'Oscar' winner 'Coda' is not bollywood's 'Khamoshi' (1996).
Before that there was film 'Beyond Silence', which I watched in our 'IFFI', 1995.

INSPIRATIONAL 'CODA' WON 'BEST PICTURE OSCAR'!

Pretty Emilia Jones & other artists on poster of American film 'Coda' (2021).

'94th Academy Awards' ceremony over & 'Coda' won 'Best Picture' award in it! This film also won 'Best Adapted Screenplay' and 'Best Supporting- Actor' awards!

This American film is a remake of French film 'La Famille Belier' (2014) directed by Eric Lartigau. It was originally based on the story & screenplay wrote by Victoria Bedo & Thomas Bidegain. In this, teenage girl helps her deaf parents in their daily work and discovers her voice of singing! Beautiful French singer-actress Anne Peichert known by stage name Louane Emera played this character Paula superbly and won 'Cesar Award' of 'Most Promising Actress'!

Pretty Anne Peichert & others in French film 'La Famille Belier'!

Sian Heder wrote and directed English version 'Coda' (means Child Of Deaf Adults). And she won 'Best Adapted Screenplay' award! In this the only hearing girl in deaf family helps her parents in their struggling business, while pursuing her passion of music! Beautiful Welsh actress, singer, songwriter Emilia Annis I. Jones played this role Ruby nicely! With her.. Marlee Martin acted as mother, Daniel Durant as brother and Troy Kotsur as father who won 'Best Supporting Actor' award!

Sian excellently made this family film which became inspirational! Its emotional scenes intensely cinematographed by Paula - Huidobro and Geraud Brisson appropritely edited the film. Music composer Marius de Vries made sensitive tunes for it!

Producers of this film are Fabrice Gianfermi, Jerôme Seydoux, Patrick Wachsberger and Philippe Rousselet who spoke on this occasion while receiving 'Oscar' award!

Congratulations to entire team of this film!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

JAPANESE FILM 'DRIVE MY CAR' WON 'OSCAR'!

Hidetoshi Nishijima & Toko Miura in Japanese film 'Drive My Car' (2021).

'94th Academy Awards' ceremony over and Japanese film 'Doraibu mai ka' ('Drive My Car') won 'Best International Feature Film' award in it!

Based on renowned Japanese writer Haruki Murakami's short story of same name.. 'Doraibu mai ka' is co-written & directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi! It's a road movie which superbly cinematographed by Hidetoshi Shinomiya & edited by Azusa Yamazaki!

'Drive My Car's Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi with 'Oscar' award!

'Drive My Car' is an emotional story of stage actor-director who learns to cope with his wife's un - expected passing. This also focuses on husband and wife relations! Famous Japanese actor.. Hidetoshi Nishijima intensely performed protagonist & Reika Kirishina acted as his wife. And pretty Toko Miura accompanied him in this journey!

Hamaguchi is a director who has been influenced by filmmakers like ('In the Mood for Love' fame) Wong Kar-wai! So we can observe such kind of work in it!

Congrats to him & entire team of 'Doraibu mai ka'!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

 LIV ULLMANN RECEIVED 'OSCAR' HONOUR!

Veteran Norwegian Actress Liv Ullmann with 'Oscar' Honour!

Two days before this main '94th Oscar Awards', a special celebration happened in which legends of cinema were conferred with its honours. They are..Screenwriter Elaine May (89), actor Samuel Jackson (73) & actress Liv Ullmann (83).

Congratulations to them!!!

When this honorary award was announced to my favourite Liv Ullmann, I wrote on her here. There is also my special article on her 'LIV..NORWEGIAN ICON OF CINEMA!' which published on my this Blog 'CHITRASRUSHTI' (FILMWORLD) on 17th Dec. 2020. Please see it!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'OSCAR' 2022 SPECIAL!

PRETTY PENELOPE COMPETING FOR 'OSCAR'!

Famous Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg (who is competing -

for 'Best Director' with the new adaptation of 'West Side Story') with..

Spanish pretty actress Penelope Cruz (competing for 'Best Actress') 

in the 'Oscars' nominations lunch party!

My favourite Spanish Actress beautiful Penelope Cruz is competing for.. 'Best Actress' with her 'Madres paralelas' performance in this '94th Oscar' awards!

