The Children’s Hour: Kore-eda Crafts a Melodramatic Puzzle
Returning to his native Japan after venturing out to France and South Korea with his last two features, Hirokazu Kore-eda rearranges his favored tropes with Monster, a multi-perspective melodrama with ominous undertones. For those familiar with Kore-eda’s filmography, there are a myriad of comparisons to his previous films in the connective tissues, but his latest also includes some surprising elements. Rife with his astute abilities to convey the subtle human foibles of domestic dilemmas, most often between parents and their children, Kore-eda, who has written all his previous narrative features, benefits from utilizing screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, lending a refreshing sheen to his sterling sensibilities.…...
Returning to his native Japan after venturing out to France and South Korea with his last two features, Hirokazu Kore-eda rearranges his favored tropes with Monster, a multi-perspective melodrama with ominous undertones. For those familiar with Kore-eda’s filmography, there are a myriad of comparisons to his previous films in the connective tissues, but his latest also includes some surprising elements. Rife with his astute abilities to convey the subtle human foibles of domestic dilemmas, most often between parents and their children, Kore-eda, who has written all his previous narrative features, benefits from utilizing screenwriter Yuji Sakamoto, lending a refreshing sheen to his sterling sensibilities.…...
- 11/23/2023
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Japan heads the nominations, followed by China.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist heads the nominations for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, with nods in four categories including best film, best director, best screenplay and best cinematography.
The Japanese feature premiered at Venice where it picked up both the jury and Fipresci prize, and centres on a father and daughter in a rural village, whose peaceful lives are disrupted by proposals to build a camping site in their area.
Hamaguchi’s latest film, following Oscar-winner Drive My Car, was just ahead of China’s Snow Leopard by the late Tibetan director Pema Tseden,...
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist heads the nominations for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, with nods in four categories including best film, best director, best screenplay and best cinematography.
The Japanese feature premiered at Venice where it picked up both the jury and Fipresci prize, and centres on a father and daughter in a rural village, whose peaceful lives are disrupted by proposals to build a camping site in their area.
Hamaguchi’s latest film, following Oscar-winner Drive My Car, was just ahead of China’s Snow Leopard by the late Tibetan director Pema Tseden,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The films were Ok but lacked some luster on the whole. The list of winners of the festival(s) follows. Women filmmakers swept most of the top awards from Competition to Un Certain Regard and Critics’ Week. The market was also Ok, but not great. Rights sold before the festival and during the festival are listed with the winning titles.
The disrupters, the big streamers, were in the background and theatrical rights were being acquired by indie distributors. France’s theatrical exhibition has sprung back to its pre-covid levels while others’ like Germany, Italy and the U.S. remain 30% below.
Read The Film Verdict Summation and Reviews of Cannes Ff 2003 here. Their summation in part:
The most common line heard on the Croisette was that the main section was stuffed with minor films from major directors, which does no one any favors. But there were happy exceptions, which included 83-year-old Marco Bellocchio’s dramatically exciting and thought-provoking Kidnapped, a summing-up of his many films dealing with the Catholic religion and how a child’s cultural identity is created beginning at a young age. Disappointingly, the jury led by two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Ostlund overlooked the film entirely when they awarded their prizes.Another classic director who returned in top form was 77-year-old Wim Wenders with two masterful films: Anselm, a ravishing 3D documentary portrait of artist Anselm Kiefer, and Perfect Days, a lyrical Japanese-language character study of a Tokyo toilet attendant. Justly winning the Best Actor prize for his Zen-like performance in the latter title was Koji Yakusho.Cannes Film Festival Winners:
Palme d’Or
Anatomy of a Fall, Directed by Justine Triet
Isa: MK2 rights sold pre-Cannes to France-Le Pacte; Hong Kong — Golden Scene; Italy-Teodora; Russia, Cis, Baltics-Provzglyad; Spain-Elastica, Filmin; Taiwan-Hooray; Turkey-Mars. Cannes: No. America-Neon; Brazil-Diamond; Switzerland-Cineworx; U.K./Ireland-Picturehouse
Grand Prix
The Zone of Interest, Directed by Jonathan Glazer
Isa: A24. No. America: A24.
