The 3 Continents Film Festival launches its 41st year in its native Nantes, in France on Tuesday 19th and runs through until Tuesday 26th November 2019. The official website states that 'every year since 1979 in Nantes, at the end of November, the Festival des 3 Continents offers feature films (fiction and documentaries) from Africa, Latin America and Asia. This specialisation in geographical terms, which was pioneering at the time, does not do justice to the identity of the Festival. It is just one of the elements which gives it life and makes it distinctive, along with passion and curiosity, a taste for discovery and meeting, a love of films from the South and a desire to serve them. Since it was created, the Festival des 3 Continents has constantly shown a certain flair in its programming, with many tributes having been historical milestones, the Competition having moments of glory, and it remains a place for discovery and meeting, for exchanges and passion'.
For its 41st edition, the Festival des 3 Continents will be presenting a resolutely different programme, composed of 93 films, including 23 short films, often previously unseen, and covering all forms of cinema : past, present, popular, spectacular, original.
The Opening Ceremony sees a co-production with Skene Productions and Angers Nantes Opera, of an original creation showcasing the atypical work of the great Japanese filmmaker Koji Yamamura titled
'Japanese Parade'. This cinema opera, in two movements, is put to music and lyrics, and Directed by Catherine Verhelst and Herve Tougeron, backed by the Opera choir. The first movement is composed of two animated films by Koji Yamamura, 2016's
'Satie’s Parade' and 2017's
'Water Dream'. The second is a fragment preserved from the exceptional sword movie
'Chokon' by Ito Daisuke, dating from 1926.
Some of the highlights from the rest of the festival are as given below :
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'143 Sahara Street' - Directed by Hassen Ferhani and is an Algerian, French and Qatar Co-Produced film that sees its French Premier screening. In Arabic.
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'When the Persimmons Grew' - Directed, Written, Filmed, Edited and starring Hilal Baydarov, this Azerbaijan and Austrian Co-Production films has its French Premier. In Azerbaijani.
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'Land of Ashes' - Directed and Written by first timer Sofia Quiros Ubeda this Costa Rican, Argentinian and Chilean Co-Produced film is in Spanish.
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'In the Heart of the World' - is Co-Directed and Co-Written by the pairing of Gabriel and Maurilio Martins and is a Brazillian Production, that has its French Premier. In Portuguese.
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'Piqueuses' - is Co-Directed and Co-Written by Kate Tessa Lee and Tom Schon in their feature film debut, and is a Mauritius and German Co-Production that sees its World Premier screening. In Creole and French based pidgin.
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'Nina Wu' - Directed and Co-Written by Midi Z, this Taiwanese film is in Mandarin Chinese.
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'The Tree House' - Directed, Written and Edited by Minh Quy Truong this Vietnamese, French, German, Chinese and Singaporean Co-Produced film has its French Premier showing. In Vietnamese.
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'Present.Perfect.' - Directed, Written and Edited by Shengze Zhu this documentary feature film is a China, US and Hong Kong Co-Production. In Mandarin Chinese.
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'Talking About Trees' - Directed and Written by Suhaib Gasmelbari this Sudan, French, German and Chad Co-Produced film has its French Premier, and is presented in Arabic.
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'No. 7 Cherry Lane' - Directed and Written by Yonfan this Hong Kong animated film sees its French Premier and is in Mandarin Chinese.
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'Nafi's Father' - Directed and Written by first timer Mamadou Dia this Senagalese Produced film is presented in Fulah.
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'The Valley of Souls' - Directed and Written by Nicolas Rincon Gille this Colombian and Belgian Co-Production has its French Premier showing and is presented in Spanish.
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'Ondog' - Directed and Written by Quan'An Wang this Mongolian and Chinese Co-Produced offering sees its French Premier screening, and is presented in Mongolian.
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'Height of the Wave' - Directed by Jung-Bum Park this South Korean film gets its French Premier and is presented in Korean.
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'You Will Die at Twenty' - is Directed and Co-Written by Amjad Abu Alala and is a Sudanese, French, German, Norwegian, Qatar and Egyptian Co-Produced film that is presented in Arabic.
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'Let it Be Law' - Directed by Juan Solanas this Argentinian, French and Uruguay Co-Produced documentary is presented in Spanish.
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'Photograph' - Directed and Written by Ritesh Batra this Indian, German and US Co-Produced film is Presented in Hindi and is the closing night film. A Muslim street photographer in Mumbai is obliged by his matriarchal grandmother to find himself a wife. Caught in a trap, he decides to invent his own love story, using photos he has taken of a young unknown woman. Can he convince himself to fall in love with these images? What truth do they reveal?
