AT CANNES

May 2010

Cannes… It’s Every Cinema lover’s dream. It’s THE PLACE to watch the best films of the world. If you visit the city during the normal months, you’ll see a normal city that has no special spirit. But in May, it’s this kind of magic that transforms everything into a wonderland of dreams.

At Cinemagic, they might not have the red carpet glamor, but they certainly can show you the essence of Cannes, through some of the past selections and winners.

For its part, Cinemagic Kuwait, is organizing these events as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Kuwaiti audio-visual production industry, partly by bringing the filmmakers and audiences together and by Increasing the public’s interest in the art of filmmaking and appreciate it.

Please note that:

• Screenings start at 7:00PM and will be canceled when confronted with very bad weather.

• Screenings will take place at our location in Old Salmiya, above LG Electronics. Tickets KD1 each.

WEEK 1 – RERUN 

 Thusrday, 6th May, 2010

 Ali Zaoua, Morocco 2000

 Director: Nabil Ayoush

 Genre: Drama | 99 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: PG 13

Ali, Kwita, Omar, and Boukber are a group of street urchins living on the hard streets of Casablanca. Their everyday lives are filled with violence, begging, and indifference. In order to survive they create a bond of friendship and family between them. The bond is cut short when Ali is senselessly killed; his life taken by a single act of a rival gang. Ali’s friends decide not to report his death to the police, and instead they decide to give him a worthy burial, to bury Ali on the private island he so often dreamed of. Ali Zaoua captures the power of dreams and presence of hope in the harshest of circumstances.

 Saturday, 8th May, 2010

 Vozvrashchenie, Russia 2004

 Director: Andrei Zvyagintsev

 Genre: Drama | 105 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: 15+

Director Andrei Zvyagintsev makes a phenomenally assured directorial debut with THE RETURN. The spare tale focuses on two young brothers, Andrey and Vanya, whose lives are thrown into a tailspin when their father returns after a 12-year absence. Bullish and intense, the patriarch takes the boys on a mysterious journey through a bleak yet beautiful Russian landscape. While Andrey looks up to his father, Vanya has trouble forgiving him for disappearing so many years ago. This strain adds even more drama to the already tense atmosphere, culminating in a shocking event that will change their lives forever.

WEEK 2 – CANNES WINNERS

 Thursday, 13th May, 2010

 WINNER for BEST DIRECTOR, CANNES 2008

 Three Monkeys, Turkey 2008

 Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

 Genre: Drama | 109 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: PG15

Near the Bosporus, Eyüp and Hacer live in a modest flat with their son Ismail, in his twenties, who’s doing poorly in his studies. Few words pass between them, and a past family tragedy brings sorrow daily. On a rainy night, Eyüp’s boss Servet, a wealthy businessman who’s entering politics, hits a pedestrian on a lonely road. He drives off and offers money to Eyüp if Eyüp will take the fall - probably a six-month sentence. Eyüp agrees, and while he’s in prison, Ismail wants his mother to ask Servet for enough money to buy a car. Servet, in turn, desires Hacer. How can this play out?

 Saturday, 15th May, 2010

 WINNER of Golden Plam 2009

 The White Ribbon, Sweden 2009

 Director: Michael Haneke

 Genre: Drama | 144 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: R 18

A village in Protestant northern Germany. 1913-1914. On the eve of World War I. The story of the children and teenagers of a choir run by the village schoolteacher, and their families: the baron, the steward, the pastor, the doctor, the midwife, the tenant farmers. Strange accidents occur and gradually take on the character of a punishment ritual. Who is behind it all? The schoolteacher observes, investigates and little by little discovers the incredible truth. Are we being asked to consider whether these events heralded something that would explode years later with the rise of Nazi Germany? Did these events contain the germs of the tragedies that followed?

WEEK 3 – CANNES NOMINEES

 Thursday, 20th May, 2010

 Un Certain Regard Nominee 2009

 Precious, USA 2009

 Director: Lee Daniels

 Genre: Drama | 109 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: PG15

Clareece Precious Jones endures unimaginable hardships in her young life. Abused by her mother, raped by her father, she grows up poor, angry, illiterate, fat, unloved and generally unnoticed. So what better way to learn about her than through her own, halting dialect?

 Saturday, 22nd May, 2010

 Golden Plam Nominee 2008

 Promise Me This, Serbia 2008

 Director: Emir Kusturica

 Genre: Comedy | 127 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: PG 13

Set in a rural area of Belgrade. Tsane, a young boy, has to complete his dying grandfathers wish: to sell the cow and bring back the wife. During this journey, Tsane meets the city buzz, his stepbrothers and is forced to fight a criminal boss in order to rescue his future wife from prostitution. Meanwhile the dying grandfather has found love with the only neighborhood in the village - Bossa.

WEEK 4 – LORD OF THE RINGS, Deluxe Screenings, 3 DAYS

 Thursday, 27th May, 2010

 OPENING CEREMONY, CANNES 2001

 LOTR: The Fellowship of the ring, USA 2001

 Director: Peter Jackson

 Genre: Fantasy | 178 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: PG 13

Set in Middle-Earth many years ago, this is the story of a young Hobbit named Frodo, who has in his possession a ring... This ring is needed by the evil Lord Sauron to destroy civilization and plunge the world into complete darkness. In order to prevent this, Frodo must find a way to the Mount of Doom and destroy the ring.

 Friday, 28th May, 2010

 LOTR: The Two Towers, USA 2003

 Director: Peter Jackson

 Genre: Fantasy | 179 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: PG 13

Sauron’s forces increase. His allies grow. The Ringwraiths return in an even more frightening form. Saruman’s army of Uruk Hai is ready to launch an assault against Aragorn and the people of Rohan. Yet, the Fellowship is broken and Boromir is dead. For the little hope that is left, Frodo and Sam march on into Mordor, unprotected. A number of new allies join with Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Pippin and Merry. And they must defend Rohan and attack Isengard. Yet, while all this is going on, Sauron’s troops mass toward the City of Gondor, for the War of the Ring is about to begin.

 Saturday, 29th May, 2010

 LOTR: The Return Of the King, USA 2004

 Director: Peter Jackson

 Genre: Fantasy | 201 min | English Subtitle

 Rated: PG 13

Gondor is overrun by the orcs of Mordor, and Gandalf rides to Minas Tirith to aid the humans in the war that is ahead. Aragorn must realize his true identity and purpose as the King of Men, and journey with Gimli and Legolas to summon the Army of the Dead so that the battle against evil can be won. Meanwhile, paranoia and suspicion rises between Frodo, Sam and Gollum as they continue their increasingly dark and dangerous travel to Mount Doom, the one place where The Ring can be destroyed once and for all.