Jury Prize
Fallen Leaves, Directed by Aki Kaurismaki
Isa: The Match Factory sold pre-Cannes rights to Austria/ Germany-Pandora; Baltics-a-One; Benelux-September; ex-Yugo-mcf; Finland-BPlan; France-Diaphana; Greece-Cinobo; Hungary-Cirko; Israel-Lev; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Eurospace; Norway-Arthause; Portugal-Midas; Sweden-Folkets Bio; Switzerland-Filmcoopi. Cannes sales to Latvia/ Lithuania-a One
Best Director
Tran Anh Hung for The Pot au Feu
Isa: Gaumont sold to Australia/ N.Z.-Rialto; Belgium-Athena; Brazil-Diamond; Canada-Mongrel; France-Gaumont; Germany-Weltkino; Hong Kong-First Distributors; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Gaga; Portugal-Sun; Spain-a Contracorriente; Switzerland-Frenetic; Taiwan-Swallow Wings; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Sun
Best Screenplay
Yuji Sakamoto for Monster directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Isa: Goodfellas and Gaga sold pre-Cannes to Australia/ N.Z.-Madman; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; Finland-Cinema Mondo; Hungary-Cirko; Japan-Gaga. Cannes to Bulgaria-Beta; Ex-Yugo-mcf Megacom; Germany-Wild Bunch; Greece-Spentzos; India-Impact; Indonesia-Falcon; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Bim; Hong Kong-Edko; Japan-Toho; Poland-Best; Portugal-Midas; Singapore-Clover/ Golden Village; So. Korea-Media Castle; Spain-Vertigo; Sweden-Triart; Switzerland-Cineworx, Taiwan-Movie Cloud; Thailand-Sahamongkolfilm; Turkiye-Filmarti; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Well Go/ Relativity
Best Actress
Merve Dizdar for About Dry Grasses directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Isa Playtime sold pre-Cannes rights to Austria-Filmladen; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; France-Memento; Italy-Movies Inspired, Taiwan-Swallow Wings. Cannes: Canada-Sphere; Turkey-Bir; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Janus/ Criterion/ Sideshow
Best Actor
Kôji Yakusho for Perfect Days directed by Wim Wenders
Isa The Match Factory sold rights to Madman-Australia/ N.Z.; Artfest-Bulgaria; DDDream-China; Aerofilms-Czech & Slovakia; Haut et Court-France; Feelgood-Greece; Edko-Hong Kong; Cirko-Hungary; Lev-Israel; Lucky Red-Italy; Gutek-Poland; Alambique-Portugal; Bad Unicorn-Romania; A Contracorriente-Spain; Dcm-Switzerland; Applause-Taiwan; Mubi-Ireland, Turkiye, U.K., U.S.; Neon-u.S.
Palme d’Or for Best Short Film: 27, Directed by Flora Anna Buda
Special Mention to a Short Film: Far, Directed by Gunnur Martinsdottir Schluter
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard Prize
How to Have Sex, Directed by Molly Manning Walker
Isa MK2 sold rights to Imagine-Benelux; Greece-Cinobo; N.Z.-Ahi; Russian World Vision-Russia; Turkiye, U.K./ Ireland, Italy, U.S.-Mubi
Jury Prize
Hounds, Directed by Kamal Lazraq
Isa Charades sold to Ad Vitam-France; Zabriskie-Spain
Best Director
Asmae El Moudir For The Mother of All Lies
Isa Autlook
New Voice Prize
Augure (Omen), Directed by Baloji Tshiani
Isa Memento
Ensemble Prize
The Buriti Flower, Directed by Joao Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora
Freedom Prize
Goodbye Julia, Directed by Mohamed Kordofani
Camera D’Or
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, Directed by Thien An Pham
The Golden Eye Documentary Prize
Awarded ex aequo to: Four Daughters, Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
and The Mother of All Lies, Directed by Asmae El Moudir
62nd LA Semaine De LA Critique
Grand Prize
Tiger Stripes, Directed by Amanda Nell Eu
French Touch Jury Prize to It’s Raining in the House, Directed by Paloma Sermon-Dai
Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award to Jovan Ginic For Lost Country
Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for a Short Film to Bolero, Directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Gan Foundation Award for Distribution to Pyramide Films for Inshallah a Boy
Sacd Award to Iris Kaltenback, Writer of The Rapture
Canal+ Award for a Short Film to Bolero, Directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Fipresci International Competition: The Zone of Interest
Fipresci Un Certain Regard: The Settlers (Los Colonos)
Fipresci Directors’ Fortnight & Critics’ Week: Power Alley (Levante)
Ecumenical Jury Prize to Perfect Days, Directed by Wim Wenders
Queer Palm Award to Monster, Directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda
Palme Dog to border collie Messie in Anatomy of a Fall...
