Bathory Release Date:10 July 2008
Bathory is based on the legends surrounding the life and deeds of Countess Elizabeth Bathory known as the greatest murderess in the history of mankind. Contrary to popular belief, Elizabeth Bathory was a modern Renaissance woman who ultimately fell victim to mens aspirations for power and wealth.
Director Juraj Jakubisko is offering this new perspective on life of Erzsebet. Her film story begins in a time when she is 32 years old. Her Husband, Ferenc Nadasdy, is fighting in wars with Turks and she alone is taking care of children together with wide family wealth. The film is not supposed to be a documentary, neither an accurate reconstruction of history. Director is following historical facts and fills in unexplored parts — so-called “blank” spots with his fantasy. That is how famous Italian painter Caravaggio or Monteverdi author of first opera, are getting to the story.
Director invited and cast many international, Czech and Slovakian actors. We will see British actress Anna Friel as Erzsebet, as her husband Ferenc Nadasdy — Vincent Regan, Italian painter Caravaggio is played by Hans Matheson and four main characters is closing Karel Roden as Gyorgi Thurzo. In other parts from international talents Franco Nero, Tim Preece and from Czech and Slovakian we will introduce Deana Horvatova, Bolek Polivka, Marek Vasut, Jiri Madl, Lucie Vondrackova, Andrej Hryc, Monika Hilmerova, Marek Majesky and many others.
________________________________________ _
Who was really Erzsebet Bathory? Was she really a “bloody countess”, as some historians name her? Or was she a very well educated woman mastering several languages and seriously interested natural healer? Graceful person of fine taste and at the same time so rich, that she irritated many royal women with her original robes tailored for her in far Italy? Sadistic murderess, or a victim of former relationships full of dark intrigues, which were sewed by someone powerful, lusting for her fabulous fortune? Cruel merciless mistress or a vulnerable, lonely widow, perhaps both?
From the castle of Cachtice, which had a reputation of unconquerable mansion in all Middle East Europe, only ruins remained. Chateau of Cachtice under the keep disappeared entirely. There is only a small museum in a small village, owning the only portrait of former monarch of the whole region, Erzsebet. Not even her age is possible to determine from the portrait of very questionable quality. She voluptuously looks upon us with sad eyes, face of melancholy, strictly closed lips demonstrate, that she was an energetic woman, meanwhile her big eyes are revealing her boldness and sense of romance…
Bathory 9 minutes movie trailer!
The Guerrilla
Release Date: TBA 2008
click the image and see the big orignal poster!
Steven Soderbergh’s two film project (entitled “The Argentine” & “The Guerrilla”) about Latin American revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
Guerrilla is a 2008 biopic about revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara, portrayed by Benicio del Toro. The film, which covers the latter period of Guevara’s life, is directed by Steven Soderbergh from a script by Peter Buckman. It is the second half of a two part examination of Guevara’s actively revolutionary life, the first part, The Argentine, relating the events of the Cuban Revolution.
i’ll post a trailer as soon i find one!!
here is an interview with steven soderberg talking about Guerilla
The Children of Huang Shi Release Date: May 23, 2008
Based on real events, “The Children of Huang Shi” is a sweeping but intimate story set against war-torn China in the 1930’s. The film centers on a young English journalist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an American nurse (Radha Mitchell) and the leader of a Chinese partisan group (Chow Yun-Fat) who meet in desperate and unexpected circumstances. Together they rescue 60 orphaned children, leading them on an extraordinary journey across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain, through snow-covered mountains and an unforgiving desert. Along the way they discover the true meaning of love, responsibility and courage.
SARKAR RAJ release date : June 6, 2008
Sarkar Raj is the much awaited sequel to the acclaimed hit film Sarkar by Ram Gopal Varma. Sarkar was inspired by Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Godfather, but the sequel will be completely original. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for the first time in a film post Aishwarya and Abhishek’s marriage. The film is set to release on June 6, 2008.
Sarkar Raj is an intense political drama and is essentially a study of power; it explores the politics of development, and takes a fresh look at the tradition versus modernity debate.
When Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai - Bachchan), CEO of Sheppard power plant, an international Company, brings a power plant proposal to set up in rural Maharashtra, before the Nagre’s an insightful Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan) is quick to realize the benefits the power plant can bring to the people. After convincing Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan) who is against it for various reasons, Shankar undertakes a journey along with Anita to the villages of Maharashtra to mobilize support of the masses.
However, things are not what they seem to be, from shady fixers with an eye on multi-million kick-backs or wannnabe Shankars that are ready to incite millions of people against the highly controversial project in a state that is witnessing the worst of coalition politics.
Shankar’s dream project gradually becomes a political minefield, it is in this backdrop the evil forces mightier than ever, mushroom and gang up to bring down the regime of Sarkar and obliterate Shankar’s name from the political horizon.
