Click here to visit its current home at USC.
Interview with Treeless Mountain director So Yong Kim
So Yong Kim talks about her strategies for directing young children and the memories of her grandparents' farm in rural Korea that inspired her intimate second feature, Treeless Mountain.
Hara Kazuo and his "Renegade Cinema"
Out in Los Angeles to promote Camera Obtrusa, a companion book to his 1987 film The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On, director Hara Kazuo looks back at the film that made him a legend in documentary circles.
Subscribe to the APA Newsletter
Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori in Kites
May 22, 2009: News from Abroad
Tran Anh Hung casts her adaptation of Norwegian Wood, Lee Byung-hun thrills us with Iris, and Hrithik Roshan is on the fly with Kites. All this and more in the latest edition of News from Abroad.
Tran Anh Hung casts Murakami's Norwegian Wood for the screen
Tran Anh Hung, the leading Vietnamese filmmaker of The Vertical Ray of the Sun, Cyclo, and the Oscar-nominated film The Scent of Green Papayas, has signed on to direct a film adapted from Haruki Murakami's popular 1987 novel, Norwegian Wood. The story follows the narrator Toru Watanabe and his relationships with two different women, Naoko and Midori. So far, the cast that has been announced includes Kenichi Matsuyama (the Death Note films), Rinko Kikuchi (Babel), and newcomer Kiko Mizuhara as the main trio -- and Kengo Kora, Tetsuji Tamayama, and Reika Kirishima in supporting roles. Fortissimo and Asmik Ace Entertainment have signed on to distribute Norwegian Wood internationally, which they're hoping to release in Spring or Fall of 2010. --Ada Tseng
Lou Ye "Springs" Back
Controversial Chinese director Lou Ye returns to the filmmaking with his latest Spring Fever. The movie touches on themes of love, and even includes graphic sex scenes, all of which may earn speculation from the Chinese censors. But censorship is nothing new for Ye, as he's already had run ins with his films Suzhou River and Summer Palace, which was featured at Cannes two years ago. Twice banned from filming in China, the director hasn't yet received any direct criticism for his latest, but as Spring Fever was made openly in China without any official permission, is the worst yet to come? Earlier this week, the film's producer Sylvain Bursztejn said, "They've heard nothing from the censors, but I suppose we might hear from them after Thursday." After Thursday's premiere screening at Cannes, Ye says he doubts there will be any reprecussions: "I am just a director making a film...'Don't be afraid of the cinema,' that's what I say to myself." --Timothy Natividad
Old Partner takes prize at Hot Docs festival
Korean film Old Partner continues making a huge splash on an international level, winning the Best Emerging Trophy at the Hot Docs Documentary Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. The film features the story of a poor old farmer and his relationship with a forty year old ox of which he has developed a significant bond. The film began playing only in select theatres; however, its success allowed the film to expand into multiplex theatres, some screenings subtitled in English to attract the many foreigners. The film also broke multiple Korean records of attendance for a documentary film, topping the box office and selling a million tickets. The film has been featured in the Sundance Film Festival as well and the Pusan International Film Festival, at which it opened. Old Partner has also been covered in the Los Angeles Times [link]. This film is made all the more interesting by the film's small budget of $142,000. --Frederick Stiehl
Hrithik promotes Kites at Cannes
Hrithik Roshan was flown out to the Cannes Film Festival for Friday's news conference and the rough-cut screening of Kites, the film that he is currently shooting with Mexican actress Barbara Mori. Anurag Batra is directing the film, which was shot on various desert locatations in Los Angles, New Mexico, Las Vegas, and Mumbai. The film is reported to be a romantic thriller between an Indian man and a Latino woman, who fall in love despite not understanding each other's languages. Hrithik plays a salsa instructor. The reports of Roshan and Mori's kissing/love scenes have sent fans and gossipers abuzz, as Hrithik's decade-long career in Bollywood had kept his image squeaky-clean and innocent thus far. Roshan insists the film is not about sex, but about sensuality. The film is being produced by Hrithik's father, actor/director Rakesh Roshan, and the music will be composed by his uncle Rajesh Roshan. --Ada Tseng
Lee Byung-hun is Iris, on film and TV
Lee Byung-Hun (The Good, The Bad, and The Weird) has signed on for a new television drama called Iris, as well as an Iris companion film. The star was noted for his role in the upcoming GI Joe film, making Lee one of the few Korean actors spotted by Hollywood. The Korean project Iris, a thriller about a spy betrayed by his agency, is to be directed by Kang Je Gyu (director of Taegukgi and Shiri), in collaboration with Taewon Entertainment. The series is set to costar Kim So Yeon, Kim Tae Hee, and Big Bang star TOP. The 20 part television series is one of the most expensive ever produced in Korea, racking up a budget of about $20 million. Part of the high budget is a result of the shows being filmed throughout the world, including Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States. The show is set to air in September. --Frederick Stiehl
Ashutosh Gowariker's latest is the ultimate spiritual quest
Ashutosh Gowariker, who international audiences know best for his 2001 Academy Award-nominated film Lagaan, has announced his next project Buddha, which tells the story of Prince Siddhartha Gautama and how he founded a religion. It is reportedly based on book writt by Buddhist Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, called Old Path White Clouds. This is a US-India production, with Spice Enfotainment's Bhuvan Lall executive producing with Michel Shane and Anthony Romano (the team behind successful Hollywood fare such as Catch Me If You Can and I, Robot). Academy Award-winning screenwriter David S. Ward (The Sting) has written the screenplay. Before he starts Buddha, Gowariker is finishing up his latest film, What’s Your Raashee?, which should be in theaters in September 2009. --Ada Tseng
From Slumdog to Shyam's Secret , nothing is too hard for Khedekar
The Slumdog child actor will be joining Shyam's Secret. This Swiss film will feature Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, who gained international attention after playing the young Jamal in Danny Boyle's Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire. Shyam's Secret is an adventure tale in India about a mysterious little boy named Shyam and his friendship with an eight-year-old girl. This film will be shot in French and English, and will begin filming in October. The future looks bright for this child actor. --Joyce Huang
Road, Movie Picked up for International Sales
Road, Movie, a comedy-drama produced by Ross Katz (who also produced Lost in Translation) and Susan Landau, has been picked up by Fortissimo Films for international sales. The film's writer-director is Dev Benegal, who previously directed and co-wrote 1999's Split Wide Open. Road, Movie stars Abhay Deol, Tannishtha Chatterjee and actor-director Satish Kaushik. This was a rare case that an Indian film was picked up by a foreign sales company. --Kristie Hang
Date Posted: 5/22/2009