TRAILER: Cinema Release: Norwegian Wood

Check out the trailer below for Norwegian Wood, which was released in cinemas on 11th March 2011.

More information on this film can be found by clicking here.

TRAILER: Cinema Release: Les Diabolique

Check out the trailer below for Les Diabolique, which is released in cinemas on 18th March 2011.

More information on this film can be found by clicking here.

TRAILER: Cinema Release: Patagonia

Check out the trailer below for Patagonia, which was released in cinemas on 4th March 2011.

More information on this film can be found by clicking here.

NEWS: Cinema Release: Cave Of Forgotten Dreams

Positively received at its Toronto Festival Premiere, Cave Of Forgotten Dreams shows the dramatic results of Werner Herzog’s exclusive access to the recently discovered Chauvet caves in the South of France, and their truly extraordinary cave paintings, dating back 32,000 years. Herzog’s use of 3D really brings these beautiful works of art and the breath-taking cathedral like cave with its towering stalagmites to life. Herzog uses his unique access to this treasure trove of Palaeolithic masterpieces to muse on the immensity and fragility of man’s progress.

Herzog combines his gifts as a conjurer of unforgettable images, explorer of forbidden landscapes and poetic philosopher to illuminate and celebrate the earliest recorded visions of humanity. The Chauvet Cave, which contains the earliest known cave paintings, was discovered in 1994 and is considered one of the most significant prehistoric art sites. Hundreds of cave paintings depict at least thirteen different species, including horses, cattle, lions, panthers, bears, rhinos and even hyenas. The artists used techniques not often seen in other cave art making the Chauvet Cave an important record of Palaeolithic life in all of its savage detail.

Fear of damage from exposure to light and even human breath has meant that only a tiny handful of researchers have witnessed the paintings in person. Herzog finally managed to get permission to shoot there, with access strictly limited to a few hours per day and to a two foot wide walkway, using specially designed 3D cameras and battery-powered lights that emit no heat.

With his long-time collaborator, Director of Photography Peter Zeitlinger, Herzog had to rebuild and design radical adaptations to the available 3D cameras, with specialized equipment shipped from both the United States and other parts of Europe. Overcoming other setbacks and complications, including a volcanic eruption, Herzog and his team endured several weeks of intense production in March and April 2010. This is third of his films produced by Erik Nelson and Creative Differences.

Film: Cave Of Forgotten Dreams
Release date: 25th March 2011
Certificate: TBC
Running time: 90 mins
Director: Werner Herzog
Starring: N/a
Genre: Documentary
Studio: Picturehouse
Format: Cinema
Country: Canada/USA/France/Germany/UK

REVIEW: Cinema Release: Norwegian Wood

Film: Norwegian Wood
Release date: 11th March 2011
Certificate: 15
Running time: 133 mins
Director: Tran Anh Hung
Starring: Kenichi Matsuyama, Rinko Kikuchi, Kiko Mizuhara, Reika Kirishima, Kengo Kora
Genre: Drama/Romance
Studio: Soda
Format: Cinema
Country: Japan

More than twenty years after Haruki Murakami’s novel was released, Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung has turned Norwegian Wood into a feature film. Long considered unfilmable due to its introspective nature and inner dialogues, it was a brave move for Tran to take it on – especially as Murakami (and his fans) are famously protective of his work. But after a long dialogue with the author, the movie was given the green light. Have Tran and his cast done justice to the source material?

Set in 1960s Japan, Norwegian Wood focuses on 19-year-old Toru Watanabe and his relationships with two different women – the excitable, expressive Midori and the inward-looking, melancholic Naoko.