The disrupters, the big streamers, were in the background and theatrical rights were being acquired by indie distributors. France’s theatrical exhibition has sprung back to its pre-covid levels while others’ like Germany, Italy and the U.S. remain 30% below.
Read The Film Verdict Summation and Reviews of Cannes Ff 2003 here. Their summation in part:
The most common line heard on the Croisette was that the main section was stuffed with minor films from major directors, which does no one any favors. But there were happy exceptions, which included 83-year-old Marco Bellocchio’s dramatically exciting and thought-provoking Kidnapped, a summing-up of his many films dealing with the Catholic religion and how a child’s cultural identity is created beginning at a young age. Disappointingly, the jury led by two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Ostlund overlooked the film entirely when they awarded their prizes.Another classic director who returned in top form was 77-year-old Wim Wenders with two masterful films: Anselm, a ravishing 3D documentary portrait of artist Anselm Kiefer, and Perfect Days, a lyrical Japanese-language character study of a Tokyo toilet attendant. Justly winning the Best Actor prize for his Zen-like performance in the latter title was Koji Yakusho.Cannes Film Festival Winners:
Palme d’Or
Anatomy of a Fall, Directed by Justine Triet
Isa: MK2 rights sold pre-Cannes to France-Le Pacte; Hong Kong — Golden Scene; Italy-Teodora; Russia, Cis, Baltics-Provzglyad; Spain-Elastica, Filmin; Taiwan-Hooray; Turkey-Mars. Cannes: No. America-Neon; Brazil-Diamond; Switzerland-Cineworx; U.K./Ireland-Picturehouse
Grand Prix
The Zone of Interest, Directed by Jonathan Glazer
Isa: A24. No. America: A24.
Jury Prize
Fallen Leaves, Directed by Aki Kaurismaki
Isa: The Match Factory sold pre-Cannes rights to Austria/ Germany-Pandora; Baltics-a-One; Benelux-September; ex-Yugo-mcf; Finland-BPlan; France-Diaphana; Greece-Cinobo; Hungary-Cirko; Israel-Lev; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Eurospace; Norway-Arthause; Portugal-Midas; Sweden-Folkets Bio; Switzerland-Filmcoopi. Cannes sales to Latvia/ Lithuania-a One
Best Director
Tran Anh Hung for The Pot au Feu
Isa: Gaumont sold to Australia/ N.Z.-Rialto; Belgium-Athena; Brazil-Diamond; Canada-Mongrel; France-Gaumont; Germany-Weltkino; Hong Kong-First Distributors; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Gaga; Portugal-Sun; Spain-a Contracorriente; Switzerland-Frenetic; Taiwan-Swallow Wings; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Sun
Best Screenplay
Yuji Sakamoto for Monster directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Isa: Goodfellas and Gaga sold pre-Cannes to Australia/ N.Z.-Madman; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; Finland-Cinema Mondo; Hungary-Cirko; Japan-Gaga. Cannes to Bulgaria-Beta; Ex-Yugo-mcf Megacom; Germany-Wild Bunch; Greece-Spentzos; India-Impact; Indonesia-Falcon; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Bim; Hong Kong-Edko; Japan-Toho; Poland-Best; Portugal-Midas; Singapore-Clover/ Golden Village; So. Korea-Media Castle; Spain-Vertigo; Sweden-Triart; Switzerland-Cineworx, Taiwan-Movie Cloud; Thailand-Sahamongkolfilm; Turkiye-Filmarti; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Well Go/ Relativity
Best Actress
Merve Dizdar for About Dry Grasses directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Isa Playtime sold pre-Cannes rights to Austria-Filmladen; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; France-Memento; Italy-Movies Inspired, Taiwan-Swallow Wings. Cannes: Canada-Sphere; Turkey-Bir; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Janus/ Criterion/ Sideshow
Best Actor
Kôji Yakusho for Perfect Days directed by Wim Wenders
Isa The Match Factory sold rights to Madman-Australia/ N.Z.; Artfest-Bulgaria; DDDream-China; Aerofilms-Czech & Slovakia; Haut et Court-France; Feelgood-Greece; Edko-Hong Kong; Cirko-Hungary; Lev-Israel; Lucky Red-Italy; Gutek-Poland; Alambique-Portugal; Bad Unicorn-Romania; A Contracorriente-Spain; Dcm-Switzerland; Applause-Taiwan; Mubi-Ireland, Turkiye, U.K., U.S.; Neon-u.S.
