MAO'S LAST DANCER

MAO'S LAST DANCER

The Story:
Born in 1961, Li lived with his six brothers and impoverished parents in China's Shandong Province. His family was destined to be labourers, but when recruiters from Madame Mao's ballet academy in Beijing swept through his single-room school in search of untapped talent to mould into the future leading lights of the Cultural Revolution, eleven-year-old Li was selected, and committed to a strange new life of stringent training, both artistic and ideological. At first, the experience overwhelmed, but when an audacious teacher introduced him to the works of great international performers, Li (Chi Cao) realized dance's true revolutionary potential.

Practising by candlelight and jumping up stairs with sandbags tied to his ankles to build his strength while his peers slept, Li became the school's top dancer. Discovered by Ben Stevenson (Bruce Greenwood), the artistic director of the Houston Ballet and part of the first American cultural delegation to Communist China, Li in turn was one of the first exchange students allowed by Mao's regime to go to America. After a brief bout with culture shock – Houston's malls and so-called Chinese restaurants were alien spheres to him – he quickly fell in love with America's freedom and one of its winsome daughters. When his exchange ended, Li refused to return to China, leading to a dramatic standoff at the consulate that made headlines across the United States.

Starring:
Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, Joan Chen, Chi Cao, Amanda Schull.

Directed By:
Bruce Beresford

Release:
2009

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TETSUO: THE BULLETMAN

TETSUO: THE BULLETMAN

The Story:
Anthony (Eric Bossick), a young white man born and raised in Tokyo by his researcher-father who is now raising a young family of his own. It should be a happy time in Anthony's life but his wife Yuriko (Akiko Monou) is plagued by crippling anxiety, anxiety that largely prevents her from leaving their home and centers on recurring nightmares around a horrible fate for the pair's young son Tom (Tiger Charlie Gerhardt).

But when a mysterious driver (Shinya Tsukamoto) deliberately murders Tom by running him over, Anthony starts to get in touch with his anger in a way most bereavement therapists wouldn't approve of: His body begins to turn into black, living metal, sprouting weapons and all kinds of spiky bits. A huge Gatling gun, for instance, grows out of his chest, which comes in handy when a bunch of uniformed hitmen try to kill him.

Turns out Anthony's father, Ride (Stephen Sarrazin), a former biochemist, is to blame, a fact Anthony uncovers by digging around in his dad's basement, where he makes an even more alarming discovery about his late mom.

Starring:
Erik Bossick, Akiko Monou, Shinya Tsukamoto, Stephen Sarrazin, Yûko Nakamura, Tiger Charlie Gerhardt.

Directed By:
Shinya Tsukamoto

Release:
2010

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KAMUI (カムイ外伝 / Kamui Gaiden)

KAMUI (カムイ外伝 / Kamui Gaiden) (Japanese)

The Story:
For an outcast in the rigidly hierarchical society of seventeenth-century Japan, the only possible road to redemption is to become a ninja, an unorthodox fighter skilled in the art of stealth. However, the ruthless world of ninjas causes some to desert in search of freedom. One such fugitive is Kamui (Kenichi Matsuyama), an invincible warrior who has decided to follow his heart and betray his despicable clan with its culture of abuse and injustice.

On the run, Kamui abandons secluded forests and dark mountains for the blinding light and beauty of the ocean. He crosses paths with Hanbei (Kaoru Kobayashi), an indomitable fisherman who is always on the lookout for the perfect bait, the one that will ensure abundant fish for his beloved family. When Kamui washes ashore nearly dead on a little island, Hanbei happily brings him home and nurses him back to life. However, Kamui's arrival does not sit well with Oshika (Koyuki), Hanbei's dear wife, who senses the danger the sea has unexpectedly brought them. Nevertheless, Hanbei and Kamui's encounter is a fated one, destined to change both men's lives for better or for worse.

Starring:
Kenichi Matsuyama, Koyuki, Hideaki Ito, Kaoru Kobayashi, Koichi Sato

Directed By:
Yoichi Sai.

Release:
2009

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31 NORTH 62 EAST ( TOO CLOSE TO THE TRUTH )

31 NORTH 62 EAST (TOO CLOSE TO THE TRUTH)

The Story:
British PM John Hammond (John Rhys-Davies), who is finalising an $80 million arms deal. During a meeting about the deal with one Sheik Kaseem (Kammy Darweish), the latter reveals the nephew of his king has been killed in Afghanistan. The Sheik demands the culprits. The PM duly supplies the coordinates of a nearby SAS unit - the 31 north 62 east of the title.

The Sheik calls in a kill squad, but there's one survivor: Captain Jill Mandelson (Heather Peace). She's pretty tough, naturally, and stands up to the torturous attentions of the Sheik's stooge Assad (Omar Mostafa) until, by way of some surreptitious actions by French and Italian agents and special forces, she's retrieved. When the Sheik finds out, he pays another angry visit to the PM. Who gives up Jill's location, again. All he cares about is that arms deal, and re-election. Somebody, however, is going to get some payback.

Starring:
John Rhys-Davies, Marina Sirtis, Heather Peace, Craig Fairbrass, Mimi Ferrer, Aurélie Bargème

Directed By:
Tristan Loraine

Release:
2009

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HARRY BROWN

Harry Brown

The Story:
Set in modern-day Britain, follows Harry Brown (Sir Michael Caine) one man’s journey through a chaotic world where drugs are the currency of the day and guns run the streets.A modest law-abiding citizen, Harry Brown is a retired Marine and a widower who lives alone on a depressed housing estate.

His only company is his best friend Leonard (David Bradley). When Leonard is murdered by a gang of thugs, Harry feels compelled to act and is forced to dispense his own brand of justice. As he bids to clean up the run-down estate where he lives, his actions bring him into conflict with the police, led by investigating officer DCI Frampton (Emily Mortimer) and Hickock (Charlie Creed-Miles).

Starring:
Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Iain Glen, David Bradley, Charlie Creed-Miles

Directed By:
Daniel Barber

Release:
2009

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