Naoko was Toru's best friend Kizuki's girlfriend, until Kizuki committed suicide at the age of 17. That tragedy that has led to Naoko suffering a breakdown: a depression which has led to her seeking refuge in a quiet country sanatorium.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Watanabe begins a flirtatious friendship with fellow student Midori, leaving him to negotiate his way through two complicated and contrasting relationships…


Opening with a quiet montage of Toru (Kenichi Matsuyama), Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi) and Kizuki (Kengo Kôra) playing pool and fooling around on a farm and eating an ice lolly, Tran quickly introduces the three central characters. That one of them will be almost entirely absent from the remainder of the movie, as Kizuki is seen committing a low-key and lonely suicide as he asphyxiates himself in his car (his presence permeates the action nonetheless). It’s an unusual way to begin a film, requiring little of the audience other than objective observation. With barely a hint of emotion expressed on screen, there is little opportunity to feel sympathy as might be expected. Instead, the audience is made immediately aware that the style of the film will be somewhat detached.

Central to the plot and style of the piece is Toru. He appears in almost every scene, yet barely seems to inhabit them. He’s something of a blank canvas, often expressionless and usually playing second fiddle to whichever other characters appear alongside him. It’s a strangely beguiling performance from Matsuyama, and he’s a likeable character despite doing very little in real terms. Instead, he provides the backdrop for the more intriguing performances which revolve around him.

The most interesting of these is Kiko Mizuhara as Midori. She’s certainly the most recognisably ‘normal’ character – lively, flirty and funny. Sadly, she’s underused and appears far too fleetingly. The same might also be said of Nagasawa (Tetsuji Tamayama). He’s enigmatic, interesting and amoral. Although his purpose is presumably to provide a moral barometer for Toru, the film would certainly have benefited by revealing more of him.

Although Toru’s relationships with Midori and Nagasawa are important, they play second fiddle to his dysfunctional friendship/courtship with Naoko. Following the suicide of Kizuki, Naoko has unravelled mentally. Following a tenderly filmed sex scene with Toru, she retreats into herself and eventually disappears to a country retreat where she lives a quiet life alongside roommate Reiko (Reika Kirishima). After a written correspondence with Toru, he eventually visits her to discuss where their future lies. The scenes between the two are beautifully shot, but ultimately hard to engage with. The dialogue is stiff, and the sense that there is any love between them is hard to believe given that it is only expressed vocally in very plain speech. Some explanation of their inner dialogues occurs by having them read out their letters as a voiceover, but a sense of true warmth and love between them still remains hard to swallow. It weakens the film enormously that the central relationship is so unbelievable.

What does work wonderfully well is the cinematography. Norwegian Wood is simply sumptuous to look at and has a clear artistic vision. Interior scenes are often shot in medium close-ups leading to a sense of claustrophobia – particularly in those scenes between Toru and Naoko. Tran also utilises very clear colour schemes, often bathing night time sets in just one colour – it’s unsubtle but beautiful. Interiors during daylight hours appear to be more naturally lit, utilising the daylight which streams in through the picturesque windows.

Exteriors are exquisitely shot. Wintry country scenes are framed fantastically and lush green countryside is displayed vibrantly. These beautiful vistas provide an instant and obvious contrast with the cluttered city sets of Tokyo. They are imbued, perhaps, with even more sadness as the camera lingers slowly and silently over vast expanses of emptiness. Such wonderful cinematography ensures that even in its more frustrating moments, Norwegian Wood remains extremely watchable.

Unfortunately, those frustrating moments occur too often. When translating a novel to the screen, one of the inherent dangers is that so much of what is written is not said (or at least said out loud). With Toru as the central character and commentator, Murakami’s novel has a depth and richness which is sadly lacking from Tran’s movie. It’s also a far more hurried version of the story with central characters marginalised to the point that their role in proceedings becomes puzzling – particularly Reiko’s surprising part in the story’s denouement.


Bringing Norwegian Wood to the silver screen was always likely to be challenging. And it’s a challenge which Tran Anh Hung only partially passed. His film is stylish and often visually stunning, yet lacks emotional depth despite some good acting performances. The plot moves inconsistently - too fast in parts, too slow in others - and ultimately characters’ motives are not as fully explored or explained as they might have been. Altogether, it’s an interesting yet flawed attempt. RW

NEWS: Cinema Release: Les Diabolique

Classic thriller from director Henri-Georges Clouzot, following the events of a murder plot in a small French provincial school.

