Basketball is much more than a game in David Fine’s stirring documentary about an Iraqi women’s basketball team at the American University of Iraq—Sulaimani (AUIS) in Kurdistan. For the young women on the team, most of whom have never touched a basketball or been allowed to play sports at all before, it is a blissful escape from the realities of living in a war-torn nation.
The team members come from a variety of ethnicities and sects—Arab, Kurd, Christian, Sunni, Shiite—but the joy they discover in playing together and the deep love they come to feel for one another and for Ryan, their young American coach, reveals an Iraq united in a way we’ve rarely seen before.
Reviews:
“A stirring example of the possibilities for young Iraqis outside the country’s war zones.”
- Variety
“Of the majority of images and video to be coming from Iraq…SALAAM DUNK stands aside from the pack.”
- IndieWire
“Sometimes, it’s the simple things that we take for granted that can become the subjects of powerful films when told through the eyes of people a half a world away.”
- Film Slate Magazine
“The film captures their love for one another and for the game. It’s a purity that leads them to shoot free throws in the rain, or run layup drills at a hoop in the middle of nowhere. They don’t play for fame, scholarships, or money; they play because they can.”
- ESPN
Trailer:
At Festivals
2011 – LA Film Festival – World Premiere
2011 – Winner! Golden Plaque, Chicago Film Festival
2011 – DOHA Tribeca Film Festival – International Premiere
2011 – (IDFA) International Documentary Festival Amsterdam – European Premiere
2012 – Reframe International Film Festival – Canadian Premiere
An accomplished new documentary feature from Jawad Metni, Remnants of a War is a portrait of the people of South Lebanon who endeavor to rebuild and reclaim their land for their fellow countrymen following the devastating 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
During the 33 days of fighting, Israel dropped more than one million cluster bomb munitions onto the fields, orchards and towns of South Lebanon—with the majority of the bombs being deployed in the final 3 days of the war. An estimated 35% of these cluster bombs failed to detonate upon impact, leaving the mine-like devices scattered over the countryside until unwitting civilians stumble upon them and are maimed or killed by the resulting explosion. In 2007, teams of locally recruited and trained de-miners race to locate and deactivate the bombs before even more civilians are injured or killed.
Remnants of a War takes an intimate look into the lives of these brave workers—Muslims and Christians; Sunnis and Shia; women and men—who work shoulder to shoulder in the sweltering heat to make their lands available for ranching, farming and for children to safely play upon once again.
Reviews:
“Metni offers an humanitarian advocacy, economically and judiciously, about a silent war which is still killing and maiming civilians in South Lebanon…a masterpiece of documentary filmmaking.” – L’Orient Le Jour
“Reveals the uncertain future of a Lebanon where the generation that should be running the country is struggling to survive.” - filmjournal.com
“The film speaks volumes about the fate of civilians caught in the crossfire.” - filmcritic.com
Trailer:
On TV
This film is not yet on TV.
In Theaters
At Festivals
WINNER! – Best Documentary, 2010 British Independent Film Festival
WINNER! – Golden Palm, 2010 Mexico International Film Festival
When the residents of Budrus learn that the Israeli army plans to build the Separation Barrier through their town, cutting them off from neighboring Palestinian villages and uprooting their precious olive groves, they decide to organize. Under the leadership of Ayed Morrar, Palestinian men of all political factions come together to wage an unarmed struggle to preserve their lands. Victory seems unlikely until Ayed’s 15-year-old daughter steps in to organize a female contingent that brings the women of Budrus to the front lines in a tense stand-off with the military.
