Fat Girl

French writer and director Catherine Breillat's follow up to her controversial film "Romance" is less shocking and more affecting in depicting adolescence growing pains between two sisters. A preteen over-weight girl is forced upon her older and beautiful teenage sister who experiences her sexual awakening that has traumatic effects on her. Anaïs Reboux gives a brave performance as the title character. Breillat who has seen that shock value gets attention tries it again which the film doesn't necessarily needs because she has a potent story of sibling rivalry. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

35th César Awards

Best Film
A l’Origine, Xavier Giannoli
Le Concert, Radu Mihaileanu
Les Herbes Folles, Alain Resnais
La Journee de la Jupe, Jean-Paul Lilienfeld
Rapt, Lucas Belvaux
Un Prophete, Jacques Audiard
Welcome, Philippe Lioret



Best Director
Jacques Audiard for Un Prophete
Lucas Belvaux for Rapt
Xavier Giannoli for A l’Origine
Philippe Lioret for Welcome
Radu Mihaileanu for Le Concert

Best First Film
Les Beaux Gosses, Riad Sattouf
Le Dernier pour la Route, Philippe Godeau
Espion(s), Nicolas Saada
La Premiere Etiole, Lucien Jean-Baptiste
Qu’un Seul Tienne et les Autres Suivront, Lea Fehner

Best Actress
Isabelle Adjani in La Journee de la Jupe
Domique Blanc in L’Autre
Sandrine Kiberlain in Mademoiselle Chambon
Kristin Scott Thomas in Partir
Audrey Tautou in Coco Avant Chanel

Best Supporting Actress
Aure Atika in Mademoiselle Cambon
Anne Consigny in Rapt
Audrey Dana in Welcome
Emmanuelle Devos in A l’Origine
Noemie Lvosvsky in Les Beaux Gosses

Best Actor
Yvan Attal in Rapt
Francois Cluzet in A l’Origine
Francois Cluzet in Le Dernier pour la Route
Vincent Lindon in Welcome
Tahar Rahim in Un Prophete

Best Supporting Actor
Jean-Hugues Anglade in Persecution
Niels Arestrup in Un Prophete
Joeystarr in Le Bal des Actrices
Benoit Poelvoorde in Coco Avant Chanel
Michel Vuillermoz in Le Dernier pour la Route

Best Foreign Film
Avatar, James Cameron, USA
Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood, USA
Milk, Gus Van Sant, USA
J’ai Tue Ma Mere, Xavier Dolan, Canada
Panique au Village, Stepahne Aubier and Vicent Patar, Belgium, Luxembourg and France
The White Ribbon, Michael Haneke
Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle

GUILD AWARDS 9: Sound Guild (CAS)

Best SoundAvatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

GUILD AWARDS 8: Cinematographers' Guild (ASC)

Best Cinematography
"Avatar," Mauro Fiore
"The Hurt Locker," Barry Ackroyd
"Inglourious Basterds," Robert Richardson
"Nine," Dion Beebe
"The White Ribbon," Christian Berger

District 9

South African writer and director Neill Blomkamp's smashing feature debut is a revelation of a major talent. The story set in the near future where aliens are kept hostage in order steal their advance technology. When an agent is infected with the alien DNA, a race against time starts for everybody, the agent to find a cure, the authorities to capture for their benefit and the aliens last chance to return home. Blomkamp provides a complete and utterly original vision of the future in this groundbreaking Sci-fi drama that works on many levels. Sharlto Copley gives an excellent performance as the troubled agent who finds himself fighting for aliens against humans. The entire cast and crew excel under the supervision of producer Peter Jackson. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

