Liv Ullmann on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl: “It’s so inspiring to me!” Photo: Ed Bahlman
In the second instalment with Liv Ullmann we discussed her 1973 Best Actress in a Leading Role Academy Award nomination for her performance in Jan Troell’s The Emigrants; writer Tove Ditlevsen; being 13 and also very grown up at the same time; Some Like it Hot on Broadway, starring Christian Borle and J Harrison Ghee and Billy Wilder’s film with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, directing Faithless, screenplay by Ingmar Bergman (starring Lena Endre and Erland Josephson) and forgiving yourself, and being nervous with Laurence Olivier when they starred in A Bridge Too Far, directed by Richard Attenborough.
Liv Ullmann was in New York for two Doc NYC selections, Dheeraj Akolkar’s all-embracing Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled (a highlight of the 14th edition) where Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain,...
In the second instalment with Liv Ullmann we discussed her 1973 Best Actress in a Leading Role Academy Award nomination for her performance in Jan Troell’s The Emigrants; writer Tove Ditlevsen; being 13 and also very grown up at the same time; Some Like it Hot on Broadway, starring Christian Borle and J Harrison Ghee and Billy Wilder’s film with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, directing Faithless, screenplay by Ingmar Bergman (starring Lena Endre and Erland Josephson) and forgiving yourself, and being nervous with Laurence Olivier when they starred in A Bridge Too Far, directed by Richard Attenborough.
Liv Ullmann was in New York for two Doc NYC selections, Dheeraj Akolkar’s all-embracing Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled (a highlight of the 14th edition) where Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain,...
- 11/29/2023
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The cover of Time magazine once proclaimed Liv Ullmann “Hollywood’s new Nordic star,” a designation that never sat well with the Norwegian actress. She was a committed performer, starring in some of Ingmar Bergman’s greatest films of the Sixties and Seventies. She was an accomplished director, with a résumé that includes the Bergman-scripted 2000 gem Faithless. She became a vocal humanitarian, traveling to hardscrabble parts of the world as a Unicef ambassador. But a star? “I never became a star,” Ullmann tells Rolling Stone in a recent interview to...
- 6/24/2023
- by Chris Vognar
- Rollingstone.com
Of the 94 filmmakers who have clinched the coveted Palme d’Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival, only 10 have achieved the honor twice. The latest one to follow the dual win precedent established by Alf Sjoberg (1944’s “Torment” and 1951’s “Miss Julie”) is another Swedish director, Ruben Ostlund, whose first and second victories came for 2017’s “The Square” and 2022’s “Triangle of Sadness.” The latter film has, by all accounts, become his most successful yet and is now in the running for three Oscars, including Best Director.
In this year’s directing Oscar race, Ostlund faces Todd Field (“Tar”), Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”). The Daniels are also first-time Oscar nominees, while Spielberg stands as the only past directing contender in the group, with a pair of wins for “Schindler’s List” (1993) and “Saving Private Ryan...
In this year’s directing Oscar race, Ostlund faces Todd Field (“Tar”), Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”). The Daniels are also first-time Oscar nominees, while Spielberg stands as the only past directing contender in the group, with a pair of wins for “Schindler’s List” (1993) and “Saving Private Ryan...
- 3/10/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
The award comes with 38,000, making it one of the world’s largest film prizes.
Goteborg’s lucrative Dragon Award for best Nordic film has gone to Danish director Malou Reymann’s second feature Unruly.
The drama premiered at Toronto and had its Swedish premiere at Goteborg. TrustNordisk handles sales and the Danish cinema release is planned for spring 2023.
Reymann previously directed Rotterdam Big Screen winner A Perfectly Normal Family.
Unruly is about the Sprogø Women’s Institution in the 1930s, when “morally feeble” girls and women were sent to the island to become more compliant. The story focuses on Maren,...
Goteborg’s lucrative Dragon Award for best Nordic film has gone to Danish director Malou Reymann’s second feature Unruly.
The drama premiered at Toronto and had its Swedish premiere at Goteborg. TrustNordisk handles sales and the Danish cinema release is planned for spring 2023.
Reymann previously directed Rotterdam Big Screen winner A Perfectly Normal Family.
Unruly is about the Sprogø Women’s Institution in the 1930s, when “morally feeble” girls and women were sent to the island to become more compliant. The story focuses on Maren,...
- 2/6/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Dutch-born filmmaker Malou Reymann picked up the Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film at the Göteborg Film Festival Saturday evening with her second feature Unruly.
Co-written by Reymann and Sara Isabella Jønsson, the pic follows a teenager in 1930s Denmark who is forced into an institution to treat her rebellious behavior. The story is inspired by real-life events from a notorious women’s institution on the Danish Island of Sprogø.
The film debuted in Toronto last year and went on to play Zurich and the Lithuania Scanorama Film Forum before hitting Göteborg. The Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film comes with a Sek 400 000 cash prize.
The festival jury, headed by Holy Spider actor Zar Amir Ebrahimi, with members including Danish actress Sofie Gråbøl (The Killing), Ukrainian filmmaker Antonio Lukich, and composer Matti Bye described the pic as a story told with “great sensitivity and power.”
“The jury is...
Co-written by Reymann and Sara Isabella Jønsson, the pic follows a teenager in 1930s Denmark who is forced into an institution to treat her rebellious behavior. The story is inspired by real-life events from a notorious women’s institution on the Danish Island of Sprogø.
The film debuted in Toronto last year and went on to play Zurich and the Lithuania Scanorama Film Forum before hitting Göteborg. The Dragon Award for Best Nordic Film comes with a Sek 400 000 cash prize.
The festival jury, headed by Holy Spider actor Zar Amir Ebrahimi, with members including Danish actress Sofie Gråbøl (The Killing), Ukrainian filmmaker Antonio Lukich, and composer Matti Bye described the pic as a story told with “great sensitivity and power.”
“The jury is...
- 2/4/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
GÖTEBORG, Sweden – Jan Troell, the 91-year-old Swedish director and 1972 Oscar nominee for “The Emigrants,” is giving interviews in a Göteborg hotel, his leg propped on a chair, a walking stick, his daughter, Johanna, and wife, Agneta, both collaborators on his films, by his side.
The director, who turned down a ten-year Warner Bros. contract to return to Sweden, has been awarded the 2023 Goteborg Festival’s Nordic Honorary Dragon Award. The prize reflects a life-long connection to still-and-moving images that began when his mother brought him home from the hospital and his dad began filming.
Some of that footage, as well as excerpts from his films, will be combined with new dramatic scenes, for a new film project “Dyning” which is a memoir.
“I’m enjoying editing ‘Dyning’,” said Troell, adding. “I don’t totally identify with my age. I do physically but I still have the same lust for making pictures and images,...
The director, who turned down a ten-year Warner Bros. contract to return to Sweden, has been awarded the 2023 Goteborg Festival’s Nordic Honorary Dragon Award. The prize reflects a life-long connection to still-and-moving images that began when his mother brought him home from the hospital and his dad began filming.
Some of that footage, as well as excerpts from his films, will be combined with new dramatic scenes, for a new film project “Dyning” which is a memoir.
“I’m enjoying editing ‘Dyning’,” said Troell, adding. “I don’t totally identify with my age. I do physically but I still have the same lust for making pictures and images,...
- 1/30/2023
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
Göteborg Film Festival, running from Jan. 27-Feb. 5, will welcome back some familiar faces during its 46th edition. But it keeps on looking out for skillful newcomers, says Josef Kullengård, head of industry at the festival and the Nordic Film Market. “We want to be the place where you discover new Nordic talent,” he tells Variety.
“It’s a strong year for projects in development, while the workin-progress section combines established directors such as Erik Poppe [presenting ‘Quisling’] with first-timers or people like Ulaa Salim, following ‘Sons of Denmark’ with ‘Eternal.’ It definitely mirrors what the current Nordic film landscape looks like.”
Oscar-winning actor Alicia Vikander will also introduce a new wave of directors, unveiling films produced by the students of educational film program Alicia Vikander Film Lab 2022.
“When she was appointed honorary fellow by the Sten A. Olsson Foundation for Research and Culture, her response was: ‘Let’s do something with this money,...
