Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2012

Margaret

Director: Kenneth Lonergan

USA

Shot in 2005, this film was left on the shelf of the distributor and swung round between various interested parties for many years. Director Kenneth Lonergan, whose debut feature, You Can Count on Me, is a true contemporary masterpiece of independent cinema and immediately preceded Margaret, went to great lengths to bring his project to the screen and eventually relented to produce a version far shorter than his original vision. The distributors, for their part, were not entirely satisfied with the final product, a full 150 minutes long, but this version has now finally made it to the festival circuit and Karlovy Vary is a great platform to test this version.

Margaret is, if not a brilliant piece of cinema, at least another affirmation of Lonergan’s talent as a screenwriter and artist of human emotions. His films take rather difficult subject matter and thoroughly investigate the human components of the story in intimate collaboration with extremely gifted actors.Margaret reunites him with Mark Ruffalo and Kieran Culkin from You Can Count on Me, but the performances he elicits from Anna Paquin, J Smith-Cameron and Allison Janney, in the latter’s only scene in the film, are breathtaking.

The film uses the anger in the face of September 11 as a backdrop to a bus accident that Paquin is responsible for when she waves at a bus driver and he runs over a woman on the street, killing her almost instantly. The teenager Paquin is from a broken home and is exploring her rebellious side, not unaware of her sexuality. Over the course of the film, she steamrolls many men in her life, and many women, including her mother, are also terribly hurt.

A good companion piece to The Squid and the Whale, Margaret has an arrogant young protagonist who is immature even as she verbally abuses many people around her, breaking hearts and testing their patience. It’s not always easy to watch, but Lonergan finds raw emotion in the everyday details of New York City that are dark but not without hope.

The title refers to a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Read a complete review of this film in the upcoming edition of The Prague Post, July 4.

(Thanks to :http://www.praguepost.com)

WANT TO READ MORE:

 http://www.praguepost.com/blogs/blog/2012/06/30/karlovy-vary-international-film-festival-2012-%E2%80%94-report-1-june-30/)

Hamilton International Film Festival

(Wade, Grant and Todd Slater, from left, of Slater Brothers Entertainment will return to Hamilton this August with their film festival that includes films, parties, and charity-themed events.)

HAMILTON —

Slater Brothers Entertainment’s Hamilton International Film Festival (HIFF), founded by brothers Wade, Grant and Todd Slater, whose father, Terry Slater, was the head hockey coach at Colgate University for 15 years, is returning to Hamilton for a 4th year with an impressive all star line up of films, charity themed events and parties. This year’s festival is set to take place Aug. 2 to 5.

The brothers’ efforts to bring back top international films, award-winning directors, and academy award winners are based on their desire to expand the arts and film awareness in Central New York. This year’s festival also has screenings dedicated to organizations and charities close to the brothers’ hearts, including Thursday night’s screening of the film, “Undefeated,” where 100 percent of proceeds will be dedicated by SBE to Hamilton Central School.

Through the Film Festival, the Slaters aim to bring a piece of Hollywood back to the area they proudly grew up in and provide a platform to recognize local area talent and advance the careers of aspiring filmmakers. Supported by the town of Hamilton and Colgate University, this year’s festival will have some of the biggest filmmakers and entertainment companies in attendance. The first film will be screened at 7 p.m. on Thursday night at the Hamilton Theater and events will continue throughout the weekend, capped off with a festival closing night party and guest DJ at the newly renovated Colgate Inn in downtown Hamilton.

READ MORE: http://www.uticaod.com/mid-yorkweekly/x425599007/Hamilton-International-Film-Festival-returns-in-August

(thanks to www.uticaod.com)

American High School 

Director: 

Sean Patrick Cannon

Writer: 

Sean Patrick Cannon

Stars:

 Talan Torriero, Jillian Murray and Aubrey O'Day 

"American High School," a romantic comedy, is centered on two people who marry young and contend with the consequences of "bad" actions. Moreover, it is a story about a young, frightened girl, Gwen Adams who tries to break away from her father, find peace with her husband, and find peace within. In a world that expects everything from her, being herself was the last thing on her mind. When pushed to the breaking point, she discovers her own self-worth. But is it too late? Written by MyDesert

Small lives begin at the end of high school for this surreal society. A senior who married young must contend with her life, love, and pursuit of individuality and femininity in a narcissistic, misogynistic world of irony. Gwen Adams, her husband Holden, and school rival Hilary complete the love triangle as Principal Mann makes their lives living hell. Also featuring Miss Apple and Johnny Awesome. Life isn't simple wrapped in a bow -- there are bumps, bruises, and broken hearts. Through tears are laughter, and in the transition to maturity, boys and girls find themselves through each other. Written by mr. pip

(From: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1087517/plotsummary)

MANIPUR - LAND OF BEAUTY

 Manipur is a beautiful place situated in the northeastern side of India. This beautiful land of hills is situated in between the Indian states NAGALAND and some north of Mizoram. IMPHAL is the capital of the Manipur. All the people are talking the language Manipuri, which considered to be the regional language of India. Usually, people like to speak Manipuri other than Hindi, India’s national language. Beside, many of the ordinary people can talk English also very beautifully.

Manipur is considered to be a sensitive border state of India. Because of this, you can see, Indian army is still having their power to Manipur. Yet, Manipur is suffering some insurgency problems and other political issues which related to the social as well as communal situation of the state. While travelling to Manipur, you can reach by train, flight or by bus. While travelling through train, if you are coming from south, you can come to GUWAHATI and take bus to IMPHAL. But nearest railway station to Manipur, is DIMAPUR, which is situated in NAGALAND. From there you can take a Winger traveler or bus to IMPHAL. While, choosing air, you can get flight direct to IMPHAL. Most of the well-known air services are there with their domestic flights.

In Imphal, you can see an ordinary and simple life. This is not a place with luxurious life. Most of the people are living with farming rise, onion, banana etc. Some of them are taking interest in Cow farming. In Imphal city you can see only one over bridge. There are very few Film theaters are there. Most of the day to day routines may close by 6 pm. After 7 pm you can’t get anything from the street. Here very few bus services are there. Mostly here running is autos and winger type travelers. The main attractive of the Manipur is their physical appearance and dressing. Usually men have kurthas and pijamas. But ladies are wearing a sheet.

MANIPUR is a land of beauty. But this is not a tourist place. Very few peoples are coming as tourists. Most of them are coming for the trade of Tea, Coffee and other things. Here is a fort called KAGLA fort made by the king of Manipur several years back. It is situated in the heart of the city of Imphal.