VALENTINO: The Last Emperor

A well timed documentary about one of the last giants in the world of fashion whose name is synonymous with elegance and luxury that has inspired the world of fashion including cinema and its stars. The film follows the designer on his last year before retiring. While the creations of the master are made of dreams, he himself doesn't come off as clean. A self proclaimed control freak who doesn't trust anybody, so there's very little about his creative process of what made him survive a vicious industry that's obsessed with money, youth and beauty. The film gives some insight the world of high fashion where image is everything but the players seem shallow and self absorbed in the worst possible way. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Incendiary

British writer and director Sharon Maguire's follow up to her hit feature debut "Bridget Jones's Diary" is a disaster of colossal proportions from poorly written script to the execution, it leaves a bitter aftertaste that makes you feel sorry for the talented cast. What was supposed to be a poignant tale about grief, loss and resilience comes off in the worst possible way imaginable. The characters are poorly written that lack any credibility whatsoever and the story is contrived and shamelessly exploitative. The talented cast includes Michelle Williams and Ewan McGregor who do their best and to some extent succeed but can't save the film. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Gervaise

French director René Clément and writer Jean Aurenche's adaptation of a Émile Zola novel shows the struggles of a poor working class woman who falls for the wrong men that leads to her demise. The story set at the turn of the 1900 century, shows how a hard working woman fails in life because the men in her life bring her down. Austrian actress Maria Schell gives a heart breaking performance as Gervaise along with François Périer in a powerful performance. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

In the Loop

Scottish-Italian writer Armando Iannucci makes his feature debut with this outrageous comedy that takes a scathing look inside the UK and US political machinery's where a war of different sorts are being fought on a daily basis. Everybody knows about the big guns of politics such as Presidents and Prime Ministers but almost nobody knows about the many assistant, deputies, interns and others behind the scenes of politics. In this fictionalized account the governments of the US and UK intend to go to war in a certain Middle East country which sets in motion a series of events that paves the road to the war. Iannucci's references to real story behind this comedy are clear but he cleverly stays away from the obvious to make a bigger statement that makes for a timeless classic. The excellent cast includes Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee and James Gandolfini with outstanding performances. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio reunite for the fourth time for this psychological thriller that's one hell of a ride where nothing is as it seems. The story about a severely traumatized U.S. Marshal who's sent to a mental hospital on the island of title to investigate the disappearance of a patient. A top-notch thriller with a taut script and a stellar cast and crew that proves that Scorsese is master at the top of his game, regardless of what kind of a film he does. DiCaprio is becoming a reliable actor who can be trusted with the projects he chooses and deliver high quality of work. The superb cast is excellent down to the smallest parts that makes the film a total joy. YRCinema's coverage of current releases.

GUILD AWARDS 7: British Academy Awards (BAFTA)

BEST FILM
AVATAR
AN EDUCATION
THE HURT LOCKER
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
UP IN THE AIR

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
AN EDUCATION
FISH TANK
IN THE LOOP
MOON
NOWHERE BOY

DIRECTOR
AVATAR - James Cameron
DISTRICT 9 - Neill Blomkamp
AN EDUCATION - Lone Scherfig
THE HURT LOCKER - Kathryn Bigelow
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Quentin Tarantino

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
THE HANGOVER - Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
THE HURT LOCKER - Mark Boal
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Quentin Tarantino
A SERIOUS MAN - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
UP - Pete Docter, Bob Peterson

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
DISTRICT 9 - Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell
AN EDUCATION - Nick Hornby
IN THE LOOP - Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE - Geoffrey Fletcher
UP IN THE AIR - Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
BROKEN EMBRACES - Pedro Almodóvar
COCO BEFORE CHANEL - Anne Fontaine
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN - Tomas Alfredson
A PROPHET - Jacques Audiard
THE WHITE RIBBON - Michael Haneke

ANIMATED FILM
CORALINE - Henry Selick
FANTASTIC MR FOX - Wes Anderson
UP - Pete Docter

LEADING ACTOR
JEFF BRIDGES - Crazy Heart
GEORGE CLOONEY - Up in the Air
COLIN FIRTH - A Single Man
JEREMY RENNER - The Hurt Locker
ANDY SERKIS - Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

