Depardieu Says France Nyong’O’S Face Becoming Land of Is Back on Screen ‘Imbeciles and Stinky Cheese’

Lifestyle FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 3 years after ‘12 Years,’ Depardieu says France Nyong’o’s face becoming land of is back on screen ‘imbeciles and stinky cheese’ arger-than-life actor Gerard of the release in Italy of his autobi- Depardieu said his homeland ography “Innocent”. In February LFrance is becoming a play- Depardieu trashed the Oscars, criti- ground for foreigners “populated by cizing Hollywood for its “comfort” imbeciles making wine and stinky bubble. “When I think about the cheese”, according to an interview Oscars, with ‘The Revenant’, the published yesterday. The maverick caravans, the warmth and all of performer, 67, has taken aim at that. We tell them: go roll in shit,” France before. He was granted Russian citizenship in 2013 after befriending strongman President Vladimir Putin and lambasting tax rates on top earners in his native land. Actress Lupita Nyong’o, a cast member in the film When asked during the inter- “Queen of Katwe,” poses for a portrait at The Omni view if he considers himself French, King Edward Hotel in Toronto. — AP Depardieu told Corriere della Sera: he filmmaker Mira Nair was familiar with the regal grace “No, I’m a citizen of the world. of Lupita Nyong’o long before most. The Indian-born, France is likely to become a TNew York-based Nair has been close friends with Disneyland for foreigners, populat- Nyong’o’s family for years. One of Nyong’o’s first jobs in the ed by imbeciles making wine and movies was interning in New York for Nair’s production com- stinky cheese for tourists.” “There is pany. She also later worked for Nair’s Uganda-centered film no more freedom, people are school, Maisha Film Labs. What does Nair recall of Nyong’o as being manipulated,” he added. a younger woman? “Like she is: immensely thoughtful and Depardieu also took a swing at the stylish,” Nair says with a laugh. “She wouldn’t speak unless film industry saying, “cinema does- Gerard Depardieu she had something to say. And full of fun, which sometime n’t exist anymore. There is a world you guys don’t see. But there’s a real appetite for life there.” of entertainment and people, ter- Depardieu, the star of “Green Card” In the African chess prodigy tale “Queen of Katwe,” a rorized by the Americans, don’t and “Cyrano de Bergerac”, told now much more established Nyong’o has reunited with Nair know anymore which language to reporters in Berlin. But in for a film that reflects much of the actress’s past, as well as speak.” Depardieu’s eyes, Italy deserves her future. It is, surprisingly, the first time moviegoers have “There are 10 stars and they are some praise. “In Italy, happily, you gotten to see Nyong’o’s face on screen since her breakout, all American. Their films (are) have not lost your culture and your Oscar-winning performance in 2013’s “12 Years a Slave.” In crammed with special effects... and identity. Because you are a young the three years since, she’s appeared in “Star Wars: The the rest of the world of cinema is country... Unlike half of Europe- Force Awakens” in a motion-capture performance, lent her struggling to exist,” he added dur- with its fear of migrants-that has voice to “The Jungle Book” and starred on Broadway in ing the interview on the occasion become a bit fascist.” — AFP Danai Guirira’s Liberian drama “Eclipsed,” earning a Tony nomination. But “Queen of Katwe,” she says, epitomizes the kind of film she wants to be in. Pakistan sends Cultural conversations “The success of ‘12 Years of Slave’ has put me in a posi- tion where I can choose,” Nyong’o said in a recent interview. ‘Mah E Mir’ to the Oscars “I want to honor the opportunity that I’ve been given. So I’ve Jing Tian worked very hard to choose things that I’m passionate about because I think I’m most useful when I feel conviction. I want to continue to do work that moves me and develops ‘Pacific Rim 2’ cultural conversations. “It takes one film at a time, one story at a time, to actually shift the norm,” she adds. “Queen of adds Chinese Katwe,” which opens Friday, is itself an anomaly. It’s a family- friendly film made in Africa with an entirely black cast - a first for Disney. The film tells of Phiona Mutesi’s (newcomer actress Jing Tian Madina Nalwanga) rise from the Katwe slums in Kampala, ing Tian has joined the cast of Legendary’s Uganda, to elite levels of chess. Nair shot it in South Africa “Pacific Rim 2” starring John Boyega. Scott and Uganda. Nyong’o plays Phiona’s head-strong mother. Eastwood also toplines with Steven S The local flavor, as well as the real people the story is based J DeKnight is directing. Thomas Tull, Mary Parent, on (who appear briefly but movingly at the end), gives “Queen Jon Jashni, and Guillermo del Toro will produce of Katwe” an infectious spirit. During one celebratory scene in the action-adventure along with Boyega and Katwe, extras mixed with nearby onlookers, eager to join in the Femi Oguns under their Upper Room exultation. “Because this doesn’t happen very often, we were all Productions shingle. Cale Boyter will serve as the filled with such gratitude to be able to tell this story,” says film’s executive producer. Nyong’o. Even if Nyong’o wasn’t sitting in a high-back chair at a The first “Pacific Rim,” directed by del Toro, Toronto hotel shortly after the film’s screening at the Toronto Anjum Shahzad also starred Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Idris International Film Festival, the 33-year-old would appear queen- akistan has picked Anjum labor of love,” Shahzad said. Elba, Charlie Day, and Robert Kazinsky. “Pacific like, herself, given her calm poise and precision with words. Shahzad’s “Mah e Mir” as its Pakistan re-entered the foreign Although Nyong’o now seems remarkably at home on Rim” was set in the near future with Earth at war Pentry in the foreign language language Oscar race after 50 years with the Kaiju, monsters that emerged from an any red carpet, she spent years hesitating to commit to act- Academy Awards competition. The in 2013 with “Zinda Bhaag” and ing. As an undergrad at Hampshire College, she initially interdimensional portal at the bottom of the film follows a troubled modern since then has submitted a film Pacific Ocean. The movie went on to gross more explored other roles on film sets. “I was just trying to figure poet who discovers the work of every year. out where in this industry, if not in the front of the camera, I than $411 million at the worldwide box office. 18th century poetry legend Mir The country has yet to secure a Boyega will play the son of Elba’s character, who would fit in,” she says. “I had always been discouraged that it Taqi Mir. It stars Fahad Mustafa, nomination in the category. was possible. I was from Kenya and I didn’t know any sacrificed his life in the original film. It’s still Iman Ali and Sanam Saeed. The However, Sharmeed Obaid-Chinoy unclear who Tian will play. The film begins pro- Kenyan actors in America. It just didn’t seem like a possible film was produced by Miraqsm won for “A Girl in the River: The career path.” Nyong’o, born in Mexico and raised in Kenya, duction this November in Australia and will also Media which is also behind the Price of Forgiveness” in 2016 and film a portion in China. It will be released by had a very different upbringing than the impoverished ones Pakistani television morning talk in 2012 with Daniel Junge for of “Queen of Katwe.” But, as Nair says, “Like Phiona, she’s Universal Pictures on Feb 23, 2018, worldwide, show “Sunrise From Istanbul”. “Saving Face,” both in the best with the exception of China. Jing can be seen harnessed her potential and thankfully the world has “For an ensemble of extremely documentary short subject cate- rewarded her for it.” — AP next in Legendary’s “The Great Wall” as well as in creative cast and crew this film is a gory. — Reuters “Kong: Skull Island.” — Reuters.

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