A world of movies

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

International film star Maggie Cheung is a jury member of this year's film festival. Her film "Clean" opened the festival last night. She will introduce another movie Monday and take part in a Q&A afterward. Festival photos

Famke Janssen, Kelly Preston, Ray Romano, Hank Azaria and Zooey Deschanel in "Eulogy," about a dysfunctional family. It screens on closing night at the Hawai'i Theatre.

"Gettin' Square" is a crime tale from Australia, screening Tuesday at the Hawai'i Theatre.

LOUIS VUITTON HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Play dates: Opened last night, runs through Oct. 31 on O'ahu, Oct. 29-31 on Neighbor Islands O'ahu screening sites: Signature Dole Cannery 18 Theatres, Honolulu Academy of Arts' Doris Duke Theatre, Hawai'i Theatre and University of Hawai'i-Manoa Number of films: 168 features, documentaries, shorts and animated works, from 24 countries Program guides: Free at Blockbuster Video stores and Starbucks locations statewide Festival mini-guides: Free at Central Pacific Bank and City Bank locations on O'ahu Admission: $8 general; $7 students, seniors, children and military; $6 film festival members Information: 528-4433, www.hiff.org BY THE NUMBERS 11 — Screening days 168 — Films scheduled 24 — Countries represented 9 — World premieres 18 — U.S. premieres 70 — Hawai'i premieres

"We're definitely turning the corner financially," said Jeff Portnoy, president of the festival board. "We're doing well. With Louis Vuitton as the name sponsor, and support from the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, we're ahead of last year's sales. But we have a lot of tickets left to sell. A lot (of the success) depends on how many people go to the movies."

Online ticket sales (www.hiff.org) have made reservations smoother, said Portnoy.

And snow had a role in the destiny of this year's festival, which opened last night and continues through Oct. 31 at four O'ahu venues. International film stars Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung were involved in an impromptu snowball fight four years ago at the Rotterdam Film Festival as local festival honcho Chuck Boller was passing by. Boller took the opportunity to make contact with Cheung in an attempt to get her over here to add a bit of stardust to the annual fall event.

"I introduced myself; she gave me her e-mail; we've kept in touch over the years. I invited her to be on our jury," said Boller, executive director of the film festival.

It took four years and global networking to land Cheung, said Boller. As sort of a reward for accepting, Cheung will receive the inaugural Award for Achievement in Acting from the festival, which screened her "Clean" feature last night as the festival's opening attraction. Further, a "Maggie Cheung Surprise Screening" event — the secret's out, it's "Comrades, Almost a Love Story," her 1996 romance — takes place at 8 p.m. Monday at Dole Cannery, where she will introduce the film and field post-screening queries in a Q&A session.

"Someone of her brilliance is always busy, and sometimes they cancel," said Boller. "We are just delighted that this extraordinary actress, who won Best Actress honors at the Cannes Film Festival this year, would agree to be here. She's a huge star all over the world, except in this country, and she's blowing 'em away with her appearance in 'Hero.' "

In mounting the film schedule, Boller works closely with Anderson Le and the film selection committee, which includes community movie bulls "whose opinion we trust." Together, they view, rate and assess films suitable for the festival.

"We go after films we see around the world, too," said Boller. "And we encourage films to be submitted to us."

From thousands of titles, the selections this year were whittled down to 168 titles that are all over the map — features, documentaries, shorts; films from China, Australia, South Korea, Argentina, Japan, Hawai'i and the rest of the United States.

The films adhere to the ongoing festival theme — promoting cultural understanding among peoples of the Pacific Rim, Asia, and North America — with contributions from neophyte filmmakers to legendary international veterans.

Often, folks who've worked here before yearn to return as a featured attraction, their star bumped up because of an international hit film.

Such is the case of David Wenham, an Australian actor who previously starred in a made-in-Hawai'i independent film in which he portrayed Father Damien. He will discuss the craft of acting at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Doris Duke Theatre. "He's got local connections, having worked on a feature here (on Moloka'i and on O'ahu), and he continues to be one of Australia's leading actors," Boller said. He also played Faramir in the last two films in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

The festival dates were juggled somewhat. Originally, the event was to be held a week later, but was moved up after Regal Entertainment Group, which bought the Signature holdings in Hawai'i, requested the earlier start because of the November arrival of holiday films.

