Film: Persepolis(2007) Director: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Description: In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Statrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own. With Marji dangerously refusing to remain silent at this injustice, her parents send her abroad to Vienna to study for a better life. However, this change proves an equally difficult trial with the young woman finding herself in a different culture loaded with abrasive characters and profound disappointments that deeply trouble her. Even when she returns home, Marji finds that both she and homeland have changed too much and the young woman and her loving family must decide where she truly belongs. (source: IMDB.com)
An epic tale which reflects on the history of Yugoslavia (post WW2),
following its way through the lives of Marko and Blacky, two underground
arms dealers for whom the WW2 isn't yet over!
Cannes Film Festival: Won Golden Palm
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Trivia:
In 1996, members of the Yugoslavian Board of the Academy of Film Art and
Science (AFUN) voted this film the third best Serbian movie made in
1947-1995 period.
The director's cut ran for over 320 minutes. [ctrl+c. ctrl+v from imdb]
This Friday,
Film: Le Notti de Cabiria(The Nights of Cabiria)
Director: Federico Fellini
Language: Italian
Runtime: 110 minutes
Category: Drama, comedy
Date: October 9, 2009
Time: 9:00 pm
Venue: IDC Auditorium
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Synopsis:
An account of Cabiria's search for true love on the streets of Rome.
Though many tend to take it as an oft repeated, platitudinal take on
hookers with hearts of gold, this film makes a significant attempt to
highlight the desolation existing in the modern day world further pitying
the protagonist's search for salvation. However, the film is highly
optimistic and revels in the unyielding human soul that persists in its
search.
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Who is Federico Fellini?
http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/02/fellini.html
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Ratings:
Tomatometer reading at rottentomatoes: 97% fresh!
imdb user rating 8.3/10
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Trivia:
During the editing of this film, editor Leo Cattozzo developed the CIR
self-perforating adhesive tape splicer (also known as "Costruzione
Incollatrici Rapide", "the Cattozzo", Guillotine-, CIRO- or ARRI Splicer)
which made him rich in the 1960s and for which he won an Academy
Award in 1989. [ctrl+c, ctrl+v from imdb.com]
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Film: Persepolis(2007) Director: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Description: In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Statrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own. With Marji dangerously refusing to remain silent at this injustice, her parents send her abroad to Vienna to study for a better life. However, this change proves an equally difficult trial with the young woman finding herself in a different culture loaded with abrasive characters and profound disappointments that deeply trouble her. Even when she returns home, Marji finds that both she and homeland have changed too much and the young woman and her loving family must decide where she truly belongs. (source: IMDB.com)
Audition found its place at the number 11 spot in Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments for its infamous torture scene [courtesy:wikipedia]
Among filmmakers, notable horror directors including John Landis and Rob Zombie found the film very difficult to watch, given its grisly content! [courtesy: wikipedia]
When Madolyn (Vera Farmiga) moves into Colin's (Matt Damon) apartment in 'The Departed' (Scorcese) you can see the TV playing Audition!
When the film was screened at the Rotterdam Film Festival 2000 it had a record number of walkouts. At the Swiss premiere someone passed out and needed emergency room attention. [courtesy: imdb]
(more trivia at the end of the post)
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Synopsis:
Aoyama, a 42 year old owner of a video company and widower for 7 years decides to remarry at his son's advice. Clueless as to how he could go about finding a wife, his friend and colleague posits an idea for a fake audition that'll help him in a better assessment.
The rest is a nightmare!
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Who is Takashi Miike?
(From 2000-2009 Miike made around 33 full length feature films!)
More trivia (includes SPOILERS) [courtesy: imdb] :
1. The dog bowl of vomit fed to Asami's (Eihi Shiina) prisoner is in fact the actual vomit of actress Eihi. Takashi Miike claims that Eihi is a method actress and insisted on doing this.
2. Takashi Miike wanted to end the film at the onset of the torture scene that the film is now famous for. However, one of the producers told him to "be a man and see it through to the end."
3. The paralyzing drug Asami injects into Aoyama is fictional. Takashi Miike said they made it up because the film would have been difficult to finish without contriving such a drug.
4. In the original story that the movie is based on, both of Aoyama's feet were dismembered during the torture scene. However, in the script there was no dismemberment at all. In the final film Takashi Miike decided only one foot should be removed even though it wasn't in the script. He considered his choice to be "splitting the difference".
open the second image on a new tab/window to have an enlarged view.
Date: September 25, 2009
Time: 9:30 pm
Venue: IDC Auditorium
*Note:* None of the content mentioned below is original- it has been shamelessly copied from the film's website/ other sources. I hope you enjoy my lack of hard labour!
