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Li Lili
12-29-2007, 12:34 PM
Okay, so let's introduce directors we like or we've just discovered but whose works are so less exposed, or rarely, even never, talked about.

By the way, we don't have to make a conventional, academic or scholastic presentation, let's do how we want and how we feel. ;)

Qrazy
12-29-2007, 12:38 PM
Aleksei German

# Trudno byt bogom (2008) (in production)
... aka Hard to Be a God (International: English title)

# Khrustalyov, mashinu! (1998)
... aka Khroustaliov, ma voiture! (France)
... aka Khrustalyov, My Car!

# Moy drug Ivan Lapshin (1984)
... aka Мой друг Иван Лапшин (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka My Friend Ivan Lapshin

# Dvadtsat dney bez voyny (1976)
... aka Двадцать дней без войны (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Twenty Days Without War
# Proverka na dorogakh (1971)
... aka Проверка на дорогах (Soviet Union: Russian title)
... aka Check-up on the Roads
... aka Checkpoint
... aka Operatsiya S Novym Godom

# Sedmoy sputnik (1967)
... aka The Seventh Companion



I've only seen My Friend Ivan Lapshin, but that was enough to put him here for me. I have three of his other films but no subtitles so I'm waiting until I can rope in a russian friend to watch them with me.

Ezee E
12-29-2007, 01:54 PM
Well, I haven't discovered or rediscovered him yet, but I need to get started on Bava. Where do I start?

Li Lili
12-29-2007, 05:48 PM
Tony Gatlif's films take their roots in music and Gypsy culture. I'm pretty sure some of you would really enjoy his films.
So the other night I watched Transylvania starring Asia Argento and Birol Unel, both really excellent and charismatic, they gave out great, natural performances. Will watch Exils this week-end.

synopsis, because I'm lazy to write my own one.... (taken from the distribution website (http://www.pyramidefilms.com/pyramideinternational/FilmFch.php?monFilm=270#)) :
Zingarina arrives in Transylvania, in the heart of Romania, looking for the man she loves. She had met him in France, but one day he left without a word of explanation. With her friend Marie, who jealously watches over her, Zingarina throws her body and soul into a romantic quest and gets caught up in a fascinating land. But when she finds her former lover in the midst of a pagan festival, he brutally rejects her. Mad with anguish, she then flees Marie, who reminds her too much of her past, to fully merge into this new land, Transylvania, where she meets Tchangalo, a loner, a man like her, without borders, without ties.
You can watch the trailer to give you a taste ... click here (http://www.pyramidefilms.com/pyramideinternational/medias/GatTRANS/trans_comp.html)!


If some of you want to know more about Tony Gatlif (from website too):
Tony Gatlif's dual ancestry has served as a rich source of inspiration for his work as an artist. Born in 1948 in Algeria to Gypsy parents of Spanish descent, Michel Dahamani (known as Tony Gatlif) was later educated at L'Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Despite taking residence in France, Gatlif returns time and time again to his true origin - the Gypsy community - in a passionate quest for self-examination. From his second feature film, La Terre au Ventre (1978), which references the Algerian war, to Les Princes (1982), an uncompromising description of gypsies who have settled in a soulless suburb, Gatlif‚s early works focused on the unromantic reality of Gypsy life. His later works, including the much acclaimed Latcho Drom (1993) and Gadjo Dilo (1997), are vivid songs of joy celebrating Romany culture with a focus on the vibrant traditional music which breaths life into the Gypsy people.