"Regal is fully involved in the festival and we look to them to continue sponsorship (and provide the bulk of the screening sites) in the future," said Boller.

The switch in time frame, however, affected the participation plans of film critic Roger Ebert, a popular magnet at screenings here. "He had freed his November schedule and even suggested a film for us this year, but he couldn't join us this year," said Boller. "We'll miss him terribly, but he says he'll be coming next year."

The roster still includes other notables, such as Allen Daviau, the noted cinematographer, who will receive the Kodak Vision Award for Cinematography and conduct a seminar linked to the screening of a Steven Spielberg feature he shot, "Empire of the Sun"; and a panel of surf culture icons such as Bruce Brown of "The Endless Summer" fame and Jack Johnson, Emmett Malloy and Chris Malloy of "The Moonshine Conspiracy."

With the success last year of a "Sunset on the Beach" screening of Nathan Kurosawa's "The Ride" (which went on to win the Blockbuster Video Audience Award and the Cades Schutte Hawai'i Film & Videomaker Award), a couple of Hawai'i short films will be shown at this Saturday's "Sunset." One is "To You Sweetheart, Aloha," a documentary by Mercedes Coats and S. Leo Chiang, about 94-year-old 'ukulele legend Bill Tapia, who has managed to carve out another career after the death of his wife and daughter.

"Bill will be there, playing his uke before the film," Boller said. "He is, indeed, a legend — performing at the opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel years ago. He's still a charmer."

The other short is "Kamea," directed by Jennifer Akana-Sturla, a coming-of-age tale of a young girl on the North Shore.

One of the most daunting offerings is a nine-hour marathon viewing of "West of the Tracks," a documentary from China, on the industrialization of cities in China. While available in modified, two- to four-hour segments, the brave and the dedicated can watch the entire shebang, from 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Marine Sciences 110 at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. "I presume there will be meal breaks," said Boller.

Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8067.

Special events sprinkled throughout film festival

The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Series, now under way, will present a handful of special screenings and awards competitions.

Here are the specials, the competitions, nominees, show times and venues:

OPENING NIGHT

• "Clean," France, Britain, U.S.; English, French, Cantonese. Directed by Olivier Assayas; starring Maggie Cheung as Emily Wang, a widow of a rock star, who tries to turn her life around so she can be "clean" again and reunite with her young son. Cheung won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for this role. Last night at the Hawai'i Theatre.

CLOSING NIGHT

• "Eulogy," U.S., Britain, Germany; English. Directed by Michael Clancy; starring Ray Romano, Zooey Deschanel, Hank Azaria, Kelly Preston and Famke Janssen, about a dysfunctional family gathering for a funeral. 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Hawai'i Theatre.

CENTERPIECE GALAS

• "Gettin' Square," Australia, Britain, English. Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky; featuring David Wenham in a tale about a con who claims he didn't commit a murder during a robbery and a bumbling crook who leads a bank heist, with twisted and comic results. 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hawai'i Theatre.
• "Imaginary Heroes," U.S., English. Directed by Dan Harris; about a year in the life of a typical upper-middle-class family that goes to pieces after a sobering tragedy, told with wit, charm and warmth. 6 p.m. Sunday at Hawai'i Theatre.

SIGNATURE GALAS

• "Cuba Libre," U.S., English, Spanish. Directed by Juan Gerard; about growing up in Holguin during the final year of dictator Fulgencio Battista's regime, focusing on a boy who adores film, has infatuations and endures heartaches, and ultimately evolves as a poignant tale of the destruction of families caused by Castro's dictatorship. 8 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday at Dole Cannery.
• "Dear Frankie," Britain, English. Directed by Shona Auerbach; about a single mom who pretends, through letters she writes to her 9-year-old son, that his father is aboard a ship that travels to exotic lands. She desperately tries to get a stranger to play the perfect dad. 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Hawai'i Theatre.
• "Heaven's Bookstore (Tengoku no Honya)," Japan, Japanese with subtitles. Directed by Tetsuo Shinohara; about a depressed young man given a second chance when he is brought to heaven to help a young woman find her lost love. 8 p.m. Tuesday and 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Dole Cannery.
• "Remember Me, My Love (Ricordati di me)," Italy, Italian with subtitles. Directed by Gabriele Muccino; about the life and times of a modern Italian family. 8 p.m. Tuesday, 8 p.m. Thursday and 8:15 p.m. Oct. 29 at Dole Cannery.
• "Steamboy," Japan, Japanese with subtitles. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo; anime set in 19th-century London, revolving around a young inventor and his quest to capture the "steam ball." 8 p.m. Sunday and 7:45 p.m. Oct. 29 at Dole Cannery.
• "Untold Scandal," South Korea, Korean with subtitles. Directed by E J-yong; a remake of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," with a Korean spin, set in the Chosun Dynasty, with sexual schemes, seduction and betrayal part of the mix. 8 p.m. Saturday, 8:15 p.m. Tuesday and 7:45 p.m. Oct. 30 at Dole Cannery.

