Catalogue – Page 2 – Memory! International Film Heritage Festival

Johnny Got His Gun
Dalton Trumbo
USA – 1971 johnnygothisgun

Cast: Timothy Bottoms (Joe Bonham), Kathy Fields (Kareen), Marsha Hunt (Joe’s Mother), Jason Robards (Joe’s Father), Donald Sutherland (Christ)
Screenplay: Dalton Trumbo
Cinematography: Jules Brenner
Production: World Entertainment
Language: English
Duration: 112 min
Color: Black and White, Color

Synopsis: On the last day of the Great War (WWI), Joe Bonham is hit by a mortar shell. He wastes away in a hospital bed in a fate worse than death: a quadruple amputee who has lost his eyes, ears, mouth and nose, he feels nothing but pain, yet remains fully conscious. Reliving his life through strange reveries, unable to distinguish whether he is awake or dreaming, one day Joe discovers a unique way to communicate with his caregivers.

Modern Times
Charlie Chaplin
USA – 1936

Cast: Charles Chaplin (A factory worker, the Tramp), Paulette Goddard (A gamine, the orphaned girl)
Screenplay: Charles Chaplin
Cinematography: Ira H. Morgan, Roland Totheroh
Production: Charles Chaplin Productions
Language: English
Duration: 87 min
Color: Black and White

Synopsis: Charlie the Tramp finds it difficult to keep up with modernity and the assembly line, which reduces men and women into mere accessories to the machine. When he is ‘volunteered’ for an experiment with a feeding machine to test if production can continue without the nuisance of meal breaks, Charlie suffers a nervous breakdown and is sent to a sanatorium to recover. Cured and on the street, he is quickly re-institutionalized—this time in jail—for unwittingly leading a worker’s protest. In the back of the police paddy wagon he meets a kindred soul, a girl who has escaped the horrors of the orphanage, arrested for stealing a loaf of bread. When he foils a jailbreak, he is released back into society as a fine example of a recovering socialist. Once again homeless on the street, Charlie and the girl try to live with dignity in a cold modern world that, in reality, is greedy and primitive.

Night Train
Pociag
Jerzy Kawalerowicz
Poland – 1959 nighttrain

Cast: Lucyna Winnicka (Marta), Leon Niemczyk (Jerzy), Teresa Szmigielówna (Lawyer’s wife), Zbigniew Cybulski (Staszek)
Screenplay: Jerzy Lutowski, Jerzy Kawalerowicz
Cinematography: Jan Laskowski
Production: Zespól Filmowy “Kadr”
Language: Polish
Duration: 99 min
Color: Black and White

Synopsis: Two strangers, Jerzy and Marta, accidentally end up holding tickets for the same sleeping compartment on an overnight train to the Baltic Sea coast. Also on board is Marta’s spurned lover, who will not leave her alone. When the police board the train in search of a murderer on the loose, rumors abound and everything seems to point toward one of the main characters as the culprit.

Only God Forgives
Nicolas Winding Refn
France – 2013 only-god-forgives-poster1

Cast: Ryan Gosling (Julian), Kristin Scott Thomas (Crystal), Vithaya Pansringarm (Chang), Gordon Brown (Gordon), Yayaying Rhatha Phongam (Mai)
Screenplay: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cinematography: Larry Smith
Production: Space Rocket Nation, Gaumont, Wild Bunch Motel Movies, Bold Films, Film Väst DR/Flimklubben, Nordisk Film, ShortCut, Danish Film Institute, TV-Fond MEDIA Programme of the European Union
Language: English, Thai
Duration: 90 min
Color: Color

Synopsis: Bangkok. Ten years ago Julian killed a man and went on the run. Now he manages a Thai boxing club as a front for a drug smuggling operation. Respected in the criminal underworld, deep inside, he feels empty. When Julian’s brother murders an underage prostitute, the police call on retired cop, Chang, known as the Angel of Vengeance, to set things right. Chang allows the father to kill his daughter’s murderer, then ‘restores order’ by chopping off the man’s right hand. Julian’s mobster mother Crystal arrives in Bangkok to collect her dead son’s body and dispatches the living one to find those responsible and make them pay.