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Synopsis:
Amu is the story of Kaju, a twenty-one-year-old Indian American woman who returns to India to visit her family. The film takes a dark turn as Kaju stumbles against secrets and lies from her past. A horrifying genocide that took place twenty years ago turns out to hold the key to her mysterious origins.
How were Kaju’s family involved in the killings? What happened and why? Who were the culprits? Who benefited? Will Kaju have the courage to pursue the truth no matter the cost? Will it destroy her relationship with her mother? Will it affect her burgeoning romance? Will it change everything she knows about herself and about India?
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National Award, India. Best English Language Film.
National Award, India. Best Director, English Language Film.
Given by President Abdul Kalam in New Delhi, October 2005.
FIPRESCI Critics Award, January 2005.
Gollapudi Srinivasa Award – Best Debut Director (India). August 2005.
Star Screen Award – Best English Film (India). January 2006.
Teenage Choice Award, Torino, Italy [Cine donne Film Festival]. October 2005.
Jury Award, Torino, Italy [Cine donne Film Festival]. October 2005. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Censorship:
The film faced problems with the censor board in India,[8] which cleared it only with 6 politically motivated cuts, and with an "A" certificate.[5] Since — according to Indian law — this made the movie ineligible to be telecast on Indian television, the producers later reapplied for a UA censor certificate. This was when a 10 minute cut was suggested by censors, including removal of all verbal references to the riots.
Subsequently, the producers decided to forgo the lower certification, and released the movie directly to DVD. [courtesy: wikipedia.org]
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Description: Metropolis is a story of how important emotions are and how they separate humans from everything else. The movie follows a young boy and his uncle (a private investigator). The story is set in the far future where humans and robots live together, unfortunately not in harmony. Many robots are forced underground and are terminated for entering unauthorized areas. They are more or less servants to humankind. The plot starts to unfold when the boy meets a robot named Tima and they get in all kinds of trouble. Never a dull moment when you've got a robot by your side. (source: IMDB.com)
Film: Playtime
Director: Jacques Tati
Language: French/English
Runtime: 119 minutes
Venue: IDC Auditorium,
Time: 9:30 pm
Date: September 18, 2009
Overview:
Tati's alter ego Hulot is off to make an appointment with an official in an office complex in Paris. Along with a group of American tourists who have come to discover Paris, Hulot roams around the city with his usual bag of mis-activities (much toned down from the other films though)!
Now, to create the mood:
Playtime is the most daring of all of Tati's films. At the time of it's release it was the most expensive in the history of French cinema. Tati was ambitious enough to put in all he had for the film creating an enormous set with more than a hundred construction workers and its own power plant. The film was shot on 70 mm and mostly had wide angle shots with exquisite details. However the film was a big fiasco at the theaters- first Tati didn't compromise for 35 mm theater release. Since theaters with 70 mm projection were few the fate of the film was clearly evident.
One of the other speculated reasons was the absence of the usual Hulot. Hulot was so popular in the 60s that people couldn't appreciate his considerable lack of mis-activity in the film. In addition, the film does not have a major plot- it revels in various audio visual gags (if I may call it!).
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Critics' quotes:
"Playtime is a peculiar, mysterious, magical film."
-Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times
"One of Cinema's truly unique visions... animated with a new kind of screen life."
-Jake Euker, Filmcritic.com
"Jacques Tati's most brilliant film, a bracing reminder in this all-too-lazy era that films can occasionally achieve the status of art"
-Vincent Canby, New York Times
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Awards:
Winner: BEST EUROPEAN FILM, Bodil Awards, 1969
Winner: SILVER ST. GEORGE BEST FILM, Moscow International Film Festival, 1969.
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1. The set comprised of
100 construction workers
11,700 square feet of glass
38,700 square feet of plastic
31,500 square feet of timber
486,000 square feet of concrete.
[data courtesy: imdb]
2. Many of the backgrounds in the film are actually giant photographs. This was done to reduce the production cost.
[courtesy: wikipedia]
3. Tati has a history of casting nonprofessional actors. Apart from him and Yves Barsacq (Hulot's acquaintance) the others are non professionals.
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Personal comments:
This film is a MUST watch!
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Poster:
Please make a note: The animation screening here onwards will be on Thursdays, and at 9:00PM
Thursday Animation Screening
Date: 17.09.09
Time: 9:00PM
Venue: IDC Auditorium
Film: Mind Game (2004) Director: Masaaki Yuasa
Description: This award-winning film is a journey of self-discovery based on Japan's cult underground comic "Mind Game" by Robin Nishi. The story follows Nishi himself through the life experiences that directly inspired the semi-autobiographical "Mind Game" comic. As a college-age loser addicted to porn and aspiring to write seedy adult comics, Nishi aspires to overcome his addiction to perversion in a tale that is lighthearted yet painful and touching. What starts off as an innocent meeting between old friends quickly turns into a psychedelic extravaganza, filled with violence, sex, love, redemption, and the infinite possibilities of the human mind. Director Masaaki Yuasa rejoices in experimental animation techniques, filling the screen with virtuoso wackiness, mixing in rough lines and storyboards, then inserting photographic touches. (source: IMDB.com)
Note: This film contains some adult themes, foul language and nudity. Please keep that in mind when coming.
