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Coming to Chiang Mai (or showing already?)

Bad Boys II

Narcotics detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) have been assigned to a high-tech task force investigating the flow of designer ecstasy into Miami. This leads them to a conspiracy involving a vicious Kingpin (Molla), whose ambitions have ignited a bloody turf war. Mike and Marcus’ working relationship is threatened when Mike develops feelings for Marcus’ sister Syd (Union), and unless they can separate the personal from the professional, the case and Syd’s life are in danger.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Based very loosely on the Alan Moore graphic novel epic of the same name, this is the story of a group of characters drawn from famous works of literature, including Captain Nemo, Allan Quatermain, The Invisible Man, Mina Murray and Dr. Jekyll, banding together to combat criminal undertakings of the highest order near the turn of the 19th century. Rather than remain true to the comic roots, the film also incorporates Tom Sawyer and Dorian Gray, in an apparent effort to keep the cast from being entirely without Americans, and it is set in New York.

Johnny English

Johnny English stars Rowan Atkinson (Bean) as an accident-prone MI-7 agent on a mission to rescue Britain’s crown jewels and save the country and the monarchy from a Machiavellian French business magnate. John Malkovich (Ripley’s Game) portrays the scheming Sauvage and Ben Miller (The Parole Officer) is Johnny’s sidekick Bough. Double-platinum recording artist Natalie Imbruglia makes her feature film debut as special agent Lorna Campbell, the object of English’s desires.

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE CHIANG MAI
JUNE 2003 film programme

Tuesday, August 5 - Friday, August 8:
LE DERNIER MILLIARDAIRE (1934)

Accused by his critics of ignoring the social ills of the world, director Rene Clair responded with “The Last Billionnaire”, a “relevant” satirical comedy. Max Dearly stars as Monsieur Banco, the richest man in the world. On the verge of revolution, the bankrupt kingdom of Casinaria begs Banco to pay a visit and offer financial advice. Alas, upon his arrival our hero is accidentally hit on the head, and he later awakens as a babbling idiot. But the parliamentary leaders of Casinaria, seeing only the man and not his condition, regard Banco’s lunatic ramblings as pure genius -and act upon them accordingly! A sheer delight when seen today, “The Last Billionnaire” was an enormous flop when released, forcing Rene Clair to go into a lengthy professional exile.

Friday, August 15 :
LE DIABLE BOÎTEUX (1948)

The film focuses on some periods in the life of Talleyrand, a cunning French diplomat who served under six different regimes, from Louis the XVth to Louis-Philippe ; from the accident during his childhood that left him crippled to his ordination as a priest and later as a bishop, and his ability to become a very successful defrocked priest among women. His love of conspiracy, his betrayals and his best achievement just before his death: namely the alliance with Great Britain, are also depicted in this film.

Tuesday, August 19 - Friday, August 22
MADAME DE … (1958)

In Paris, Constantinople and Italy, around 1900. The story of the frivolous Madame de… and a pair of diamond earrings offered by her husband... Too often, the cinema is merely the art of avoiding difficulties. That a filmmaker should try to make this rule a lie is rare enough to attract attention. There are others for whom That Madame de… should be a difficult work in the full sense of the word. Its very writing will prove it, where everything tries to confound and distract the spectator from the essential by an accumulation of secondary events, false leads, repetitions and delays, where the picturesque tries to mask what is pathetic, but does not always succeed. Jacques Rivette, Cahiers du cinéma, November 1953.

Tuesday, August 26 - Friday, August 29
LA SYMPHONIE PASTORALE (1946)

Michèle Morgan stars as a blind orphaned girl who is adopted by kindly pastor Pierre Blanchar. The pastor’s paternal affection for the girl blossoms into romantic love. As a form of courtship, Blanchar fills the sightless Morgan’s head with visions of a “perfect” world, as harmonious as her favorite musical piece, Beethoven’s “Symphonie Pastorale”. Blanchar’s son Jean Desailly, likewise falling in love with Morgan, arranges for an operation that will restore the girl’s sight. This plunges Blanchar into despair: once Morgan sees the world for herself, she will be lost to him forever.