As word of the nonviolent protest spreads, Israeli citizens, international activists and Palestinians from other villages join the people of Budrus to demand that the Barrier be moved. Struggling side by side, father and daughter unleash an inspiring, yet little-known movement that is still gaining ground today. Featuring interviews with unarmed demonstrators, Israeli soldiers and the citizens of Budrus, this harrowing, action-filled, and ultimately inspiring documentary has given hope to audiences around the world with its story of the ground-breaking nonviolent movement spreading across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
DVD Special Features: Trailer Q&A with Director Checkpoints Award “What’s your Calling” Language: Arabic, Hebrew & English | Subtitles: English
Reviews:
“A poignant chronicle… This inspiring documentary stresses peaceful resistance as the best means of conflict resolution.” - Variety
“A complex … documentary that shows a balanced picture of its competing protagonists. It finds a story for the future… in the shape of a social movement driven by pragmatism.” - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitun
“A moving sliver of hope that nonviolent resistance may yet blossom out of violence.” – New York Magazine
“A powerful film filled with the kind of hope you rarely see around this issue.” – Michael Moore
“ This story is a journey that stretches beyond borders to provide hope, and it should be seen by everyone.” – Jessica Alba, Actress
“A strong piece of work from intelligent filmmakers.” – The Jewish Week
“Budrus chronicles a small victory in a much larger and uncertain battle, but with so much hopelessness in the region, it’s worth highlighting and, hopefully, emulating.” – The Nation
Trailer:
On TV
This film is not yet on TV.
In Theaters
December 20th – 23rd, 2010 – Real Art Ways - Hartford, Connecticut December 20th – 24th, 2010 – Varsity Theater – Seattle, WADecember 27th – 30th, 2010 – Facets Cinematheque - Chicago, IllinoisJanuary 3rd, 2011 – Haifa Cinematheque - Haifa, IsraelJanuary 6th, 2011 - SPACE Gallery - Portland, MaineJanuary 7th – 13th, 2011 – Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts - Grand Rapids, MichiganJanuary 14th – 20th, 2011 – Shattuck 10 – Berkley, CaliforniaJanuary 14th – 20th, 2011 – Lumiere Theater & Opera Plaza - San Fransisco, CaliforniaJanuary 29th & 31st, 2011 – Varsity Theatre – Davis, CaliforniaFebruary 16th, 2011 – Avon Theatre Film Center Inc. – Stamford, ConnecticutFebruary 25th – 27th, 2011 – Flint Institute of Arts – Flint, MichiganMarch 18th – 24th, 2011 – Main Art Theatre – Royal Oak, MichiganMarch 28th – 30th, 2011 – Fine Arts Theatre – Asheville, North CarolinaMay 3, 2011 - Bryn Mawr Film Institute - Bryn Mawr, PennsylvaniaMay 27, 2011 - Culver Center for the Arts - Riverside, California
At Festivals
Winner, Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival, 2011 Winner, Inaugural Ridenhour Documentary Film Prize, 2011 Winner, Amnesty’s Matter of Act Human Rights Award, 2011 Winner, Panorama Audience Award Second Prize, Berlin International Film Festival, 2010 Winner, Special Jury Mention, Tribeca Film Festival, 2010
Winner, Audience Award, San Francisco International Film Festival, 2010
Winner, Honorable Mention Spirit of Freedom Award, Jerusalem International Film Festival 2010
Winner, Witness Award at Silverdocs Film Festival, 2010
Winner, Honorable Mention of the Jury, Documenta Madrid 10
Winner, Amnesty Italia Award, Pesaro Film Festival, 2010
Winner, Founders Prize, Best of Fest, Nonfiction, Traverse City Film Festival, 2010
Winner, Checkpoints Award, Bergen International Film Festival, 2010
Winner, Festival des Libertés Prize, Festival des Libertés, 2010
Winner, Spirit of Freedom Documentary Award, Bahamas International Film Festival, 2010
Cultural Bridge Gala, Dubai International Film Festival, 2009
Official Selection, Human Rights Watch International Film Festival London, 2010
Official Selection, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, E Tudo Verdade/It’s All True Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Hot Docs Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Sydney Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Planete Doc Review, 2010
Official Selection, Documentarist Film Festival, Istanbul, 2010
Official Selection, DokuFest Kosovo, 2010
Official Selection, Woods Hole Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, EBS International Documentary Festival, Korea, 2010
Official Selection, Festival do Rio, 2010
Official Selection, Take One Action Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Bergen International Film Festival, Norway, 2010
Official Selection, Mumbai International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Festival des Libertes, 2010
Official Selection, Doha Tribeca Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Jihlava International Documentary Festival, 2010
Official Selection, St. Louis International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Milwaukee International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Jakarta International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Bend Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Toronto Palestine Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Boston Palestine Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Arab Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Rehoboth Beach Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Ad Hoc: Inconvenient Films, 2010
Official Selection, One World Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Lens Politica Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Doha Tribeca Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Reykjavik International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Camden International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Palestine Human Rights Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, Global Peace Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, International Women’s Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, 2010
While visiting Iraq in 2007 for the premiere of his first feature film, Ahlaam, director Mohamed Al-Daradji summons the courage to look back over the turbulent past three years of his life and the making of his film in a volatile war zone.
