Dear Friends,
We would like to wish all of you, old friends and new, a very healthy and peaceful 2008. Thank you for all your support to us and the time and trouble you take to keep in contact with us and watch our releases.
With the New Year just begun, we thought it a good idea to start this newsletter by listing our releases from the past few months of the old year and looking forward (cryptically) to a few of our early releases in the new one.
We were really happy to end the year on a high note, with František Vlácil’s astonishing MARKETA LAZAROVÁ, considered the best Czech film of all time.
| MARKETA LAZAROVÁ
A film by František Vlácil Czechoslovakia, 1967 (Second Run DVD 017) |
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A number of remarkable films which we love, both classic and recent, were also released during the year:
Full detailed DVD specs on all our films as well as reviews, information and connections about the films and the filmmakers can be seen at our website. Please do browse there.
In addition to those titles held over from 2007, wonderful films such as:
Miklós Jancsó’s acknowledged masterpiece THE ROUND-UP
Marta Meszaros’ first film in her renowned ‘Diary’ trilogy DIARY FOR MY CHILDREN
Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s brilliant and award-winning RAT-TRAP
we would like to gently hint at a few other films in preparation, and hope you will be as happy as us about their release:
The definitive release of a cult-classic, made in Czechoslovakia in 1970. Drawing inspiration from fairy tales, the myth of vampires, early cinema and surrealism and also throwing liberal doses of sex, coming-of-age and religion into the mix, this film is a singularly original achievement.
An account of life in contemporary urban China, which eschews period rural drama and is in stark and brutal contrast to the work made by Fifth Generation directors at that time. Made in 1990 and an important landmark in Chinese cinema.
A film of two halves (!), from South-East Asia, by a contemporary filmmaker whose work we just love in bounds. It becomes the second film of his that we will have released and, although already released in other territories, we could not leave such a wonderful film unreleased in the UK and will include special extras to make it unique.
A number of films from contemporary British documentary filmmakers, who are amongst the best in the world but whose work has remained unreleased on DVD. We aim to correct that through the year.
Nicolas Philibert’s newest film BACK TO NORMANDY (Retour en Normandie)
Screening at the BFI Southbank (NFT), London
17th – 31st January
Philibert’s long-awaited follow-up to Etre et avoir. A brave film, being a departure in style from his previous, and one that we love - immensely personal and resonant and moving. Second Run’s first-ever release was Philibert’s IN THE LAND OF THE DEAF, and we followed later with his EVERY LITTLE THING. His work holds a very special place for us. We believe that every home should have a Philibert film.
He will be in London and In Conversation after the 17.30 screening on Saturday 19th January. Not to be missed.
For details and to book tickets: bfi.org.uk
DAVID HOLZMAN’S DIARY – dir. Jim McBride (USA, 1967)
Shot in 1967, David Holzman’s Diary is a milestone in contemporary film history. Brilliantly conceived and executed, it manages to simultaneously be very much of its time and very many years ahead of its time. The film tells the story of David Holzman, a young man infatuated with film and filmmaking. Arguably the first ‘mockumentary’, it has been little seen but hugely influential on filmmakers over the years. The film is also enormously prescient about our current times, when seemingly everyone records everything to do with their lives for the camera.
British Museum (The Stevenson Theatre), London - Thursday 17th January at 4pm (16.00)
AVENGE BUT ONE OF MY TWO EYES – dir. Avi Mograbi (Israel/France, 2005)
Shot in the Occupied Territories by Israeli director Avi Mograbi, this controversial documentary film draws parallels between the Israeli - Palestinian situation today and the enduring myths of Samson and Masada. Mograbi offers a powerful, at times chilling, lament of the continuing cycles of violence rooted in the past and threatening to engulf everyone's future. With the roots of so much real-world conflict left unexamined by today's' restless media, this film reminds us just how vital filmmakers like Avi Mograbi are.
British Museum (The Stevenson Theatre), London - Thursday 31st January at 4pm (16.00)
The above two special screenings at the British Museum are in conjunction with PocketVisions, an independent exhibitor of documentary film who hold regular screenings and debates in London and provide access to academic and expert advice for filmmakers. Please do visit their site at pocketvisions.co.uk
POLISH BEAUTIES – Riverside Studios, London
9th January – 6th February, every Wednesday
The Riverside is presenting an excellent season of double-bills focussing on some of the most important actresses of Polish cinema.
Wednesday 23rd January at 6.30pm (18.30) - there will be a screening of Second Run’s ANOTHER WAY (dir. Karoly Makk) in a double bill with Kieslowski’s A Short Film About Love. Grazyna Szapolowska, the star of both films, will be present at this screening!
The other ‘Polish Beauties’ and their films in the season are: silent star Pola Negri in The Beast & Lubitsch’s Sumurum, Beata Tyszkiewicz in Wojciech Has’ The Doll, Magdalena Cielecka in Temptation & The Third, and Alicja Bachleda-Curus in The Gateway of Europe & Trade.
