Ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, Showtime has released the trailer and poster for Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars, directed by Oscar-winner Lili Fini Zanuck (Rush, Driving Miss Daisy).
Following the festival, the film will make its world television debut exclusively on Showtime on Saturday, February 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Also making its debut at TIFF this weekend is the new Showtime Documentary Film Love Means Zero, which presents an in-depth look at famed tennis coach Nick Bollettieri and will premiere on Showtime in 2018.
Told through his own words and songs, Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars is a moving and surprising film about one of the great artists of the modern era – a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the only artist ever inducted three times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Spanning more than half a century of legendary popular musical innovation, the film contextualizes Eric Clapton’s role in contemporary music and cultural history. This rare and deeply intimate film reflects on Clapton’s traumatic childhood, his long and difficult struggle with drugs and alcohol, the tragic loss of his son and how he always found his inner strength and healing in music.
The documentary features extensive interviews with Clapton himself, along with his family, friends, musical collaborators, contemporaries and heroes – including late music icons B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison. Incorporating exclusive access to Clapton’s extensive personal archive, audiences will see the sheer raw talent and ambition that was blighted by personal tragedy, sacrifice and addiction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrAvDFmE9i4-
Showtime Releases ERIC CLAPTON: LIFE IN 12 BARS Trailer + Poster, Doc to Debut at Toronto Fest
Ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, Showtime has released the trailer and poster for Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars, directed by Oscar-winner Lili Fini Zanuck (Rush, Driving Miss Daisy).
Following the festival, the film will make its world television debut exclusively on Showtime on Saturday, February 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Also making its debut at TIFF this weekend is the new Showtime Documentary Film Love Means Zero, which presents an in-depth look at famed tennis coach Nick Bollettieri and will premiere on Showtime in 2018.
Told through his own words and songs, Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars is a moving and surprising film about one of the great artists of the modern era – a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the only artist ever inducted three times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Spanning more than half a century of legendary popular musical innovation, the film contextualizes Eric Clapton’s role in contemporary music and cultural history. This rare and deeply intimate film reflects on Clapton’s traumatic childhood, his long and difficult struggle with drugs and alcohol, the tragic loss of his son and how he always found his inner strength and healing in music.
The documentary features extensive interviews with Clapton himself, along with his family, friends, musical collaborators, contemporaries and heroes – including late music icons B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison. Incorporating exclusive access to Clapton’s extensive personal archive, audiences will see the sheer raw talent and ambition that was blighted by personal tragedy, sacrifice and addiction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrAvDFmE9i4
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THE FIXER is Romania’s Entry for 2018 Oscar Race for Best Foreign Film | TRAILER
Adrian Sitaru’s The Fixer / Fixeur has been selected by Romania to represent the country in the best foreign-language film category at the 90th Academy Awards.
The film starring Tudor Aaron Istodor, Mehdi Nebbou, Nicolas Wanczycki, Diana Spatarescu, Adrian Titieni, world premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.
In The Fixer, Romanian-born Radu Patru (Tudor Istodor) is a trainee at a prestigious French news network. Serving as a translator and general problem solver, or “fixer,” for the headlining journalists during his trial period, he’s looking to make his big break. He sees his opportunity when two underage Romanian prostitutes are repatriated from France, creating an international scandal. Taking advantage of his language skills and local connections, Radu is prepared to do whatever it takes to interview one of the young girls. But as he ventures into tricky moral ground, he must stop to ask himself if, as an aspiring journalist, he can live with the consequences of his actions, and if, as a father, he’s setting a good example for his son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMWK6YsWY8
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AMERIKA SQUARE is Greece’s Entry for 2018 Oscar Race for Best Foreign Film | TRAILER
Amerika Square (Plateia Amerikis) directed by Yannis Sakaridis is Greece’s submission for the Best Foreign-language Film at the 90th Academy Awards. The film premiered last year at the Busan International Film Festival, and has won numerous awards including the FIPRESCI Prize at Thessaloniki International Film Festival, and Best Feature at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival.