Undaunted by ever present dangers and heartbreaking chaos, Mohamed returned to his home in Baghdad in 2004. The Iraq he had once known had vanished, replaced by the gritty aftermath of 35 years of dictatorship, three wars, and the wake of occupation. Finding the once vibrant streets consumed by unemployment, poverty, and madness, he strives to fulfill his dream of making a film in the country he loves.
Determined not to succumb to physical and emotional strife, Mohamed’s camera rolls on as the world begins to unravel around him. A spectrum of society previously sidelined by images of war is introduced to the audience: a young child sings for Saddam; a father grieves for his hanged son; a young actor thinks back on his time in prison; a troubled friend becomes lost in madness.
Struggling against seemingly insurmountable hurdles involving persecution, imprisonment, personal injury, terrorist attacks, and the numerous restrictions established by U.S. troops, Al-Daradji proves himself to be one of the world’s most truly independent filmmakers. War, Love, God, & Madness is the riveting film that documents his experience of making cinematic art in one of the most dangerous and chaotic places on Earth.
Reviews:
“The horrific toll on cast and crew during the making of Iraqi feature Ahlaam is told by its helmer, Mohamed Al-Daradji, in War, Love, God, & Madness. More than merely a companion piece to the 2005 drama, docu provides a disturbing look at the situation in occupied Baghdad, when safety was illusory and kidnapping and torture became not merely a hypothetical fear but a reality.” – Jay Weissberg, Variety
“War, Love, God, & Madness offers a staggering and petrifying insight into the very real dangers faced by Al-Daradji and his crew as they attempt to give politics a bodyswerve, in favour of lending the average person on the street a voice.” – Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
“This isn’t just a film about making a film, but a film about not letting go of your dreams even when circumstances are at their worst.” – Robin Ruinsky, Film School Rejects
“An amazing and uplifting documentary, which shows precisely how dangerous shooting in Iraq can be.” – Mark Kermode, BBC
Trailer:
At Festivals
2008 – Premiered at the Rotterdamn International Film Festival
2008 – Top 10 Best Films at the Tribeca International Film Festival
2009 – Grand Jury Prize at the Ismailia International Film Festival (Egypt)
2009 – Cinema City International Film Festival (Siberia)
2010 – Jury Special Mention at the Moqavemat International Film Festival (Iran)
2010 – Bradford International Film Festival (UK)
2010 – Washington D.C. International Film Festival: Arabian Sights
Blu-ray version is available. Click here to buy the Blu-ray
Description:
With “an elegiac poignancy” (New York Times), director James Allen Smith’s Floored ” captures the waning heyday of the Chicago Trading Pits” (ABC News) and tells the bizarre and gripping stories of the traders—”overgrown kids with money, brains and a pathological need to release stress” (Barron’s) whose chaotic, audacious and thrill-seeking way of life has all but vanished with the recent shift toward automated computerized stock trading.