“It’s a strong year for projects in development, while the workin-progress section combines established directors such as Erik Poppe [presenting ‘Quisling’] with first-timers or people like Ulaa Salim, following ‘Sons of Denmark’ with ‘Eternal.’ It definitely mirrors what the current Nordic film landscape looks like.”
Oscar-winning actor Alicia Vikander will also introduce a new wave of directors, unveiling films produced by the students of educational film program Alicia Vikander Film Lab 2022.
“When she was appointed honorary fellow by the Sten A. Olsson Foundation for Research and Culture, her response was: ‘Let’s do something with this money,...
- 1/27/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival unveiled its 2023 lineup today, featuring 250 feature films set to screen across 10 days, with highlights including Isabella Carbonell’s thriller Dogborn, starring Swedish rap star Silvana Imam, and Hlynur Pálmason’s well-received period piece Godland. Other stand-out titles include Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage, which pops up in the International Competition, and Mia Engberg’s latest Hypernoon in the Documentary Competition.
The festival opens on January 27 with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s emotionally charged debut Exodus, which follows the story of a professional people smuggler who attempts to save a 12-year-old girl whose family has gone missing in the Syrian war. The festival’s closing film on February 5 is Camino by Birgitte Stærmose. The film is Viaplay’s first Danish feature project and portrays the complex relationship between a father and daughter walking a famous pilgrim route in Spain.
Guests set to pass through Gothenburg include Alicia Vikander,...
The festival opens on January 27 with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s emotionally charged debut Exodus, which follows the story of a professional people smuggler who attempts to save a 12-year-old girl whose family has gone missing in the Syrian war. The festival’s closing film on February 5 is Camino by Birgitte Stærmose. The film is Viaplay’s first Danish feature project and portrays the complex relationship between a father and daughter walking a famous pilgrim route in Spain.
Guests set to pass through Gothenburg include Alicia Vikander,...
- 1/10/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Goteborg will screen nearly 250 films in 700 screenings, making it the largest film festival in Scandinavia.
The 46th Goteborg Film Festival (Jan 27-Feb 5) will kick off with the world premiere of Exodus, directed by Abbe Hassan, about a smuggler who tries to save a Syrian girl; the closing film will be Camino, directed by Birgitte Stærmose, about a 30-year-old woman on a long hike with her father to honour her mother’s last wish.
Goteborg will screen nearly 250 films in 700 screenings, making it the largest film festival in Scandinavia.
About 50 of the films – including all in the International Competition – will be...
The 46th Goteborg Film Festival (Jan 27-Feb 5) will kick off with the world premiere of Exodus, directed by Abbe Hassan, about a smuggler who tries to save a Syrian girl; the closing film will be Camino, directed by Birgitte Stærmose, about a 30-year-old woman on a long hike with her father to honour her mother’s last wish.
Goteborg will screen nearly 250 films in 700 screenings, making it the largest film festival in Scandinavia.
About 50 of the films – including all in the International Competition – will be...
- 1/10/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival announced Tuesday lineup for its 46th edition, with “Danish Girl” star Alicia Vikander and double Palme d’Or winning director Ruben Östlund among attendees.
The biggest festival in Scandinavia, Göteborg opens with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s “Exodus” on Jan. 27. Its closing film is “Camino” by Birgitte Stærmose.
The festival will screen 250 films during 10 days. “Exodus” will compete for the title of Best Nordic Film – and a prize sum of Sek 400 000 – alongside “Godland,” IFFR opener “Munch,” “Ellos eatnu – Let the River Flow,” “Unruly,” “Four Little Adults,” “Copenhagen Does Not Exist” and “Dogborn,” already shown in Venice.
In the Nordic Documentary Competition, the audience will get to see “Hypernoon,” “The King,” IDFA winner “Apolonia, Apolonia,” “Bong Thom” (“The Brother”), “Labor” and “Monica in the South Seas.”
“Nordic countries are opening up for discussion about their role in colonial history. It’s something that’s...
The biggest festival in Scandinavia, Göteborg opens with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s “Exodus” on Jan. 27. Its closing film is “Camino” by Birgitte Stærmose.
The festival will screen 250 films during 10 days. “Exodus” will compete for the title of Best Nordic Film – and a prize sum of Sek 400 000 – alongside “Godland,” IFFR opener “Munch,” “Ellos eatnu – Let the River Flow,” “Unruly,” “Four Little Adults,” “Copenhagen Does Not Exist” and “Dogborn,” already shown in Venice.
In the Nordic Documentary Competition, the audience will get to see “Hypernoon,” “The King,” IDFA winner “Apolonia, Apolonia,” “Bong Thom” (“The Brother”), “Labor” and “Monica in the South Seas.”
“Nordic countries are opening up for discussion about their role in colonial history. It’s something that’s...
- 1/10/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
The Göteborg Film Festival has unveiled the competition titles selected for its 46th edition, which runs from January 27 – February 5. (Scroll down for the full list).
Göteborg is split into four competition strands. The main strand is the Nordic Competition, which features nine films from the Nordic region. The competition’s winner takes home the Dragon Award and a Sek 400 000 cash prize. The rest of the festival comprises the Nordic Documentary Competition, the Ingmar Bergman Competition for first-time filmmakers, and the International Competition.
Among the Nordic highlights is Swedish filmmaker Isabella Carbonell’s thriller Dogborn, starring Swedish rap star Silvana Imam. The pic debuted at Venice last year and follows two homeless twins and their struggle to survive. Hlynur Pálmason’s well-received period piece Godland also screens in competition. Set in the late 19th Century, the drama revolves around a young Danish priest who travels to a remote part of...
Göteborg is split into four competition strands. The main strand is the Nordic Competition, which features nine films from the Nordic region. The competition’s winner takes home the Dragon Award and a Sek 400 000 cash prize. The rest of the festival comprises the Nordic Documentary Competition, the Ingmar Bergman Competition for first-time filmmakers, and the International Competition.
Among the Nordic highlights is Swedish filmmaker Isabella Carbonell’s thriller Dogborn, starring Swedish rap star Silvana Imam. The pic debuted at Venice last year and follows two homeless twins and their struggle to survive. Hlynur Pálmason’s well-received period piece Godland also screens in competition. Set in the late 19th Century, the drama revolves around a young Danish priest who travels to a remote part of...
- 1/10/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Fifty years ago, Angela Lansbury opened the 45th Academy Awards ceremony, with a song-and-dance number that paid homage to a day on a movie set. Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Charlton Heston and Rock Hudson shared Oscars hosting duties on March 27, 1973, a historical night of Academy controversies, record-making, and memorable moments. Enjoy our Oscar flashback 50 years to the ceremony on NBC.
It began with Heston running late due to a flat tire; he was scheduled to deliver the voting rules in a “Ten Commandments” manner. Asked to fill in at the last minute was Clint Eastwood, who humorously claimed, “They pick the guy who hasn’t said but three lines in 12 movies to substitute for him.” Fortunately, Moses showed up and saved Dirty Harry about midway through the speech.
SEEOscar Best Picture Gallery: History of Every Academy Award-Winning Movie
Five completely different types of films were represented in the Best Picture category,...
It began with Heston running late due to a flat tire; he was scheduled to deliver the voting rules in a “Ten Commandments” manner. Asked to fill in at the last minute was Clint Eastwood, who humorously claimed, “They pick the guy who hasn’t said but three lines in 12 movies to substitute for him.” Fortunately, Moses showed up and saved Dirty Harry about midway through the speech.
SEEOscar Best Picture Gallery: History of Every Academy Award-Winning Movie
Five completely different types of films were represented in the Best Picture category,...
- 1/4/2023
- by Susan Pennington
- Gold Derby
Norwegian director Erik Poppe takes on Vilhelm Moberg’s acclaimed series of novels in “The Emigrants,” his new historical drama about a struggling Swedish family which emigrates to the U.S. in 1849, searching for a better future.
“It’s probably the most classic work of literature in the whole Scandinavia,” he told Variety, taking about the 2022 Haugesund Festival winner ahead of its national premiere at the 50th Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund.