For the full Programme, you can visit the official website at : https://www.3continents.com
So turning attention to this week, we have six new release films coming to your local Odeon. We kick off with the continuing story of an all female team of daring do or die private investigators out to save the world that first saw its big screen outings in 2000 and 2003 based on a long running and much loved TV series from the late '70's and early '80's. Next up we have a biographical drama telling of the real story between two automotive greats - one an American mainstream manufacturer and the other an Italian sports car legend, with the former determined to topple the latter at Le Mans back in the mid-'60's. We then turn to a documentary drama surrounding the investigation post 9/11 into the CIA's interrogation methods on suspected terrorists and attempts to cover up any wrong doing. This is followed by a comedy drama offering telling the story of a crumbling marriage as told through the eyes of a couple on a road trip from coast to coast USA. Then we have a limited screen showing of a remastered rock concert from 1991 at London's Wembley Stadium featuring one world famous Aussie rock band and their legendary front man; and we close out the week with a documentary featuring the first year in the life of an Arctic reindeer as it learns to traverse the snowy wilderness of Lapland with its mother before joining the herd.
Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.
'CHARLIE'S ANGELS' (Rated M) - here Elizabeth Banks Directs, Co-Produces, wrote the Screenplay and also stars in this third instalment of the
'Charlie's Angels' film franchise which began with
'Charlie's Angels' in 2000, continued in 2003 with
'Charlie's Angel's : Full Throttle' which were adapted from the original successful television series which aired from 1976 though to 1981 over five seasons comprising 110 episodes. Development of the film began four years ago back in late 2015 with Sony Pictures opting to reboot the franchise following the negative reception and cancellation of the 2011 television reboot, however, after filming wrapped, Banks revealed that the film should not be regarded as a reboot but a continuation of the franchise story. The film is released Stateside too this week, cost US$48M to make, and early Reviews have given the film a mixed or average rating.
Charlie's Angels have always provided security and investigative skills to private clients. Now the Townsend Agency has expanded internationally with the smartest and most highly-trained women from all around the world with multiple teams of Angels guided by multiple Bosley's, completing the toughest missions worldwide. When a young systems engineer blows the whistle on a dangerous technology, these Angels are called into action, putting their lives on the line to protect us all. Starring as our three titular Angel heroine's are Sabina Wilson (Kristen Stewart), Elena Houghlin (Naomi Scott) and Jane Kano (Ella Balinska), all managed by a team of Bosley's comprising Susan Bosley (Elizabeth Banks), Sam Bosley (Djimon Hounsou) and Stan Bosley (Patrick Stewart), with Sam Claflin, Noah Centineo and Jonathan Tucker.
'FORD v FERRARI' (Rated M) - is an American biographical drama film Directed and Co-Produced by James Mangold, whose previous film making credits include
'Cop Land', 'Girl, Interrupted', 'Walk the Line', '3:10 to Yuma', 'Knight and Day', 'The Wolverine' and
'Logan'. In 1963, Enzo Ferrari was approached by the Ford Motor Company about a possible buyout of Ferrari. Talks were halted indefinitely by Ferrari when Enzo realised that the deal included the purchase of Scuderia Ferrari, Ferrari's racing program that had won the 24 Hours Le Mans endurance race in 1958 and every year from 1960 through 1965. Le Mans is the world's oldest active sports car race, held annually since 1923. Upset at being rebuffed, Henry Ford II directed his racing division to build a car to beat Scuderia Ferrari. The film tells the story of an eccentric, determined team of American engineers and designers, led by automotive visionary Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and his British driver, Ken Miles (Christian Bale), who are dispatched by Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) and Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) with the mission of building the Ford GT40, a new racing car with the potential to finally defeat the perennially dominant Ferrari racing team at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. Also starring Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Ray McKinnon, Benjamin Rigby and Remo Girone as Enzo Ferrari. The film cost US$98M to make, is released in the US this week too having seen its World Premier showing at Telluride in late August, and has garnered generally positive press so far.