Tired of being mistreated by abusive headmaster Michel Delasalle (Paul Meurisse), his frail wife, Christina (Vera Clouzot), and his mistress, Nicole (Simone Signoret), plot to kill their tormentor. When Michel's body goes missing, however, the women soon realise their plan is not as straightforward as they first thought.

Film: Les Diabolique
Release date: 18th March 2011
Certificate: 12
Running time: 114 mins
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Starring: Simone Signoret, Vera Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel, Jean Bro
Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller
Studio: BFI
Format: Cinema
Country: France

NEWS: Cinema Release: Benda Bilili!

Benda Bilili! is a real-life world music fairytale, lifting the lid on the Congolese music scene to reveal the incredible true story behind Kinshasa’s ghetto stars; Staff Benda Bilili, the world music sensation who have exploded onto the scene with their critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Tres, Tres, Fort’, and electric performances at Glastonbury and WOMAD and festivals world-wide. Staff Benda Bilili’s distinct musical style is a seductive mix of Congolese rumba, James Brown-esque funk, Cuban mambo, ancestral trance and Jimi Hendrix-esque flourishes from Roger Landu, the former street kid virtuoso.

Ricky has a dream: to make Staff Benda Bilili the best band in Congo Kinshasa. Roger, a street child, more than ever wants to join these stars of the ghetto, who get around in customized tricycles.

Together, they must avoid the pitfalls of the street, stay united and find the force to hope in music.

Opening Directors Fortnight at Cannes this year, Renaud Barret and Florent de la Tullaye’s uplifting film is a frank and intimate portrait of the band, their musical energy and social observation of the realities of life in the Congo. Hotly tipped to be the next Buena Vista Social Club, Benda Bilili! Is a rare cinematic discovery, a powerful and inspirational film that follows the extraordinary journey of the band over the course of six years, from when we first encounter them performing and living on the streets of Kinshasa to recording their acclaimed debut album and headlining at international music festivals.

Benda Bilili! is the story of a dream become reality; a tale of triumph over adversity which embraces the band’s creed; to be true to oneself, take pride, be strong, and never give up.

Film: Benda Bilili!
Release date: 18th March 2011
Certificate: PG
Running time: 86 mins
Director: Renaud Barret & Florent de La Tullaye
Starring: Maria Barli Djongo, Renaud Barret, Cubain Kabeya, Vincent Kenis, Paulin Kiara-Maigi
Genre: Documentary
Studio: Trinity
Format: Cinema
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo/France

NEWS: Cinema Release: Norwegian Wood

Published in 1987 and since translated into 33 languages, Norwegian Wood is a story of loss and heartbreak in a time of global instability.

Haruki Murakami’s bestselling novel is brought to the screen by Tran Anh Hung (Golden Lion winner for Cyclo and Academy Award nominee for The Scent Of Green Papaya) and features Japanese rising star Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City) and Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi (BABEL), alongside newcomer Kiko Mizuhara.

Tokyo, the late 1960s. Students around the world are uniting to overthrow the establishment and Toru Watanabe’s personal life is similarly in tumult. At heart, he is deeply devoted to his first love, Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman. But their complex bond has been forged by the tragic death of their best friend years before.

Watanabe lives with the influence of death everywhere. That is, until Midori, a girl who is everything that Naoko is not – outgoing, vivacious, supremely self-confident – marches into his life and Watanabe must choose between his past and his future.

Film: Norwegian Wood
Release date: 11th March 2011
Certificate: 15
Running time: 133 mins
Director: Tran Anh Hung
Starring: Kenichi Matsuyama, Rinko Kikuchi, Kiko Mizuhara, Reika Kirishima, Kengo Kora
Genre: Drama/Romance
Studio: Soda
Format: Cinema
Country: Japan

NEWS: Cinema Release: Patagonia

Marc Evans’ (My Little Eye) visually stunning and inspirational film about the journey of two women, one looking for her past and the other for her future, stars Matthew Rhys (Edge Of Love and Brothers & Sisters) and Grammy Award winning singer Duffy, in her acting debut. A truly original film with dialogue spoken in both Spanish and Welsh, the impressive international cast also includes Nia Roberts (Solomon & Gaynor), Nahaul Perez Biscayart (Glue) and Marta Lubos (Motorcycle Diaries).