Li Lili
12-29-2007, 06:07 PM
Well, I haven't discovered or rediscovered him yet, but I need to get started on Bava. Where do I start?
I don't think I have seen any by Mario but I remember seeing Demon by his son (it was... not great).

origami_mustache
12-29-2007, 06:19 PM
Sadao Yamanaka:

He made 23 films in a seven year span before being killed during WWII. Only three of his films are known to exist still and they are each considered to be masterpieces.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4981/bscap035bn1.jpg

I've seen Humanity and Paper Balloons (1937) and it's one of my favorite films and probably the most accessible and highly regarded of the three. The other two surviving films are Sazen Tange and the Pot Worth a Million Ryo (1935) which I have, but haven't got around to watching yet, and Kochiyama soshun (1936). All three films are available on Karagarga, although Kochiyaama soshun doesn't have English subtitles.

Li Lili
12-29-2007, 07:10 PM
Sadao Yamanaka
I,too, have Sazen Tange and the Pot Worth a Million Ryo, but still haven't watched it either. That photo is beautiful!

Grouchy
12-29-2007, 07:49 PM
Well, I haven't discovered or rediscovered him yet, but I need to get started on Bava. Where do I start?
I would say Black Sunday is the best choice. His first credited directorial effort and a classic Gothic horror. Follow it up with The Girl who knew too much.

He isn't really unknown, more of a cult director, but I'm gonna talk about Spain-born genius Alex de la Iglesia. Unlike Del Toro or Cuarón, he has a very limited work in English (only Perdita Durango, which is far from his best, and The Oxford Murders in current production) and so there's a chance not many of you guys have heard of him. He has an over-the-top sense of humor, and his movies are filled to the brim with cynicism without losing any of their fun. Please do your best effort to watch the following:

http://www.rosariocine.com.ar/info/48d.jpg

1. Dying of Laughter is about a comedy duo who hate each other's guts and spend their lives fighting each other. A deep reflection on comedy and friendship with a script that travels to unexpected places all the time, it has golden performances by Santiago Segura and Alex Ángulo. Truly, this is his best crafted movie and surely one of the wildest dark comedies ever.

http://www.clubcultura.com/clubcine/clubcineastas/delaiglesia/img/obra/cartel_comunidad.jpg

2. Common Wealth is probably his most bitter. It stars Carmen Maura as a real estate agent who discovers a fortune hidden under the boardwalks of an old apartment building. The only problem is that the rest of the tenants won't let her cross the door alive with the treasure. It's a funny movie about greed, capitalism and human misery in general and it probably has his most bravura, Hitchcockian directing style.

http://www.basecine.net/caratulas/diabestia.jpg

3. Day of the Beast was his first hit after Mutant Action and it's the most twisted Christmas adventure ever, about a deranged priest who thinks the Antichrist is about to be born, and the heavy metal fan and esoteric TV presenter that join him in his crusade against dark forces. Visually and structurally, it's less polished than the other two movies I recommended, but if anything, it's even more side-splittingly hilarious.

Boner M
12-29-2007, 10:46 PM
I really dug Iglesia's Crimen ferpecto but hear it's a far cry from his best, so I should investigate his other stuff.

Raiders
12-29-2007, 10:47 PM
Larisa Shepitko. I have only seen Ascent, but it is one of the greatest films I have witnessed, and likely the most spiritual and powerful war film there is. I submitted a link to it on YouTube a month or so back in Spinal's thread, but I don't think anyone ever watched it. I believe Karagarga has a better quality video for download.

Li Lili
12-30-2007, 12:04 AM
3. Day of the Beast was his first hit after Mutant Action and it's the most twisted Christmas adventure ever, about a deranged priest who thinks the Antichrist is about to be born, and the heavy metal fan and esoteric TV presenter that join him in his crusade against dark forces. Visually and structurally, it's less polished than the other two movies I recommended, but if anything, it's even more side-splittingly hilarious.
Oh yeah, I remember seeing this one... well sort of. It was at the cinema, at 1am, I fell asleep in the middle.

Qrazy
12-30-2007, 12:17 AM
Larisa Shepitko. I have only seen Ascent, but it is one of the greatest films I have witnessed, and likely the most spiritual and powerful war film there is. I submitted a link to it on YouTube a month or so back in Spinal's thread, but I don't think anyone ever watched it. I believe Karagarga has a better quality video for download.

