Japan in Cannes

Mark R. Harris brokerharris at gmail.com
Fri Apr 20 13:33:15 EDT 2012


Fair enough. I don't mean to suggest that story, theme, and plot are
unimportant, either.

On Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 11:23 AM, Mark Mays <tetsuwan at comcast.net> wrote:

>   Sorry for using “theme” and “plot” as if they were interchangeable. Not
> what I meant. But if Kiarostami does take on a hackneyed plot device and
> does his usual great work, does that mean I should necessarily be more
> interested in seeing the film? Perhaps . . . definitely if I’m an
> auteurist. I could just go re-watch Werkmeister Harmonies if the visual
> arts are the only value I’m after. Story is important to me. Theme and plot
> are important to me, and whether the production team (not simply the
> director) can communicate those things visually. Concerns, like matters
> related to cultural issues many of my critic friends cast aside as
> unimportant are important to me. I don’t watch Borzage. It’s about my
> choice as a consumer, not as a critic.
>
> It isn’t simply that he chose *a* hackneyed plot device, this is case
> specific. Why *this *one?
>
>  *From:* Mark R. Harris <brokerharris at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Thursday, April 19, 2012 2:53 PM
> *To:* KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> *Subject:* Re: Japan in Cannes
>
> I find your last sentence interesting, because *it* suggests that art is
> primarily thematic, and I somehow doubt you mean that. Surely there are
> many instances of gifted directors taking hackneyed themes and "adding"
> quite a lot through their overall visualization, mise-en-scene, editing,
> direction of actors, etc. With some directors - Frank Borzage comes to mind
> - that is where there primary interest lies. Surely Japanese cinema *in
> particular* abounds in directors whose remarkability hasn't much to do
> with their deliberately unremarkable choice of subject matter.
>
> On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 1:42 PM, Mark Mays <tetsuwan at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>   I must see the film to judge it on its quality. I don’t have to see a
>> film to say I’m unimpressed about the subject matter; yet another go at a
>> topic that’s been done to death, even if it is Kiarostami. And to answer
>> another question, given the plot involves the student in question meeting
>> an elderly man who shows her kind treatment really suggests there’s nothing
>> the director will add.
>>
>>  *From:* Mark R. Harris <brokerharris at gmail.com>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, April 19, 2012 2:26 PM
>>  *To:* KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
>> *Subject:* Re: Japan in Cannes
>>
>>  Why all the negativity about a film that hasn't been seen yet?
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 1:19 PM, Michael Kerpan <mekerpan at verizon.net>wrote:
>>
>>>  Does Kiarostami have anything new or different to say (or show us)
>>> about the topic?
>>>
>>>   *From:* Mark Mays <tetsuwan at comcast.net>
>>> *To:* KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
>>> *Sent:* Thursday, April 19, 2012 3:04 PM
>>>
>>> *Subject:* Re: Japan in Cannes
>>>
>>>   Was disappointed to hear about the Kiarostami, frankly. Brilliant
>>> director but how many more times must we round the enjyo kosai poll . . .
>>> er so to speak.
>>>
>>>  *From:* Mark R. Harris <brokerharris at gmail.com>
>>> *Sent:* Thursday, April 19, 2012 1:09 PM
>>> *To:* KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
>>> *Subject:* Re: Japan in Cannes
>>>
>>> It's a big day for Korea, since both Im and Hong got spots in the main
>>> competition, and they are the only East Asian directors to do so.
>>> Weerasethakul's film was relegated to a Special Screening, a bit of a
>>> surprise perhaps after his recent Palme d'Or win.
>>>
>>> Mark R. Harris
>>>
>>> On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 11:46 AM, Mark Nornes <amnornes at umich.edu>wrote:
>>>
>>> The Cannes lineup was announced.
>>>
>>> The only Japanese film in competition is directed by Kiarostami, sorry
>>> to say.
>>>
>>> Un Certain Regard will future Wakamatsu's regrettably titled *11.25 The
>>> Day He Chose His Own Fate. *
>>> *
>>> *
>>> Finally, there is a midnight screening of *The Legend of Love &
>>> Sincerity, *by Miike.
>>>
>>> Not a good year for Japan. Other Asian directors that got slots include
>>> Apichatpong Weerasethakul, You Ye, Ashim Ahluwalia, Im Sang-soo, and Hong
>>> Sang-soo.
>>>
>>> Markus
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>       _________________________________
>>> *A. M. Nornes*
>>> *Chair, **Department of Screen Arts and Cultures*
>>> *Professor, Department of Asian Languages & Cultures*
>>> *Professor, School of Art & Design*
>>> *University of Michigan*
>>> *
>>> North Quad 6F, 105 S. State Street
>>> Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1608
>>> Phone: 734-763-1314
>>> FAX: 734-936-1846
>>> *
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Mark R. Harris
>>> Profesor de humanidades
>>> Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Sinaloa
>>> Blvd. Pedro Infante 3773
>>> Culiacan, CP 80100, Sinaloa, Mexico
>>> +52 (667) 759-1600
>>> mark_r_harris at yahoo.com
>>> brokerharris at gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Mark R. Harris
>> Profesor de humanidades
>> Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Sinaloa
>> Blvd. Pedro Infante 3773
>> Culiacan, CP 80100, Sinaloa, Mexico
>> +52 (667) 759-1600
>> mark_r_harris at yahoo.com
>> brokerharris at gmail.com
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Mark R. Harris
> Profesor de humanidades
> Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Sinaloa
> Blvd. Pedro Infante 3773
> Culiacan, CP 80100, Sinaloa, Mexico
> +52 (667) 759-1600
> mark_r_harris at yahoo.com
> brokerharris at gmail.com
>



-- 
Mark R. Harris
Profesor de humanidades
Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Sinaloa
Blvd. Pedro Infante 3773
Culiacan, CP 80100, Sinaloa, Mexico
+52 (667) 759-1600
mark_r_harris at yahoo.com
brokerharris at gmail.com
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