Filmmaker Yannis Sakaridis presents a clever satirical view of the Greek migrant crisis by exploring both xenophobic and sympathetic sentiments of Greeks towards foreigners escaping the war and hardships that engulfed their native lands. Told from three different points of view, the story follow through to an upbeat, yet realistic and plausible ending.
Nakos is an unemployed inhabitant of the small neighborhood of Amerika Square who grows increasingly disgruntled at the influx of Middle Eastern migrants coming to Athens. Much of Nakos’ frustration stems from his inability to do anything about the new demographics of his neighborhood, a situation he spends most of his time brooding over instead of undertaking measures to address the much bigger problem at hand – his dead-end life. The pathetic Nakos has few close allies – his parents with whom he lives and childhood friend Billy, the selfless tattoo artist next door in whom Nakos confides his hatred of immigrants. What Nakos does not confide in Billy is a sinister plan to eliminate some of the migrants utilizing a desperate measure that accomplishes a chain reaction only resulting in the loss of Nakos’ few remaining friends. Billy, a lost soul himself who has wittingly and unwittingly impacted countless other lost souls through his line of work, seizes upon an opportunity to help two migrants escape from Athens; one of which a beautiful African singer with whom he falls in love and sees that she escapes to France at great cost to himself; the other a weary Syrian doctor escaping the war in Aleppo and trying desperately to reunite with his 9 year old daughter who has been smuggled to Germany ahead of him.
In the end, sympathy and selflessness resonate more brightly than intolerance and Nakos finds his anti-migrant attitude to have cost him his only allies and the shreds of pride and dignity that had been clutching all along.
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Todd Haynes’ WONDERSTRUCK Will Close Vancouver International Film Festival
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Wonderstruck[/caption]
Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck will be the Closing Night film of this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival on Friday, October 13. Shut Up and Say Something, Melanie Wood’s entrancing documentary about internationally acclaimed spoken word artist Shane Koyczan, will screen at its BC Spotlight Awards Gala on Saturday, October 7.
Todd Haynes (Carol) returns with Wonderstruck a marvelous time-traveling tale that follows the parallel fortunes of two deaf 12-year-olds – Ben (Oakes Fegley), a lad in 1977 Michigan, and Rose (luminous newcomer Millicent Simmonds), a girl in 1927 New Jersey – who, for seemingly different reasons, are drawn to a gloriously rendered New York City in search of their own burgeoning identities.
VIFF unveiled its inspiring Creator Talks program, as well as the VIFF LIVE lineup.
VIFF Creator Talks
Jeremy Podeswa, Director, Game of Thrones and Greg Middleton, Cinematographer, Game of Thrones Emmy nominees, and the winners of multiple awards for their work, director Jeremy Podeswa and cinematographer Greg Middleton are two of Canada’s most successful film and television artists. They most recently brought their skills to the HBO series Game of Thrones, directing and shooting the Season 7 premiere and finale. Earlier collaborations include the films Fugitive Pieces and The Five Senses. Carlton Cuse, Writer/Executive Producer/Showrunner, Bates Motel Showrunner Carlton Cuse has mastered the art of primetime storytelling. One of television’s most successful scribes, he’s currently writing, exec-producing and showrunning the upcoming series Jack Ryan for Amazon and Colony for USA. His TV credits include Bates Motel and the smash hit Lost. Carlton also wrote the hit film San Andreas. He is the recipient of 10 Emmy Nominations. David Slade, Director/Executive Producer, American Gods and Black Mirror Join us for a fascinating and informative session as David Slade shares some incredibly unique experiences from directing pilots and forming cinematic language for series including the critically acclaimed anthology Black Mirror and hit series American Gods. The Creator Talk will be preceded by a screening of the American Gods episode, “The Bone Orchard.” Hosted by Tim Goodman, Chief TV Critic, The Hollywood Reporter. Ane Crabtree, Costume Designer, The Handmaid’s Tale A celebrated costume designer for film and television, Ane Crabtree made a lasting impression by creating the look for the Justified, Rectify, Outcast and The Sopranos pilots, along with designing multiple episodes of those shows. Most recently, she has designed costumes for the critically acclaimed series The Handmaid’s Tale. Ane has received Costume Designers Guild Award nominations for Westworld, Masters of Sex and Pan Am.VIFF LIVE
VIFF LIVE creates exceptional immersive experiences that pair live bands with films. These one-time-only shows provide an opportunity for talented visual artists to collaborate with musicians and explore the interplay between visions and voices. In addition to the special presentation of The Green Fog – A San Francisco Fantasia accompanied by a live score from Kronos Quartet, VIFF LIVE will also feature live music performing series with some of British Columbia’s hottest rising talent: Little Destroyer, Sam the Astronaut, I M U R, Jon and Roy, LIINKS, Brasstronaut, Tonye, So Loki, Louise Burns, Graftician, Desi Sub Culture and Horsepowar.
