Subtitles, Sous-titres and 字幕

Don't pretend you like them; we know you don't. We know that the words, "In French" or "In Italian" or "In Japanese" more often than not are heard as code for "You wouldn't like this film" and that's ok. We're just curious to know why you dislike them so strongly, and perhaps, if we're lucky, change your mind. Does the film the subtitles go under affect how you feel about them? Are there films you love that transcend the irritation of reading along while listening to another language?

Is the avant garde French film by Jean-Luc Goddard, Film Socialisme more or less appealing than the Japanese samurai film, 13 Assassins or is the prospect of dealing with the subtitles equally off putting in each case?

We love you all and we want to bring you a variety of the most thrilling, entertaining, thought provoking, and generally wonderful films out there. Some of the best films being made right now are not being made in the US and therefore never find an audience here because of the subtitle issue. In an article in the New York Times recently, film reviewer A. O. Scott complained that the majority of Americans are missing out on these films because theaters are not showing them due, in part, to the perception that Americans are not interested in films with subtitles. However, there are signs that this is changing. Michael Barker, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, gave a more hopeful take on the subject on NPR recently saying that "the younger generation does not have the same challenge to reading subtitles that the older audience has."

Are you more or less likely to watch a foreign language film than your parents? Your kids? Your brother? Your sister? Your friends? Your spouse?

Lucky Elephant

Like many people, I have a pet dog. I also have a pet cat. I even have a little goldfish that looks pointedly out the top of its tank at me as I walk by. The relationship I have with them is unlike any of my relationships with the humans in my life. I provide these creatures with food and water, a safe place to live, a comfy place to sleep, and they provide me with, well, it's hard to say. Companionship? Love? Friendship? A goofy flip of the ears? A haughty flick of the tail? Is living in my house the best option for these creatures and are they happy? That's also hard to say but I hope so.

The upcoming documentary One Lucky Elephant is a portrait of the relationship between a circus producer, David Balding and his elephant, Flora. At first when I heard about the film I was uninterested, in spite of the rave reviews it was receiving, because it sounded like a save-the-elephants animal film; a real life, landlocked version of Free Willy; a noble concept and all but not a particularly compelling story. Watching the trailer, however, it clicked. Something in the way Flora flexed her trunk and nuzzled in to Balding and then the way his face lit up with affection and recognition in return caught me by surprise and charmed me. The relationship suddenly made sense and I cared about it.

What do you do with an elephant when it is done with the circus, when as Balding put it, "she doesn't seem to be enjoying it anymore?" What do you do with an elephant you love dearly who can't live with you for much longer? The answer does not appear to be easy, and the answer as well as the film took 10 years.

Anyway, take a look at Flora and at the trailer and tell me what you think.

Oscar nominated documentarian Tim Hetherington (1970-2011)

Documentary filmmaker and photojournalist, Tim Hetherington was killed in Misrata, Libya yesterday. Hetherington is best known for co-directing the 2010 Oscar nominated film Restrepo which documented a year with the Second Platoon in Afghanistan. The film was widely praised for its honesty & impartiality. His other works include cinematography on the 2007 film The Devil Came on Horseback, a documentary on the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and on the 2004 film Libera: An Uncivil War, on the rebel uprising against indicted war criminal, Charles Taylor.

He was a known as a humble & brave man committed to bringing the truth of war and conflict to the people back at home. In a world full of spin, he was a rare filmmaker who sought the truth. He will be missed. A thoughtful remembrance of him can be found here.

Pultizer Prize nominated Photojournalist, Chris Hondros was also killed in the attack.

-Phoebe

Apocalyptic Future, Deadly Present, Violent Past

The teaser trailer for the film Bellflower which captured a lot of attention at SXSW last month was released today. Wow. It looks very dark & mad max-y. Films like this one tend to scare & fascinate me. I don't personally possess the necessary swagger to watch them without my hands up near my eyes. However, I suspect that's the whole point; this film wasn't made for me & my delicate sensibilities. It was made for firebreathers & aspiring firebreathers.

Watch the teaser trailer here

I've been fascinated by two period piece films out of Asia that look like they would also appeal to the firebreathing population. One is the film Legend of the Fist the Return of Chen Zhen which is a new take on the popular fictional Chinese hero Chen Zhen who was first brought to life by Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury. This film looks beautiful & thrilling.

watch the teaser trailer for Legend of the Fist here

The other one is the Japanese festival favorite, 13 Assassins about a team of 13 unemployed samurais who come together to assassinate an evil lord.

Watch the trailer for 13 Assassins here

Now the past may have been bloody & the future terrifying, but don't worry; the present is pretty thrilling as well. The film The Bang Bang Club, which is based on a group of real life war photographers who risk their lives to bring images from the most dangerous parts of the world to risk averse people like me, is coming out soon. Terrifying & inspiring, this film looks interesting.

Watch the trailer for The Bang Bang Club here.

-Phoebe

Meek

There are some interesting dramas coming out this Spring & Summer that have caught our eyes. One is the lovely & unsettling Meek's Cutoff about a family's journey on the Oregon Trail. I clearly remember playing "Oregon Trail" in Social Studies class back in the '80s. It was always a nice change from sitting at my desk & taking notes, but somehow I doubt that my experience sitting on a hard resin chair next to 3 of my classmates squinting at a small black & white screen was particularly authentic. Meek's Cutoff looks like the kind of drama that could bring the danger of that journey to life the way my pixelated gravestone never did.

One interesting detail is that the film was shot in 4:3 aspect ratio (nearly square) rather than 16:9 (widescreen,) the format that gives us our name. This begs the question; if we were to show this film, would we have to change our name for the run of the film?

-Phoebe

Introducing "Flick Watch"

You probably have guessed it already, but we here at Cinema 16:9 love film. We love comedies, dramas, action, thrillers, documentaries, classics, award winners, & terrible, terrible, mockably bad award non-winners. We're always keeping our eyes out for exciting new films to show in our theaters, bring in for rental, or to skip altogether. We're carving out this little corner of the internets for lively film conversation.

What films interest you? What films have you been following? What films are you skipping?