Which is why, when approached to direct the film, he had only one reservation: He had to make it his own.
“Sf Studios tried to develop it for years, with another director, but they couldn’t quite crack it. I agreed to take over under the condition that I would be able to start all over again. Focusing on what I believed was the most interesting part: the story of Kristina and her husband Karl-Oskar, their kids and their escape.
“It’s probably the most classic work of literature in the whole Scandinavia,” he told Variety, taking about the 2022 Haugesund Festival winner ahead of its national premiere at the 50th Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund.
Which is why, when approached to direct the film, he had only one reservation: He had to make it his own.
“Sf Studios tried to develop it for years, with another director, but they couldn’t quite crack it. I agreed to take over under the condition that I would be able to start all over again. Focusing on what I believed was the most interesting part: the story of Kristina and her husband Karl-Oskar, their kids and their escape.
- 8/26/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Erik Poppe’s historical drama “The Emigrants” scored the top Andreas Award at the 50th Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund. Produced by Fredrik Wikström Nicastro, it is distributed by Sf Studios. Poppe is also known for “Utøya: July 22” and “The King’s Choice.”
Based on Vilhelm Moberg’s series of novels about Swedes who decided to leave their country and search for a better future, it “tackles deep questions about cultural and religious identity,” argued the jurors.
“Even though the events in this story are long behind us, the film reminds us of our own present,” they added.
Interestingly enough, in 1971 Jan Troell also took on the story, ending up with four Academy Awards nominations – including one for Liv Ullmann.
“She was able to see our film and she is its biggest ambassador now. She just loves this take and noticed that it’s about the refugees today. It takes place 150 years ago,...
Based on Vilhelm Moberg’s series of novels about Swedes who decided to leave their country and search for a better future, it “tackles deep questions about cultural and religious identity,” argued the jurors.
“Even though the events in this story are long behind us, the film reminds us of our own present,” they added.
Interestingly enough, in 1971 Jan Troell also took on the story, ending up with four Academy Awards nominations – including one for Liv Ullmann.
“She was able to see our film and she is its biggest ambassador now. She just loves this take and noticed that it’s about the refugees today. It takes place 150 years ago,...
- 8/25/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Legendary actor-director-writer Liv Ullmann, the first Norwegian to receive an Honorary Oscar, is being celebrated on home turf, as part of the golden jubilee of Haugesund’s Norwegian Film Festival, for which she is honorary president.
The festival which runs Aug. 20-26, is also screening her 2000 Palme d’or entry “Faithless,” penned by Ingmar Bergman, who made her a household name, and Erik Poppe’s “The Emigrants,” a modern version of Jan Troell’s classic which earned her an Oscar nomination in 1973.
The luminary stage and screen actor-director, featured in Viaplay’s upcoming English-language three-part series “Liv Ullmann – The Road Less Travelled,” spoke to Variety ahead of the Liv Ullmann symposium and tribute in Haugesund on Aug. 22.
Haugesund is celebrating its 50th anniversary with you as central keynote. How seriously do you take your role as the festival’s honorary president?
It is lovely that the festival is celebrating 50 years.
The festival which runs Aug. 20-26, is also screening her 2000 Palme d’or entry “Faithless,” penned by Ingmar Bergman, who made her a household name, and Erik Poppe’s “The Emigrants,” a modern version of Jan Troell’s classic which earned her an Oscar nomination in 1973.
The luminary stage and screen actor-director, featured in Viaplay’s upcoming English-language three-part series “Liv Ullmann – The Road Less Travelled,” spoke to Variety ahead of the Liv Ullmann symposium and tribute in Haugesund on Aug. 22.
Haugesund is celebrating its 50th anniversary with you as central keynote. How seriously do you take your role as the festival’s honorary president?
It is lovely that the festival is celebrating 50 years.
- 8/18/2022
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
For its 50th edition unspooling Aug. 20-26, Norway’s top film event, the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund, will be treating its 400-plus international guests and local audiences with a beefed-up onsite program of 72 feature length films and 19 shorts.
“We’ve had more films to choose from than ever before, “says festival honcho Tonje Hardersen about her non-competitive program, put together in close collaboration with local distributors and exhibitors. “We can still see the post-covid effects on distribution as many titles were delayed. We have therefore slightly older films – from 2020 up to 2022 – which is unusual. But this makes for an exceptional program, hopefully for all tastes,” she adds.
World premieres take in the blockbuster Norwegian opener ‘War Sailor’ by Gunnar Vikene starring Kristoffer Joner (‘The Revenant’), Pål Sverre Hagen (‘Kon-Tiki’), and Ine Marie Wilmann (‘Homesick’), about Norwegian war sailors’ heroic efforts during WWII. Prolific outfit Mer Film (‘The Innocents’) is producing,...
“We’ve had more films to choose from than ever before, “says festival honcho Tonje Hardersen about her non-competitive program, put together in close collaboration with local distributors and exhibitors. “We can still see the post-covid effects on distribution as many titles were delayed. We have therefore slightly older films – from 2020 up to 2022 – which is unusual. But this makes for an exceptional program, hopefully for all tastes,” she adds.
World premieres take in the blockbuster Norwegian opener ‘War Sailor’ by Gunnar Vikene starring Kristoffer Joner (‘The Revenant’), Pål Sverre Hagen (‘Kon-Tiki’), and Ine Marie Wilmann (‘Homesick’), about Norwegian war sailors’ heroic efforts during WWII. Prolific outfit Mer Film (‘The Innocents’) is producing,...
- 8/5/2022
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
The public considers the Academy Awards as a Hollywood event. True, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is headquartered in Southern California, and most of the best pic contenders are American and/or in the English language. But Oscar history proves they have been an international event from the beginning.
In the first year (1927-28), there were nominations for directors Herbert Brenon (born in Ireland) and Lewis Milestone (born in Moldova), plus a special award to Charlie Chaplin (from the U.K.).
The next five years saw two noms apiece for directors Ernst Lubitsch (Germany) and Josef von Sternberg (Austria). And the second best actress Academy Award was given to Canadian Mary Pickford.
The early years of Oscar featured a slew of non-Americans. Aside from mega-star Chaplin, the list of early Academy Award winners includes Emil Jannings, George Arliss (U.K.), Claudette Colbert (raised in the U.S. but...
In the first year (1927-28), there were nominations for directors Herbert Brenon (born in Ireland) and Lewis Milestone (born in Moldova), plus a special award to Charlie Chaplin (from the U.K.).
The next five years saw two noms apiece for directors Ernst Lubitsch (Germany) and Josef von Sternberg (Austria). And the second best actress Academy Award was given to Canadian Mary Pickford.
The early years of Oscar featured a slew of non-Americans. Aside from mega-star Chaplin, the list of early Academy Award winners includes Emil Jannings, George Arliss (U.K.), Claudette Colbert (raised in the U.S. but...
- 1/22/2022
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Among authors who didn’t live to witness their own success, Louis Hemon is a particularly unfortunate case — his novel “Maria Chapdelaine” was published in 1913, the same year as his train-struck death. Thus he didn’t see it become an early Quebec-lit classic taught to generations of schoolchildren, published in translation worldwide or adapted into many other media over the past century. Among prior screen versions were two made in his native France, the 1934 one notable as Julien Duvivier’s first collaboration with Jean Gabin.
The slim book, drawing on adventure-seeking Hemon’s own experiences briefly working as a farmhand in the Lac Saint-Jean region, has been treated with less-than-strict fidelity by previous dramatists. Sebastien Pilote’s new film is probably the most faithful to date by far — though that isn’t entirely a plus. . It’s a well-produced episodic tale whose incidents and personalities remain too modest to sustain nearly three hours’ illustration,...
The slim book, drawing on adventure-seeking Hemon’s own experiences briefly working as a farmhand in the Lac Saint-Jean region, has been treated with less-than-strict fidelity by previous dramatists. Sebastien Pilote’s new film is probably the most faithful to date by far — though that isn’t entirely a plus. . It’s a well-produced episodic tale whose incidents and personalities remain too modest to sustain nearly three hours’ illustration,...
