Facets

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Upcoming releases:

[criterionmaster]

I think the company is good, they release some interesting films. I am definetly going to pick up some of their releases, or at least rent them.

[captainofbeef]

I really want to see Satantango and if Dan doesnt buy it immediatly, I will.

[criterionmaster]

^I MUST SEE THIS

[criterionmaster]

October releases from Facets (and updates)

All titles PRE-ORDER: 10/10/06 and STREET: 10/31/06


HAMLET
Facets

Considered by many the finest screen adaptation of Shakespeares greatest work, Grigori Kozintsevs HAMLET is a spare, haunting interpretation based on a translation by novelist Boris Pasternak. The malevolence afoot in the state of Denmark is magnificently captured by the foreboding black and white cinematography and the dark, dramatic score by composer Dmitri Shostakovich. In addition, acclaimed Russian actors Innokenti Smoktunovsky and Anastasia Vertinskaya offer stellar, award-winning performances.

Kozintsev, a peer of Eisensteins who worked well into the 1960s, was a master of cinematic technique who finally achieved recognition at the end of his career for his stunning interpretations of Shakespeare. Leading film historian Richard Dyer wrote in the Boston Globe: Paradoxically, the two most powerful films of Shakespeare plays [Hamlet and King Lear] were made not in Great Britain but in the Soviet Union.

extraordinary performances by some of the most important Russian actors of the era.
Richard Dyer, BOSTON GLOBE

magnificent Shostakovich score. LONDON INDEPENDENT

A real buried treasure. TORONTO STAR

Kozintsev . . . gives the film a genuinely exciting epic sweep. TIME OUT NEW YORK

AWARDS
Golden Globe Nomination, Best Foreign Language Film
British Academy Film Awards, Nomination for Best Director, Nomination for Best Actor
Venice International Film Festival, Special Jury Prize, Nomination for Golden Lion for Direction


Russia/1964/Black & White/Widescreen/140 mins/In Russian with English subtitles.

$29.95


WHO WANTS TO KILL JESSIE?
Facets

In this trippy but charming comedy, a well-respected scientist creates a formula that can remove elements from dreams. But, what she doesn't know is that these dream images can manifest themselves in the real world. When she injects her husband with the formula, his dreams of Jessiethe blonde, voluptuous heroine of the comic strip "Who Wants to Kill Jessie?"come crashing into their lives. Following closely behind are the two men chasing hera muscle-bound superhero and a gun-toting cowboy. The trio not only causes serious damage around Prague, but they still talk in comic-strip word balloons, which get in everyones way!

WHO WANTS TO KILL JESSIE? mixes up Sixties pop culture with the anarchic spirit of Czech New Wave classics such as DAISIES and LEMONADE JOE to create a hilarious comic Molotov cocktail!

'Jessie' is sweet and witty, light and effortless as a dream - another unique contribution from the Czech New Wave. - David Austin, CINEMA STRIKES BACK.COM

AWARDS
Special Mention, Locarno International Film Festival,

Czech Republic/1966/Black & White/Widescreen/80 mins/ In Czech with English subtitles.


$29.95


PRISONER 13
Cinemateca

Two gripping stories are interwoven in Prisoner 13; a son who pays for his fathers faults and a desperate mother who tries to save her sons life at any cost.

Colonel Carrasco is alienated from his wife who leaves with their son, Juan. Destiny and corruption play a trick on Carrasco when he is bribed to free a revolutionary and arrest someone in his plave. Unbeknownst to him, he ends up arresting his own son.

Part of Fernando de Fuentes trilogy of the Mexican Revolution along with El Compadre Mendoza and Vamonos con Pancho Villa.

the Mexican John Ford. New York Times.

Mexico/1933/Black & White/Fullscreen/ 76 minutes/ Spanish with English subtitles.

