24 City

Sep 27, 2008

1h 48m

★ 7.0

Overview

As a decades-old state-run aeronautics munitions factory in downtown Chengdu, China is being torn down for the construction of the titular luxury apartment complex, director Jia Zhangke interviews various people affiliated with it about their experiences.

Genres

Drama

Documentary

Production Companies

Shanghai Film Group

Xstream Pictures

Bandai Visual

Bitters End

China Resources

Office Kitano

24 City Trailers

Cast

Xiao Hua

Joan Chen

Hao Dali

Lü Liping

Su Na

Zhao Tao

Song Wei-Dong

Chen Jianbin

A look at the unusual process used in the making of the film Shortbus (2006) featuring interviews, behind the scenes footage and clips from the feature film. Director John Cameron Mitchell starts with the concept of using real sex in a film with a positive message. The cast of unknowns is selected from homemade audition tapes and then a callback audition workshop. More acting workshops are used to develop the characters and script. The project overcomes a number of obstacles and the rest of the film's development is followed up until its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

7.4

Barren Lives

Aug 22, 1963

In vivid images, the documentary-like story of a drover and his family in the northern badlands of Brazil during the drought. A family in the search of new hope and destiny.

6.2

Local Color

Nov 14, 2008

A successful artist looks back with loving memories on the summer of his defining year, 1974. A talented but troubled 18-year-old aspiring artist befriends a brilliant elderly alcoholic painter who has turned his back on not only art but life. The two form what appears to be at first a tenuous relationship. The kid wants to learn all the secrets the master has locked away inside his head and heart. Time has not been kind to the old master. His life appears pointless to him until the kid rekindles his interest in his work and ultimately gives him the will to live. Together, they give one another a priceless gift. The kid learns to see the world through the master's eyes. And the master learns to see life through the eyes of innocence again. This story is based on a real life experience.

6.7

Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul

May 14, 1993

An insider's account of Jack Warner, a founding father of the American film industry. This feature length documentary provides the rags to riches story of the man whose studio - Warner Bros - created many of Hollywood's most classic films. Includes extensive interviews with family members and friends, film clips, rare home movies and unique location footage.

7.2

Still Life

Nov 16, 2006

A town in Fengjie county is gradually being demolished and flooded to make way for the Three Gorges Dam. A man and woman visit the town to locate their estranged spouses, and become witness to the societal changes.

7.3

Deconstructing Harry

Dec 12, 1997

Writer Harry Block draws inspiration from people he knows, and from events that happened to him, sometimes causing these people to become alienated from him as a result.

5.0

Lonesome Cowboys

Nov 1, 1968

Five lonesome cowboys get all hot and bothered at home on the range after confronting Ramona Alvarez and her nurse.

8.2

Sieben Mulden und eine Leiche

Apr 5, 2007

Thomas Haemmerli is about to celebrate his fortieth birthday when he learns of his mother's death. A further shock follows when he and his brother Erik discover her apartment, which is filthy and full to bursting with junk. It takes the brothers an entire month to clean out the place. Among the chaos, they find films going back to the 1930s, photos and other memorabilia.

6.0

Dreamland

Jan 23, 2006

A young woman who lives in a desert trailer park must choose between caring for her hapless father and sick friend or fulfilling her own destiny.

6.9

The Road to Guantanamo

Mar 9, 2006

Part drama, part documentary, The Road to Guantánamo focuses on the Tipton Three, a trio of British Muslims who were held in Guantanamo Bay for two years until they were released without charge.

5.5

Mouth to Mouth

Jun 2, 2005

An aimless adolescent joins several itinerant misfits who live on the fringe of society and welcome at-risk youths into their fold.

6.4

Alice

Dec 25, 1990

Alice Tate, mother of two, with a marriage of 16 years, finds herself falling for a handsome sax player, Joe. Stricken with a backache, she consults herbalist Dr. Yang, who realizes that her problems are not related to her back, but in her mind and heart. Dr. Yang's magical herbs give Alice wondrous powers, taking her out of her well-established rut.

6.4

Katzelmacher

Nov 22, 1969

A group of young slackers spend most of their time hanging out in front of a Munich apartment building. When a Greek immigrant named Jorgos moves in, however, their aimless lives are shaken up. Soon, new tensions arise both within the group and with Jorgos.

5.4

Chapter 27

Jan 25, 2007

A film about Mark David Chapman in the days leading up to the infamous murder of Beatle John Lennon.

3.9

Tiptoes

Dec 17, 2002

A man is reluctant to tell his fiancee that his parents, uncle and brother are dwarfs.

24 City

Overview

Genres

Production Companies

24 City Trailers