For all fans of the cinema trademarked with „Takeshi Kitano” in the program of the 20th Sofia International Film Festival there is one temptation – the newest work of the emblematic Japanese director - „Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen” (2015), which turned out to be a real box office hit in Japan.
Made 100 percent in the style of master Kitano, the movie offers its viewers both satire and comedy. The director presents the story of Ryuzo (also known as Ryuzo the Demon, played on screen by the legendary actor Tatsuya Fuji), an ex-member of the Japanese Yakuza which is currently a bored from life retiree. He lives with his son who is so ashamed from his father’s criminal past that he prefers not to talk about him in front of his friends. But when the son goes neck deep in debts, he is forced to look for help. And so, the old Yakuza picks up the phone and seven of his trusted men come at once! Although his aged partners are not in great shape, they are still bound to the oath and would give their life for each other.
This emotional trip to the past even features a small appearance of Takeshi Kitano himself, who is known for making such cameos in most of his movies. The Japanese movie director, actor, screenwriter and producer, born 1947 in Tokyo, is one of the audience’s favorites on Sofia International Film Festival. He is a public figure in Japan, a TV star, writer, painter. His show business history begins in 1972 under the alias “Beat” Takeshi. In 1989 his debut as a director is with “Violent Cop”. He wins a Golden Lion in Venice with “Fireworks” (1997). The 8th Sofia International Film Festival opened with his movie “Zatoichi”.
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Born 1968 in Rome Matteo Garrone is known to the Bulgarian audience with his movie “Gomorra” (2008), winner of the Cannes’ Great Jury award and Oscar nominee in the best foreign film category. In 2011 Garrone directs “Reality” which in 2012 also wins the Great Jury award in Cannes.
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Another one of the interesting contemporary cinema suggestions is the epic biblical story “Risen” (2016) by Kevin Reynolds who also created hits like “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, “Waterworld” and “Tristan + Isolde”. The powerful Roman soldier Clavius (played by Joseph Fiennes) and his partner Lucius are following an important task – to unravel the mystery around what is happening to Jesus in the weeks after his crucifixion, to dispel the rumors about the ascended Messiah and to prevent the potential rebellion in Jerusalem. The big instigation of “Risen” is that the story is told from the point of view of a man who doesn’t believe in God. Created with a modest Hollywood budget, the movie puts the viewer in a doubting position and following the Revelation word by word leaves him the choice of what to believe in.
Kevin Reynolds was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952. In his high school he fell in love with the theatre and later he continued to study it in the Trinity University. After that he dedicated himself to law studies before he finally entered the world of cinema. He graduates from the South Carolina Film Institute with the movie “Proof” which makes impression to Steven Spielberg who decides to help Reynolds film a feature version. Named “Fandango” this projects goes out in 1985 and marks the first collaboration between Reynolds and Kevin Costner. In the next few decades both of them work on another three movies - “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (1991), “Rapa Nui” (1994) and “Waterworld” (1995), followed by the ambitious “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002) and “Tristan + Isolde” (2006).
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The American production “Demolition” (2015) by Jean-Marc Vallée explores the state of a man (played by the always different and remarkable Jake Gyllenhaal) who tries to suppress the feel of guilt and to go back up on his feet and return to life after the tragic loss of his wife. One simple letter of complaint turns into a series of personal confessions. The letters of the man draw the attention of a customer service agent (played by Naomi Watts) and, despite her personal problems, an unusual relationship develops between them.
Jean-Marc Vallée is born in Montreal, Canada in 1963. His cinema debut is in 1995 with “Black List’, a legal thriller with which he gains popularity in his country. After that he directs a few TV series and short movies before winning world acclaim with the drama comedy „C.R.A.Z.Y.” (2005) screened in Venice and awarded the best Canadian movie prize at the Toronto Film Festival. After he moves to Hollywood, Vallée directs “The Young Victoria” (2009) which wins Oscar for best costume design, “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013), awarded with three Oscars – for best actor in a leading role (the splendid Matthew McConaughey), best actor in a supporting role (Jared Leto) and best makeup and hairstyling, as well as “Wild” starring Reese Witherspoon which we presented at the 2015 festival program.