- 9/11/2021
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
So the world is on fire and a global pandemic well into its “my God, is this still happening?” phase rages on. Among the slightly less critical consequences is another level of intricacy added to the Academy Awards’ most byzantine and unpredictable category — best international feature film. Any other year, we’d have a much clearer picture of actual submissions by now, but once the deadline moved back a month to Nov. 1, most countries delayed their selection processes accordingly. Considering local release dates — a factor in a film’s eligibility — are hard to guarantee right now, take this highly speculative, partial and at times proudly agenda-driven rundown of the current contenders with a pinch of salt: best international feature film remains a fascinatingly flawed category because it is subject to politics and strategies that are, to anyone not actually on a national selection committee, mystifying.
From Europe, however — the continent...
From Europe, however — the continent...
- 9/9/2021
- by Jessica Kiang and Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Closing out the summer, Mubi has unveiled their August 2021 lineup, kicking off most fittingly with Brett Story’s acclaimed recent documentary The Hottest August. Also among the lineup is Akira Kurosawa’s epic Ran, Fritz Lang’s hugely entertaining two-parter The Tiger of Eschnapur and The Indian Tomb. As his latest films arrive, Pablo Larraín’s The Club is also part of the lineup.
Xinyuan Zheng Lu’s Rotterdam winner The Cloud in Her Room is coming to Mubi in August, plus a “late film” special featuring Manoel de Olviera’s Gebo and the Shadow and The Last Sentence by Jan Troell. There will also be a canine double feature of Heddy Honigmann’s Buddy and Los Reyes by Bettina Perut and Ivan Osnovikoff.
See the lineup below and get 30 days of Mubi free here.
August 1 | The Hottest August | Brett Story
August 2 | Gebo and the Shadow | Manoel de Oliveria | Twilight...
Xinyuan Zheng Lu’s Rotterdam winner The Cloud in Her Room is coming to Mubi in August, plus a “late film” special featuring Manoel de Olviera’s Gebo and the Shadow and The Last Sentence by Jan Troell. There will also be a canine double feature of Heddy Honigmann’s Buddy and Los Reyes by Bettina Perut and Ivan Osnovikoff.
See the lineup below and get 30 days of Mubi free here.
August 1 | The Hottest August | Brett Story
August 2 | Gebo and the Shadow | Manoel de Oliveria | Twilight...
- 7/19/2021
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
In 1973, Jan Troell’s “The Emigrants” became the third non-English language film to contend for the Best Picture Oscar, and the first to also earn directing, writing, and acting nominations. Leading lady Liv Ullmann’s bid made her the first person recognized for a Swedish language performance. With this achievement, the Norwegian native brought further pride to the Nordic countries after having already established herself as a singularly talented artist. Half a century later, her reputation as one of the world’s most revered actresses has finally led to Oscar glory in the form of an honorary award.
Along with Danny Glover, Samuel L. Jackson, and Elaine May, Ullmann is set to be recognized at the upcoming 12th annual Governors Awards. The 82-year-old’s tribute comes in honor of her “bravery and emotional transparency,” which “has gifted audiences with deeply affecting screen portrayals.” She has displayed her range in over...
Along with Danny Glover, Samuel L. Jackson, and Elaine May, Ullmann is set to be recognized at the upcoming 12th annual Governors Awards. The 82-year-old’s tribute comes in honor of her “bravery and emotional transparency,” which “has gifted audiences with deeply affecting screen portrayals.” She has displayed her range in over...
- 6/30/2021
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Among the Oscar nominations surprises every year is the Best Director lineup. Remember when Steven Spielberg (“The Color Purple”), Ron Howard (“Apollo 13”) and Ben Affleck (“Argo”) all won at the Directors Guild of America Awards but were snubbed by the directors branch of the academy. This year DGA nominee Aaron Sorkin (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) was likewise left off the list of Oscar contenders. He was replaced by Danish director Thomas Vinterberg for his superb “Another Round,” which also picked up a bid for Best International Feature. He joins a long roster of Best Director nominees for films other than in English.
The academy first embraced international filmmakers in the 1960s. Italian auteur Federico Fellini was nominated for his 1961 classic “La Dolce Vita.” He contended again two years later for “8 1/2.” He reaped two more bids for “Fellini Satyricon” (1970) and “Amarcord’ (1975).
Predict the 2021 Oscars winners through...
The academy first embraced international filmmakers in the 1960s. Italian auteur Federico Fellini was nominated for his 1961 classic “La Dolce Vita.” He contended again two years later for “8 1/2.” He reaped two more bids for “Fellini Satyricon” (1970) and “Amarcord’ (1975).
Predict the 2021 Oscars winners through...
- 3/18/2021
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Liv Ullmann has been an international star since 1966’s Ingmar Bergman’s arthouse hit “Persona”; indeed, she is best-known for her collaborations with Bergman, acting in 10 of his films, and directing two of his screenplays; he was also the father of her daughter, author Lin Ullmann. But there’s more to her than that: She’s written two books, “Changing” (1976) and “Choices” (1979), and, more important, her activism.
Ullmann talked to Variety about acting in Bertolt Brecht’s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” in Norway early in her career. In a war-torn area, her character discovers an abandoned baby. The director gave her advice valuable both in acting and in life: See things from both sides, and don’t turn away. Her life was changed with another production, the musical “I Remember Mama,” when Broadway shows raised funds for Cambodian refugees in 1979. The lesson then was similar: Don’t turn away.
‘This...
Ullmann talked to Variety about acting in Bertolt Brecht’s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” in Norway early in her career. In a war-torn area, her character discovers an abandoned baby. The director gave her advice valuable both in acting and in life: See things from both sides, and don’t turn away. Her life was changed with another production, the musical “I Remember Mama,” when Broadway shows raised funds for Cambodian refugees in 1979. The lesson then was similar: Don’t turn away.
‘This...
- 3/1/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
by Nathaniel R
Charter, a child custody and abduction drama, will represent Sweden this season at the Oscars. It previously played at the Göteborg, Sundance, and Zurich film festivals. It's the second feature from Amanda Kernell who won several festival awards with her debut Sami Blood (2016). Familiar face and acclaimed Norwegian star Ane Dahl Torp headlines.
Though Denmark is currently more popular with Oscar voters than Sweden, Sweden is the all-time leader among Scandinavian countries. That's due in large part to three auteurs: Ingmar Bergman, Jan Troell, and Bo Widerberg who were contemporaries in mid 20th century cinema. An investigation of Sweden's Oscar history after the jump...
Charter, a child custody and abduction drama, will represent Sweden this season at the Oscars. It previously played at the Göteborg, Sundance, and Zurich film festivals. It's the second feature from Amanda Kernell who won several festival awards with her debut Sami Blood (2016). Familiar face and acclaimed Norwegian star Ane Dahl Torp headlines.
Though Denmark is currently more popular with Oscar voters than Sweden, Sweden is the all-time leader among Scandinavian countries. That's due in large part to three auteurs: Ingmar Bergman, Jan Troell, and Bo Widerberg who were contemporaries in mid 20th century cinema. An investigation of Sweden's Oscar history after the jump...
- 11/3/2020
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Erik Poppe to direct $9.3m period drama.
Erik Poppe’s period drama The Emigrants is relocating production from the Czech Republic to Sweden and has recast a key role as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Swedish production, which has a budget of €8.5m ($10m), was initially scheduled to film this year in the Czech Republic. But the large-scale adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg’s classic novel will now take place in the Swedish region of Västra Götaland, with filming mainly taking place in the surrounding areas of Alingsås and Munkedal. Shooting will begin this week and continue for the next seven weeks.
Erik Poppe’s period drama The Emigrants is relocating production from the Czech Republic to Sweden and has recast a key role as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Swedish production, which has a budget of €8.5m ($10m), was initially scheduled to film this year in the Czech Republic. But the large-scale adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg’s classic novel will now take place in the Swedish region of Västra Götaland, with filming mainly taking place in the surrounding areas of Alingsås and Munkedal. Shooting will begin this week and continue for the next seven weeks.
- 9/7/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Erik Poppe to direct $9.3m period drama.