LEADING ACTRESS
CAREY MULLIGAN - An Education
SAOIRSE RONAN - The Lovely Bones
GABOUREY SIDIBE - Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
MERYL STREEP - Julie & Julia
AUDREY TAUTOU - Coco Before Chanel

SUPPORTING ACTOR
ALEC BALDWIN - It’s Complicated
CHRISTIAN McKAY - Me and Orson Welles
ALFRED MOLINA - An Education
STANLEY TUCCI - The Lovely Bones
CHRISTOPH WALTZ - Inglourious Basterds

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
ANNE-MARIE DUFF - Nowhere Boy
VERA FARMIGA - Up in the Air
ANNA KENDRICK - Up in the Air
MO'NIQUE - Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS - Nowhere Boy

MUSIC
AVATAR - James Horner
CRAZY HEART - T-Bone Burnett, Stephen Bruton
FANTASTIC MR FOX - Alexandre Desplat
SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL - Chaz Jankel
UP - Michael Giacchino

CINEMATOGRAPHY
AVATAR - Mauro Fiore
DISTRICT 9 - Trent Opaloch
THE HURT LOCKER - Barry Ackroyd
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Robert Richardson
THE ROAD - Javier Aguirresarobe

EDITING
AVATAR - Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua
DISTRICT 9 - Julian Clarke
THE HURT LOCKER - Bob Murawski, Chris Innis
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Sally Menke
UP IN THE AIR - Dana E. Glauberman

PRODUCTION DESIGN
AVATAR - Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, Kim Sinclair
DISTRICT 9 - Philip Ivey, Guy Potgieter
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE - Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillan
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS - Dave Warren, Anastasia Masaro, Caroline Smith
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - David Wasco, Sandy Reynolds Wasco

COSTUME DESIGN
BRIGHT STAR - Janet Patterson
COCO BEFORE CHANEL - Catherine Leterrier
AN EDUCATION - Odile Dicks-Mireaux
A SINGLE MAN - Arianne Phillips
THE YOUNG VICTORIA - Sandy Powell

SOUND
AVATAR
DISTRICT 9
THE HURT LOCKER
STAR TREK
UP

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
AVATAR
DISTRICT 9
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
THE HURT LOCKER
STAR TREK

MAKE UP & HAIR
COCO BEFORE CHANEL
AN EDUCATION
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS
NINE
THE YOUNG VICTORIA

Belle Toujours

Portuguese writer and director Manoel de Oliveira pays homage to Spanish master Luis Buñuel and his masterpiece "Belle de Jour" in the sequel of sorts that's more an intellectual exercise. Two of the characters of the classic film meet years later to reflect on the past and their lives in this elegant film that's not every body's cup of tea like many of Oliveira's films. Michel Piccoli reprises his role while Catherine Deneuve is replaced by Bulle Ogier which is one of the disappointments of this film which has no grounds to stay on without the classic film it leans on heavily. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

GUILD AWARDS 6: Writer's Guild (WGA)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
(500) Days of Summer, Written by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber
Avatar, Written by James Cameron
The Hangover, Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
The Hurt Locker, Written by Mark Boal
A Serious Man, Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Crazy Heart, Screenplay by Scott Cooper; Novel by Thomas Cobb
Julie & Julia, Screenplay by Nora Ephron; Books by Julie Powell and Julia Child
Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
Star Trek, Written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, Created by Gene Roddenberry
Up in the Air, Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Novel by Walter Kirn

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
Against the Tide, Screenplay by Richard Trank
Capitalism: A Love Story, Written by Michael Moore
The Cove, Written by Mark Monroe
Earth Days, Written by Robert Stone
Good Hair, Written by Chris Rock & Jeff Stilson and Lance Crouther and Chuck Sklar
Soundtrack for a Revolution, Written by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman

FESTIVAL 4: Berlin, Germany

One of the top three festivals in the World (the others being Cannes and Venice) is more serious and political than the others. However due to its time slot, it doesn't get the big films that Cannes gets. Instead Berlin gets to pick from big Hollywood films that gets released late in the year for Award considerations. It's the only one of the three festivals open to the public.