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Fairy Tale Drama NOVEMBER is Estonia’s Entry for 2018 Oscar Race for Best Foreign Film | TRAILER
November directed by Rainer Sarnet has been submitted by Estonia to represent the country in the best foreign-language film category at the 90th Academy Awards. Shot in black and white, the film is an adaptation of the novel “Rehepapp” by Andrus Kivirähk.
“The director’s perseverance is admirable, as is his courage in presenting this witty and weird, but also romantic and mysterious movie to the audience. It’s a pleasure to observe the role of nuanced camerawork in creating a magical universe, supported by ingenious art direction,” reads the official explanation of the selection committee. “It is also commendable that the filmmakers have chosen to cast interesting types who have had no previous acting experience.”
The selection committee praised the film’s tasteful score, that adds to the overall mystique of the film and helps to create a faceted and telling impression of a quirky nation from the North, trying to make its way through life in a bizarre connection with nature and parallel worlds; to escape the swamp of stagnant folklore to find a way to the sun, poetry and love.
November starring Rea Lest and Jörgen Liik, is an adult fairy-tale with a story taking place in a pagan Estonian village, where greedy and callous villagers are taking on the Plague, the Devil, and various demonic entities. A young peasant girl Liina is hopelessly in love with Hans, who has only eyes for the pretty young lady of the manor. Liina’s life is further complicated by her father demanding a fixed marriage to a foul-mouthed older man Endel.
November internationally premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the best cinematographer award for Mart Taniel. It was also selected to be shown in the official selection of the Karlovy Vary IFF and has been shown at numerous other festivals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6nXObRVhRc
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Austin Film Festival to Honor “48 Hrs.” Walter Hill and “In Living Color” Keenen Ivory Wayans
Legendary writer/director/producer Walter Hill and groundbreaking comedian/writer/director/producer Keenen Ivory Wayans will be honored at the 24th Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF). Walter Hill will receive AFF’s Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award, and Keenen Ivory Wayans will receive AFF’s Extraordinary Contribution to Television Award. Hill and Wayans join previously announced Distinguished Screenwriter award recipient Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By The Sea).
For over 40 years, Walter Hill has served as a writer, director, and producer on a wide array of films, and has become known as one of the foremost action filmmakers in Hollywood. In addition to co-producing the science fiction blockbuster Alien, Hill wrote and directed notable films including 48 Hrs., The Warriors, The Driver, Southern Comfort, Last Man Standing, Geronimo, Wild Bill and The Long Riders. Hill has contributed to television as well, receiving both the Emmy and DGA Awards in 2005 for his work directing the HBO neo-western Deadwood.
In addition to accepting the Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award during this year’s AFF, Hill will participate in ‘A Conversation with Walter Hill’ moderated by Shane Black (writer/director The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), who cites Hill as an influence on his own career.
Keenen Ivory Wayans created, launched, and hosted the landmark 1990’s variety series, In Living Color. The irreverent, Emmy-winning series broke racial barriers and showcased Wayans’ scathing social humor. In Living Color also introduced the public to countless now-famous actors, musicians, and comedians including Damon Wayans, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, and Jennifer Lopez.
Outside of television, Wayans has had a successful career writing, directing, and acting in films. He co-wrote 1987’s Hollywood Shuffle with actor/director Robert Townsend; wrote, directed, and starred in 1989’s blaxsploitiation parody I’m Gonna Git You Sucka; and directed the horror spoof Scary Movie, which remains one of the most successful feature films directed by an African-American.