Upcoming period drama ‘The Emigrants’ is to relocate shooting from the Czech Republic to Sweden and has recast a key role as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Swedish production, which has a budget of €8.5m ($10m), was initially scheduled to film this year in the Czech Republic, directed by Erik Poppe (Utøya: July 22).
But the large-scale adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg’s classic novel will now take place in the Swedish region of Västra Götaland, with filming mainly taking place in the surrounding areas of Alingsås and Munkedal. Shooting will begin this...
Upcoming period drama ‘The Emigrants’ is to relocate shooting from the Czech Republic to Sweden and has recast a key role as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Swedish production, which has a budget of €8.5m ($10m), was initially scheduled to film this year in the Czech Republic, directed by Erik Poppe (Utøya: July 22).
But the large-scale adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg’s classic novel will now take place in the Swedish region of Västra Götaland, with filming mainly taking place in the surrounding areas of Alingsås and Munkedal. Shooting will begin this...
- 9/7/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
In today’s Global Bulletin, the BBC picks up Awkwafina’s latest series, Tove Lo preps her acting debut, HBO Nordics and Australia’s ABC make executive hires, Conecta Fiction Reboot and Mip Cancun share details for their updated events, and Banijay closes a first-look deal with U.K. production company Nineteen11.
Acquisition
BBC Three has picked up comedy series “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens” from ViacomCBS International Studios and will make it available to stream exclusively on BBC iPlayer in the U.K. later this year.
The 10-part series stars the popular actor-rapper Awkwafina, a Golden Globe winner for her work in “The Farewell,” and is based on her own real-life story growing up in Queens, New York. It co-stars “SNL” alum Bowen Yang, Bd Wong (“Mr Robot”) and Lori Tann Chinn (“Orange is the New Black”).
Lucia Aniello, Natasha Lyonne and Steven K. Tsuchida direct the series, produced...
Acquisition
BBC Three has picked up comedy series “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens” from ViacomCBS International Studios and will make it available to stream exclusively on BBC iPlayer in the U.K. later this year.
The 10-part series stars the popular actor-rapper Awkwafina, a Golden Globe winner for her work in “The Farewell,” and is based on her own real-life story growing up in Queens, New York. It co-stars “SNL” alum Bowen Yang, Bd Wong (“Mr Robot”) and Lori Tann Chinn (“Orange is the New Black”).
Lucia Aniello, Natasha Lyonne and Steven K. Tsuchida direct the series, produced...
- 8/19/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Sf Studios’ period epic set to begin production in September.
Lisa Carlehed and Gustaf Skarsgård have signed on to play the leading roles in Sf Studios’ period drama The Emigrants.
Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe (Utøya: July 22), the adaptation of Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg’s popular classic will begin production in September in the western part of Sweden.
The cast also includes Liv Ullmann – who previously starred in Jan Troell’s Oscar-nominated 1971 version of the story opposite Max von Sydow – and Sofia Helin.
The screenplay has been written by Siv Rajendram Eliassen and Anne Bache-Wiig, and the film will...
Lisa Carlehed and Gustaf Skarsgård have signed on to play the leading roles in Sf Studios’ period drama The Emigrants.
Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Erik Poppe (Utøya: July 22), the adaptation of Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg’s popular classic will begin production in September in the western part of Sweden.
The cast also includes Liv Ullmann – who previously starred in Jan Troell’s Oscar-nominated 1971 version of the story opposite Max von Sydow – and Sofia Helin.
The screenplay has been written by Siv Rajendram Eliassen and Anne Bache-Wiig, and the film will...
- 7/2/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
“This is going to be the world’s first film festival on water.”
The Carl International Film Festival in Karlskrona, Sweden, is planning to offer a local twist on the drive-in: the boat-in.
Karlskrona is the most southern Swedish archipelago made up of 1,650 islands, islets and skerries. In consultation with the local government, police and coast guard, Ciff will host screenings in Saltö Fish Harbour.
They plan 30 screenings across the six days (Aug 21-26). Screenings will include both international films and Swedish classics. Boat-bound audiences will be able to order food from restaurants to be delivered from bridges.
“This is...
The Carl International Film Festival in Karlskrona, Sweden, is planning to offer a local twist on the drive-in: the boat-in.
Karlskrona is the most southern Swedish archipelago made up of 1,650 islands, islets and skerries. In consultation with the local government, police and coast guard, Ciff will host screenings in Saltö Fish Harbour.
They plan 30 screenings across the six days (Aug 21-26). Screenings will include both international films and Swedish classics. Boat-bound audiences will be able to order food from restaurants to be delivered from bridges.
“This is...
- 6/29/2020
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The late, great actor’s career is easier than most to honour with a streaming marathon…
When the great Swedish actor Max von Sydow died last week at the age of 90, it was the mark of a robust and catholic career that there was little consensus between news outlets over which of his performances should lead the obituaries. More highbrow publications foregrounded his longtime collaboration with Ingmar Bergman, while others leaned toward English-speakers with The Exorcist. Blockbuster-oriented showbiz sites referred to him as the star of Game of Thrones and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. One headline briefly went viral on Twitter declaring “Max von Sydow, voice of Vigo in Ghostbusters 2, dead at 90”: it turned out to be from a dedicated Ghostbusters news site, so fair enough, but still. IMDb, meanwhile, has him indexed as “Max von Sydow: actor, Flash Gordon”. It’s safe to say, he was many things to many people.
When the great Swedish actor Max von Sydow died last week at the age of 90, it was the mark of a robust and catholic career that there was little consensus between news outlets over which of his performances should lead the obituaries. More highbrow publications foregrounded his longtime collaboration with Ingmar Bergman, while others leaned toward English-speakers with The Exorcist. Blockbuster-oriented showbiz sites referred to him as the star of Game of Thrones and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. One headline briefly went viral on Twitter declaring “Max von Sydow, voice of Vigo in Ghostbusters 2, dead at 90”: it turned out to be from a dedicated Ghostbusters news site, so fair enough, but still. IMDb, meanwhile, has him indexed as “Max von Sydow: actor, Flash Gordon”. It’s safe to say, he was many things to many people.
- 3/14/2020
- by Guy Lodge
- The Guardian - Film News
Stage and screen acting legend Max Von Sydow, who starred in The Seventh Seal and appeared in The Exorcist, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Flash Gordon, and Game of Thrones, died on March 8 at the age of 90, according to Variety.
“It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow,” his wife, the producer Catherine Brelet, said in a statement.
Von Sydow made his Hollywood debut as Jesus in the 1965 Biblical epic The Greatest Story Ever Told. This gave him the authority to observe “if Jesus were alive today and saw what they are saying in his name, he would never stop throwing up” in Woody Allen’s 1986 film Hannah and Her Sisters. Von Sydow had the power to compel Satan as Father Merrin in William Friedkin’s 1973 horror classic The Exorcist and Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), directed by John Boorman.
“It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow,” his wife, the producer Catherine Brelet, said in a statement.
Von Sydow made his Hollywood debut as Jesus in the 1965 Biblical epic The Greatest Story Ever Told. This gave him the authority to observe “if Jesus were alive today and saw what they are saying in his name, he would never stop throwing up” in Woody Allen’s 1986 film Hannah and Her Sisters. Von Sydow had the power to compel Satan as Father Merrin in William Friedkin’s 1973 horror classic The Exorcist and Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), directed by John Boorman.
- 3/9/2020
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Max von Sydow, the tall, tragic-faced Swedish actor whose name was virtually synonymous with the films of Ingmar Bergman, has died. He was 90.
Variety has confirmed that the actor died on Sunday.
Von Sydow, who became Bergman’s symbol for the modern man in such films as “The Passion of Anna” and “Shame” after making his Bergman debut as the errant knight in “The Seventh Seal,” also had an unusually prolific career in Hollywood and international films.
He made his American debut in the role of Jesus Christ in George Stevens’ turgid 1965 epic “The Greatest Story Ever Told” and went on to make strong impressions with audiences in “The Exorcist,” Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters,” David Lynch’s “Dune,” “Three Days of the Condor,” “Hawaii,” “Conan the Barbarian” and “Awakenings.”