Palme d’Or for Best Short Film: 27, Directed by Flora Anna Buda
Special Mention to a Short Film: Far, Directed by Gunnur Martinsdottir Schluter
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard Prize
How to Have Sex, Directed by Molly Manning Walker
Isa MK2 sold rights to Imagine-Benelux; Greece-Cinobo; N.Z.-Ahi; Russian World Vision-Russia; Turkiye, U.K./ Ireland, Italy, U.S.-Mubi
Jury Prize
Hounds, Directed by Kamal Lazraq
Isa Charades sold to Ad Vitam-France; Zabriskie-Spain
Best Director
Asmae El Moudir For The Mother of All Lies
Isa Autlook
New Voice Prize
Augure (Omen), Directed by Baloji Tshiani
Isa Memento
Ensemble Prize
The Buriti Flower, Directed by Joao Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora
Freedom Prize
Goodbye Julia, Directed by Mohamed Kordofani
Camera D’Or
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, Directed by Thien An Pham
The Golden Eye Documentary Prize
Awarded ex aequo to: Four Daughters, Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
and The Mother of All Lies, Directed by Asmae El Moudir
62nd LA Semaine De LA Critique
Grand Prize
Tiger Stripes, Directed by Amanda Nell Eu
French Touch Jury Prize to It’s Raining in the House, Directed by Paloma Sermon-Dai
Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award to Jovan Ginic For Lost Country
Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for a Short Film to Bolero, Directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Gan Foundation Award for Distribution to Pyramide Films for Inshallah a Boy
Sacd Award to Iris Kaltenback, Writer of The Rapture
Canal+ Award for a Short Film to Bolero, Directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Fipresci International Competition: The Zone of Interest
Fipresci Un Certain Regard: The Settlers (Los Colonos)
Fipresci Directors’ Fortnight & Critics’ Week: Power Alley (Levante)
Ecumenical Jury Prize to Perfect Days, Directed by Wim Wenders
Queer Palm Award to Monster, Directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda
Palme Dog to border collie Messie in Anatomy of a Fall...
- 6/3/2023
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
Song Kang-ho is easily one of the most globally recognized Korean actors working today. His lead role in the Academy Award-winning 2019 film "Parasite" earned him international acclaim, but I have been a fan of his for years. He often plays likable characters that make questionable choices, as he did in Bong Joon-ho's earlier films, "Memories of Murder" and "The Host." And thankfully, he also steals the show in Hirokazu Kore-eda's newest film, "Broker."
His character, Sang-hyun, runs a dry-cleaning service by day and brokers illegal adoptions for abandoned children by night. Being a broker earns him and his partner, Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won), a small fee. At the same time, the pair try to make sure the babies end up in good homes and provide them with a better life than they would have in an orphanage. Sang-hyun also struggles with parenting his own daughter, who lives with her mother.
His character, Sang-hyun, runs a dry-cleaning service by day and brokers illegal adoptions for abandoned children by night. Being a broker earns him and his partner, Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won), a small fee. At the same time, the pair try to make sure the babies end up in good homes and provide them with a better life than they would have in an orphanage. Sang-hyun also struggles with parenting his own daughter, who lives with her mother.
- 12/28/2022
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
This review originally ran May 26, 2022, in conjunction with the film’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Palme d’Or can be a blessing and curse, a gold-plated sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of filmmakers lucky enough to claim it. After the first waves of shock and joy recede, and their subsequent year-long victory lap reaches the finish line, those same filmmakers are left alone with one troubling thought: What’s next?
Director Hirokazu Kore-eda offers a fine case study in how that question might trip someone up. In so many ways, his win for 2018’s “Shoplifters” showed the system working as intended. Kore-eda had been to Cannes many times before; he directed a mature work that built on and streamlined earlier themes; he led viewers on a twisty road that led to a strong emotional payoff. He earned it.
If the coronation opened new doors for the Japanese director,...
The Palme d’Or can be a blessing and curse, a gold-plated sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of filmmakers lucky enough to claim it. After the first waves of shock and joy recede, and their subsequent year-long victory lap reaches the finish line, those same filmmakers are left alone with one troubling thought: What’s next?
Director Hirokazu Kore-eda offers a fine case study in how that question might trip someone up. In so many ways, his win for 2018’s “Shoplifters” showed the system working as intended. Kore-eda had been to Cannes many times before; he directed a mature work that built on and streamlined earlier themes; he led viewers on a twisty road that led to a strong emotional payoff. He earned it.
If the coronation opened new doors for the Japanese director,...
- 12/27/2022
- by Ben Croll
- The Wrap
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