“A lively documentary about a profession that has almost been wiped out” (Bloomberg.com), Floored takes audiences into the lives of the Chicago trading floor’s everyman—from those who have gracefully adapted to the new age of electronic trading to those who have defiantly refused to change—and offers a fascinating examination of the never-ending pursuit of the American Dream. Prairie Miller of News Blaze calls Floored “a must-see about greed, material obsession, perpetually unfulfilled lust for loot, shoving matches, and suicide.”
Reviews:
“Floored focuses on the working-class wolves who stalk Chicago… Director James Allen Smith delves deep…” - Eric Hynes, Time Out
“(Floored) captures waning heyday of Chicago Trading Pits…” - Michael Hirtzer, ABC News
“There’s an elegiac poignancy in James Allen Smith’s Floored” - Andy Webster, The New York Times
“A must-see about greed, material obsession, perpetually unfulfilled lust for loot, shoving matches, and suicide.” - Prairie Miller, News Blaze
“…a lively documentary about a profession that has almost been wiped out.” - Rick Warner, Bloomberg.com
“Floored profiles a handful of eccentric (read: obnoxious) traders attempting the difficult transition to electronic exchange. Stock-doc acknowledges the high-pressure stakes that led many traders to addiction and suicide…” - Andrew Schenker, Village Voice
“I enjoyed the hell out of the film” - Ain’t It Cool News
“This is a memorable portrait of men whose experience buying and selling futures hardly prepared them for what their own future held in store.” - J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader
” (Smith) captured the traders when their lives were at a turning point.” - Crain’sNew York Business
While in Beirut to attend a glamorous banquet, legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve (Potiche, Belle de Jour) insists on being taken to the southern regions of Lebanon in order to see first-hand the devastation caused by Israel’s month-long bombing campaign there in the summer of 2006.
Cleverly blurring the lines between documentary and fiction, directors Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas (A Perfect Day) create a mesmerizing, thought-provoking travelogue in which they appear as filmmakers capturing Deneuve’s road-trip on camera.
After visiting the crumbling ruins of ancient villages and watching as the shattered remnants of cities and towns are slowly pushed into the sea, Deneuve’s perception of Lebanon is transformed somewhat when she appears later that evening before the myriad photographers ardently capturing her image at the elegant evening gala.
DVD Special Features: Filmographies Typecast Trailers Language: Arabic & French | Subtitles: English
Reviews:
“There’s no denying that this is a single-note film, but it’s a note of considerable emotional clout.” —David Jenkins, Time Out
“Magnificent!…must not be missed. I could heap praises on it forever.” —Charles Mudede, The Stranger
“A fascinating little film in which Deneuve’s disorientation comes to stand for that distance we all feel in the West when forced to think about the reality behind the headlines and news reports.” —Jon Fortgang, Film4
“An unusual, personal film…defies description.” —Ted Fry, The Seattle Times
“A potent and intriguing cinema of ideas.” —Peter Bradshaw, Guardian (UK)
In Theaters
Typecast Releasing is pleased to announce that I Want to See, the new feature film from directors Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige (A Perfect Day) will have its U.S. theatrical premiere at Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum on Saturday, July 9th, where it will play daily through Thursday, July 14th. More info can be found here:
Filmmaker James Smith spends a year documenting the lives of his eccentric Massachusetts parents as age and health issues challenge the routines and existence they know so well. The resulting film, My Name Is Smith, is a fascinating document of the struggles and triumphs of many other American families—the Smiths must come to terms with disappointing careers, alcohol abuse, religious fundamentalism, obesity, and shattered ideals. However, the true revelation is the humor and grace with which the film’s subjects face their trials, resulting in a beautiful, sensitive portrayal of commitment, love, and infectious optimism.
The film’s poignant moments, complicated relationships, and unique characters blend together to create a colorful, humorous portrait of the present, illuminated by surprising revelations from the past. The filmmaker’s observations ultimately reveal an unlikely discovery—an all-American love story like no other you’ve seen before.
