Indie/foreign films becoming formulaic?

poldy

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May 29, 2003, 9:35:56 PM5/29/03

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Went to see Bend it like Beckham, which was enjoyable enough. But the
plot and the cultural/familial conflicts and the happy resolution seemed
familiar. A kind of deja vu because of similarities with a film like
Billy Elliot.

To make matters worse, there were previews for Whale Rider and Han ni
zai yiki, two upcoming films which also appear to be "ethnic" feel-good
movies about children overcoming cultural obstacles to be virtuosos.

All these films, except maybe Billy Elliot, are distributed in this
country by Fox Searchlight, which is described as the "a
filmmaker-oriented company, creating distinctive films helmed by
world-class auteurs and exciting newcomers"
(www.foxsearchlight.com/aboutus/).

Now I'm not sure if Searchlight just acquired the US distribution rights
to these films after their success in Europe or if they financed it as
well, meaning they may have exercised some creative control over their
development. But they do feature directors like Chadha as if they're a
boutique which nurtures these "world-class auteurs and exciting
newcomers."

But if they did have control over the making of these films, it could
explain the similarities they seem to have. Billy Elliott just had to
make this audition because it was going to change his entire life.
Similarly, Jess has to play in this specific game or else she wouldn't
have gotten a scholarship (if she was that good, she would have gotten
other opportunities, no?). Of course, they overcome the odds and
succeed, the feel-good happy ending that people associate with
Hollywood.

Ironic, considering that a lot of the audience for indie and foreign
films eschew Hollywood formulas like happy endings. Or maybe not so
ironic or unexpected when you consider that it's a part of a Hollywood
studio that is distributing these films.

I don't mean to single out Fox Searchlight, since they do have a part in
directors like Boyle and Bertolucci being able to continue making films.
I'm sure the other major studios like Disney (Miramax) also are involved
heavily in indie and foreign films, perhaps having pernicious influence
on this market. And it could be that films like Beckham aren't being
directly shaped to some proven formula as much as indie directors are
consciously or unconsciously mimicking other indie films which have
found international distribution and success.

But Fox is still owned by Murdoch whose unrelenting drive to dominate
all markets seems to suggest that Fox Searchlight is about "Cinema,
cinema" as much as the film crew was in Man Bites Dog.

Brother George

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May 29, 2003, 11:43:18 PM5/29/03

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Check out Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen. Can't remember who distributed but it
delivers the goods.

New Yorker Films is still doing it right: L.I.E.
Bro George,
BrainsOnFilm.com

in article poldy-08EED8....@netnews.attbi.com, poldy at
po...@kfu.com wrote on 5/29/03 9:35 PM:

rr

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May 30, 2003, 6:10:22 AM5/30/03

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> But Fox is still owned by Murdoch whose unrelenting drive to dominate
> all markets seems to suggest that Fox Searchlight is about "Cinema,
> cinema" as much as the film crew was in Man Bites Dog.

All of the big studios suck. You think Sony, Turner-FineLine, or
Disney-Miramax are offering anything better?

I've been to the Worldfest Film Festival in Houston for the past decade and
saw many examples of foreign film that doesn't keep telling the same tales.
I've also got a PAL capable, region free DVD player and buy foreign DVDs.

The theaters program the same old crap that they already know how to sell.

In the 1970s and 1980s there was a lot more variety of world cinema and
independent films hitting the screens. The big studios got into distribution
(which seems to exist just to generate some press before putting out these
films on video) and bought up the rights to many works.

Jingo.

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Jun 1, 2003, 5:31:26 AM6/1/03

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> New Yorker Films is still doing it right: L.I.E.

Just saw L.I.E. Had never heard of it. I could write volumes on each
scene about how freaking realistic and 'thinking' it was.

Jingo.

Rackem

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Jun 1, 2003, 9:48:05 PM6/1/03

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...and kudos to that kid actor. He won an award that year at the
Independent Spirit Awards for that role.
Brian Cox was recognized, too.

"Jingo." <Ji...@batavia.edu> wrote in message
news:OJjCa.91836$BA.30...@twister.columbus.rr.com...

Sean LeBlanc

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Aug 17, 2003, 1:17:09 PM8/17/03

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"rr" <im...@spamkill.com> writes:

Which player do you use? I'm thinking of getting one, too, just so I
can see the rest of the Ring movies. AFAIK, they are still PAL and not
Region 1...

TIA,

--
Sean LeBlanc - seanl...@americanisp.net
http://users.americanisp.net/~seanleblanc/
"Mmmmm....pie pants"