OFFICIAL COMPETITION:
Tuan Yuan (Apart Together), Wang Quan’an, China OPENING BEST SCRIPT
Bal (Honey), Semih Kaplanoglu, Turkey GOLDEN BEAR
Caterpillar, Koji Wakamatsu, Japan BEST ACTRESS
Der Räuber (The Robber), Benjamin Heisenberg, Germany
En Familie (A Family), Pernille Fischer Christensen, Denmark
En Ganske snill mann (A Somewhat Gentle Man), Hans Petter Moland, Norway
Eu cand vreau sa fluier, fluier (If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle), Florin Serban, Romania SILVER BEAR
Greenberg, Noah Baumbach, USA
Howl, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, USA
Jud Süß - Film ohne Gewissen (Jew Suss – Rise and Fall), Oskar Roehler, Germany
Kak ya provel etim letom (How I Ended This Summer), Alexei Popogrebsky, Russia BEST ACTOR
Mammuth, Benoit Delépine and Gustave de Kervern, France
Na putu (On The Path), Jasmila Zbanic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Rompecabezas (Puzzle), Natalia Smirnoff, Argentina
San qiang pai an jing qi (A Woman, A Gun and A Noodle Shop), Zhang Yimou, China Shahada (Faith), Burhan Qurbani, Germany
Shekarchi (The Hunter), Rafi Pitts, Germany and Iran
Submarino, Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark
The Ghost Writer, Roman Polanski, France &Germany BEST DIRECTOR
The Killer Inside Me, Michael Winterbottom, USA & UK

Out of Competition
Otouto (About Her Brother), Yoji Yamada, Japan CLOSING
Exit Through The Gift Shop, Banksy, UK and USA
My Name is Khan, Karan Johar, India
Please Give, Nicole Holofcener, USA
Shutter Island, Martin Scorsese, USA
The Kids Are All Right, Lisa Cholodenko, USA

Fissures

Writer and director Alanté Kavaïté shows some potential in this supernatural thriller about a young sound engineer who investigates the death of her mother when finds a way to listen to the sounds of the past. Kavaïté starts well with a story that's original and intriguing but loses focus and credibility in the third act. Émilie Dequenne (Rosetta) gives a solid performance as Charlotte that could have easily misfired given the story's shaky foundations. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Julie & Julia

The magnificent Meryl Streep brings her magic to a mediocre film as she has done it again and again. What she did to the world of fashion in "The Devil Wears Prada," she does it in the world of cooking through the role of Julia Child who brought French cuisine to the households in America. The story of an unhappy married woman who sets out to cook her way through Child's classic cooking book in a year that lead to a book and movie along with happiness, fame and fortune. Writer and director Nora Ephron cleverly weaves the story of Child into the contemporary story that gives credit where it's due which allows Streep to save yet another film from ruin. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Le Trou

The swan song of French director Jacques Becker is one hell of a ride and one of the most authentic prison films based on the novel by José Giovanni, a former convict turned writer and director. The elaborate prison escape by four convicts is interrupted when they receive a dubious new cell mate who could jeopardize their operation. Becker as usual brings meticulous style without the usual cliches you see in prison films. A classic film that still thrills. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Cove

Photographer Louie Psihoyos makes his feature debut with this riveting and disturbing documentary about the plight of dolphin who are slaughtered by thousands in the coastal town of Taiji in Japan which also supplies the parks of the world with dolphins. Former dolphin trainer turned activist Ric O’Barry of "Flipper" fame sheds a light on the shameful global exploitation of dolphins. Another important film about the perils of animals and earth as the list continues. Nobody will look at dolphins again with ignorance after watching this film if they have any humanity left. Utterly compelling film making about a mission more important than the medium. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Coraline