I second this. Ascent was terrific.

Li Lili
12-30-2007, 12:24 AM
I highly recommend Exils by Tony Gatlif, which I've just watched, and Gadjo Dilo too, which I rewatched just after.
http://thecia.com.au/reviews/e/images/exiles-poster-0.jpg
(the film won the Best Director Award at Cannes 2004).

Gadjo Dilo is funnier I guess. Exils is more powerful than Transylvania I found. But all are very good and really worth checking! You won't regret!
one scene "Tutti Frutti" from Gadjo Dilo to watch on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TjGQbUz36Q)

(also they can be found on the place you all seem to know...)

Grouchy
12-30-2007, 06:53 PM
I really dug Iglesia's Crimen ferpecto but hear it's a far cry from his best, so I should investigate his other stuff.
The best thing about that movie is the opening with the character introducing himself and the shopping mall. He has done better, it's true. Watch La Comunidad, you won't regret it.

Falling asleep during Day of the Beast calls for crucifixion.

Li Lili
12-31-2007, 12:18 AM
Maybe some of you have heard or seen 15 by Royston Tan, a young director from Singapore.
http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org/images/154.jpg
He, then, directed 4:30, which I highly recommend and found to be his best work so far (outstanding photography, great and meticulous direction, minimal dialogue, simple and beautiful).
http://www.fan-de-cinema.com/affiches/medium/drame/4_30,0.jpg
The other day I watched his lastest film, 881, very colourful musical, rather different from his other works.
http://twitchfilm.net/site/images/sleeves_posters/881FinalPoster800.jpg
trailer can be seen here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORJZ1Hrxfe8).
official blog : http://royston-tan.blogspot.com/

Li Lili
01-01-2008, 10:14 PM
Lisandro Alonso is a young Argentinian director to know, and I'm sure he will go far and become a great director. So, make sure you know him and have seen his films! His 3 films, La Libertad, Los Muertos and Fantasma, which I've just watched could be considered as a trilogy.

http://www.cine.ch/images/affiches/normal/56107.jpg
http://www.kolobrzeg.pl/newsy/dkf/los_muertos.jpg

Right from the beginning with La Libertad (2001), Lisandro Alonso has settled his style and way of filmmaking, quite radical and contemplative : no professional actors, natural environments (set in the forest for La Libertad and along the river for Los Muertos, perhaps the most narrative), actions of the everyday life as the main action of the film, very minimal narrative (if not not any) which makes very interesting the relations between fiction and reality, simple shots, very well-framed, no dialogue (every now and then, just the "hello" "how are you"), no music apart at the beginning with the title or with a black screen and at the end with the credits, always written in red, this music makes a total contrast with the images, and short duration (no more than 1h20, even just 1 hour for Fantasma). The atmosphere given is rather mysterious and even eerie.

Fantasma (2006) follows the two leading actors, Argentino Vargas (of Los Muertos) and Misael Saavedra (La Libertad) in a movie theater of the city as Vargas is going to watch his film, Los Muertos. These two characters, lost from their usual surroundings and elements, discover and wander in this new environment. And it's quite funny to make a parallel with Goodbye Dragon by Tsai Ming-liang, especially both films are turning points in their work). In fact, Tsai and Alonso have many things in common, but each one keeps their own and very particular style.

some images from Fantasma
http://static.flickr.com/82/212353032_b96641e21e_o.jpg
http://www.telam.com.ar/archivos/imagen/fantasma_i200906.jpg
http://www.ficco.com.mx/ImgsPeliculas/330_1.jpg
(could almost be like in a Tsai's film)

Very rich and interesting, his films are highly recommended and must be seen!

Grouchy
01-01-2008, 10:20 PM
Fantasma's movie theater is an arthouse called Teatro San Martin, and it's funny to see those pictures because I sat and peed there a million times. I haven't seen any Lisandro Alonso yet and I'm not really dying to, but I'd watch this movie.

