked a huge deal for their production label Cha Cha Cha to the tune of $100 million.

The deal, inked with Universal Pictures, includes a five-picture package with films budgeted for between $10 million and $40 million. Financing will come through the studio’s foreign sales division, Focus Features International.

Some of the films will be in Spanish and not all of the films will be directed by the Three Amigos. Joining the three are Carlos Cuaron and Rodrigo Garcia. Cuaron is Alfonso Cuaron’s younger brother, and co-wrote "Y Tu Mama Tambien," Garcia, has directed episodes of “Six Feet Under” and “Big Love.”

Maybe we can work an angle with Garcia and Bill Paxton for the FWSCI Film Series and Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth Nov. 8-11. Paxton is a Fort Worth son and was recognized in January by the Lone Star Film Society.

Asian Excellence Awards

Merianne Roth and Quentin Tarantino

Chow Yun-Fat (below) gave an emotional acceptance speech as he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the sixth AZN Asian Excellence Awards in Los Angeles.
The Asian entertainment world united to recognize diversity and cultural achievements during the star-studded event.
A special preview of the award ceremony will be televised Monday, May 24 on AZN and E! networks and the full show airs May 28 on AZN.
My wife Merianne and I were special guests and were ecstatic about meeting film legend Quentin Tarantino. He was the nicest guy and walked around all night talking with all of us non-stars. He hung out at the VIP party and the post party chatting with folks, even when the other stars had flown the coop.
We also talked with Lou Diamond Phillips, who’ll be coming to back to Fort Worth for “A Few Good Men” at Casa Manana Theater June 5-10. Sadly Phillips said he won’t be able to make the Lone Star Film Festival and FWSCI Film Series next November due to scheduling conflicts.
And, being a little ballsy, I asked Tarantino to come to our film series/festival and bring Robert Rodriguez along. He demurred, but wished us good luck.
So on to the films nominated in the Outstanding Film category for Asian Excellence Awards. They include Babel, Curse of the Golden Flower, Letters From Iwo Jima and The Namesake. Outstanding Film Actor nominees included Jet Li, Kal Penn and Ken Watanabe. Outstanding Film Actress nominees included Maggie Cheung, Gong Li, Rinko Kikuchi and Tabu.
Not all awards were presented last night, I’m not sure why. Maybe they were trying to keep the mystery for the broadcast. But on E! online, they spill the beans. Letters from Iwo Jima took top film and Rinko Kikuchi won best actress, according to E!
Masi Oka, Japanese star of the hit TV show Heroes, won Outstanding TV Actor in tough category featuring Lost’s Naveen Andrews and Daniel Dae Kim and Law & Order: SVU’s B.D. Wong.
Outstanding TV Actress winner Parminder Nagra from ER, beat out Kully Hu from In Case of Emergency, Yunjin Kim from Lost and Sandra Oh from Grey’s Academy.
Cool event making me more excited about the upcoming Lone Star Film Festival and FWSCI Film Series in Fort Worth Nov. 8-11. Not only will we be recognizing Asian cultures, but European, Latino and African.

This Just In: New DVD Releases

del Toro and Pan

Pan’s Labyrinth, 2006, Mexico, directed by Guillermo del Toro
In this fairy tale for adults, 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) stumbles on a decaying labyrinth guarded by Pan (Doug Jones), an ancient satyr who claims to know her destiny. With a new home, a new stepfather (Sergi Lopez) -- a Fascist officer in the pro-Franco army -- and a new sibling on the way, nothing is familiar to Ofelia in this multiple Oscar-winning tale set in 1944 Spain from director Guillermo del Toro.

Black Kiss, 2004, Japan, directed by Macoto Tezka
To advance her career, aspiring model Asuka (Reika Hashimoto) relocates to Toyko, where she moves in with a new roommate. Meanwhile, a serial killer is at large, and Asuka soon witnesses his demented handiwork: Across the street from her apartment, Asuka sees a grisly murder, the victim's body mutilated and arranged as a piece of art. At each crime scene, the killer leaves his mark, a black lip print, the kiss of death.

Vengeance Is Mine, (Fukushû Suruwa Wareniari), 1979, directed by Shohei Imamura
Legendary Japanese director Shohei Imamura (The Eel) helms this chilling tale of horror and revenge based on actual events about a seemingly harmless young man who blossomed into a cold-blooded, remorseless murderer. On the run from the police over the course of a 78-day killing spree, Iwao Enokizu (Ken Ogata) reflects on his life via flashback and reveals how he came to have such disdain for human life.