Writer and director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) returns with another stunning film for the young and old. The story about a young girl who finds a secret door to another world that seems to be exactly the way she want her life to be, specially her parents. However there are sinister clues that nothing is as it seems. Selick created a rich and complex coming of age and morality tale that's rewarding for every age, though some elements might be too dark or scary for some. All tech credits are top notch including the talent behind the voices. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

GUILD AWARDS 5: Editor's Guild (ACE)

FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC):
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Star Trek
Up in the Air

FEATURE FILM (COMEDY OR MUSICAL):
500 Days of Summer
The Hangover
Julie & Julia
A Serious Man
It's Complicated

Dangerous Liaisons 1960

French cult director Roger Vadim (...And God Created Woman, Barbarella) adapted the controversial novel by Choderlos de Laclos to a changed setting of the 60's with some major changes but same plot and characters. Among the changes are that Valmont and Merteuil are married which is the first misstep amongst others that even the stunning Jeanne Moreau can't save. Gérard Philipe is seriously miscast as Valmont while a very young Jean-Louis Trintignant makes an impression. Jazz legend Thelonious Monk provides the music. Almost three decades later Stephen Frears delivered the definitive adaptation of the novel that's a timeless classic. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

GUILD AWARDS 4: Art Directors Guild (ADG)

PERIOD FILM
A SERIOUS MAN, JESS GONCHOR
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, DAVID WASCO
JULIE & JULIA, MARK RICKER
PUBLIC ENEMIES, NATHAN CROWLEY
SHERLOCK HOLMES, SARAH GREENWOOD

FANTASY FILM
AVATAR, RICK CARTER, ROBERT STROMBERG
DISTRICT 9, PHILIP IVEY
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, STUART CRAIG
STAR TREK, SCOTT CHAMBLISS
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, K.K. BARRETT

CONTEMPORARY FILM
ANGELS & DEMONS, ALLAN CAMERON
THE HANGOVER, BILL BRZESKI
THE HURT LOCKER, KARL JULIUSSON
THE LOVELY BONES, NAOMI SHOHAN
UP IN THE AIR, STEVE SAKLAD

Sunshine Cleaning

New Zealand director Christine Jeffs (Rain, Sylvia) makes her most commercial film that's reminiscent of "Little Miss Sunshine," thanks to the involvement of the producers and Alan Arkin who delivers a similar performance. The story about two different sisters who try to find their way in life after a traumatic childhood. Jeffs' film is more edgy than the previous "Sunshine" film but has enough humor to boast along with two excellent performances by Amy Adams and Emily Blunt unlike anything they have done before which is also true for Steve Zahn and Clifton Collins Jr. in equally strong supporting roles that make the film worthwhile. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The International

German director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) follows his period thriller "Perfume" with this slick action thriller set on an international canvas. The story about an agent who tries to expose an international bank involved in global terrorism. The conspiracy is potent given the current political climate of the world where anything is possible. Tykwer with a more than compatible cast and crew keeps the action and pace going with locations you normally would see in a James Bond movie. Clive Owen and Naomi Watts star with an equally impressive supporting cast. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Red Riding: 1983

After two very strong films, the burden falls more heavily of director Anand Tucker (Hilary and Jackie) whose film has to tie loose ends and resembles a sequel more than the second film does. However, the film is more lighter in tone with a redemption of sorts that brings the trilogy to a conclusion. Instead of one lead of the first two films, there are two main leads, one a rookie lawyer who gets involved through his local ties and the other a corrupt cop from the previous films who finally has reached his boiling point as much as the viewers who attempt to watch all the three films at once. Mark Addy joins David Morrissey, Peter Mullan, Sean Bean, Robert Sheehan, Cara Seymour and the solid cast and crew of a film in an ambitious trilogy that's one of the best of its kind in the history of cinema. YRCinema's coverage of upcoming releases.