Von Sydow worked for other Scandinavian directors as well, drawing an Oscar nomination for his role in Bille August...
Variety has confirmed that the actor died on Sunday.
Von Sydow, who became Bergman’s symbol for the modern man in such films as “The Passion of Anna” and “Shame” after making his Bergman debut as the errant knight in “The Seventh Seal,” also had an unusually prolific career in Hollywood and international films.
He made his American debut in the role of Jesus Christ in George Stevens’ turgid 1965 epic “The Greatest Story Ever Told” and went on to make strong impressions with audiences in “The Exorcist,” Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters,” David Lynch’s “Dune,” “Three Days of the Condor,” “Hawaii,” “Conan the Barbarian” and “Awakenings.”
Von Sydow worked for other Scandinavian directors as well, drawing an Oscar nomination for his role in Bille August...
- 3/9/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Earlier this year all eyes were on Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Roma” to make Oscar history as the first foreign language film to win Best Picture. Though it came up short in the end, it may have opened the door for Bong Joon Ho‘s “Parasite” to finally end that 91-year drought.
“Roma,” Netflix’s epic domestic drama about a poor maid (Yalitza Aparicio) working for an upper-middle class Mexican family in the 1970s, came into the 2018 Oscar race with a whopping 10 nominations. Cuaron prevailed for his directing — which made it the first non-English language movie to win that award — and it took home additional prizes for Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film. Yet when the final envelope was opened, the very American “Green Book” was announced as the recipient instead. Perhaps voters felt “Roma” had been amply taken care of in the foreign film category (not to mention the...
“Roma,” Netflix’s epic domestic drama about a poor maid (Yalitza Aparicio) working for an upper-middle class Mexican family in the 1970s, came into the 2018 Oscar race with a whopping 10 nominations. Cuaron prevailed for his directing — which made it the first non-English language movie to win that award — and it took home additional prizes for Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film. Yet when the final envelope was opened, the very American “Green Book” was announced as the recipient instead. Perhaps voters felt “Roma” had been amply taken care of in the foreign film category (not to mention the...
- 12/1/2019
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
The Norwegian Film Institute has joined the project with funding.
The new adaptation of Swedish period drama The Emigrants is set to be directed by Erik Poppe who will replace long-attached filmmaker Daniel Espinosa, who left the project because of schedule conflicts.
Espinosa was first announced as the director of the literary adaptation in 2015. But the Swedish director, who wrapped shooting on Marvel superhero film Morbius in June, has since stepped down.
He has been replaced with Norwegian director Poppe, whose credits include The King’s Choice and Utoya - July 22.
Sf Studios produces with Norwegian co-producers Paradox, Poppe and...
The new adaptation of Swedish period drama The Emigrants is set to be directed by Erik Poppe who will replace long-attached filmmaker Daniel Espinosa, who left the project because of schedule conflicts.
Espinosa was first announced as the director of the literary adaptation in 2015. But the Swedish director, who wrapped shooting on Marvel superhero film Morbius in June, has since stepped down.
He has been replaced with Norwegian director Poppe, whose credits include The King’s Choice and Utoya - July 22.
Sf Studios produces with Norwegian co-producers Paradox, Poppe and...
- 10/24/2019
- by 1100142¦Wendy Mitchell¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Princess Mononoke
Blu ray
Shout! Factory
1997 / 1.85 : 1 / 133 Min.
Starring Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki spent much of his early career as an artist and animator on children’s fare like Gulliver’s Travels Beyond the Moon and Puss in Boots, each as energetic as a school recess and as uncomplicated as a bedtime story. From such modest beginnings a mighty oak grew… an entire forest in fact.
In 1984 Miyazaki wrote and directed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind – an environmentalist jeremiad in cartoon form that was anything but uncomplicated. The film was so successful it led to the founding of Studio Ghibli, a made-to-order workshop for Miyazaki’s passion projects. In 1997, a few years after the storybook moods of My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service, Miyazaki returned to the forest with a purpose, combining the epic storytelling of Nausicaä with...
Blu ray
Shout! Factory
1997 / 1.85 : 1 / 133 Min.
Starring Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki spent much of his early career as an artist and animator on children’s fare like Gulliver’s Travels Beyond the Moon and Puss in Boots, each as energetic as a school recess and as uncomplicated as a bedtime story. From such modest beginnings a mighty oak grew… an entire forest in fact.
In 1984 Miyazaki wrote and directed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind – an environmentalist jeremiad in cartoon form that was anything but uncomplicated. The film was so successful it led to the founding of Studio Ghibli, a made-to-order workshop for Miyazaki’s passion projects. In 1997, a few years after the storybook moods of My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service, Miyazaki returned to the forest with a purpose, combining the epic storytelling of Nausicaä with...
- 5/18/2019
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
Max von Sydow turned 90 this month, which is a milestone for most people, but age has always seemed incidental to the actor. When he played the elderly, frail Father Merrin in “The Exorcist,” von Sydow was 44 — meaning he was the same age Bradley Cooper is today.
In the 1950s, von Sydow had his big breakthrough in a trio of Ingmar Bergman films — “The Seventh Seal,” “Wild Strawberries” and “The Magician” — while still in his 20s, but with the wisdom and sadness of the world in his eyes. Von Sydow has appeared in such fan favorites as “Game of Thrones,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Rush Hour 3” and David Lynch’s “Dune.” But to most, he’s synonymous with his 11 films for Bergman and “The Exorcist.” In A.D. Murphy’s enthusiastic Variety review of the latter on Dec. 24, 1973, he said of von Sydow, “His performance is one of controlled dedication.
In the 1950s, von Sydow had his big breakthrough in a trio of Ingmar Bergman films — “The Seventh Seal,” “Wild Strawberries” and “The Magician” — while still in his 20s, but with the wisdom and sadness of the world in his eyes. Von Sydow has appeared in such fan favorites as “Game of Thrones,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Rush Hour 3” and David Lynch’s “Dune.” But to most, he’s synonymous with his 11 films for Bergman and “The Exorcist.” In A.D. Murphy’s enthusiastic Variety review of the latter on Dec. 24, 1973, he said of von Sydow, “His performance is one of controlled dedication.
- 4/19/2019
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
No foreign-language film has ever won an Oscar for Best Picture.
But given the promotional push that Netflix is giving Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Roma,” which just made the cut as one of the nine titles to make the subtitled short list as Mexico’s entry, the Golden Lion winner at Venice has one of the best chances in years to finally take home both statuettes.
Not that subtitled nominees haven’t tried before. There have been 10 bold movies that have attempted grab the Academy Award’s ultimate gold, starting with France’s 1937 World War I masterpiece “Grand Illusion” and including Italy’s 1994 romantic drama “The Postman” and Clint Eastwood‘s 2006 Japanese-American World War II effort “Letters From Iwo Jima.” But none competed for foreign-language film as well. In the case of France’s “Grand Illusion,” directed by Jean Renoir, the category did not officially exist until 1956. The year that “The Postman” competed,...
But given the promotional push that Netflix is giving Alfonso Cuaron‘s “Roma,” which just made the cut as one of the nine titles to make the subtitled short list as Mexico’s entry, the Golden Lion winner at Venice has one of the best chances in years to finally take home both statuettes.
Not that subtitled nominees haven’t tried before. There have been 10 bold movies that have attempted grab the Academy Award’s ultimate gold, starting with France’s 1937 World War I masterpiece “Grand Illusion” and including Italy’s 1994 romantic drama “The Postman” and Clint Eastwood‘s 2006 Japanese-American World War II effort “Letters From Iwo Jima.” But none competed for foreign-language film as well. In the case of France’s “Grand Illusion,” directed by Jean Renoir, the category did not officially exist until 1956. The year that “The Postman” competed,...
- 12/19/2018
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Liv Ullmann in Autumn Sonata Photo: Courtesy of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival has announced it is inaugurating a Lifetime Achievement Award with Norwegian actress and director Liv Ullmann as it's first recipient.