Incorporating the culture and countryside of both Wales and Patagonia, Evans’ impressive film is a lyrical exploration of the parallel journeys of two women at very different stages of their lives. Cutting between their stories, in which one travels South to North through the Welsh springtime and the other East to West through the Argentine autumn, Patagonia is a film of intimate moments that play out against the sweeping panoramic landscapes, complemented by the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, including songs from Duffy and exciting new up and coming artist Kirsty Almeida.

In Cardiff, Gwen (Nia Roberts) and her boyfriend Rhys (Matthew Gravelle) have felt significant strain on their relationship since discovering they are unable to conceive. When Rhys is sent on a photographic assignment to Patagonia, Gwen sees a chance to repair their relationship with a bit of adventurous escapism. Accompanying the couple as a guide is charismatic and handsome Welsh Patagonian Mateo (Matthew Rhys). As the trio travel through the welsh settlements, Rhys submerges himself in his photography and meanwhile a mild flirtation between Mateo and Gwen starts to grow into something more.

In Patagonia, elderly Argentinean native Cerys (Marta Lubos) starts a secret pilgrimage to the Welsh countryside so that she can visit her ancestral homeland before she dies. Her somewhat nervous and introverted young neighbour Alejandro (Nahaul Perez Biscayart) reluctantly comes along as her chaperone. Cerys encourages him to open his eyes and embrace new challenges and new people, and when he falls for a seductive Welsh student played by Duffy, he is soon enjoying the journey of a lifetime. Cerys meanwhile must come to terms with discovering the truth behind her family’s past and put her uncertain history to bed.

Both journeys must eventually come to an end, literally and metaphorically, and the film’s poignant climax is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. A road movie for romantics, Patagonia is at its heart a love story, an old lady’s love for her roots and a young couple finding out if they are supposed to be together.

Film: Patagonia
Release date: 4th March 2011
Certificate: 15
Running time: 118 mins
Director: Marc Evans
Starring: Matthew Rhys, Nia Roberts, Duffy, Marta Lubos, Nahuel Perez Biscayart
Genre: Drama
Studio: Verve
Format: Cinema
Country: Argentina/UK

NEWS: Birds Eye View Film Festival 2011

The seventh Birds Eye View Film Festival, like the first, will open on International Women's Day. The event, which celebrates a century of women filmmakers, will be staged between 8th and 17th March 2001 at the BFI Southbank, ICA and Southbank Centre in London.

Amongst the films being screened are:

In A Better World Haevnen (Denmark, Director: Susanne Bier)
Claus moves to Denmark following his wife’s death. Anton, recently separated from his wife, commutes from Denmark to an African refugee camp. As each family deals with conflict and grief, their sons form an extraordinary and dangerous friendship with potentially tragic consequences. Ultimately, all must choose between forgiveness and revenge.

Women Of Hamas (Israel-Germany, Director: Suha Arraf)
Gaza’s controversial ruling party Hamas is known for its religious conservatism and hard-line politics but not for the empowered roles available to women. Palestinian-Israeli director Suha Arraf shows women leading public demonstrations and mothers torn between grief and pride as they stand beside their sons videoing their last statements as suicide bombers. With unprecedented access, this is an extraordinary, poignant and complex account of women whose lives are dominated by political struggle.

As well as features, there will be documentaries, shorts, silents, music, masterclasses, premieres, parties, and girls who do gore. “Birds Eye View presents an electric and eclectic ten days of the most inspiring, enchanting and challenging work by women across the world.”

For more information on the event, visit the festival’s official website here.