$24.95



WHOEVER SAYS THE TRUTH SHALL DIE
Facets

In 1975, controversial Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini (Accatone, The Decameron, Salo) was brutally murdered by Pino the Frog, a seventeen year-old male prostitute who claimed self-defense. Pasolini, an avowed Marxist and open homosexual as well as an outspoken critic of Italys consumer culture and rampant political corruption, was admired by artists and intellectuals but reviled by conservative authorities. Documentary filmmaker Philo Bregstein probes the mysterious circumstances surrounding Pasolinis death to suggest a possible cover-up or conspiracy by right-wing groups.

Interviews with Pasolinis peers and associates, including director Bernardo Bertolucci, actress Laura Betti, and writer Alberto Moravia, put the controversial filmmakers life and career into perspective, along with photos, readings of his poetry, and clips from this films.

a cinematic biography of the highest order. TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL

Netherlands/1981/Color and Black & White/Fullscreen/58 mins/In Italian and English with English subtitles
$24.95


THE FILMS OF JAMES BROUGHTON
Facets

For the first time on DVD, the best films of avant-garde pioneer James Broughton have been assembled for this magnificent three-disc set.

A poet, author, and filmmaker, Broughton, who was christened the great and wise master of the American avant-garde by critic Amos Vogel, attempted to use cinema as kind of poetic statement. He took as his subject matter love, sex, the human body, and dream imagery, rendered with a playful, whimsical, and sometimes erotic touch.

Featuring such seminal titles as MOTHERS DAY (1948), DREAMWOOD (1972), and TESTAMENT(1974), this three-disc set organizes 17 of Broughtons films into three distinct eras to capture the breadth and evolution of his themes and subject matter.

Disc 1: THE EARLY YEARS
Broughtons first films focused on the themes of romantic love and human behavior. A highlight in this collection includes THE PLEASURE GARDEN, which was named Best Fantastic-Poetic Film at the Cannes Film Festival. This group of black and white shorts include: MOTHERS DAY(1948), LOONY TOM (1951), FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON (1951), and THE PLEASURE GARDEN (1953).

Disc 2: A MIDDLE PERIOD
During the 1960s and 1970s, Broughtons imagery became more erotic while his subject matter explored the landscape of dream and the mysteries of Zen poetry. A highlight in this collection is TESTAMENT, a self-portrait that depicts Broughtons life as a pageant of personal imagery. This group of color films include: THE BED (1968), THE GOLDEN POSITIONS(1970), This Is It (1971), DREAMWOOD (1972), HIGH KUKUS (1973), TESTAMENT (1974), THE WATER CIRCLE (1975), and EROGENY.

Disc 3: FINALE: THE FILMS WITH JOEL SINGER
In the last era of his life and career, Broughton teamed with partner Joel Singer to produce a series of films on the nature of intimacy and personal relationships. Films include: SONGS OF THE GODBOY (1977), HERMES BIRD (1979), THE GARDENER OF EDEN (1981), DEVOTIONS (1983), and SCATTERED REMAINS (1988), a portrait of Broughton by Singer in which the artist acts out his poetry.

His films are celebrations of the joy of living. Filmmaker Jonas Mekas

Broughton belongs in the pantheon that constains Vigo, Dovzhenko, Kirsanov, Brakhage, and Bunuel. Documentary filmmaker Basil Wright

Americas Jean Cocteau SAN FRANCISCO SENTINEL

Broughtons work has a playful quality that belies the self-important stereotype of the avant-garde artist. SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER

AWARDS
Maya Deren Independent Film Award from the American Film Institute
Cannes Film Festival, Best Poetic Film (THE PLEASURE GARDEN)

U.S./1948-1988/Color and Black & White/Fullscreen/290 mins on 3 DVDs/English

Special Features: Facets Cine-Notes Collectible Booklet featuring Broughtons poetry and commentaries on his films, Scattered Remains,

$59.95

LOTNA
PolArt

Legendary Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda (Innocent Sorcerers) directed this controversial war drama inspired by his father, who had been an officer in the Polish cavalry during World War II. An underrated gem, LOTNA was the directors first effort in color.