The 79-year-old star, who is also a Un Children's Fund goodwill ambassador, forged her early career as an associate of Ingmar Bergman - starring in 10 of his films during the Sixties and Seventies. She was nominated for twice nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars - for Jan Troell's The Emigrants, for which she won a Golden Globe, and Bergman's Face To Face. She also received two BAFTA nominations - for Face To Face and Scenes From A Marriage.
Ullmann made the move into directing in 1992, with Sophie, selected that year as Denmark's candidate for the Foreign Language Oscar.
In tribute to her collaboration with Bergman and in celebration of what...
The 79-year-old star, who is also a Un Children's Fund goodwill ambassador, forged her early career as an associate of Ingmar Bergman - starring in 10 of his films during the Sixties and Seventies. She was nominated for twice nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars - for Jan Troell's The Emigrants, for which she won a Golden Globe, and Bergman's Face To Face. She also received two BAFTA nominations - for Face To Face and Scenes From A Marriage.
Ullmann made the move into directing in 1992, with Sophie, selected that year as Denmark's candidate for the Foreign Language Oscar.
In tribute to her collaboration with Bergman and in celebration of what...
- 11/8/2018
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Lyon, France – While Liv Ullmann looks back on an illustrious career as an icon of international film and theater, indelibly shaped by her professional and personal relationship with Ingmar Bergman, it is her work with refugees that she describes as one of the most important parts of her life.
Speaking on Sunday at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, where she is a guest of honor, Ullmann recounted stories of her relationship with Bergman and her career as a film and stage actress and director, but it was in talking about her work with refugees that she was the most passionate.
As the co-founder of the Women’s Refugee Commission, Ullmann has been an advocate for the rights of women, children and adolescent refugees worldwide for the past 30 years.
“[The subject of] refugees and immigrants is so important, even more so today,” Ullmann said. “To also have the opportunity to meet and...
Speaking on Sunday at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, where she is a guest of honor, Ullmann recounted stories of her relationship with Bergman and her career as a film and stage actress and director, but it was in talking about her work with refugees that she was the most passionate.
As the co-founder of the Women’s Refugee Commission, Ullmann has been an advocate for the rights of women, children and adolescent refugees worldwide for the past 30 years.
“[The subject of] refugees and immigrants is so important, even more so today,” Ullmann said. “To also have the opportunity to meet and...
- 10/17/2018
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Editor's Note: We will now resume our intermittent investigation into 1972 films for the impending smackdown -- though it will not be this weekend due to unfortunate delays. Here's Eric Blume on the Oscar favored foreign epic The Emigrants, available to rent on Amazon or iTunes.
It’s fun to watch Jan Troell’s 3 hour and 20 minute epic film The Emigrants and try to figure out how this slow-burn, where nothing good happens to any of the characters for the entire running time, made it into the Oscar race, not in one year but in two! Due to different rules than we have currently, The Emigrants was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 1971, and then for the 1972 Oscars was nominated for a whopping four of the big eight categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Liv Ullman), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Emigrants mostly follows a peasant family in rural...
It’s fun to watch Jan Troell’s 3 hour and 20 minute epic film The Emigrants and try to figure out how this slow-burn, where nothing good happens to any of the characters for the entire running time, made it into the Oscar race, not in one year but in two! Due to different rules than we have currently, The Emigrants was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 1971, and then for the 1972 Oscars was nominated for a whopping four of the big eight categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Liv Ullman), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Emigrants mostly follows a peasant family in rural...
- 9/29/2018
- by Eric Blume
- FilmExperience
(See previous post: Fourth of July Movies: Escapism During a Weird Year.) On the evening of the Fourth of July, besides fireworks, fire hazards, and Yankee Doodle Dandy, if you're watching TCM in the U.S. and Canada, there's the following: Peter H. Hunt's 1776 (1972), a largely forgotten film musical based on the Broadway hit with music by Sherman Edwards. William Daniels, who was recently on TCM talking about 1776 and a couple of other movies (A Thousand Clowns, Dodsworth), has one of the key roles as John Adams. Howard Da Silva, blacklisted for over a decade after being named a communist during the House Un-American Committee hearings of the early 1950s (Robert Taylor was one who mentioned him in his testimony), plays Benjamin Franklin. Ken Howard is Thomas Jefferson, a role he would reprise in John Huston's 1976 short Independence. (In the short, Pat Hingle was cast as John Adams; Eli Wallach was Benjamin Franklin.) Warner...
- 7/5/2017
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Fourth of July movies: A few recommended titles that should help you temporarily escape current global madness Two thousand and seventeen has been a weirder-than-usual year on the already pretty weird Planet Earth. Unsurprisingly, this Fourth of July, the day the United States celebrates its Declaration of Independence from the British Empire, has been an unusual one as well. Instead of fireworks, (at least some) people's attention has been turned to missiles – more specifically, a carefully timed North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile test indicating that Kim Jong-un could theoretically gain (or could already have?) the capacity to strike North America with nuclear weapons. Then there were right-wing trolls & history-deficient Twitter users berating National Public Radio for tweeting the Declaration of Independence, 140 characters at a time. Besides, a few days ago the current U.S. president retweeted a video of himself body-slamming and choking a representation of CNN – courtesy of a gif originally created by a far-right Internet...
- 7/5/2017
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Palme d'Or winner 'The Square' with Claes Bang: 'Gobsmackingly weird' Cannes Film Festival favorite may have a tough time landing a Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award nomination. Ruben Östlund's comedy-drama is totally unrelated to Jehane Noujaim's 2013 Oscar-nominated political documentary of the same title, which refers to downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square. Cannes' Palme d'Or winner 'The Square' & other Official Competition favorites' Oscar chances Screenwriter-director Ruben Östlund's The Square was the Palme d'Or winner at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, which wrapped up on May 28. (See list of Palme d'Or and other 2017 Cannes winners further below.) Clocking in at about 2 hours and 20 minutes, Östlund's unusual comedy-drama revolving around the chaotic p.r. campaign to promote the opening of the titular installation – a symbolic square of light – at a contemporary art museum in Stockholm has been generally well-received by critics. In the opinion of The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw,...
- 6/21/2017
- by Steph Mont.
- Alt Film Guide
Bille August’s 1987 award winner is yet another full cinema meal, a deeply satisfying drama about working conditions among Scandinavian immigrants back when being poor was a life sentence. Max von Sydow’s performance is stunning, as an aging stock tender forced to begin again as a veritable serf. He and his good son Pelle are surrounded by little dramas dealing with injustices among the workers and servants, as well as between the landholders in the big farmhouse.
Pelle the Conqueror
Blu-ray
Film Movement Classics
1987 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 150 min. / Pelle erobreren / Street Date May 30, 2017 / 39.95
Starring: Pelle Hvenegaard, Max von Sydow, Erik Paaske, Bjorn Granath, Astrid Villaume, Axel Strobye, Troels Asmussen, Kristina Tornqvist, Karen Wegener, Sofie Grabol, Lars Simonsen, Buster Larsen, John Wittig, Troels Munk, Nis Bank-Mikkelsen.
Cinematography: Jörgen Persson
Film Editor: Janus Billeskov Jansen
Original Music: Stefan Nilsson
Written by Bille August, Per Olov Enquist, Max Lundgren, Bjarne Reuter
from...
Pelle the Conqueror
Blu-ray
Film Movement Classics
1987 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 150 min. / Pelle erobreren / Street Date May 30, 2017 / 39.95
Starring: Pelle Hvenegaard, Max von Sydow, Erik Paaske, Bjorn Granath, Astrid Villaume, Axel Strobye, Troels Asmussen, Kristina Tornqvist, Karen Wegener, Sofie Grabol, Lars Simonsen, Buster Larsen, John Wittig, Troels Munk, Nis Bank-Mikkelsen.
Cinematography: Jörgen Persson
Film Editor: Janus Billeskov Jansen
Original Music: Stefan Nilsson
Written by Bille August, Per Olov Enquist, Max Lundgren, Bjarne Reuter
from...