A devoted son of Holocaust survivors and ardent critic of Israeli foreign policy, the polarizing American political scientist and author Norman Finkelstein has been called a lunatic and self-hating Jew by some, and an inspirational revolutionary by others. Uncompromising even in the face of his denial of tenure at DePaul University, Finkelstein is revealed as a complex, politically isolated figure who puts the pursuit of justice above the security of his academic career. Exploring the difficult and deeply-felt issues at the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, American Radical is the insightful and enraging documentary that follows Finkelstein around the world as he attempts to negotiate a powerful voice among his impassioned critics and supporters.
“For us, Norman Finkelstein is the consummate documentary subject: a complex firebrand, principled to the end, at the apex of some of the world’s longest conflicts. He rarely appears in mainstream media, yet always ends up in controversies. Finkelstein’s life is about focus, through a prism of his upbringing by Holocaust survivors. The dogged, relentless pursuit of his principles and foes can both inspire and repel. At once agitator, comedian, and merciless scholar, Finkelstein creates as many storms as he enters. Few will go where he does—a Jew deliberately walking into Hizbollah headquarters, into a Palestinian refugee camp, or into a room filled with those who vehemently oppose his views to speak his mind. When radicals collide, does it create more understanding? Some would argue that it does. Others would claim that Finkelstein’s principled but too often bitter advocacy does much to discredit the cause of a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Audiences can decide for themselves.” —directors David Ridgen & Nicolas Rossier
Reviews:
“American Radical is a powerful film — brave, bold, incendiary. I highly recommend it!” – Michael Moore, award-winning documentary filmmaker
“American Radical is a nuanced and powerful portrait of the scholar Norman Finkelstien, one of the nation’s most courageous and embattled intellectuals. It is a reminder that mendacity and timidity, when in the service of conventional beliefs, are more highly prized in most universities that truth. It illustrates that those who unmask the lies of the intellectual elite swiftly become their victims. The power and subtext of this film, however, is not in the wars fought between Finkelstien and those like Alan Dershowitz who seek to destroy him, but in Finkelstein’s powerful fealty to his mother’s suffering in the Warsaw Ghetto and later the Nazi death camps. Finkelstein sees in all who are oppressed his mother’s degradation and pain. This is a movie that is, at its core, about the unshakable bond of love between a parent and a true and faithful son who refuses to forget or compromise.” —Chris Hedges, former New York Times War & Middle East Correspondent and author of “American Fascists”
“’American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein’ is a cautiously respectful documentary portrait of a political firebrand who presents himself as a beacon of moral truth in the murk of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” —Stephen Holden, New York Times
“Surprisingly entertaining…a compelling portrait of a difficult man.” —Mark Cohen, The Jewish Daily Forward
“Presents a humanizing portrait of a complex and principled individual…‘American Radical’ deserves to be seen widely as a fascinating introduction to the man and his views.” —Susan Ryan, Cineaste Magazine
“A fascinating, well-rounded portrait of Finkelstein that simultaneously informs, inspires and infuriates…the filmmakers ride a delicate line, assembling a warts-and-all portrait that shows why Finkelstein is deeply respected and equally reviled.” —Mark Achbar, director of ’The Corporation’ and ’Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media’
“With impressive restraint, the fascinatingly thorny ‘American Radical’ is less interested in the validity of Finkelstein’s ideas—seriously mounted, if inflammatory—and more in the topsy-turvy life of today’s professional academic. Amazingly, that choice doesn’t result in a boring movie.” —Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
“A guaranteed argument starter…an engaging portrait of an academic whose work is both fueled and undermined by his vitriolic personality.” —J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader
“‘American Radical’…presents a more balanced portrait of Finkelstein, who, when his passion doesn’t carry him off on a wave of anger, is shown to be thoughtful, intelligent and deeply melancholy.” —George Robinson, The Jewish Week