In 1939 in war-torn Poland, a beautiful Arabian mare falls into the possession of a cavalry captain. Called Lotna (Swift One), the horse inspires jealousy among the other officers who all want to ride her into battle. After the captain is killed, Lotna is passed down through the ranks of younger officers until the campaign collapses when the outdated squadron is forced to stand up to German tanks. A watershed moment in Polish history, the 1939 campaign was a clear dividing line between old and new Poland. In LOTNA, the magnificent white horsea mythic image of nobility and victorybecomes a symbol for a Poland lost to the ages.

a film that [is] exceptionally beautiful.one of Wajdas greatest achievements.
-Antonin and Mira Liehm, THE MOST IMPORTANT ART

of all [Wajdas] films, LOTNA is the one he feels closest to...-Colin McArthur, POLISH CINEMA

visual enchantment for which I can find no precedent. Marcel Martin, CINEMA 65

Special Features: Director and Stars Biography, Original Poster Art, Scene Selection

Poland/1959/Color/Fullscreen/90 mins/In Polish with English subtitles

$29.95


MAXX
IRmovies

A smash hit in Iran, MAXX is a delightful musical comedy starring a cast of fresh faces, including Farhad Ayish in the title role.

In this hilarious tale of mistaken identity, Maxx, a performer in a Los Angeles nightclub, receives an invitation to participate in a musical festival in Tehran. Upon arriving in Iran, Maxx is astounded by the warm welcome and at the many invitations to important cultural events. Little does he know that his invitation was originally intended for a prominent symphony conductor with a similar name. When authorities in Tehran discover Maxx is a rapper, chaos erupts.

breaks conventions and social taboosand makes you laugh.- TEHRAN AVENUE.COM

Iranians packed theaters to see [this] story. TIME

Special Features: Music Video, Photo Gallery.

Iran/2005/Color/Full Screen/110 mins/In Persian with English subtitles.

$29.95


BOLSHE VITA
Bunyik

A provocative drama perfectly captures a slice of recent history. Three young dreamers cross the Russian border into Hungary after the fall of the Berlin Wall, hoping to escape the poverty of the old Soviet Union and the politics of communism.

As soon as musicians Yura (Yuri Fomichev) and Vadim (Igor Chernievich) set foot on Hungarian soil, they strike out on their own for Budapest, leaving their musicians' collective behind. Meanwhile, Sergei (Aleksei Serebriakov), a serious-minded engineer, arrives in Budapest with two suitcases full of knives he hopes to sell. The trio meet in Budapest, portrayed as a teeming international bohemia full of footloose adventurers from all over Europe and the United States. This youthful spirit soon fades, however, as gangsters take control of the markets and drive out the small-time entrepreneurs.

A multi-award-winning debut feature film by Ibolya Fekete (CHICO).

a richly humane and poignant film. THE NEW YORK TIMES

an affecting and involving ensembler that exactly captures the initial euphoria and subsequent disillusionment of the time. VARIETY

an intelligent, moving film. Hillel Halie, ASSOCIATED PRESS

boasts strong production values and all-around engaging performances.
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

AWARDS
Gene Moskowitz Award Best First Feature Film, Hungarian Film Week, Budapest
Satyajit Ray Award, Satyajit Ray Foundation
FIPRESCI Grand Prize, Sochi International Film Festival,

Hungary/1995/Color/Widescreen/97 Mins/In Hungarian with English subtitles.