She is the first and only Spanish actress to be nominated & to win Academy award. That 'Best Supporting Actress' award she won In 2008, for her role in Woody Allen's 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'! Now this time she is in the race for 'Best Actress' with her role in 'Madres Paralelas' (Parallel Mothers) made by her friend renowned Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar! I already wrote about this film when Penelope won 'Best Actress' award for this at '78th Venice International Film Festival'. It's a story of two women who give birth their babies same day & she played one of them a photographer Janis intensely!

Australian actress Nicole Kidman & Spanish actor Javier Bardem

(who is also competing for 'Best Actor') in film 'Being the Ricardos'!

Other four actresses in this competition are from US & UK! Except famous Australian -American actress Nicole - Kidman who is nominated for her role in film 'Being the Ricardos'. In this she has played the character of Lucille Ball an American actress & comedian of famous Tele sitcom 'I Love Lucy'! And Spanish actor (Penelope's spouse) Javier  Bardem did the role of Cuban-American film-tv producer Desi Arnaz!

There is another biographical film on television personality in this section and that is American actress & producer Jessica Chastain's 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye'. It's a focus on 'The PTL Club' fame talk show host Tammy Faye. It's based on the documentary of same name made by Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato of 'World of Wonder'! Jessica beautifully portrayed this character, so she got the nomination in this section! Somehow, I remembered one neo-noir film which we friends watched during our college days and that is 'Eyes of Laura Mars'. There is absolutely no similarities between these two films!

Pretty Kristen Stewart in film 'Spencer'!

Then there is beautiful Kristen Stewart is competing with title role of film 'Spencer'. I have already written about this also, when it was premiered in the.. '78th Venice International Film Festival'. British screenwriter Steven Knight wrote and Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larrain co - produced & directed this film. It focuses on the personality of.. Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales her marriage and quitting royal family! And Kristen portrayed pretty Diana superbly in it!

After these, there comes English actress Olivia Colman with her role in film 'The Lost Daughter'. This is a psychological drama based on a novel of same name by Italian writer Elena Ferrante. It's about a woman's beach vacation which takes a dark turn! This actress is known for her comedic and dramatic roles, but in this film she did different matured role!

That means there are three actresses with biographical films' roles in this section & one is from psycho-thriller! Compared to them, Penelope's character in 'Madres Paralelas' is contemporary & she did it intensely!

This 94th 'Oscars' ceremony will be held on Sunday, 27th March, 2022.

Best wishes to all of them!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'OSCAR' 2022 SPECIAL!

BHUTANESE FILM COMPETING FOR 'OSCAR'!

 

Poster of Bhutanese film 'Luana: A Yark in the Classroom'!

This time there is Bhutanese film 'Luana: A Yark in the Classroom' is competing in the category of International Feature Film (or Foreign language film section) in this times 'Oscar' awards! This is its director Pawo Choying Dorji's debut film!

This film is about aspiring singer who wants to go abroad, but life turns and to perform a teacher duty he arrives in a village. There is satire and emotion also in this film. Sherab Dorji has portrayed this role sensibly, especially in the scene depicting his attachment towards students!..In some way, I recollected my favourite Chinese film.. Zhang Yimou's 'The Road Home' (1999) while watching the glimpses of 'Luana'!

Scene of Japanese film 'Drive My Car' ('Doraibu mai ka').

Other four films in this section includes three European. And one more from Asian country which is.. 'Drive My Car' - (Doraibu mai ka') from Japan! It's a road movie co-written and directed by.. Ryusuke Hamaguchi. This is an emotional story of stage actor-director who learns to cope with his wife's unexpected passing. Hidetoshi Nishijima did this role intensely!

In European films, there is 'The Hand of God' ('E stata la mano di Dio') from Italy. This is an autobiographical film of its renowned director Paolo Sorrentino. It shows how his life turned and he became filmmaker! Earlier he won Academy award for his film 'La Grande Bellezza' ('The Great Beauty/2013).

Renate Reinsve in 'The worst person in the world'!

Then there is 'Flee' ('Flugt') a Danish animated docudrama made by Jonas - Poher Rasmussen. It tells the true story of a man who reveals his hidden past. For this, editor Janus Billeskov Jansen has merged real visulas in animations!

And there is Norwegian film 'The worst person in the world' ('Verdens verste menneske') directed by Joachim Trier. This is his third film in 'Oslo Trilogy'. 