- 5/16/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Following the Persian New Year of Nowruz * arrive the eight days of the festival where the last works of great filmmakers such as Andrzej Wajda, Cristian Mongiu, Dardenne brothers, Denis Tanovic, Francois Ozon, Sion Sono, Agnieszka Holland, Aki Kaurismaki, Terrence Malick, Ken Loach and three Iranian Masters of Cinema will screen along with several special sidebars.
For the first time in Fajr International Film Festival, Shadow of Horror Midnight Screenings will host six horror films screening, every night at 11:30 pm in a program designed to entice an unaccustomed Iranian audience’s attention to this genre. Five of the features are from South Korea, Japan, Russia, Poland and Mexico. The sixth, an Iranian feature will have its International Premiere.
At least 68 students from 32 countries as well as 52 students from Iran are to take part in the inspiring, educational film making workshops of the 2017 Fajr. The program is called “Darol Fonoun...
For the first time in Fajr International Film Festival, Shadow of Horror Midnight Screenings will host six horror films screening, every night at 11:30 pm in a program designed to entice an unaccustomed Iranian audience’s attention to this genre. Five of the features are from South Korea, Japan, Russia, Poland and Mexico. The sixth, an Iranian feature will have its International Premiere.
At least 68 students from 32 countries as well as 52 students from Iran are to take part in the inspiring, educational film making workshops of the 2017 Fajr. The program is called “Darol Fonoun...
- 4/20/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Robert De Niro in ‘The Godfather: Part II’ (Courtesy: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
By: Carson Blackwelder
Managing Editor
The first few days of Donald Trump’s presidency have been filled with a slew of sweeping policy changes that have garnered plenty of criticism — but the recent changes to America’s immigration policy have topped headlines. With an executive order that has been considered a Muslim ban by many, let’s take a look at some great films about immigration to the United States. There are plenty of them, but here is just a sampling of 16 that you should definitely watch.
A Better Life (2011): This film was directed by Chris Weitz and is a drama about a gardener in East L.A. who struggles to keep his son away from both gangs and immigration agents all while trying to give him opportunities he never had. A Better Life — written by...
By: Carson Blackwelder
Managing Editor
The first few days of Donald Trump’s presidency have been filled with a slew of sweeping policy changes that have garnered plenty of criticism — but the recent changes to America’s immigration policy have topped headlines. With an executive order that has been considered a Muslim ban by many, let’s take a look at some great films about immigration to the United States. There are plenty of them, but here is just a sampling of 16 that you should definitely watch.
A Better Life (2011): This film was directed by Chris Weitz and is a drama about a gardener in East L.A. who struggles to keep his son away from both gangs and immigration agents all while trying to give him opportunities he never had. A Better Life — written by...
- 2/1/2017
- by Carson Blackwelder
- Scott Feinberg
‘The Salesman’ (Courtesy: Habib Majidi)
By: Carson Blackwelder
Managing Editor
It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we’re well on our way to seeing how the best foreign language film race will shape up at the Oscars in 2017. Leading the pack of the shortlist is The Salesman from Iran, which could land filmmaker Asghar Farhadi a rare second win in the category. How often do we see someone with more than one win in this worldwide competition?
The shortlist of nine films — more about those here — will, on January 24, be trimmed down to the official five nominees that will eventually face off at the Oscars on February 26. This site’s namesake, The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg, lists the current frontrunners as: Germany’s Toni Erdmann (written and directed by Maren Ade), Denmark’s Land of Mine (written and directed by Martin Zandvliet), Sweden’s A...
By: Carson Blackwelder
Managing Editor
It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we’re well on our way to seeing how the best foreign language film race will shape up at the Oscars in 2017. Leading the pack of the shortlist is The Salesman from Iran, which could land filmmaker Asghar Farhadi a rare second win in the category. How often do we see someone with more than one win in this worldwide competition?
The shortlist of nine films — more about those here — will, on January 24, be trimmed down to the official five nominees that will eventually face off at the Oscars on February 26. This site’s namesake, The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg, lists the current frontrunners as: Germany’s Toni Erdmann (written and directed by Maren Ade), Denmark’s Land of Mine (written and directed by Martin Zandvliet), Sweden’s A...
- 12/26/2016
- by Carson Blackwelder
- Scott Feinberg
Pablo Larraín (Courtesy: Andrew Cowie/Afp)
By: Carson Blackwelder
Managing Editor
There’s one director this year that has a chance at being a major crossover success by having two separate films nominated in both the best picture and best foreign language film categories: Pablo Larraín. This filmmaker has Jackie as well as Neruda and could join an elite group of directors who been able to have films — or even one film — in both of these major categories.
Jackie, which stars Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, is considered a frontrunner in the Oscars race this year by this site’s namesake, The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg. Neruda, which follows an inspector who hunts down Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, is Chile’s submission for best foreign language film this year and is considered a major threat in that contest. This would be a great feat — especially for someone who,...
By: Carson Blackwelder
Managing Editor
There’s one director this year that has a chance at being a major crossover success by having two separate films nominated in both the best picture and best foreign language film categories: Pablo Larraín. This filmmaker has Jackie as well as Neruda and could join an elite group of directors who been able to have films — or even one film — in both of these major categories.
Jackie, which stars Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, is considered a frontrunner in the Oscars race this year by this site’s namesake, The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg. Neruda, which follows an inspector who hunts down Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, is Chile’s submission for best foreign language film this year and is considered a major threat in that contest. This would be a great feat — especially for someone who,...
- 11/17/2016
- by Carson Blackwelder
- Scott Feinberg
We're about one month away from the announcement of this year's Honorary Oscar recipients. They're usuallly announced at the end of August for a November Governor's Awards ceremony. This year's ceremony will be on November 12th. Last year rumors circled that it was Doris Day's turn but that didn't turn out to be accurate. For the past two years, The Film Experience has tried to make up for the dearth of movie site reporting about the Oscar Honorary careers (beyond the sharing of press releases / YouTube videos of their speeches) with mini-retrospectives so we're always hoping they'll choose well to give us wonderful careers to discuss right here.
Let's reprint a list of worthies we shared a year or so ago, with a few adjustments, in case any of the elites in the Academy are undecided about who to put forth or get behind for these coveted honors.
James Ivory...
Let's reprint a list of worthies we shared a year or so ago, with a few adjustments, in case any of the elites in the Academy are undecided about who to put forth or get behind for these coveted honors.
James Ivory...
- 7/19/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
In this premiere episode of CriterionCast Chronicles, Ryan is joined by Aaron West, David Blakeslee and Scott Nye to discuss the Criterion Collection releases for February 2016.
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Links The Emigrants / The New Land The Emigrants/The New Land The Emigrants (1971) The New Land (1972) The Emigrants/The New Land: Homelands Liv Ullmann Reflects on Working with Jan Troell The New Land (1972) Amazon.com: The Emigrants / The New Land The Emigrants / The New Land Blu-ray – DVD Beaver Review The Emigrants / The New Land Blu-ray.com Review The Kid The Kid (1921) The Many Kids of Charlie Chaplin Jackie Coogan’s Star Turn The Kid: The Grail of Laughter and the Fallen Angel Amazon.com: The Kid The Kid Blu-ray – DVD Beaver Review The Kid Blu-ray.com Review Death by Hanging Death by Hanging (1968) David Reviews Nagisa Oshima’s Death By Hanging Reintroducing Nagisa Oshima’s Death by Hanging...
Subscribe in iTunes or RSS.
Links The Emigrants / The New Land The Emigrants/The New Land The Emigrants (1971) The New Land (1972) The Emigrants/The New Land: Homelands Liv Ullmann Reflects on Working with Jan Troell The New Land (1972) Amazon.com: The Emigrants / The New Land The Emigrants / The New Land Blu-ray – DVD Beaver Review The Emigrants / The New Land Blu-ray.com Review The Kid The Kid (1921) The Many Kids of Charlie Chaplin Jackie Coogan’s Star Turn The Kid: The Grail of Laughter and the Fallen Angel Amazon.com: The Kid The Kid Blu-ray – DVD Beaver Review The Kid Blu-ray.com Review Death by Hanging Death by Hanging (1968) David Reviews Nagisa Oshima’s Death By Hanging Reintroducing Nagisa Oshima’s Death by Hanging...
- 3/7/2016
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
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