“(Norman Finkelstein’s) conclusions can be debated, his methods can be deplored, but as (‘American Radical’ directors) Ridgen and Rossier take pains to point out, a man so rigorously committed to putting an end to oppression ought not be so easily dismissed, even if coming to grips with such a challenging figure may be finally as difficult as getting to the bottom of the Arab-Israeli conflict itself.” —Andrew Schenker, Slant Magazine
“A blood-boiling, very good documentary.” —Mark Keizer, Boxoffice Magazine
Trailer:
On TV
AlJazeera English (International) RT News (International) LINK TV (US) FSTV (US) PBS selected stations (US) AlJazeera Arabic (Middle East) Yes TV (Israel) TBS Latina (Latin America) Historia (Spain) Canal 7 (Argentina) Planete (Poland) IBRI TV Press TV (International) AlJazeera Turkey AlJazeera Documentary Channel Sky TV (NZ)
In Theaters
Typecast Releasing is pleased to announce that American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein, the new feature-length documentary film from directors David Ridgen (Mississippi Cold Case) and Nicolas Rossier (Aristide and the Endless Revolution), enjoyed a successful premiere and week-long run in NYC at Anthology Film Archives in February—with Norman Finkelstein and the directors in attendance at opening weekend screenings for Q&A. A full list of theaters where American Radical will be playing can be found here:
* February 11-17, 2010 . New York, NY at Anthology Film Archives
* March 8-11, 2010 . Seattle, WA at Northwest Film Forum
* March 12-18, 2010 . Los Angeles, CA at Laemmle Theatres
* March 23-30, 2010 . New Orleans, LA at Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center
* March 28, 2010 . San Francisco, CA at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
* April 15-16, 2010 . Columbus, OH at Wexner Center for the Arts
* April 23-29, 2010 . Montreal, QC at Cinema du Parc
* May 23-26, 2010 . Vancouver, BC at Pacific Cinematheque
* June 3, 2010 . San Francisco, CA at Roxie Theater
* August 8-12, 2010 . Saskatoon, SK at the Broadway Theatre
* November 11, 2010 . Philadelphia, PA at International House
At Festivals
Winner Audience Choice Award Chicago Underground FF
*September 2009 . Chicago Underground Film Festival . Chicago, IL. USA
*September 2009 . DocuDays: Beirut International Film Festival . Beirut . LEBANON
*October 2009 . North of Nowhere Expo . Edmonton, AB . CANADA
*October 2009 . Boston Palestine Film Festival . Boston, MA. USA
*October 2009 . Carleton Cinema Politica . Ottawa, ON . CANADA
*November 2009 . Sheffield International Documentary Festival . Sheffield . ENGLAND
*November 2009 . Copenhagen International Documentary Festival . Copenhagen . DENMARK
*November 2009 . International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam . Amsterdam . THE NETHERLANDS
*November 2009 . Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montreal . Montreal, QC . CANADA
*December 2009 . Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival . Jerusalem . ISRAEL
*January 2010 . Argus Film Festival . Denver, CO . USA
*January 2010 . Atlanta Jewish Film Festival . Atlanta, GA . USA
*March 2010 . KinoTeatr.doc Film Festival . Moscow . RUSSIA
*March 2010 . New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival . New Orleans, LA . USA
*April 2010 . Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine . Buenos Aires . ARGENTINA
*April 2010 . Frontline Film Screenings . London . ENGLAND
*April 2010 . It’s All True Documentary Film Festival . Sao Paolo & Rio de Janeiro . BRAZIL
*April 2010 . Chicago Palestine Film Festival . Chicago, IL . USA
*May 2010 . Hot Docs Film Festival . Toronto, ON . CANADA
*May 2010 . DOXA Documentary Film Festival . Vancouver, BC . CANADA
*May 2010 . Planete Doc Review Film Festival . Warsaw . POLAND
*June 2010 . Biografilm Festival . Bologna . ITALY
*June 2010 . Documentarist Film Festival . Istanbul . TURKEY
*July 27-August 1, 2010 . Traverse City Film Festival . Traverse City, MI . USA
*September 10-19, 2010 . Milano Film Festival . Milan . ITALY
*October 1-21, 2010 . Tri-Continental Film Festival . Johannesburg . SOUTH AFRICA
*October 20-27, 2010 . Bergen International Film Festival . Bergen . NORWAY
*November 8-12, 2010 . Iran International Documentary Film Festival . Tehran . IRAN
*November 23-28, 2010 . Warsaw Jewish Film Festival . Warsaw . POLAND
*January 2011 . Courrier International/Mk2 Night . Paris . France
*February 2011 . Documentary Edge Film Festival . Auckland . New Zealand
*April 2011 . London Palestinian Film Festival . London . UK
*May 2011 . Cinema Politica . Paris . France
Links:
Review: Finkelstein’s transformation to victim hero in “American Radical” – Electronic Intifada
Prof. Finkelstein talks about American Radical on Democracy Now!