It's the self-seach of a young woman in between her love life & career path! For portraying this excellent role, beautiful Renate Reinsve won Best Actress award in last 'Cannes Film Festival'! That time I wrote about this my favourite actress' grand success!

I think, 'The Hand of God' and 'The worst person in the world' are content wise - powerful films. But 'Luana' is well picturized film because Pawo Dorji is originally a photographer!..And film has its innocence too!

Let us see! This 94th 'Oscars' ceremony will be held on Sunday, 27th March, 2022.

Best wishes to these films!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'OSCAR' 2022 SPECIAL!

PAK VISUAL ARTIST LARAIB ATTA & TEAM FOR 'OSCAR'!

Laraib Atta & poster of Daniel Craig starrer James Bond film 'No Time to Die'!

While writing on this year Oscar nominations, just read the news that Pakistani artist Laraib Atta and her visual effects team is competing in 'Best Visual Effects' category with their work for James Bond film..

'No Time to Die'!

She is a daughter of Pakistani legendary singer Atta Ullah Khan Esakhelvi. His original song 'Achha Sila Diya Tune Mere Pyar Ka" was used in Bollywood film 'Bewafa Sanam' (1995) and became hit!

Obiviously, the other four films are American. These are..epic science fiction 'Dune', action comedy 'Free Guy' and two superhero films 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' & 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'!

This 94th 'Oscars' ceremony will be held on Sunday, 27th March, 2022.

Congratulation & Best luck to Ms.Laraib!

- Manoj Kulkarni

KOBZAR TARAS OF UKRAINE!

World Poetry Day recently happened and came to know, there were also (birth & death) anniversaries of great Ukrainian Poet Taras Shevchenko in this month!

He was born in 1814 at place called Moryntsi (a village in central Ukraine) and he died in 1861 at Saint Petersburg (now in Russia). He was a visionary who promoted the.. independence of Ukraine!

Ukrainian Poet-PainterTaras Shevchenko!

His writing is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature! He was folklorist in the genre of his poems. His famous book is 'Kobzar' (bard in Ukrainian culture) which was his nickname too!

There are English translations of his poems..
"Our soul shall never perish
Freedom knows no dying.!"

And this one..
"The river empties to the sea
But out it never flows..!"

Taras Shevchenko was a famous painter also! There is film based on his poem..'Kobzar' (2015) made by Bogdan Shevchenko!

Homage to this legendary artist!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

'OSCAR' 2022 SPECIAL!

INDIAN DOCUMENTARY FOR 'OSCAR'!

Director Rintu Thomas with the poster of her documentary 'Writing with Fire'!

This time there is a proud moment for our Indian documentary makers, that Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh made 'Writing with Fire' has been nominated for 'Oscar's 'Documentary (Feature)' award section! Congratulations!!

It's about 'Khabar Lahariya'..India's only newspaper run by Dalit women. They are publishing this in various rural dialects. These journalists are using smartphones to shoot news in remote areas! This documentary was premiered at 'Sundance Film Festival' & won two awards!

There are other four documentaries in this section. These are..Chinese-American Jessica Kingdon's 'Ascension' about inside perspective on modern China, American Stanley Nelson & Traci Curry directed 'Attica' about racism & violence on the backdrop of 1971 prison rebellion uprising, American musician Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's 'Summer of Soul' about 1969 Harlem cultural festival celebrated black pride & unity and Jonas Poher Rasmussen's Danish animated ducudrama 'Flee' about self-discovery in hidden past!

As usual there are more, 3 documentaries by American filmmakers. Apart from that, 'Writing with Fire' & 'Ascension' are the contemporaries in this section!

This 94th 'Oscars' ceremony will be held on Sunday, 27th March, 2022.

Best wishes to these documentaries!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

Happy World Poetry Day!✍️

In romantic atmosphere..
with beautiful companion
Poetic heart can create..
a sweet love poem!

- Manoj 'manas roomani'

REMEMBRANCE OF 'HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR!

Poster of film 'Hiroshima Mon Amour' (1959).

While the news channels raising the possibility of nuclear World War III, there is a need to remember of film 'Hiroshima Mon Amour'! And its director..one of the pioneers of French New Wave..Alain Resnais' 8th death anniversary recently happened!

Tragedy of Hiroshima & Nagasaki showed in this film!