FEATURE NOMINEES

The First Hawaiian Bank Golden Maile (Best Feature) Award will be bestowed on one of the following films:

• "Baytong," Thailand; Thai with English subtitles. Directed by Nonzee Nimibutr; about a Buddhist monk who adapts to modern conventions when he leaves the monastery to care for his orphaned niece. 10 p.m. Saturday at Dole Cannery and 1 p.m. Oct. 31 at Doris Duke.
• "Low Life (Haryu Insaeng)," South Korea; Korean with subtitles. Directed by Im Kwon-taek; about a temperamental student who treks to a rival school to seek revenge for his wounded friend, and his encounters with the underworld. 7:45 p.m. Monday and 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at Dole Cannery.
• "South of the Clouds (Yun De Nan Fang)," China; Mandarin with subtitles. Directed by Zhu Wen; a nostalgic tale of an older man's journey to the remote Chinese province of Yunnan and his adjustment to a new life and land. 4 p.m. today at Dole Cannery.
• "Take Out," Taiwan/U.S.; Mandarin, English, Spanish. Directed by Shih-Ching Tsou and Sean Baker; about an illegal immigrant in Manhattan's Chinatown and how he and others like him survive amid everyday dangers. 7:15 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Oct. 31 at Dole Cannery.
• "Taste of Tea (Cha No Aji)," Japan; Japanese with subtitles. Directed by Katsuhito Ishii; about the eccentric Haruno family and their idiosyncratic life: Dad is a hypnotherapist, mom is an animator, daughter is stalked by a giant image of herself. 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Dole Cannery and 6 p.m. Oct. 31 at Doris Duke.

DOCUMENTARY NOMINEES

• "And Thereafter," South Korea; Korean, English with subtitles. Directed by Hosup Lee; about the homecoming of American soldiers from the Korean War, and the arrival of the first Korean war bride — reflections of bride Young-Ja Wike 40 years later. 4:15 p.m. today, 1 p.m. Oct. 30 at Dole Cannery.
• "Mr. Patterns," Australia; English, Luritju, Warlpili, with subtitles; directed by Catriona McKenzie; about an art movement in the Australian outback, empowering and destroying the lives of those involved. 4 p.m. Sunday at Dole Cannery, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Doris Duke.
• "In the Realms of the Unreal," U.S., English. Directed by Jessica Yu; about a 15,000-page illustrated manuscript, created in secret by Chicago janitor Henry Darger, discovered years after his death, that sheds light on his unusual life. Dakota Fanning narrates. 1 p.m. Saturday and 4:15 p.m. Monday at Dole Cannery.
• "The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam," Canada, English; directed by Ann Marie Fleming; about the nomadic word of vaudeville during the early 1900s, and specifically on the title figure, a magician and acrobat. 3:30 p.m. today at Doris Duke and 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at Dole Cannery.
• "Still, the Children Are Here," U.S., Garo with subtitles. Directed by Dinaz Stafford; about the people and livelihood of the indigenous Garo people in northeast India, told with visual elegance in real time, without scripting or conventional exposition. 4:15 p.m. Tuesday and 4:15 p.m. Oct. 29 at Dole Cannery.

OTHER AWARDS

• The Blockbuster Video Audience Award will be given to a feature, short or documentary judged on popular vote by viewers.
• The Cades Schutte and the Cades Foundation Hawai'i Film & Videomaker Award will be given to a local filmmaker.
• The Film in Hawai'i Award will be presented by the state to a film or TV entity that significantly contributes to the local film industry; the recipient will be announced Wednesday.
• The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award, founded by Cinemaya and UNESCO, will be given to a festival participant Wednesday.
• The Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence in Cinematography will be awarded to Allen Daviau on Wednesday; he conducts a cinematography seminar at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Doris Duke Theatre.