Hill, Wayans, and Lonergan join a roundup of panelists confirmed to speak at this year’s Writers Conference, including the writers of films A Ghost Story, Arrival, Blade Runner: 2049, Girls Trip, Kong: Skull Island, Kubo and the Two Strings, Logan, Moana, Star Trek Beyond and television shows American Gods, I Love Dick, Power, Queen Sugar, The Deuce, The Wire, This is Us, Twin Peaks, and Underground.
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Jake Gyllenhaal to Receive Golden Eye Award + Premiere STRONGER at Zurich Film Festival
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal will receive the prestigious Golden Eye Award at this year’s Zurich Film Festival (ZFF). Gyllenhaal will be in Zurich to present Stronger as a Gala Premiere on Tuesday October 3.
ZFF Co-Directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri state “Jake Gyllenhaal has consistently proven himself to be one of the most exciting and versatile actors working today. We are thrilled to present him with the Golden Eye Award and present Stronger as part of the festival.”
Stronger is the inspiring true story of Jeff Bauman, an ordinary man who captured the hearts of his city and the world to become the symbol of hope following the infamous 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Jeff, a 27-year-old, working-class Boston man who was at the marathon to try and win back his ex-girlfriend Erin (Tatiana Maslany). Waiting for her at the finish line when the blast occurs, he loses both his legs in the attack.
After regaining consciousness in the hospital, Jeff is able to help law enforcement identify one of the bombers, but his own battle has just begun. He tackles months of physical and emotional rehabilitation with the unwavering support of Erin and his family. It is Jeff’s deeply personal account of the heroic journey that tests a family’s bond, defines a community’s pride and inspires his inner courage to overcome devastating adversity.
Filled with raw emotion, humanity and humor, Stronger is the inspirational real-life story of the man who became the living embodiment of “Boston Strong.” The film also stars Academy Award® nominee Miranda Richardson and is directed by David Gordon Green.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkoM5r9LR14
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THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE Wins FIPRESCI Grand Prix 2017 for Best Film of the Year
The Other Side of Hope (Toivon tuolla puolen) directed by Aki Kaurismäki has been named best film of 2017 by the members of the International Federation of Film Critics, FIPRESCI.
The other two finalists are Barry Jenkins’ Oscar®-winning Moonlight and Ildikó Enyedi’s winner of the Golden Bear in Berlin, Teströl és lélekröl / On Body and Soul.
Aki Kaurismäki will receive the FIPRESCI Grand Prix at the Opening Gala of the San Sebastian International Film Festival.
The Other Side of Hope is set in Helsinki, where Khaled, a young Syrian immigrant, arrives as a stowaway on a coal ship from Poland. Meanwhile, a nondescript salesman going by the name of Wikström decides to end his marriage, change his occupation and open a restaurant with only a very few customers. When their paths cross, Wikström offers Khaled a roof, food and a job. But the boy dreams of finding his sister, who also fled Syria.
Director Aki Kaurismäki (Orimattila, Finland, 1957) is considered to be one of the most important European directors of today’s cinema. Key titles in his filmography, such as Ariel (1988), Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö / The Match Factory Girl (1990), Kauas pilvet karkaavat / Drifting Clouds (1996), Mies vailla menneisyyttä / The Man Without a Past (2002, Grand Prix at Cannes), and Le Havre (2011, FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes) are now modern classics. Kaurismäki won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the last Berlin Festival with Toivon tuolla puolen / The Other Side of Hope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtiFG6utst8
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Award Winning ON BODY AND SOUL is Hungary’s Entry for 2018 Oscar Race for Best Foreign Film | TRAILER
On Body and Soul (Testről és lélekről) directed by Ildiko Enyedi has been selected by the Hungarian Oscar Selection Committee to represent the country in the best foreign-language film category at the 2018 Oscars.