Special Features: Interview with Director

$29.95


GIRL FROM NOWOLIPKI
PolArt

Based on Pola Gojawiczynska's novel, this heartfelt drama offers a lively portrait of turn-of-the-century Warsaw as experienced by four young girls. The film begins as the heroines finish primary school and begin their adult lives. Polish star Maria Ciunelis (Pan Tadeusz) gives a charming performance as one of the four friends.
THE GIRLS FROM NOWOLIPKI is directed by Barbara Sass (Temptation), one of the few women directors in the Polish cinema. As in most of Sasss work, the film tells the story of ambitious women who brave the world in search of financial and political success

Without exception, Barbara Sass's films are explicit comments on the loves and lives of contemporary women in Poland. Janina Falkowska, CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES

Poland/1985/Color/Fullscreen/94 mins/In Polish with English subtitles.

$29.95


HUNGRY FOR MONSTERS
Facets

This gripping documentary captures the nightmare that one family endured after being persecuted by the mental health community and legal system.

When a teenage girl confesses to a teacher that her father molested her, the entire household is turned upside down. During therapy sessions to recover her repressed memories, the daughter exaggerates and embellishes her accusations as social workers, therapists, and officers of the court inadvertently egg her on. The girls tales of satanic rituals and wild orgies eventually lead to further arrests of family members, resulting in years of turmoil and heartache for all of them.

As harrowing as any Hitchcock thriller, HUNGRY FOR MONSTERS warns of the damage that can occur when seemingly responsible professionals are overtaken by the zeal of a lynch-mob mentality. Includes additional interviews.

a sharp and unrelenting portrait of the American system of justice run amok.
- WORLDVIEW, CHICAGO PUBLIC RADIO
highly recommended. VIDEO LIBRARIAN

spare, riveting. SAN FRANCISCO WEEKLY

AWARDS
Official Selection:
Bermuda International Film Festival
57th Locarno International Film Festival
Three Rivers Film Festival/Film Kitchen

U.S./2003/Color/Fullscreen/69 mins/In English

$29.95

The Spectator
SIFVF

An interpreter by profession Valeria spends her days alone in a translation booth and her nights visiting bars and having one night stands. Normally detached she becomes obsessed with Massimo, a doctor and neighbor. Whne he moves from Rome to Turin Valeria follows. Upon finding Massimo is seeing an older woman she arranges and accidental meeting with her.

Stylistically indebted to the mystical coincidences of Kieslowskia coolly hypnotic study of solitude and complicity. Variety.

AWARDS
Official Selection Edinburgh International Film Festival
Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival

Italy/2004/color/ 98 minutes/In Italian with English subtitles.

$24.95



TITLES MOVED FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

Distortion
SIFVF

A film about the intifada, the film deals with a playwright who tries to cope with his writers block by hiring a private detective to follow his filmmaker girlfriend. The girlfriend is making a documentary on an Israeli soldier. The play, the documentary and the investigator all become interwoven.

Very few films have dealt with the violence of the current intifada Hannah Brown, Jerusalem Post.

The movie is about showing things people dont want to think about Director Haim Bouzaglo.

Winner of awards at the Syracuse International Film and Video Festival and the Jerusalem Film Festival.

Israel-France/2005/color/wide screen/ 103 minutes/ In Hebrew with English subtitles.

Indoctrination
Facets

Farocki recorded a five-day seminar designed to teach management executives how to verbally sell themselves better and then are trained in body language, posture and facial expression.

The result is a window into the world of corporate behavior, marketing manipulation and modern capitalism.

$29.95



The Interview
Facets

Documentary filmmaker Harun Farocki follows several job applicants as they take part in a program designed to help them apply for workto sell them. Farockis film is an insightful look at the manipulative tactics of big business and shows the effort to turn a person into a commodity as both demeaning and superficial.

(Farocki is) a filmmaker with a punk aesthetic.-Kaelen Wilson-Goldie, The Daily Star.

A fascinating look at the protocol and politics of the job interview.-Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival

$29.95

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[agentknight]

There are too few companies that actually conciously try to get interesting movies out out to the public. Just reading about the DVDs that this company (and a few others) are releasing makes me happy

[criterionmaster]

[criterionmaster]