Li Lili
01-01-2008, 10:26 PM
Fantasma's movie theater is an arthouse called Teatro San Martin, and it's funny to see those pictures because I sat and peed there a million times. I haven't seen any Lisandro Alonso yet and I'm not really dying to, but I'd watch this movie.
It made me want to watch Goodbye Dragon Inn again.
But I admit that his films are very special.
I remember the first time I saw La Libertad and Los Muertos at a film festival, half of the people left and at the end only a few made it through... same kind of things that usually happen with Tsai Ming-liang and Apichatpong Weerasethakul's films (but now their films are more "accepted", so less people leave).

Li Lili
01-01-2008, 10:32 PM
By the way, I used to like watching films from Argentina, some of the young, emerging directors I used to like disappointed me, such as Diego Lerman (I loved Tan de Repente but was so disappointed by Meanwhile), and Martin Rejtman (liked very much Silvia Prieto, but The Magic Gloves was boring and not greatly made and his last film, a documentary was useless and uninteresting). The last Argentinian film I saw was Possible Lives which was so so...

Grouchy
01-02-2008, 12:53 AM
By the way, I used to like watching films from Argentina, some of the young, emerging directors I used to like disappointed me, such as Diego Lerman (I loved Tan de Repente but was so disappointed by Meanwhile), and Martin Rejtman (liked very much Silvia Prieto, but The Magic Gloves was boring and not greatly made and his last film, a documentary was useless and uninteresting). The last Argentinian film I saw was Possible Lives which was so so...
Yeah, The Magic Gloves is crap. I think Rejtman has exhausted his possibilities by now. Meanwhile is crap too, it's a totally pointless film. The only good bit is where she kills the dog.

A lot of the modern Argentinian cinema I find pretentious and uninspired, and a lot of it is directed by my film school teachers, which doesn't help either. The social realism our movies have been buried in since Mundo Grua and Pizza, Birra, Faso is suffocating. It was good back when it actually meant something other than "I have no money and I'm a poor writer". I'm hoping for a fantasy film or something not necessarily fantastic, but at least imaginative. I saw you mentioning Lucrecia Martel the other day. The Holy Girl is the best Argentinian movie I've seen recently. That movie had personality and a beat very much its own.

Yxklyx
01-02-2008, 10:25 AM
I saw two movies by Jerzy Kawalerowicz last year and both were excellent. The problem with this guy is I don't know how to pronounce his name so bringing him up in conversation is hard to do. Anyway, he's been around for many years but I had never heard of him. Facets has a couple of his movies on DVDs.

Llopin
01-02-2008, 03:18 PM
He, then, directed 4:30, which I highly recommend and found to be his best work so far (outstanding photography, great and meticulous direction, minimal dialogue, simple and beautiful).

Definitely a wonderful movie, one of my favourites from its year (2005, I think); Tan is certainly a director to look foward to.

De la Iglesia is kinda funny I guess, even if it's not my kind of humour; I would agree in that La Comunidad is his most accomplished effort to date. 800 Balas and El D*a de la Bestia are also amusing. The Oxford Crimes is getting released here in a few weeks, so far I've read mixed impressions.

balmakboor
01-02-2008, 05:04 PM
I don't know if this counts as part of this discussion since all three directors I'll mention are well-known in these parts, but Chris Marker (Sans Soleil), Orson Welles (F for Fake), and Louis Malle (Phantom India, God's Country) have all seriously re-ignited my love of the documentary form over the past few months. I'd probably put most if not all of those films in my top 10 right now.

The boxset of Malle documentaries has been a revelation. I'll probably go ahead and buy it.

