The American Cinematheque presents the Hollywood Foreign Press Golden Globe Foreign Language Nominee Events at the Aero (January 9 – 12) and Egyptian Theatres (January 12). See the five nominees for the Golden Globe Best Foreign Language Film with screenings of the films at the Aero, before meeting the directors of all of the nominated films at a special seminar at the Egyptian on January 12th. The films include: THE KITE RUNNER, an epic quest for redemption directed by Marc Forster (FINDING NEVERLAND; MONSTER’S BALL); THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, a tribute to the spirit of the imagination and its ability to triumph over adversity directed by Julian Schnabel (BEFORE NIGHT FALL)S; Ang Lee’s LUST, CAUTION, an erotic espionage thriller set in Shanghai before the Japanese occupation during World War II; PERSEPOLIS, an animated film based on the graphic novels by Marjene Satrapi detailing her youth and developing feminist consciousness growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution directed by Marjene Satrapi and Vincent Payronnaud, and the 2007 Cannes Palme d’Or winner 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS, about two college students negotiating for an illegal abortion in Romania during the final days of the communist Ceausescu regime, directed by Cristian Mungiu. On Sunday, January 12th at 1:00 PM at the Egyptian Theatre there will be a free roundtable discussion with all five of the nominated directors.
All screenings are at the Max Palevsky Theatre at the Aero Theatre (1328 Montana Ave) in Santa Monica and the seminar is at Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Blvd). Guests subject to availability. Advance tickets for screenings are available on www.fandango.com. Seminar is FREE ADMISSION on first come, first served as well as free parking.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008: Aero Theatre

The Wednesday, January 9th program is a 7:30 PM screening of THE KITE RUNNER (2007, Paramount Classics, 122 min.), directed by Marc Forster (FINDING NEVERLAND; MONSTER’S BALL). Based on one of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, THE KITE RUNNER is a powerful tale of childhood friends, Amir and Hassan in a divided country on the verge of war. It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies burst with the joy of an innocent kite fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s fearful act of betrayal will set a catastrophe in motion. And an epic quest for redemption. Twenty years later, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s tyrannical rule, to face the dark secrets that still haunt him and to take a daring chance to try to set things right. “–a film of exhilarating, redemptive humanity, conveying an enduring sense of hope.” – Ann Hornaday, Washington Post. (see below for publicity contact.)

Thursday, January 10, 2008: Aero Theatre

The Thursday, January 10th program begins at 7:30 PM screening of THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (2007, Miramax, 111 min.). Director Julian Schnabel (BEFORE NIGHT FALLS) won the Cannes Film Festival Best Director Award for his dramatization of the true story of bon vivant Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric) who suffered a stroke that rendered him completely paralyzed with the exception of one eye, at the unlikely age of 42. With the real Bauby’s unapologetic sarcasm warding off any trace of sentimentality, the existence this privileged playboy took for granted… his women… his children… his 92-year old father (Max von Sydow)… his jet setting lifestyle is cross-examined by the active imagination inside the inanimate body in deftly delivered interior monologue by Amalric. With cinematography by Oscar Winner Janusz Kaminski. scri pted by Ronald Harwood. “…simultaneously uplifting and melancholy, suffused with an unexpected sense of possibility as much as the inevitable sense of loss…” — Kenneth Turan, LA Times Director Julian Schnabel to introduce the screening.

Friday, January 11, 2008: Aero Theatre

The Friday, January 11th program begins at 7:30 PM screening of LUST, CAUTION (2007, Focus Features, 157 min.). Academy Award winning director Ang Lee (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON) returns with a startling erotic espionage thriller about the fate of an ordinary woman’s heart in 1942 Shanghai, in the throes of the WW II Japanese occupation of this Chinese city. Based on a short story by revered Chinese author Eileen Chang. With Tony Leung, Joan Chen, Tang Wei. scri pted by Wang Hui Ling and James Schamus. “One of the few honestly observant political films, totally devoid of retrospective feel-good propaganda, that I have seen in years, and its characters are thereby perceptively portrayed all the way through to the almost unbearably bitter end of the narrative.” – Andrew Sarris, The New York Observer. Director Ang Lee to introduce the screening.

Saturday, January 12, 2008: Aero Theatre

The Thursday, January 12th program begins at 7:30 PM Double Feature. First up is a screening of PERSEPOLIS (2007, Sony Pictures Classics, 95 min.), directed by Marjene Satrapi and Vincent Payrounnaud.

Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novels detailing her youth and developing feminist consciousness growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution come to life in this often comic, black and white animated film influenced by German Expressionism and Italian Neo-Realism! Rebellious, precocious Marjane discovers punk, ABBA and Iron Maiden as bombs drop and her outspoken uncle is senselessly executed in war-ravaged Tehran. As a teen, her parents send her to live in Austria, away from religious and political tyranny, but eventually she returns home to her family, even though she must literally a figuratively live under the veil of fundamental extremism. When it gets to be more than she can bear, she makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her homeland to find freedom. “A fresh, moving, out of the gate masterpiece – a work of animation that manages to be artistically brilliant, politically rich, morally engaging and emotionally overwhelming.” – James Rocchi, Cinematical.com Voiced by Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve.
Next on the same bill

is a screening of 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (2007, IFC First Take, 113 min.), directed by Cristian Mungiu. This controversial, emotionally charged Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner is the gripping journey of two college students (Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu) negotiating for an illegal abortion in Romania during the final days of the communist Ceausescu regime. Their descent into the black market, where everything from hot showers to breath mints are sold on the sly, turns into a nightmare of suspense and uncertainty as Gabita puts her life in the hands of a villainous black market abortionist (Vlad Ivanov). Directors to introduce the screening. (To Be Confirmed)
Saturday, January 12, 2006: Egyptian Theatre

The Saturday, January 12th program begins at 1:00 PM with a Roundtable Discussion with all of the filmmakers of the nominated films with moderator Mike Goodridge of Screen International. Discover the best of new foreign films with an in person seminar with the directors of the foreign language nominees for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Please join us for a FREE Round Table seminar with filmmakers Marc Forster (THE KITE RUNNER), Ang Lee (LUST, CAUTION), Cristian Mungiu (4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS), Marjene Satrapi & Vincent Payronnaud (PERSEPOLIS) and Julian Schnabel (THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY). Free admission and free parking. First come, first serve. Co-Presented With The Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Updates at http://www.americancinematheque.com/

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