Red Riding: 1980

The second film in the trilogy is the leanest and most focused thanks to the superb direction of James Marsh, who also delivers his best narrative film following his equally riveting documentary "Man on Wire." In the second film the worried home office sends an outsider to investigate the serial killing of several women that the Yorkshire Police failed to capture. There the investigator faces an hostile reception that leads him to uncover a web of deception that puts him in danger. Marsh gives the talented Paddy Considine (In America) an opportunity to shine as the lead and he delivers an outstanding performance that's one of the best in the entire trilogy and his career. The score of Dickon Hinchliffe stands out. Marsh and his excellent cast and crew make a film that stands on its own. YRCinema's coverage of upcoming releases.

Red Riding: 1974

Since trilogies are "in" these days, only three of quartet novels by David Peace were made into films adapted by Tony Grisoni (In This World & Tideland). A rookie journalist tries to uncover a series of gruesome murders that reaches up to the upper echelons of society where everybody seems to be involved in some way. When the journalist falls for the damaged mother of one of the victims, he mixes the personal and professional with devastating consequences. While the red riding hood is obvious in the films, who the big bad wolf might be haunts and torments these films. The slogan is "This is the North where we do what we want." The first one is the best of the three while the other two have enough to root for. Director Julian Jarrold (Becoming Jane) delivers his best work to date with a riveting film noir thriller, full of texture of a dark and bleak world in Yorkshire, England with every period detail you would expect in the year of 1974. Andrew Garfield who also made a strong impression in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" stars with an outstanding cast that includes Rebecca Hall, Peter Mullan and Sean Bean amongst others some will reappear in the other films. Jarrold makes an unforgettable, dark and gritty film with a superb cast and crew. YRCinema's coverage of upcoming releases.

The Yellow Handkerchief

Legendary producer Arthur Cohn (The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, Central Station & One Day in September) gives director Udayan Prasad (My Son the Fanatic) a chance for a comeback with this subtle but powerful film. Three strangers bond over a road trip through Louisiana where an ex-convict shares his life story with two teenagers who desperately long for human connection and love. William Hurt gives an outstanding performance as the ex-convict that allows his costars Maria Bello, Kristen Stewart and Eddie Redmayne to shine as well in well developed characters. Veteran cinematographer Chris Menges (The Mission & The Reader) is on board for striking images. YRCinema's coverage of upcoming releases.

The Girl on a Motorcycle

Legendary Cinematographer Jack Cardiff did double duty as cinematographer and director on this tale which reflects the rebellious nature of the late 60's sexual revolution. Singer Marianne Faithfull stars as the girl of the title who's bored with married life and her husband as she sets to return to her lover in Germany with the motorcycle he gave her as a wedding gift. Beautiful scenery infused with psychedelic images that serves as a time capsule for bygone era. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Empire of Passion

Controversial Japanese director Nagisa Ôshima's follow up to his "In the Realm of the Senses," is more tame but deals again with the dangers of passion. A young man falls in love with a married woman which leads to her social and psychological downfall after he decides to murder her husband. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of sexual obsession that can only lead to tragedy. Ôshima basically sets "The Postman Always Rings Twice" in 1900 century Japan with mixed results. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Intruder

French writer and director Claire Denis's most poetic and enigmatic film about second chances and lost connections that comes with intrusions of several kinds from physical and heart transplants to cultural and psychological. Veteran actor Michel Subor stars as an old man with heart problems who's forced to come out of isolation in the wilderness in order to find a heart transplant and locating a son he abandoned. Beautiful images in exotic settings from the cold to the tropical make for a haunting journey across the world. Among the cast, there are several of Denis' regular actors including Grégoire Colin. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Treeless Mountain

Korean writer and director So Yong Kim's heartbreaking story about two little girls abandonment by their mother first, then by their aunt as they cope with loss and waiting. A poignant and touching tale from the point of view of the youngsters who don't understand what's going on but are willing to bond with the adults regardless of the situation. Kim's does the right thing by letting the young performers tell the story without much intrusion or manipulation which makes the film more powerful without any sentimentality. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

FESTIVAL 3: Göteborg , Sweden

Göteborg International Film Festival is working to spread valuable film from all over the world to an audience as broad as possible. The festival also wants to contribute to a creative and extensive discussion about the film as an artistic means of expression.