More than seven decades over..such tragedy happened in Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki..during World War II. To pay the cinematic homage to it..in 1959, Alain Resnais made 'Hiroshima Mon Amour'! This was co-produced by French & Japanese companies. Anatole Dauman & Samy Halfon were producers!

Marguerite Donnadieu wrote the screenplay of this docu-drama, which used miniature flashbacks to create a non-linear storyline. In its romantic plot, while making an anti-war film in Hiroshima a French Actress does conversation with her Japanese architect lover and they share their perspectives on war! Pretty French actress Emmanuelle Riva and Japanese actor Eiji Okada did these roles intensely!

Michio Takahashi & Sacha Vierny cinematographed this film with various experiments like extream close-ups of characters and taking  contemporary suggestive shots! Henri Colpi & Anne Sarraute edited this film effectively with merging the flash backs during characters' conversation! Georges Delerue & Giovanni Fusco's music was appropriate to the genre of this film!

'Hiroshima Mon Amour's (1959) filmmaker Alain Resnais!

Surprisingly the film was excluded from that time 'Cannes' official selection, because of its sensitive subject & to avoid upsetting U.S.! But after many years it was shown as part of the classic section at the '66th Cannes Film Festival', 2013. It's the irony!

Actually, this is very important landmark film in the history of world cinema, which gives the strong message against war!

After 60 years, significance of this film is very much there! (I wrote about it earlier!)

Now world leaders, please take care..there should not be Nuclear WW3!

We want peaceful & happy world!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN FILM 'DONBASS'!

Now this is a very contemporary Russian/Ukrainian film on which I am writing after classic Soviet films!

'Donbass' (2018) a film wrote and directed by Ukrainian Sergei Loznitsa who is known for documentaries! Its plot explore the mid-2010 conflict between Russian-supported Donetsk people and Ukraine! But genre is drama-satire or black comedy!

German Heino Deckert produced this film. Its shooting took place in Kryvy Rih, Ukraine. For that Romanian - cinematographer Oleg Mutu worked brilliantly. And Lithuanian Danielius Kokanauskis edited a film effectively! Artists like TamaraYatsenko, Irina - Zayarmiuk, Grigory Masliuk, Olesya Zhurakivska, Lyudmila Smorodina, Igor Kirilchatenko, Arsen Bosenko & Thorsten Merten played roles in it!

This film won award at 'Cannes Film Festival' and Lozintsa won 'Un Certain Regard'. He also won 'Best Director' at 'Cairo Internatioal Film Festival'. And this film won.. 'Golden Peacock Award' at our 'International Film Festival of India' (IFFI),

- Manoj Kulkarni

EXCLUSIVE!

FIFTY YEARS OLD INDO-SOVIET FRIENDSHIP!

Here is a very important picture of..The Indo–Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation!
It was signed between India and the Soviet Union in August, 1971.

In this photograph, you can see the former Prime Minister of our India..Indira Gandhi, that time Finance Minister Y. B. Chavan and then General Secretary of Communist - Party of the Soviet Union..Leonid Brezhnev!

This traditional friendship is helping today to safeguard our Indian people in current war there!

So that's a fact!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

WAR AND LOVE!

On the current scenario, remembered my favourite classic Soviet film.. 'The Cranes Are Flying' (1957). This shows how Love suffers in a War!

(Few years back I wrote special article on it here!)

Georgian origin Soviet director Mikhail Kalatozov sensibly made this film on the play by Victor Rozov who also wrote it's screenplay! It's story centres on the passionate love of Veronika for her boyfriend Boris who is missing, actually killed in war!

Soviet cinematographer Sergey Urusevsky did experiments in it with visuals of war & emotions! And editor Mariya Timofeyeva created effective results!

Beautiful Tatyana Samoilova very sensitively performed this Veronika who represents Soviet women in the cotext of war! And Aleksey Batalov did the role of Boris intensely!

This film won many international awards. And this was the only Soviet film to win.. prestigious 'Palme d'Or' at 'Cannes Film Festival'. In this actress Tatyana Samoilova also won special award. Latter she was named a 'People's Artists of Russia'!

A Tribute!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

TOLSTOY'S 'WAR AND PEACE'!

On the current world scenario, again remembered great Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy's this great book..'War and Peace' which published in 1869!

This internationally praised classic of world literature has been translated into many languages. And there are its several adaptations of theatre, opera, films & television programmes!

More than 150 years are over..but it is still contemporary!

- Manoj Kulkarni