Ran
Akira Kurosawa
Japan – 1985 ran-2

Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai (Lord Hidetora Ichimonji), Akira Terao (Taro Takatora Ichimonji), Jinpachi Nezu (Jiro Masatora Ichimonji), Daisuke Ryû (Saburo Naotora Ichimonji), Mieko Harada (Lady Kaede), Yoshiko Miyazaki (Lady Sue)
Screenplay: Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Masato Ide
Cinematography: Asakazu Nakai Takao Saitô Shôji Ueda
Production: Greenwich Film Productions, Herald Ace Nippon, Herald Films
Language: Japanese
Duration: 160 min
Color: Color

Synopsis: Lord Hidetora Ichimonji is weary of battle. The time has come for him to step back and hand over his fiefdom to his three sons. The two older ones, Taro and Jiro, eager to take command, flatter Lord Hidetora and vow to welcome him as honored guest for the rest of his years, but the youngest son, Saburo, warns his father of the folly of expecting a quiet old age and peace in a kingdom acquired with great violence. Enraged, the warlord banishes Saburo, but quickly realizes that his other two sons are selfish, ruthless men, and have no intention of keeping their promises. A war breaks out between brothers and only the banished Saburo remains honorable and fights to redeem his mad, foolish father.

Santi-Vina
‘Marut’ Thavi Na Bangchang
Thailand – 1954 santivina

Cast: Poonpan Rangkhavorn (Santi), Rayvadi Sriwilai (Vina)
Screenplay: Robert G. North, Thavi Na Bangchang, Vijit Kunavudhi
Cinematography: R.D. Pestonji
Production: Hanuman Film
Language: Thai
Duration: 117 min
Color: Color

Synopsis: Vina always comes to the defence of Santi, a poor blind boy who lives with his father. She protects him most often from the bully Krai. Santi’s father sends the boy to learn from Luang Ta, a revered monk, hoping that his son would regain his eyesight by following Buddha’s teachings. Years later, Santi and Vina meet again and fall in love. Krai, who also desires Vina’s attention, is jealous and asks his parents to arrange a marriage to Vina. When the young lovers decide to elope, they are caught and Santi is severely beaten. On Vina and Krai’s wedding day, a disaster forces the monk Luang Ta to give up his life to save Santi. Miraculously, Santi regains his eyesight giving him the chance to attempt to win Vina back, but he realizes that real happiness is not to be found in the dust of life but upon entering the land of the Buddha.

Seven Chances
Buster Keaton
USA – 1925 Seven Chances (1925)

Cast: Buster Keaton (James Shannon), T. Roy Barnes (Billy Meekin – James’ Partner), Snitz Edwards (James’ Lawyer), Ruth Dwyer (Mary Jones – James’ Girl)
Screenplay: Roi Cooper Megrue, Clyde Bruckman, Jean C. Havez, Joseph A. Mitchell
Cinematography: Byron Houck Elgin Lessley
Production: Buster Keaton Productions (A Metro-Goldwyn Production)
Language: Silent
Duration: 56 min
Color: Black and White, Color (2-strip Technicolor for the opening sequence)

Synopsis: On the morning of his 27^th birthday, James Shannon, a young lawyer in need of money to save his partner from jail, is informed that he stands to inherit $7 million if he is married by 7 o’clock that evening. He proposes to his sweetheart, but she rejects him when he states that he must marry a girl—any girl—in order to come into a fortune. At the country club, his partner picks out seven girls and Jimmy proposes to each in turn, but is refused by all. In town, he desperately proposes to anyone in a skirt, including a Scotsman. Meanwhile, the partner puts a story into the paper detailing Jimmy’s predicament and advertising for a bride. At the church altar early next morning, Jimmy finds the place full of candidates. He narrowly escapes, happily finding out that his sweetheart has forgiven him. Jimmy is pursued by a mob of outraged would-be brides, and after a wild chase, arrives safely at Mary’s house just in time to be married on the stroke of seven.