COMPETITION 2010:
The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of José González, Fredrik Egerstrand and Mikel Cee Karlsson (Sweden)
The Angel (Engelen), Margreth Olin (Norway/Sweden/Finland)
Sebbe, Babak Najafi (Sweden)
The Good Heart, Dagur Kári (Iceland)
Brotherhood (Broderskab), Nicolo Donato (Denmark)
Upperdog, Sara Johnsen (Norway)
Last Cowboy Standing, Zaida Bergroth (Finland/Germany)
R, Tobias Lindholm and Michael Noer (Denmark) NORDIC FILM & FIPRESCI AWARD

FESTIVAL 2: Rotterdam, Holland

The International Film Festival Rotterdam offers a quality selection of worldwide independent, innovative and experimental cinema and visual arts. Devoted to actively supporting independent filmmaking from around the globe, IFFR is the essential hub in Holland for discovering film talent, for catching premieres, and for exploring its competitions, main sections of recent feature films, short films and documentaries, visual arts exhibitions, theme sections and debates.

Competition 2010
Autumn Adagio by Inoue Tsuki (Japan)
C’est déja l'été by Martijn Maria Smits (The Netherlands/Belgium)
Agua fría de mar (Cold water of the Sea) by Paz Fábrega (Costa Rica/Mexico) VPRO Tiger Awards
Let Each One Go Where He May by Ben Russell (USA/Suriname) FIPRESCI Award
Mama by Yelena Renard & Nikolay Renard (Russia)
Miyoko by Tsubota Yoshifumi (Japan)
Mundane History by Anocha Suwichakornpong (Thailand) VPRO Tiger Awards
My Daughter by Charlotte Lay Kuen Lim (Malaysia)
R by Michael Noer & Tobias Lindholm (Denmark)
Les signes vitaux (Vital Signs) by Sophie Deraspe (Canada)
Street Days by Levan Koguashvili (Georgia)
Sun Spots by Yang Heng (Hong Kong/China)
The Temptation of St. Tony by Veiko Õunpuu (Estonia/Sweden/Finland)
Alamar (To the Sea) by Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio (Mexico) VPRO Tiger Awards
La vie au Ranch by Sophie Letourneur (France)

The Fish Fall in Love

Iranian actor Ali Raffi made his writing and directing debut with this unusually upbeat film set in an idyllic coastal town. Aziz returns to his hometown after serving 20 years in prison where his former girlfriend Atiha has opened a restaurant with her daughter. Atiha afraid that Aziz has come to reclaim his property plans to face her lost love while her daughter has other plans, among them seducing Aziz with delicious meal every night. Of course this being Iran, all the people have suffered more than the matters of heart but Raffi gives a different view of Iran that you normally would see in the West. The cast includes Roya Nonahali and Golshifteh Farahani as the beautiful mother and daughter who shine and bring warmth this fable like tale. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

La Chinoise

No other director in the history of cinema got away with what French auteur Jean-Luc Godard did, specially this film, neither a documentary nor drama, it's a platform for Godard to put his ideas on film and then have it released at the right time in the West where it found a audience. The film doesn't hold up in anyway except for being a time capsule of the late 60's movement where students in Paris and the US rebelled against their establishments that swept the world. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Coup de Torchon