The film premiered at the 2017 Berlinale earlier this year, where the int’l jury headed by Paul Verhoeven awarded it the prestigious Golden Bear. On Body and Soul won the FIPRESCI Prize, the Ecumenical Jury Prize, the Berliner Morgenpost’s Reader Jury Prize in Berlin as well, and the Sydney Film Festival competition in June. Ildikó Enyedi became the first woman director to win in the 10-year history of the Sydney Film Festival competition for “courageous, audacious and cutting-edge” cinema.
Endre (Géza Morcsányi) and Maria (Alexandra Borbély) work at a slaughterhouse. He is the financial director, she the new quality inspector. By day, their urban workplace houses scenes of animals being slaughtered — and Enyedi does not shy away from the carnage. By night, they dream of the same pastoral scene in which deer rub against each other in the snow. Endre is mild-mannered, while the OCD-afflicted Maria is nervous and introverted. In everyday life, these two can’t quite connect, then a company psychiatrist realizes that they see identical images during sleep. Should these subconsciously kindred coworkers commingle in their waking hours? Or are they better off resigning themselves to being lovers only in dreams?
On Body and Soul will have its North American premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6mv_rN6bU
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Zurich Film Festival to Spotlight New Hungarian Cinema
The Zurich Film Festival will spotlight Hungary’s cinema, featuring 18 films made by a thriving new generation of Hungarian filmmakers.
Hungarian cinema has a long history of creating great masters. During the 1970s, a period of cultural thaw in the then socialist state, Hungary was regarded as one of the most important film producing countries in the world. Miklós Jancsó, Márta Mészáros and István Szabó astonished both Soviet and western audiences alike with their extraordinary political candour and their spectacular, cutting-edge film language.
Despite the efforts of some of its leading exponents, namely Bela Tarr and János Szász, the collapse of the Soviet Union signalled a downturn in the popularity of auteur film, and the country’s homegrown productions, which looked to the American model for inspiration, fell on blind eyes.
During a time in an ever more authoritarian country when democratic institutions, such as schools and universities, are closing and press freedom is becoming increasingly less free, a pleasing image is developing: filmmakers are clearly defying the situation – Hungarian cinema is back – and it’s thematically diverse, artistically radical, bursting with international esprit and enjoying remarkable success at the domestic box-office.
One of this cinema’s most striking thematic interests is the outsider, characters who are forced to assert themselves in a world where they feel alone. They do this in a whole variety of contexts, but always with resolute commitment and often with a huge pinch of humour, which can quite easily drift into the dark and absurd.
Hungary’s filmmakers are already at the highest international level when it comes to practising their craft. The renowned Budapest University of Drama and Film, and the countless international large-scale productions made in the capital, form two of Hungary’s most important talent forges. Here, they not only shape great directors, but also form their befitting cinematographers and technicians.
After celebrating success on the film world’s greatest stages, three filmmakers have become synonymous with the latest upturn in Hungarian cinema: director Kornél Mundruczó, an equally well-known force in the theatre world, astounded at Cannes in 2014 with his spectacularly directed, highly metaphoric film WHITE GOD (Un Certain Regard Award).
László Nemes’ debut-of-the-century, the Holocaust drama SON OF SAUL (2015), not only won the Jury Prize at Cannes and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but also proved an astronomical success with Hungarian audiences after clocking up an almost unheard of 270’000 cinema entries in a country where 50’000 entries is already considered a hit. And finally, Ildikó Enyedi, whose breakthrough came in the 1990s, returned after an 18-year respite with her sensual and insidious romantic drama ON BODY AND SOUL (2017) to win a Golden Bear at the Berlinale and captivate the hearts of the Hungarian public.
These three great names of Hungarian cinema are far from standing alone: Hungary has been the recipient of many awards in recent years at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Central and Eastern Europe’s most important platform, including for Lili Horváth’s coming-of ager THE WEDNESDAY CHILD (2015) and Szabolcs Hajdu’s dark-humored family drama IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE (2016), who, in a true Budapest spirit, shot the film in his own apartment with his own family members.