Film: The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
Director: Jerry Rees
Description: When a young boy and his family don't come one year to their holiday home, their household appliances, led by the toaster think their master might be in trouble. They decided that rather than stay where they
are, they'll try to find them. So beings a dangerous and amusing adventure through the countryside and into the big city.(source: IMDB.com)
Trivia: John Lasseter was originally on board to direct the film for Disney with a mix of traditional animation and CG characters, which would have made this film the first of its kind. However the executives decided to pull the plug on the project driving Lasseter to Pixar, and leaving the movie in limbo. The remaining team managed to get the film produced independently and was a big hit when it was shown in the Sundance Film Festival. Again as luck would have it, there were no commercial buyers and Disney finally bought it and showed it on televsion.
Whoaaa! After an outstanding participation in the poll, the result is clearly a sweep. [A total of 7 votes were cast and Baran lead with 3. I acknowledge the efforts!]. Nothing could be more encouraging! The poll is officially closed. So... this Friday, Film: Baran, Director: Majid Majidi (of 'Colour of Paradise' and 'Children of Heaven' fame) Language: Persian Runtime: 94 minutes Date: September 11, 2009 Time of Screen: 9:30 pm Venue: IDC Auditorium
Although the schedule for Friday films (September) has been decided, I'll make an exception in the next screening if people are ready to participate in the following poll. Kindly take a minute to answer.
The question is simple. What would you like to watch this Friday?
The reason for NOT (I missed this word in my mail) giving you the option of an independent choice is more or less obvious- to create homogeneity! If I do not get a response, I shall stick to Frost/Nixon (as per the schedule!).
Film: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Description: When 17-year-old Makoto Konno gains the ability to, quite literally, "leap" backwards through time, she immediately sets about improving her grades and preventing personal mishaps. However, she soon realises that changing the past isn't as simple as it seems, and eventually, will have to rely on her new powers to shape the future of herself and her friends.(source: Anime News Network)
Personal Note: A small piece of trivia - The film was released without much fanfare in Japan, in a limited number of theaters and wasn't expected to do good business. But according to IMDB.com, the film ran "for days in a row, film-goers would fill the theater, some even standing to watch the film.".
So do yourself a favor, don't read the reviews, don't read all the stuff in wikipedia, just come to the screening and experience the movie first hand.
This Friday we have three short films in the screening.
1. Le Ballon rouge (1956)
Director: Albert Lamorisse
Language: French
Runtime: 34 minutes
2. Primera Nieve
Director: Pablo Agüero
Language: Spanish
Runtime: 15 minutes
3. Kramashah
Director: Amit Dutta
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 22 minutes
Time: 9:30 pm
Venue: IDC Auditorium.
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Le Ballon Rouge:
Le Ballon Rouge or the Red Balloon is a story of a child who finds a red balloon endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness. It won numerous awards after its release in 1956 including the Palme d'Or for the best short film and the Oscar for the best original screenplay.
The critical reception section of the wikipedia link is a must read.
Pablo Agüero's "Primera Nieve" is a daring film inspired from one of his childhood events. A mother and a child find themselves trapped in an old broken down shack with a furious storm raging outside. The child's experience in the cold, wet night as his mother struggles to keep them warm is beyond what many of us can possibly imagine.
Primera Nieve won the Jury award for the best short film in Cannes '06.
A little child dreams... or rather hallucinates the history of his village and childhood. In his poetic narration the child builds a string of legends and myths.
Kramasha is a treat to both the ears and the eyes. In his most magnificient attempt Amit Dutta manages to make the viewer taste and smell everything in the film. On a personal note, I am in love with the film.
Reviews:
“Kramasha from India—a dazzling, virtuoso piece of mise en scene in 35-millimeter, full of uncanny imagery about the way the narrator imagines the past of his village and his family. Camera movements, compositions in depth, colors, editing, changes in focus: these are important parts of Dutta's technical arsenal, marshaled together to yield a highly suggestive synthesis of documentary and fiction in which the main preoccupation is a myth of origins.” Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader.
Kramasha is a film about storytelling, with narrative spun and their interconnections made visible. ….It’s
a leaner, more disciplined, and more elegant affair.
Olaf Moller, FILM COMMENT (Nov-Dec 2007)
