28 Established 1961 Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Lifestyle Music & Movies Hollywood French film fest showcases women’s triumphs he world’s largest festival of French film who forces his way back into his ex’s life that religious sanctuary for recovering addicts, “The hits Hollywood this month embracing the won best director and debut at the Venice Prayer,” which won newcomer Anthony Bajon T#MeToo moment with a line-up dedi- film festival. best actor at Berlin’s film festival. COLCOA is cated to the country’s best female filmmaking nothing if not glamorous and other big interna- talent. The 22nd COLCOA is offering a record ‘Their problem too’ tional names sprinkling stardust on the festival 86 films, television shows, digital series and “The Party is Over,” another feature directo- include Vanessa Paradis (“Dog”), Gerard virtual reality experiences, many never seen rial debut, this time from Marie Garel-Weiss, is Depardieu (“Get Out Your Handkerchief,” “The before in the United States, as well as a handful about two women who bond as they battle drug Other Woman”), Charlotte Rampling (“Flesh of of international and US premieres. It is the first addiction, becoming inseparable. More than the Orchid”) and Jean Dujardin (“Return of the edition of the annual event since the Harvey half of the selection of short films are by Hero”). In the documentary section, highlights Weinstein sex abuse scandal that sparked the women, while panels will address the role of include “Nothingwood,” which follows the work #MeToo and Time’s Up campaigns, and the women in the French film industry and first films of Salim Shaheen, a chubby Afghan actor who program reflects the push to celebrate the directed by women. Over at the festival’s “virtu- is his country’s one-man film industry. work of women. al reality corner,” an experience called “Uturn” A gonzo director who has made 111 movies “Through its different competitions, we are examines the gender gap from both sides with on a shoestring in a country where just watch- proud to dedicate this year’s programming of interwoven stories that allow the viewer to ing one can get you killed, he and his endear- COLCOA to women, both in their role in the embody either a female or male character. ingly eccentric band of actors are the stars of making of the films and series, and their central The experience was created by Nathalie the documentary. Shaheen regularly dodges roles in the majority of the stories selected this Mathe, a NASA scientist turned filmmaker and minefields and the Taliban, and survived a rock- year,” said executive producer Francois VR specialist whose credits include et attack on his studio in 1995 in which nine of Truffart. Originally styled “City of Lights, City “Persepolis,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” his actors and crew died “I am stronger than of Angels,” COLCOA boasts some 75 entrants “Skyfall,” “Captain Phillips” and “Fast and death,” he told AFP at the Cannes film festival. (From left) COLCOA Executive Producer and Programmer Francois Truffart, Screenwriter Howard A for a slew of honors, including the audience Furious 6.” “For 50 years women have been “We Afghans don’t worry about death. It will Rodman, MPAA representing Joan E. Graves, director Jeremy P Kagan, Variety Chief Film Critic Peter award, best documentary, best TV movie, crit- told how they should adapt and learn to survive come, we just don’t know when.” Debruge and COLCOA Deputy Director Anouchka Van Riel attend the announcement of the 22nd Edition ics award and critics special prize. in order to succeed in male-dominated indus- Alongside the movies, the television compe- Program of COLCOA French Film Festival. — AFP With the film industry still reeling from the tries like tech and media,” she said in a state- tition features 12 series and TV movies, includ- shock of the sexual harassment and assault ment about the project. Mathe said that while a an overall outdated cultural framework that with the North American premiere of writer- ing the international premiere of “Proud,” a firestorm that ended the careers of Weinstein few women had risen to the top of their field, needs to be reframed,” Mathes added. COL- director Eric Barbier’s “Promise at Dawn,” a three-part miniseries dealing with gay rights and numerous other powerful Hollywood fig- the vast majority were still under-represented COA also boasts a focus on filmmaker and celebration of motherhood starring Pierre spanning 30 years in France. COLCOA’s grow- ures, the female aspect of many COLCOA and under-valued, an assertion borne out in actress Melanie Laurent (“Inglourious Niney and Charlotte Gainsbourg. ing repertoire of movies and burgeoning popu- entrants should resonate on both sides of the numerous studies of employment patterns in Basterds”), screening her first movie “The