'THE REPORT' (Rated M) - this American docudrama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Scott Z. Burns in only his second feature film after 2006's
'PU-239', although he has written numerous Screenplays including
'The Bourne Ultimatum', 'The Informant', 'Contagion', 'Side Effects', 'The Mercy', the recently released on Netflix
'The Laundromat' and the upcoming 25th Bond outing
'No Time To Die'. Idealistic Senate staffer Daniel J. Jones (Adam Driver) is tasked with leading an investigation into the CIA's systematic torture of terrorist suspects in the years following the September 11 attacks. The investigation concludes that the so-called 'enhanced interrogation techniques' used by the CIA were brutal, immoral, and ineffective forms of torture, and that the CIA routinely misrepresented these facts to policymakers. When the Senate Intelligence Committee attempts to publish their findings, they have to contend with the CIA and White House's attempts to block and undermine Jones's 6,700 page report covering more than a decade's worth of real-life political intrigue. Also starring Annette Benning, Jon Hamm, Tim Blake Nelson, Michael C. Hall, Douglas Hodge, Ted Levine and Corey Stoll, the film is released in the US this week too, following its World Premier screening at the Sundance Film Festival back in January this year, before becoming available on streaming platform Amazon Prime on 29th November.
'MARRIAGE STORY' (Rated M) - here we have an American comedy drama film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Noah Baumbach, whose previous Directorial outings include
'The Squid and the Whale', 'Greenberg', 'Frances Ha', 'While We're Young', and
'The Meyerowitz Stories' most recently. The film charts the story of a Stage Director, Charlie Barber (Adam Driver) and his Actress wife Nicole Barber (Scarlett Johansson) struggling through a gruelling, coast-to-coast divorce that pushes them to their personal and creative extremes. Also starring Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta, Julie Hagerty and Merritt Wever, the film cost just US$9M, and has received universal Critical acclaim so far. The film saw its World Premier screening at the Venice International Film Festival in late August, and also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September where it was first runner-up for the People's Choice Award, was in the Centerpiece selection at the New York Film Festival in early October and the BFI London Film Festival at the same time. It is scheduled for a limited release from this week before digital streaming on 6th December through Netflix.
'INXS : LIVE BABY LIVE' (Rated M) - is a live video of Australian rock band INXS's performance at Wembley Stadium Directed by the prolific British Director of music videos and concert films, David Mallet. The concert was the second-last of a string of concerts in London for INXS's Summer XS Tour. The band played to a sold out crowd of over 72,000 fans, and the performance was held on 13 July 1991, on the six-year anniversary of the original Live Aid concert at the same venue, London's Wembley Stadium. The original video footage was shot with sixteen 35mm cameras that included one in a helicopter that circled the venue. Now in 2019
'Live Baby Live' has been remastered in 4K resolution accompanied with newly restored sound at Abbey Road Studios and presented in Dolby Atmos. It is scheduled to be released in cinemas for one-night-only in Australia and New Zealand on 14th November 2019, an international release on 27th November and North and South American release on 9th December. Featuring of course the original line up of Garry Beers, Andrew Farris, Tim Farris, Jon Farris, Kirk Pengilly and the enigmatic and legendary frontman, the late great Michael Hutchence.
'AILO'S JOURNEY' (Rated CTC) - Directed and Written by Guillaume Maidatchevsky and narrated by Donald Sutherland, this film takes us to the snowbound and frozen wilderness of Finland's Lapland where we follow the journey of baby Ailo, a newborn reindeer as he navigates his first year of life amidst the snowy landscapes. Frail and vulnerable, Ailo must learn to walk, run, leap and hide to ensure he survives the long, treacherous journey with the herd.
'Ailo's Journey' is an inspirational story, in which a bleak wilderness is warmed by a mother's endless love as she watches over Ailo in his incredible adventures with other creatures of the Arctic. The film took eighteen months to shoot, and features no other human Actors or CGI - nothing more than wild animals surviving in a beautiful wilderness.
With six new release movies this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.
-Steve, at Odeon Online-
'FORD v FERRARI' is an M-Rated American biographical drama film which I saw earlier this week, and is Directed and Co-Produced by James Mangold, whose previous film making credits include 'Cop Land', 'Girl, Interrupted', 'Walk the Line', '3:10 to Yuma', 'Knight and Day', 'The Wolverine' and 'Logan'. In early stages of development, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were cast in the starring roles, but those plans fell through, paving the way for Matt Damon and Christian Bale to take on the two leads. The film cost US$98M to make, was released in the US last week too having seen its World Premier showing at Telluride in late August, then at TIFF in September, has garnered widespread Critical acclaim, and has so far recouped US$63M of its initial budget outlay.