Interested in the work of Prof. Finkelstein? Take a look at “This Time We Went Too Far,” his newest book at the ORBooks website.
“Better than any other book, ‘This Time We Went Too Far’ shows how the massive destruction visited on Gaza was not an accidental byproduct of the Israeli invasion but its barely concealed objective.” — Raja Shehadeh, author, Palestinian Walks
On Demand
Watch this film instantly through YouTube Rentals!
Providing a rare glimpse inside the borders of North Korea, Yonghi Yang’s “deeply personal” (EMRO) documentary presents viewers with a haunting and profound vision of one of the most isolated countries on earth.
The daughter of a leader of the pro-North Korean movement in Japan, filmmaker Yonghi Yang was separated from her brothers at a young age when they were sent to North Korea under a repatriation campaign. As the economic situation in the North deteriorated, however, the brothers became increasingly dependent for survival on the care packages their parents sent to them from Japan. Yang’s moving film records visits to her brothers in Pyongyang, as well as conversations with her father about his ideological faith, his unyielding devotion to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, and his feelings of regret over breaking up the family.
Reviews:
“Director Yonghi Yang has crafted a deeply personal narrative … this film is highly recommended” - Winifred Fordham Metz, Educational Media Reviews Online
“The impossible personal and political quandaries experienced by ethnic Koreans living in Japan find gentle, touching expression in Yang Yonghi’s docu.” – Robert Koehler, Variety
“A thoughtful examination of the universal aspects of familial relations, it’s transcendent, carefully considered, and quietly powerful. Recommended. -Kurt Dahlke, DVD Talk
Filmed with a borrowed camera and featuring a cast made up almost entirely of the director’s friends and relatives, Taking Father Home is the moving story of Xu Yun, a teenager who lives in a remote village in China’s Sichuan province. With nothing but a basket of geese to use as currency, he travels to the city of Zigong to find and retrieve his father who walked out on the family six years before. Once in Zigong, Yun learns quickly as he finds no shortage of mentors eager to impart advice.
Director Ying Liang’s remarkable evocation of the sights, sounds and smells of Zigong is breathtaking, recreating the mood and character of an entire culture with just the simplest of touches and the most basic use of dialogue. An utterly engaging emotional experience, Taking Father Home has established Ying as one of world cinema’s most promising young talents.
Trailer:
Reviews:
“I could not tear myself away from the screen until I learned the outcome of Xu Yun’s journey to take father home” - Malcom L. Rigsby, Department of Sociology, Ouachita Baptist University
“Ying presents China with an incisive, analytical eye; in his calmly unfolding tableaux, the dramatic action seems to arise from the jarring locations, such as high-rise buildings abutting rundown alleys and desolate boulevards that loom in the night like dead zones. The eruption of the foretold devastation—the floods, which are shown in documentary images—corresponds to the moral devastation that surrounds the boy’s desperate mission. This richly nuanced yet powerfully symbolic movie is an astonishingly accomplished début.” - Richard Brody, the New Yorker
At Festivals
In Theaters