Sycophant
01-02-2008, 05:16 PM
He's turning out to be popular enough in his Hong Kong, but not enough English-speakers seem to have been turned onto the refreshing, frisky cinema of dmond Pang Ho-Cheung. Most of his films have been picked up by small-time North American distributor Tai Seng, but all his films are available in English-friendly DVD releases. He's done six films, all of which reveal moments of genius, even if some are decidedly lesser works. Of course, he's an extremely commercial filmmaker, even in his recent insistence of fusing in art cinema sensibilities, playing with genres like triad/heroic bloodshed (the conventions of which are transported to a group of men trying to cheat on their wives and girlfriends in my favorite of his films, Men Suddenly in Black), romantic comedy and revenge film (Beyond Our Ken). If you get the opportunity, I'd recommend checking him out.

His first directorial film, You Shoot, I Shoot, though flawed, is a good place to start, as it tells the story of the unique commercial product formed when a wannabe filmmaker who idolizes Martin Scorsese hooks up with an aging hitman (Eric Kot) who idolizes Alain Delon's Jef.

Li Lili
01-03-2008, 12:09 AM
Definitely a wonderful movie, one of my favourites from its year (2005, I think); Tan is certainly a director to look foward to.
yes, and so far the best out of the three, I found. Those films are produced by an independent company called "Zhao Wei" based in Singapore, amongs them there is also Eric Khoo (director of Be with Me).
http://www.zhaowei.com/index2.htm

Velocipedist
02-15-2008, 11:45 AM
Falling asleep during Day of the Beast calls for crucifixion.

I, too, hated it. I'm not really saying it's bad, it's just not my type of humor.

It's his only that I've seen, but I'm eager to see more as the consensus here is that he's done much better.

Kurious Jorge v3.1
02-15-2008, 12:19 PM
I bring Roy Andersson to the table. more people need to see Swedish Love Story and Giliap.

Velocipedist
02-15-2008, 12:57 PM
VELOCIPEDIST DIGS 'EM (UP) *

Entry #1 - Virgil Widrich

He's pretty well-known, but I haven't seen a single mention of him here or on the old boards. More people need to see Copy Shop and Fast Film, especially since they (http://youtube.com/watch?v=tdsA-cIzfjA) both (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rc4F6q1eiKU&feature=related) are (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Td6UObEEaQQ&feature=related) on YouTube.

* (pfft, pshaw, what have I come to?)

Kurious Jorge v3.1
02-19-2008, 09:06 AM
a couple more directors who need some discoverin':

Segundo de Chomon: right up there with Meilies as a early effects wizard. Some films of his are on Kino's The Movies Begin set and you can find a 90 min. block of his films on ubuweb or KG.

Martin Arnold: His tryptich of films manipulating Hollywood scenes into some kind of optical fever dream are some of the best experimental films I have ever seen.

Mario Peixote: Brazillian filmmaker who made only one film, 1931's surreal silent opus Limite. I was lucky enough to see it with a live accompaniment by Poi Dog Pondering. It was amazing.

Juraj Herz: The Cremator is one of the greatest realist horror films ever. Great score by Zdenek Liska.

Alexander Volkoff: White Russian that found an artistic safe haven in France and made some of the most visually amazing silent epics. Hopefully his Keane and Casanova will see the light of day on DVD.

Velocipedist
02-19-2008, 11:23 AM
Segundo de Chomon
Martin Arnold
Mario Peixoto
Juraj Herz
Alexander Volkoff

Excellent! I was just getting that Juraj Herz movie, Martin Arnold sounds great and I was aware of Peixoto but it wasn't on my priority list. It is now.

Guess I'll have to check out de Chomon and Volkoff.

D_Davis
02-19-2008, 02:19 PM
Sadao Yamanaka:

He made 23 films in a seven year span before being killed during WWII. Only three of his films are known to exist still and they are each considered to be masterpieces.


Sadly, a lot of pre-WWII Japanese cinema was destroyed during the war and the post-war occupation of Japan. This destruction was partially to blame for modern Japan's stingy attitude towards exporting their films to other countries.