larity-about 25,000 people now attend each Atlantic. These include Oscar-nominated showbusiness. Adopted” before a discussion about her career, ‘Stronger then death’ year-have seen it become the world’s largest Xavier Legrand’s feature debut “Custody,” a “Now is the time for changing strategy. Men followed by a US premiere screening of her lat- It closes a week later with the North festival dedicated to French film, according to social realist thriller about a violent abuser need to see gender issues as their problem too, est film, “Diving.” The festival opens on April 23 American premiere of Cedric Kahn’s study of a its organizers. — AFP S Korea musicians return after Actress Lynda Carter poses on her star on the rare Pyongyang joint concert Hollywood Walk of Fame at the star unveiling ceremony, April 3, 2018, in Hollywood, California. — AFP This picture taken on April ‘Wonder Woman’ Lynda Carter 3, 2018 and released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News feted with Hollywood star Agency (KCNA) yesterday shows the joint ith her arms crossed and poised inspired her as a girl and showed her that performance “We Are for action, “Wonder Woman” tele- she did not have to choose between being One” given by artistes Wvision actress Lynda Carter was rebellious or feminine, or attractive or from the north and the honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk strong. “Her Wonder Woman made me south of Korea at the of Fame on Tuesday as her most famous believe I could have whatever I wanted, and Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong superhero character enjoys a big-screen even more importantly, it made me Indoor Stadium in revival. Carter, 66, was introduced by long- unashamed to want it,” Jenkins said. Pyongyang. — AFP photos time friend and CBS Corp Chief Executive “Wonder Woman” was only on US televi- Leslie Moonves and Patty Jenkins, the direc- sion for three seasons, first on ABC and later usicians from North and South Korea subdued throughout a provocative display, Reunification”, prompting a standing ovation tor of last year’s blockbuster film “Wonder on CBS where it finished in 1979. But the held hands, sang and cried together at according to South Korean pool reports. that lasted more than 10 minutes. Woman.” “It seems impossible but I have series, along with Carter’s performance, have a rare concert held in Pyongyang that But the crowd responded with louder “I think the performance was a success,” said been in entertainment for more than 50 given “Wonder Woman” a long legacy as a M ended with an emotional standing ovation by applause for 61-year-old musician Choi Jin-hee, Hyon Song Wol, head of the North’s art troupe, years-do the math,” Carter told the audience feminist symbol. At times choking with emo- thousands of spectators. The South Korean pop who sang her 80s hit song “The Maze of Love”- after the show. “The South Korean singers did along Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles tion, Carter thanked her friends and family stars returned home yesterday after two con- reportedly former North Korean leader Kim really well without any mistake even though they before the unveiling of the emblematic ter- for their support as well as a nod to the men certs in the North’s capital this week, the first of Jong Il’s favorite song. The stadium also reacted had only half a day to practice,” Hyon said. The razzo and brass star. who helped stand behind women’s stories. which was attended by leader Kim Jong Un enthusiastically when female singers from the rapprochement on the peninsula began with the “I have loved it all!” the former Miss “From all of the wonder women out there, who said he was “deeply moved” by their per- two countries jointly performed “Paektu and South’s Winter Olympics, to which the North’s World USA exclaimed. Carter’s “Wonder we love our men who stand with us and formance. Their visit, part of a cultural charm Halla are My Fatherland”, a patriotic North Kim sent athletes, cheerleaders and his sister as Woman” character, which first appeared on champion our causes and our voices,” offensive by Seoul, comes as a diplomatic thaw Korean song about reunification. The show cul- an envoy. An inter-Korean summit will be held the pages of DC Comics in 1941 and Carter said. “This is a day that I shall never gathers pace on the peninsula ahead of a land- minated with all the musicians joining together on April 27. No date has been set for a planned debuted as a TV series starring the actress forget,” she concluded. The Hollywood mark inter-Korean summit this month. to sing the North’s “See You Again” and the US-North Korean summit although it is expect- in 1976, is seen as a forerunner to the Walk of Fame is administered by the The second concert, held Tuesday evening common Korean children’s song “Our Wish is ed before the end of May.