International multi award winning debuts such as Virág Zomborácz’s tragicomedy AFTERLIFE (2014), Gábor Reisz’s pioneering underground comedy FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE REASON (2014) and Attila Till’s black comedy KILLS ON WHEELS (2016) complete this new and remarkable image of a thriving filmmaking country.
This year’s most riveting Hungarian films further enhance the section’s program: Roland Vranik’s naturalization drama THE CITIZEN, György Kristof’s Cannes premiered debut OUT and the Berlin Panorama section’s audience favorite 1945 by Ferenc Török will screen alongside the award-winning documentary films JUDGMENT IN HUNGARY by Eszter Hajdú and DRIFTER by Gábor Hörcher. For the tenth time this year, the International Short Film Festival Winterthur has put together a comprehensive short film block comprising five films to round off the New World View section.
New World View: Hungary Films
AFTERLIFE, Virág Zomborácz, 2014 DRIFTER, Gábor Hörcher, 2014 FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE REASON, Gábor Reisz, 2014 IT’S NOT THE TIME OF MY LIFE, Szabolcs Hajdu, 2016 JUDGMENT IN HUNGARY, Eszter Hajdú, 2013 KILLS ON WHEELS, Attila Till, 2016 ON BODY AND SOUL, Ildikó Enyedi, 2017 OUT, György Kristof, 2017 SON OF SAUL, László Nemes, 2015 THE CITIZEN, Roland Vranik, 2016 THE WEDNESDAY CHILD, Lili Horváth, 2015 WHITE GOD, Kornél Mundruczó, 2014 1945, Ferenc Török, 2017Short films
DIALOGUE, Gábor Fabricius, 2016 SZEP ALAK, Hajni Kis, 2016 LOVE, Réka Bucsi, 2016 GARAGE INVENTORY, Alyx Ayn Arumpac, 2015 WELCOME, Balázs Dudás, 2016
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John Sayles and Maggie Renzi to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Santa Fe Independent Film Festival
John Sayles and Maggie Renzi will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and introduce the film Lone Star presented in 35mm at the 2017 Santa Fe Independent Film Festival on Friday October 20th.
John Sayles and Maggie Renzi double as husband and wife and creative team. The pair originally met while studying at Williams College and released their first film together, Return of the Secaucus Seven, a few years after graduating. The film went on to win major awards, including the LA Critics’ Award for Best Screenplay, thus launching their careers as independent filmmakers. Since then, Sayles and Renzi have worked both collaboratively and separately, becoming icons in American independent film.
“John Sayles is an auteur in the truest sense of the word and the human embodiment of independent cinema.” Jacques Paisner, Executive Director Santa Fe Independent Film Festival says.
The Awards Ceremony will be followed by Sayles’ and Renzi’s Oscar-nominated film Lone Star. Lone Star follows Sam Deeds, Sheriff of Rio Country Texas and son of Sheriff Buddy Deeds who is revered for replacing the corrupt Sheriff Charlie Wade. The young Sheriff is called to the small town of Frontera where a skeleton, the body of Charlie Wade, has been uncovered in the desert. Deeds soon finds himself caught amid the town’s long buried secrets, and suspicious that his father may not be the just man he’s made out to be. Written and directed by John Sayles, produced by Maggie Renzi, starring Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, and Elizabeth Peña.
image via Youtube.
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Late Japanese Film Director Suzuki Seijun is Busan International Film Festival Asian Filmmaker of the Year
The late Japanese Master film director Suzuki Seijun has been selected as the Asian Filmmaker of the Year by the 22nd Busan International Film Festival. Considered a legend in Asian genre film, with his unpredictable and experimental style, the 22nd Busan International Film Festival awards The Asian Filmmaker of the Year to Suzuki Seijun to honor his cinematic legacy and contribution to Asian film industry.
Born in 1923 in Tokyo, Japan, Suzuki Seijun debuted as filmmaker with Cheers At the Harbor: Triumph In My Hands in 1956. He directed over 40 works until 1967, displaying an idiosyncratic cinematic approach that challenged the convention of genre film. Especially, paring pop visuals with yakuza hitmen, he has inspired many prominent filmmakers such as Wong Kar Wai, Quentin Tarantino and John Woo. Preeminent Korean filmmakers such as Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho have been very vocal in praise. Despite failing health, he gave memorable moments to his fans with a sense of humor and keen mind at the 10th Busan International Film Festival in 2005. He died on February 13th, 2017 at the age of 93; fans around the world now mourn his loss.