French director Bertrand Tavernier takes a scathing stab at French colonialism in Africa before WW II in this black comedy where a local police chef proves he's nobody's fool after he cleverly gets rid of his enemies including his cheating wife. Tavernier adapts the pulp novel by Jim Thompson and sets it in an African village without the usual exoticism you would expect. The excellent cast includes Philippe Noiret, Isabelle Huppert and Stéphane Audran amongst others. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Easy Virtue

Australian writer and director Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ) makes a solid comeback with this comedy of manners based on the play by Noel Coward. When a young aristocrat marries an older and free spirited American woman, sparks fly after he introduces her to his parents and sisters. American Jessica Biel gives her best performance to date as the lead and holds her own against British pros that includes Kristin Scott-Thomas, Colin Firth and Ben Barnes. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

The Widow Couderc

The magnificent Simone Signoret is the widow Couderc in this drama set in pre-WW II France where she falls for a young fugitive but their romance is cut short when the fugitive is seduced by the young girl next door. Alain Delon is perfect as the attractive stranger who gets caught between an older woman and a young girl. It's solid drama thanks to the performances of Signoret and Delon. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Diabolically Yours

This film marks the last film by Veteran French director Julien Duvivier which has a good premise but poorly written. After an accident, a man awakes with amnesia but fails to remember anything including his wife and his best friend. Soon after he realizes that not everything is as it seems. Mostly set at a chateau in the country side, the film mostly suffers from poor writing that fails to keep the tension along with serious pacing issues. Alain Delon stars along with the beautiful Senta Berger. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Kurbaan

Bollywood writer Renzil D'Silva makes his directing debut with thriller about a terrorist's journey to the US where he plans to commit another attack in New York. A potent story with some riveting moments that looses its impact with the Bollywood treatment. After a weak and typical first act where an Indian-American woman falls in love a Muslim man, they relocate to New York as husband and wife in the second act where she finds out that he has been using her to get legally in the US to join a sleeper cell in order to commit a major attack on New York. Poor writing is a major problem in the majority of Bollywood films where the same formula has become a standard which also plagues this film despite a strong cast. As usual the music is the strongest feature and used properly without the usual dance routine. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Made in U.S.A.

French auteur experimented with cinema again with this film where he broke all the rules he could. It's a puzzling piece of film that can be as shallow as a comic book or deep as social and political commentary depends on what you can decipher. There's tons of references and homages to historical events or people that Godard admired. From American directors and actors to political figures and events. It stars his stunning wife Anna Karina and features some stunning visuals here and there. Godard always mixed art, fashion and political references in his films to some degree or other. What he did was more art than a movie, subject to discussion and study than entertainment. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Safe Conduct

Veteran French director Bertrand Tavernier made this meticulous period film that shines a light on life during the German occupied France of WW II based on true stories. Unlike most films of the period, Tavernier makes sure to bring an authenticity to the story and its characters. He specially pays homage to the people of the film industry who walked the fine line between collaboration and resistance. The story of two artists, one who collaborates with the Germans while active with the resistance, the other who resists to be involved directly. There's all kind of characters who try to survive the forces of evil. Tavernier with his cast and crew made a rich and complex film that provides an accurate look at life during the occupation. YRCinema's coverage of films on DVD.

Daybreakers

The Australian twins, Spierig Brothers, wrote and directed this stylish sci-fi thriller that boasts some great premises that fail to deliver. The story set in 2019 where most of Earth's population has turned into vampires and humans are an endangered speciesdesperately needed for their survival. The film starts well with a coherent visual flair that sets up a credible world but falls apart in the second act before the filmmakers becomedesperate to tie loose ends in the third. The vampires look and behave like humans except for the eyes and fangs, the usual supernatural skills of a vampire isabandoned or lost as are other interesting ideas that could have been developed more. Ethan Hawke, Sam Neil and Willem Dafoe raise the quality level of the film but are limited by the source material. YRCinema's coverage of current releases.

RIP: David Brown 1916 - 2010