czech republic Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Israel and Czech Republic Choose Their Oscar Candidates
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Foreign Language », Sony Classics », Oscar Watch », Toronto International Film Festival », Cinematical Indie »
As we've reported on various countries' candidates for the Best Foreign Language Film category at next year's Oscars, we've observed that many of them are longshots at best. Countries like the Philippines and Singapore have never even secured a nomination in the category, let alone a win. That's not to say it won't happen this year; just that it's not as likely. But now two countries with solid Oscar track records have announced their entries: Israel is putting up The Band's Visit, while the Czech Republic offers I Served the King of England. Israel has submitted a film every year since 1977 and fairly regularly before that, earning six nominations but no wins so far. The Czech Republic had six nominations including two wins back when it was Czechoslovakia; since the split in 1993, Czech Republic has had three nominations, with a win in 1996.
Israel's The Band's Visit (Bikur Ha-Tizmoret) automatically became its Oscar entry when it took the top prize at the Israeli Film Academy Awards on Thursday. The comedy, about an Egyptian police band that gets lost in Israel, won the audience award at the Sarajevo Film Festival and the Jury Coup Du Coeur in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. It also played at Toronto, where Cinematical's lovely and talented James Rocchi reviewed it favorably. Sony Pictures Classics is set to release it in the U.S.; Variety says the amount they paid was a record for an Israeli film.
I Served the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále) is based on an epic novel and spans years before and after World War II. It was directed by Jiri Menzel, whose film Closely Watched Trains won the Oscar back in 1968.
Czech Republic Struggles to Stay on Film Map
Filed under: Universal », Cinematical Indie »
Even as California attempts to keep film and television production within its borders, other states -- not to mention the entire country of Canada -- keep trying to lure filmmakers to their area with financial incentives. It's not just a North American phenomenon, though. The Czech Republic became a favored filming location in recent years because of its cost advantage and the growing experience of Czech crews and production companies. But Czech Business Weekly reports that the country has started losing projects to other countries that offer tax incentives.Ludmila Claussová, head of the Czech Film Commission, told the publication: "If we want to remain on the film map, we'll need [to pass] these incentives." She says that the "U.S. studio bosses" behind Hellboy 2 "moved set decorations they already stored in Prague [because Hellboy was shot there] by truck to Hungary" when they realized how much money they would get back if they shot in the nearby country. (Universal Pictures is the distributor of Hellboy 2 as well as Wanted, which wrapped filming in the Czech Republic in July.) Though she doesn't believe income from foreign productions will be lower this year, she is concerned for the future. And no wonder: she estimates that the filming of The Chronicles of Narnia "affected about 15,000 to 20,000 people that annually have work in the film industry."
When asked the type of films that should be attracted, she replied: "In some discussion you can hear that stupid Americans are shooting low-quality movies here and we shouldn't be proud of it, not to mention supporting it. ... But we shouldn't support only films of high-artistic quality. It is a business like any other, it gives jobs to people." Hmm, wonder if she had any particular film in mind? The next film in the Chronicles of Narnia series, Prince Caspian, is due to wrap shooting in the Czech Republic this month.
[ Via ScreenDaily ]
Don't Even Feign Surprise: Hostel 3 is Coming
Filed under: Horror », Lionsgate Films », Remakes and Sequels »
It's no secret that I'm a pretty big fan of Eli Roth's flicks. I see the guy as a rookie baseball player who, with only two trips to the plate, hit a pair of terrifically entertaining triples, which (to me) indicates a guy who's worked hard and managed to turn his lifelong passion into something worth watching. (If you happen to disagree with me on the value of movies like Cabin Fever and Hostel, that's cool. I'm just trying to set up a small but interesting story, and this paragraph is what we call "intro filler.")Basically, in this Variety article that focuses on film productions in Prague and the Czech Republic, a few hints are dropped that a Hostel Part 3 is almost definitely on the way -- but that it'd most likely come after Roth is finished adapting Stephen King's Cell for the Weinstein boys.
The article also gives us just a little more info on the plot of Hostel: Part 2: Instead of it focusing on three horny bastards on the hunt for loose women, the sequel will deal with three young women on the hunt for a really exotic spa in Slovakia -- and boy do they find it. As you're no doubt aware by now, the ladies will be played by Heather Matarazzo, Bijou Phillips and Lauren German.
Roth's H2 is presently scheduled for an April 5 release date. Previous fanboy blather on this flick can be found here and here and here. Sue me, I like horror movies.
TIFF Review: Beauty in Trouble
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Foreign Language », Romance », Theatrical Reviews », Festival Reports », Toronto International Film Festival », Cinematical Indie »
Based upon the evidence I've seen so far in Toronto -- the Romanian drama The Way I Spent the End of the World and Beauty in Trouble, the very accomplished new feature from Czech director Jan Hrebejk and his frequent collaborator, writer Petr Jarchovský -- the recent resurgence of cinema in Eastern Europe continues unabated. Different in every way from the truly awesome The Way I Spent the End of the World, Beauty in Trouble nevertheless shares with that film a combination of attention to detail and confidence of vision, and is also impressive, albeit in a smaller way.
A complex look at the power and changeability of intimate relationships, Beauty in Trouble comes disguised as a sweet, simple love story. After the devastating Prague floods of August 2002, Jarda (Roman Luknár) and Marcela (Anna Geislerová) find themselves in dire financial straits: Their home suffered severe water damage and, lacking insurance, they have no way to pay for repairs. With two kids, Jarda's mother to feed and the added pressure of unrelenting mortgage payments, they're desperate; to put food on the table Jarda joins a ring of car thieves, and works cutting the cars down into salable parts. Though she knows they need the money, Marcela is unable to handle the fact that her husband is a criminal and leaves him, taking the kids and moving in with her mother and abrasive step-father.
Sherrybaby Wins at Karlovy Vary
Filed under: Other Festivals »
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic just wrapped up its 41st annual event. The festival's particular focus is Eastern European films ... and yet an American film took the festival's biggest prize this year. Sherrybaby has won the Crystal Globe Grand Prix award for best picture. It's pleasant (and rare) to see a film written and directed by a woman (Laurie Collyer) taking home a festival's top award. In addition, Sherrybaby's star Maggie Gyllenhaal won the festival's best actress award. Cinematical's Kim Voynar saw the film at Sundance and attended a Q&A with the cast and director Laurie Collyer. Eastern European films fared better in other award categories, however. Special jury prizes went to Christmas Tree Upside Down, a Bulgarian/German film, and Beauty in Trouble, from the Czech Republic. A full list of awards is available from Alternative Film Guide.
[via GreenCine Daily]
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