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year will be given to Okada Yutaka, the representative of Argo Pictures who was one of the assistant directors and co-scenarists of Suzuki Seijun, during the opening ceremony of Busan International Film Festival, held on October 12th.
In celebration of Suzuki Seijun as the Asian Filmmaker of the Year, the 22nd Busan International Film Festival will screen his major works through Special Programs in Focus ‘Suzuki Seijun: A Drifter Across the Borders’ which showcases his cinematic world. Special Program in Focus will screen 7 major works of Suzuki Seijun including Gate Of Flesh (1964), which was controversial for the bold portrait of sex, Branded to Kill (1967), a masterpiece which brought conflict with the Nikkatsu Corporation, and major later works, Zigeunerweisen (1980) and Pistol Opera (2001). Audiences will be able to witness cinematic achievements that Suzuki Seijun has established as the innovative film maker across the Asian borders. Other additional events where the international cineastes such as film critics Yamane Sadao and Tony Rayns introducing Suzuki Seijun’s cinematic world to audience will be placed along with the screenings.
SUZUKI Seijun | Director | Japan
Suzuki Seijun was born in Tokyo in 1923. He enrolled in the film department of the Kamakura Academy in 1946 and worked as an assistant director at several studios. Debuted as filmmaker with Cheers At the Harbor: Triumph In My Hands(Minato no kanpai: Shôri o waga te ni) in 1956, he directed over 40 works until 1967 and named as a significant figure in Japanese New Wave. He also. Suzuki’s yakuza thrillers and pop-art cinematic style influenced future filmmakers including Wong Kar Wei, Quentin Tarantino and John Woo. His representative works includes Gate of Flesh (1964), Tokyo Drifter(1966), Branded to Kill (1967), Zigeunerweisen (1980). Princess Raccoon (2005) was screened at the 10th Busan International Film Festival.Special Programs in Focus ‘Suzuki Seijun: A Drifter Across the Borders’ Screenings
Pistol Opera Miyuki, the third-ranked assassin for The Assassins Guild, is asked to pull off a hit by the group’s agent, but finds herself in a sticky situation when she learns who her targets are. With the subtitle “Killing with style,” the film shows the quintessential Seijun visual style. Branded To Kill Hanada is a gun-for-hire listed as the No. 3 hit-man of the underworld. During a job worth five million, he successfully takes out two of his rivals, securing his slot as No. 2. But success as a contract killer comes at a high price. Seijun’s most highly praised masterpiece. Gate Of Flesh In an impoverished and burnt out Tokyo ghetto of post-World War II Japan, Maya joins a band of prostitutes and learns the trade. Soon she falls in love with an ex-soldier who is shot nearby. Based on the same titled novel by Tamura Taijiro, the film is the first film of the “prostitution trilogy.” Tokyo Drifter When his Yakuza gang is disbanded, Tetsu stays loyal to his boss but it’s not easy task for him. With a stunning choreographed action sequences and vibrant colors, Tokyo Drifter stands as one of the best-know masterpiece of Seijun along with Branded to Kill Kagero-za Set in 1920s Taisho period, Kagero-za examines the inner workings of the human psyche. After a playwright Matsuzaki, meets Shinako (a mysterious beauty) he encounters another woman looking similar to her. Based on the same novel by Izumi Ky?ka. Yumeji Yumeji is a fictional account of Yumeji Takehisa, a painter and poet from the Taisho period. He gets involved with a beautiful widow to become a rival of her dead husband’s ghost and the jealous lover who murdered him. The last film of the “Taisho trilogy.” Zigeunerweisen The first film of “Taisho trilogy”, the film is based on a novel by Uchida Hyakken’s Disk of Sarasate. Following the journey of Aochi, a professor of German, the film shows Seijun’s aesthetic signatures blurring the boundaries of fantasy and reality.