The film opens up with Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) competing in, and ultimately winning the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race when he co-drove the Aston Martin DBR1 beating out fierce rivals Ferrari. Due to an emerging heart condition that made it riskier for him to race, Shelby retires from racing following his Le Mans victory but kept his motivation very much alive to beat the Ferrari's, who had previously turned him down for a driving position. We then fast forward four years to 1963, and the Ford Motor Company Vice President Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) proposes to Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) to purchase the cash-strapped Ferrari as a means to boost their flagging car sales by participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in order to attract the emerging younger more affluent customer demographic. On a trip to Maranello in Italy - the Ferrari HQ, Enzo Ferrari (Remo Girone), turns his back on the deal, as Fiat counter offers him a much more attractive deal that allows him to retain his ownership of his racing team and pride and joy, Scuderia Ferrari.
Enzo Ferrari insults Henry Ford II and puts a slur on him personally and his company, which Iacocca takes back to Detroit and recounts to Fords face. As a result of this, a furious Ford II orders his racing division to build a car to defeat Ferrari at Le Mans. For this project, Iacocca hires Shelby American owner Carroll Shelby, who at first is very reluctant and sceptical, but when told by Iacocca that money is no object, he relents. In turn, Shelby enlists the help of Ken Miles (Christian Bale), a hot-tempered and highly opinionated British racing car driver and cash strapped motor mechanic relocated to southern California from his native Birmingham in England, with his wife Mollie (Catriona Balfe) and young son Peter (Noah Jupe).
Miles is also very sceptical of Ford's intentions at first and takes some convincing by Shelby to come on board, but eventually does so, with the promise of US$200 a day plus expenses as an inducement - much needed under his dire financial circumstances at the time, with the IRS having recently repossessed his mechanical workshop.
Shelby and Miles continue working on the development of the GT40 Mk II, but Miles is nearly killed when the car's brakes fail during testing. In 1966, Ford Senior Vice President Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas) takes over the racing division, with the intent to continue the program without Miles.
On a trip out to Shelby's HQ to see for himself where his US$9M race car investment is being spent, Shelby gives Henry II a ride in the car around the test track at top speed. Henry II has never experienced anything like this before, and is an emotional wreck when Shelby brings the car to an abrupt halt. To make Henry II see sense, he bets his own company, Shelby American, on the line to convince him that if Miles wins the 24 Hours of Daytona race, then he will be granted to race at Le Mans later in the year.
Shelby American enters Daytona with Miles behind the wheel. Beebe puts a second Ford team in the race with a proven NASCAR crew supporting them in the pits. While the second team has quicker pit stops, Shelby has Miles push his car's limit to 7,000 RPM, which sees him winning the race, much to the chagrin of Beebe, and the tongue in cheek disappointment of Henry II for not winning Shelby American.
And so the 1966 Le Mans race day arrives. During the opening lap Miles has problems with his door, which won't close and so pits at the end of the first lap, and so team engineer Phil Remington (Ray McKinnon) fixes the door with a mallet. Thereafter, Miles begins to set lap records while catching up with the Ferrari's. While racing with Ferrari driver Lorenzo Bandini (Francesco Bauco), Miles experiences brake failure and has his whole brake system replaced during his pit stop. Enzo Ferrari protests the move, but Shelby convinces the race officials that there is nothing written in the race rule book that says a team cannot replace the whole brake system, at which point the official backs down.
The French race officials, after initially agreeing to Ford's dead-heat 'photo-finish', reneged after the fact, stating that as the McLaren/Amon #2 car had started some 20 yards behind the Miles/Hulme #1 car, it had travelled a farther distance, and as such Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon were declared the winners on a technicality, with Miles and Hulme being awarded second place. Miles is however, graceful in his defeat and grateful to Shelby for giving him the chance to race at Le Mans.
You don't have to be a petrol-head die hard fan of motor sport to like 'Ford v. Ferrari'. The film has a true story to tell, that Director Mangold keeps grounded in the truth and the facts surrounding these moments in motor sporting history that saw the true underdog of American motor manufacturing defeat the Italian Goliath's dominance on the race track over successive years. The pairing of Damon and Bale is well matched as two close friends who overcome adversity both on and off the race track, frustrations with the corporate establishment, numerous roadblocks and questionable decisions to ultimately win through yet pay the ultimate price in doing so. The story line is compelling, well scripted, the race sequences are very well realised, the performances strong and as an overall package it's a real crowd pleaser and a throw back to those films of yesteryear of a similar ilk - 1966's 'Grand Prix' and 1971's 'Le Mans' - in terms of spectacle and emotion, but updated with all the modern gloss that Hollywood can throw at it.
