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The mixed bag of treats of the Fresh Classics

The previous news published here already mentioned the Blaxploitation Night, the Petr Lebl retrospective and the films, which will accompany the opening and closing ceremonies; however that still is not all, what the Fresh Classics section has to offer. When it comes to real time-proven classics, there is the evergreen of Czech comedy, Men about Town (screened from a print with English subtitles), which keeps its popular appeal for forty years now. Fans of British sitcoms should not miss the Irish pitch-black comedy A Film with Me in It staring Dylan Moran of “Black Books” fame. In regard to exclusivity, the highlight of the section is the International Festival Premiere of the new film by acclaimed director Tran Anh Hung I Come with the Rain staring Josh Hartnett along big Asian stars Lee Byung-hun, Takuya Kimura and Shawn Yue.

A Film with Me in It

Ireland 2008, directed by Ian Fitzgibbon

A sexy young woman, a drunk screenwriter, a depressive failed actor, his mute paraplegic brother and a dog live in a decrepit apartment. The crappy apartment furniture causes an accidental death and soon more bodies follow. But who would believe the flat's inhabitants it was all just an accident? The situation demands a plan. One small problem is the planners are not rocket scientists but a bunch of losers. This ultra black comedy with sharp dialogues and thick cynicism is carried by excellent acting headed by the scriptwriter Mark Doherty and comedian, actor and scriptwriter Dylan Moran, famous as the co-author of British sitcom “Black Books” where he also played the main role.

 

I Come with the Rain

France 2009, directed by Tran Anh Hung

Tran Anh Hung, an internationally renowned Vietnamese-French director, returns to the screens eight years after making At the Height of Summer. His new film represents the pinnacle of globalization of today's cinema, with dialogues in English, financing from French producers, a crew of European professionals, a cast with American, Asian and European stars and music composed by Radiohead. This baroque story of an American detective hired to find the missing son of a boss of a Japanese corporation in Asia is a thrilling and poetic mix of brutal violence, sensual style, deep philosophy and heavy religious symbolism.

 

Men about Town / Světáci

Czechoslovakia 1969, directed by Zdeněk Podskalský st.

An evergreen of Czechoslovak cinema and one of the most popular comedies celebrates its fortieth birthday this year. This film owes its undying popularity to a brilliant screenplay and stellar casting that brought together the biggest talents of Czech comedy such as Jiri Sovak, Vlastimil Brodsky, Jan Libicek, Jirina Bohdalova, Jirina Jiraskova and Iva Janzurova. In the film three village bricklayers decide to have a taste of the big world and meet true ladies of society while working in Prague. And to do so in style, the uneducated simpletons hire an old First Republic gentleman, played by Oldrich Novy, to polish their social skills.