Sullivan’s Travels
Preston Sturges
USA – 1941 sullivans-travels

Cast: Joel McCrea (John L. Sullivan), Veronica Lake (The Girl), Robert Warwick (Mr. LeBrand), William Demarest (Mr. Jones)
Screenplay: Preston Sturges
Cinematography: John F. Seitz
Production: Paramount Pictures
Language: English
Duration: 91 min
Color: Black and White

Synopsis: John Lloyd Sullivan is a spoiled but successful Hollywood director who, after years of specializing in fluffy comedies, decides to make a serious film with a social message. When the studio executives point out that he cannot possibly know anything about the plight of the downtrodden, he decides to experience adversity himself by adopting, temporarily of course, the life of a tramp. It is apparent to most that Sully does not belong on the street, and he fails to blend in after repeated attempts until, quite by chance, he meets a kind would-be actress who offers to help him navigate life among the poor classes. Sully’s luck takes a turn and his wishes to experience adversity are realized when he is arrested for driving his own car, robbed and dumped unconscious in a train, and sentenced to a labor camp. He finally begins to understand the encouraging role that comedy and escapism play in the miserable lives of the destitute.

Tender are the feet
Ché Phawa Daw Nu Nu
Maung Wunna
Myanmar – 1972 tender_are_the_feet_ausschnitt01-omeu

Cast: San San Aye (Khin San), Zaw Lwin (Sein Lin), Aung Pyae (Hla Tun), May Nwè (Daw Khyu, Khin San’s mother), Aung Soe (Theatre director)
Screenplay: Min Shin, based on a novel by Aung Lin
Cinematography: Maung Soe
Production: Pan Wai Wai Film Production
Language: Burmese
Duration: 106 min
Color: Black and White

Synopsis: Sein Lin is a drummer in a traditional Burmese dance theatre ensemble in Rangoon, and he is very passionate about Burmese culture. He falls in love with the beautiful dancer Khin San, but she aspires to a career as a film actress and leaves the theatre. Sein Lin presents her with a small token to remember him by, a figurine symbolizing traditional theatre. He only asks that she return the gift if she truly decides never to come back to the traditional arts. Khin San basks in the glamourous life of a film actress, and after deciding to marry producer Hla Tun, she returns the figurine to heart-broken Sein Lin. Before long, however, Khin San realizes that Hla Tun has been keeping secrets that might change the answer she gave Sein Lin.

The Artist
Michel Hazavinicius
France – 2011

Cast: Jean Dujardin (George Valentin), Bérénice Bejo (Peppy Miller), John Goodman (Al Zimmer), James Cromwell (Clifton), Penelope Ann Miller (Doris), Missi Pyle (Constance)
Screenplay: Michel Hazavinicius
Cinematography: Guillaume Schiffman
Production: Studio 37, La Petite Reine, La Classe Américaine, JD Prod France 3, Cinéma Jouror Productions, uFilm, Canal+, CinéCinéma, France Télévision, Le Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral de Belgique
Language: English, French
Duration: 100 min
Color: Black and White

Synopsis: It’s 1927 and Hollywood’s darling male lead George Valentin is enjoying the success of his latest picture, The Russian Affair. Peppy Miller, an aspiring young actress, accidentally bumps into Valentin at the premiere and plants a kiss on his cheek as they are surrounded by photographers. “Who’s that girl,” the press are quick to inquire. Perhaps it is thanks to this chance encounter that Miller gets her first break. Meanwhile the Kinograph Studio is transitioning to sound. Valentin finds the entire notion of ‘talkies’ vulgar, breaks off his contract, and decides to produce and direct his own silent motion picture. Always on the lookout for fresh faces, Kinograph offers Peppy Miller a role in their talking pictures and her career takes off. Valentin’s film on the other hand is a complete flop, and just as the Great Depression hits hardest, he is bankrupt. Miller, however, has not forgotten what Valentin did for her career, and offers her help, though, now that his star has set, he has to decide where and how he fits into the Hollywood dream machine.

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International Film Heritage Festival

Johnny Got His Gun

Modern Times

Night Train

Only God Forgives

Ran

Santi-Vina

Seven Chances

Sullivan’s Travels

Tender Are The Feet

The Artist