April 09

Ghosts (2006) Dir by Nick Broomfield 

Description:

On February 5th 2004 twenty three Chinese drowned in Morecambe Bay. Their families in China are still paying off their debts. 

When a young girl, Ai Qin pays $25,000 to be smuggled into the UK in order to support her family back in China, she becomes another one of three million migrant workers that have become the bedrock of our economy. Forced to live with eleven other Chinese in a two bedroom house, they work in factories preparing food for British supermarkets. Risking their lives for pennies these unprotected workers end up cockling in Morcombe Bay at night. 

With an extraordinary debut performance from Ai Qin Lin in a film whose principal characters are played by Chinese former illegal immigrants, Ghosts offers a unique insight into a secret world that surrounds us.

My opinion

Disturbing subject matter treated with honesty, humility and integrity, well worth seeing and hopefully with some decent extras. 

I'll write more after checking out the dvd.

Released by Tartan Video.

Keep The River On Your Right (2000) (OFF THE SCHEDULE) Another problem dvd for Tartan Video?

Manji (1964) Dir by Yasuko Masumura 

Description:

Practically unclassifiable, Manji moves from lesbian love, to adultery, to multiple sexual relationships tangled in webs of deceit, blackmail, and maybe even murder. 

Sonoko (Kyoko Kishida, Woman of the Dunes), having grown bored with her pampered life as the wife of an impotent lawyer, enrolls in art class where she scandalizes the school with her lusty paintings of fellow art student Mitsuko (Ayako Wakao, Red Angel). A torrid affair erupts between Sonoko and Mitsuko, fuelling jealousy among their male lovers. Soon their lives are entrenched in desire, deception, blackmail, blood oaths and suicide pacts in this controversial and visually stunning film from director Yasuzo Masumura.

A dazzling tale of love, lust and the extremes of desire, this controversial and groundbreaking drama boasts a screenplay by Onibaba/Kureneko director Kaneto Shindo. Another twisted masterpiece from the director of Blind Beast and Red Angel, Manji is as shocking today as when it was first shown in Japan in the mid-1960s. 

Unknown to me but certainly sounds interesting.

Released by Yume Pictures.

The Professor (Il Camorrista) (1986) Dir by Giuseppe Tornatore

Description:

Based on the real-life case surrounding Cosa Nostra mastermind Raffaele Cutolo, THE PROFESSOR tracks his life as he rises through the ranks to become an untouchable overlord and the worst nightmare for Naples' police force. 

Released by Nouveaux Pictures.

Sword In The Moon (2003) (OFF THE SCHEDULE) Yet another delayed release from Tartan Video.

This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) Dir by Kirby Dick 

Description:

Passionate cinephiles can be found casting quizzical glances at the erratic and often conflicting decisions made by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) as they slap ratings onto movies. So in an attempt to make sense of their working methods--which, until now, have remained shrouded in mystery--one of those cinephiles, Kirby Dick (TWIST OF FAITH), has made this full-length motion picture about the inner workings of the MPAA. 

My opinion

Somewhat amusing look at the stupidity of the MPAA ratings board, far too much time is wasted in trying to I.D. board members rather than delving into the problem and looking for solutions. After all, we do not have this problem in the U.K. 

This has already been aired on U.K. television so I cant imagine itll sell or rent very well, plus its the type of release that will have a very limited potential audience. 

Nothing to do with World cinema but coming to the end of this weeks listings I came across this release which conjures up all sorts of highly amusing imagery, Yoga For Cyclists. 

Just think about it for a minute. 

Cheers Trev.