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Art Cinema
My post about art cinema yesterday got me thinking; are there characteristics of films from specific nations that can be identified? To find out, I watched the biggest grossing films of 2007 from several nations. What do you think?
France:
The Existentialism of Meaninglessness (B/W, 526 minutes)
Four men in square-rimmed glasses and berets sit round discussing whether or not existence has any empirical basis, and what relevance to the ontology of reality would come from this if it did. Livened up only slightly by an apparently unrelated vigorous sex scene about three and a half hours in.
Algeria:
Looking (B/W, 120 minutes)
An orphan peasant boy sets off to walk barefoot across the mountains in search of his beloved donkey in this heavily allegory-ridden story. A scene in which he spies on a young girl who removes her hijab whilst drawing water from a well was cut for being too raunchy for audiences and the director and both actors were later stoned to death for perverting public morality.
Germany:
Achtung, mein knockwurst! (Colour, 80 minutes)
Hilarity ensues when Munich butcher Wulli has his prize-winning sausage stolen and he sets out to recover it, resulting in all kinds of bawdy high-jinks and sausage-related misunderstandings. Winner of the Palm d'Or at the Oktoberfest Beer and Cinema Festival, but a great disappointment to the director who hoped this would be the first German film to 'break' America.
Italy
Ciao, bella (Colour, 123 minutes)
A young man in Rome seaches for a meaning to his life by riding round on a Vespa and sleeping with a series of attractive girls, whilst occasionally reminiscing about his mountain-village upbringing by his bicycle riding, spaghetti-cooking grandmother (not both at the same time, but I'd pay good money to see that).
China
Jade Empress of the Chysanthemum Killing Fist (Colour and lots of it, 119 minutes)
Visually spectacular but apparently plot-free chop-socky action starring Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li and Jet Lee. Shot on location in every famous landmark China possesses, and partially finded by the Chinese government's Department of Tourism and Ethnic Cleansing.
With a cast of thousands, many of whom died during the production; mostly from starvation but several hundred were shot by the army after staging a protest at studio conditions.
Sweden
Stockholm nymphos galore! (Colour (mostly pink), 62 minutes)
Looks to be a pretty good film, albeit that I've never watched more than about two and a half minutes in one go.
India
Gudjerabatala! (Colour, 97 minutes)
Gritty urban drama about the gangs of organised criminals who run Bombay's underworld, and the heavily choreographed song and dance numbers they perform to maintain their dominance.
Thailand
Tom Yum Goong (Colour, 123 minutes)
A peaceful young monk must use his incredible martial arts prowess to rescue his beloved pet elephant from a gang of villainous Australian ninja restauranteurs who plan on eating it.
Oh, hang on, this is actually a real film.
France:
The Existentialism of Meaninglessness (B/W, 526 minutes)
Four men in square-rimmed glasses and berets sit round discussing whether or not existence has any empirical basis, and what relevance to the ontology of reality would come from this if it did. Livened up only slightly by an apparently unrelated vigorous sex scene about three and a half hours in.
Algeria:
Looking (B/W, 120 minutes)
An orphan peasant boy sets off to walk barefoot across the mountains in search of his beloved donkey in this heavily allegory-ridden story. A scene in which he spies on a young girl who removes her hijab whilst drawing water from a well was cut for being too raunchy for audiences and the director and both actors were later stoned to death for perverting public morality.
Germany:
Achtung, mein knockwurst! (Colour, 80 minutes)
Hilarity ensues when Munich butcher Wulli has his prize-winning sausage stolen and he sets out to recover it, resulting in all kinds of bawdy high-jinks and sausage-related misunderstandings. Winner of the Palm d'Or at the Oktoberfest Beer and Cinema Festival, but a great disappointment to the director who hoped this would be the first German film to 'break' America.
Italy
Ciao, bella (Colour, 123 minutes)
A young man in Rome seaches for a meaning to his life by riding round on a Vespa and sleeping with a series of attractive girls, whilst occasionally reminiscing about his mountain-village upbringing by his bicycle riding, spaghetti-cooking grandmother (not both at the same time, but I'd pay good money to see that).
China
Jade Empress of the Chysanthemum Killing Fist (Colour and lots of it, 119 minutes)
Visually spectacular but apparently plot-free chop-socky action starring Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li and Jet Lee. Shot on location in every famous landmark China possesses, and partially finded by the Chinese government's Department of Tourism and Ethnic Cleansing.
With a cast of thousands, many of whom died during the production; mostly from starvation but several hundred were shot by the army after staging a protest at studio conditions.
Sweden
Stockholm nymphos galore! (Colour (mostly pink), 62 minutes)
Looks to be a pretty good film, albeit that I've never watched more than about two and a half minutes in one go.
India
Gudjerabatala! (Colour, 97 minutes)
Gritty urban drama about the gangs of organised criminals who run Bombay's underworld, and the heavily choreographed song and dance numbers they perform to maintain their dominance.
Thailand
Tom Yum Goong (Colour, 123 minutes)
A peaceful young monk must use his incredible martial arts prowess to rescue his beloved pet elephant from a gang of villainous Australian ninja restauranteurs who plan on eating it.
Oh, hang on, this is actually a real film.
Australia
(Anonymous) 2008-08-05 10:38 am (UTC)(link)A trio of glamorous transvestites set out on a road trip across a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland, fending off attacks by cyberpunk metal biker gangs to the accompaniment of some of Abba's best-loved hits.
H
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Kung Fu Cooking is a sight to behold.......
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For example
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Gong Li?
(Anonymous) 2008-08-05 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)Re: Gong Li?
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(Anonymous) 2008-08-05 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)D
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Re: 21 hours' worth in just under 24?