Thursday, May 01, 2008
Japan in Cannes' Blind Spot / Colin G Remakes Art of D
Although my prediction of at least one Japanese film vying for the Palme d'Or in Cannes fell short (though Tokyo Sonata's Un Certain Regard slot is nothing to sneeze at), in a way Japan has pulled up into the competition's blind spot with opening film Blindness, directed by City of God helmer Fernando Meirelles.
Why is the media here hailing Blindness as the first Japanese film to open the Cannes competition in the 18 years since Kurosawa's Dreams? You already know it features acting couple Kimura Yoshino (pictured above) and Iseya Yûsuke, who both also appeared in Sukiyaki Western Django, but it goes a little deeper than that.
Blindness actually qualifies as a gassaku, co-production, between Brazil, Canada and Japan. Toronto-based fixture Rhombus Media and Meirelles' own O2 Filmes were joined by Japanese producer Sakai Sonoko's (酒井園子) Bee Vine Pictures. Bee Vine's equity participation was made possible through Cinema Investment Corp (CINV).
CINV was established in 2002 under the name Producers Academia by important film industry figure Hara Masato to support independent producers. It now receives backing from the Kadokawa Foundation and the organisation of Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation of Japan (SMRJ). CINV has invested in over 20 domestic and international movies including Sakuran, A Gentle Breeze in the Village (Tennen Kokekkô), François Girard's Silk (also Bee Vine) and Anton Corbijn's Control (see my thoughts here), which CINV CEO Ishii Akira was an executive producer on.
In other news, congratulations to my celluloid brother in arms Colin Geddes, who will be co-producing a remake of the Thai shock horror Art of the Devil series at Cerenzie-Peters Productions. Kaiju Shakedown has a funny What price fame? take on the news while Twitch plays it straight here. Proud of you!
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