We will be there and hope to see you. For full details of the season and to book tickets: riversidestudios.co.uk
BLACK SUN – dir. Gary Tarn (UK, 2005)
In keeping with the wish to screen our films outside of London as well, this is an advance notice that Gary Tarn’s unique film will be screening in Edinburgh in February and Gary will attend that screening for a Q&A.
Full details will follow in our next Newsletter but, in the meantime, we wanted to make the date known for your diaries.
Filmhouse, Edinburgh – Tuesday 12th February, evening (time tbc)
Reviews:
Marketa Lazarová
- Sight & Sound, reviewed by Michael Brooke
- DVD Beaver, reviewed by Gary Tooze
- DVD Times, reviewed by John White
- Time Out, reviewed by David Jenkins
- Kinoblog, reviewed by Michael Brooke
- MovieMail, an article by Graeme Hobbs
Black Sun
- Time Out, reviewed by Dave Calhoun
- Sight & Sound, reviewed by Michael Brooke
- Podcast on the film, by Graeme Hobbs at Moviemail
- DVD Times, reviewed by Gary Couzens
- New Classics
My Way Home
- Sight & Sound, reviewed by Michael Brooke
- A review by Rik Herder in Holland’s largest movie magazine The Filmkrant (and therefore in Dutch only)
Partition
- Notcoming.com, reviewed by Ian Johnston
During January
There is still time to choose from a specially-priced selection of our titles in themed sets. These grouped offers will not be available anywhere else other than through our website.
They can be accessed via the SHOP link on our website. And please remember that we still offer free postal delivery worldwide.
DVDs OF THE YEAR 2007 poll - DVD Beaver
Thank you very much to everyone who voted for our films in this important poll. MARKETA LAZAROVÁ was chosen in the Top 50 worldwide releases of the year (at no 37) and also featured at no 3 in the BEST PAL DVDs OF THE YEAR. We are delighted to feature so highly in such an esteemed poll.
There were also votes for PALMS, THE PARTY AND THE GUESTS, and THE THIRD PART OF THE NIGHT. Full details of the poll results can be found here.
TOP 10 DVDs OF THE YEAR 2007 - DVD Times
Wonderful too that MARKETA LAZAROVÁ and PALMS make it into the DVD Times’ contributors individual Top 10’s. And a special mention for Second Run in Noel Megahey’s selection. Full details are here.
Made in Prague: The New Czech Cinema – UK Tour
Until 17th February
Organised by City Screen in conjunction with the Czech Centre in London, this tribute to a new generation of Czech filmmakers includes a wide range of recent international successes. Among them are Beauty in Trouble, a study of love and redemption by Jan Hrebejk, who made the Oscar-nominated Divided We Fall; Grandhotel, a quirky new film by David Ondricek, director of the hugely successful ‘singles’ comedy, Loners; and Dan Wlodarczyk’s The Indian and the Nurse, an unusually sensitive take on Czech-Roma relations. The programme also includes the stunning puppet animation, Fimfárum II, based on Jan Werich’s legendary tales, and the moving feature documentary Marcela. There will also be guest appearances by some of the underground rockers whose persecution by the government led to the human rights movement, Charter 77. Full details can be found here.
Vertigo - New Issue Launch - Curzon Soho cinema, London
Wednesday 13th February at 6pm (18.00)
Vertigo magazine will be launching its new issue with the London Premiere (and only the second screening in the UK) of John Gianvito's Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind. The film is a visual meditation on the progressive history of the United States as seen through cemeteries, plaques and historic markers, inspired by Howard Zinn's 'A People's History of the United States'. The screening will last for one hour and be followed by drinks and conversation at the bar.
For details and to book tickets, please go to curzoncinemas.com or call the Curzon box office on 0871 703 3988.
vertigomagazine.co.uk
Close-Up Videos, Film Library
We want to remind you about Close-Up Videos, who have one of the UK’s best film DVD archives and specialise in world cinema, documentaries, experimental and independent films. Close-Up offer rental options and average a very large number of new film arrivals each month. Over the past year, they have started with a Film Program of screenings each week covering the best of cinema.
We would recommend that you join their Mailing List so that you are always kept informed of their Film screenings and their film and library related developments and events that take place. Please use the link below to access their website.
Close Up Video
139 Brick Lane
London E1 6SB
Tel: 0207 739 3634
Open every day 12pm - 10pm
close-upvideos.com
Jerzy Kawalerowicz – R.I.P.
Jerzy Kawalerowicz, a towering figure in Polish cinema, died on 27th December at the age of 85 years. Director of MOTHER JOAN OF THE ANGELS, one of the first films in the launch of Second Run, we would like to note his passing and express our condolences to his family and friends. His obituary in the Telegraph can be read here.
As a tribute to Mr Kawalerowicz, we will be screening MOTHER JOAN OF THE ANGELS at our next Second Run Tuesdays screening at the Fleapit on Tuesday 12th February. Full details of the free screening will be in our next newsletter.
This month, our recommendation is simply and whole-heartedly for the films of one very important documentarist.
Frederick Wiseman’s films are now, finally, available on DVD for individual purchase. They are self-distributed by Mr Wiseman/Zipporah Films and can be purchased here.
Frederick Wiseman has been making films since 1967 and his importance to documentary cinema cannot be overstated.