Now Showing Aug 11

In June 2010, Anna Chapman – a beautiful young Russian national living in New York – was arrested on suspicion of working for a spy ring under the Russian Federation’s external intelligence agency. Following the arrest, the media soon picked up on her striking appearance and began reporting her as a beautiful Russian spy, making her a hot topic of conversation practically overnight.

Through what might seem like a timely coincidence, Anna Chapman isn’t the only beautiful Russian spy you’ll be hearing about this summer. In Salt, Angelina Jolie – well known for playing the heroine in a wide variety of action-packed films including the ‘Tomb Raider’ series and ‘Wanted’ among others – plays a CIA agent who, accused of acting as Russian spy, attempts to uncover the truth and clear her name. Directing the film is Phillip Noyce, whom Jolie last worked together with in ‘The Bone Collector’.

Evelyn Salt is a well-respected CIA agent who specializes in Russian affairs; she is also happily married to a loving husband. True to Hollywood, her life in suddenly turned on its head when a mysterious Russian defector suddenly accuses her of being a deadly Russian spy. In an effort to prove her innocence Salt resorts to disguising herself (including the stock hair colour quick-changes) and becoming a fugitive. The following morning, she shows up at a heavily guarded church where the Vice President’s funeral is being held, where she is taken into custody – however, through an impressive display of agility she soon escapes. A few days later she appears again, this time at the White House. The crux of the film: Who is this mysterious Salt, really? And, more importantly, what is it that she is trying to achieve?

Set in an age where, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war, America’s Russian-focused intelligence activities have been made obsolete, the story plays on the idea that certain Russian children were raised – taught English rather than Russian, for example – on a special programme named the ‘KA Programme’, with the specific intention of allowing them to ingratiate themselves into the American government and wait for a specific day codenamed ‘Day X’. A clever, somewhat psychological thriller that’s full of twists and turns, and draws on various actual events to enhance its realism, the film is particularly compelling. Plus, when it comes to the action scenes, Jolie fans won’t be disappointed: as you’d expect, she is her usual ‘ass-kicking’ self – more than usual in fact, because the part was originally written for an actor rather than an actress. Further adding to the thrill and realism of the fight scenes is the use of both a nationally recognized style of Thai boxing known as Muay Thai and Krav Maga, a hand-to-hand combat system that is used by various law enforcement and intelligence agencies. If you’re looking to watch a spy-film with cred and a perfect blend of realism, fantasy and violence then this is it.

Salt

USA, 2010
Japanese Title: Salt
Opened: July 31
Director: Philip Noyce
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Website: www.salt-movie.jp

Jennifer’s Body

A series of mysterious and violent murders are taking place in a small American town; each time a murder takes place, one particular high school girl mysteriously becomes more beautiful. A suspense thriller starring Megan Fox, who is more recently remembered in the lead role of Mikaela Banes in ‘Transformers’.

USA, 2009
Japanese title: Jennifer’s Body
Opened: July 30
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried
Distributor: Showgate
Website: www.jennifers-body.jp

Chonmage Purin

After being taken in by a single mother and her daughter, Yasubei, a young samurai from the Edo period who has unwittingly travelled forward in time, finds work in a local pâtisserie. Based on a comic written by Gen Araki, and adapted for the screen and directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura, director of ‘Golden Slumber’.

Japan, 2010
Opened: July 31
Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura
Cast: Ryo Nishikido, Rie Tomosaka, Hiroki Konno, Hitomi Sato, Yuji Nakamura, Jun Inoue
Distributor: J Storm
Website: www.c-purin.jp

The Old Man and the Sea, Director’s Cut

A re-issuing of a feature-length documentary from 1993 set on Yonaguni Island, Okinawa, that tells the story of an 82 year-old man who, unperturbed by string of bad luck, sets out – as he does every day – in his small sabani fishing boat and manages to catch a marlin of magnificent proportions. A touching story that depicts the way-of-life and determination of Okinawan fishermen.

Japan, 2010
Japanese title: Roujin to Umi (Director’s Cut)
Opened: July 31
Director: John Junkerman
Cast: Shigeru Itokazu
Distributor: Shiglo /Starsands
Website: www.rojintoumi.asia

L’iceberg

Fiona is a housewife who manages a fast-food restaurant and lives in the outskirts of Brussels, Belgium. After accidentally locking herself in her restaurant’s walk-in freezer one night and being rescued by staff the following morning, she finds out that her family didn’t even realize she was gone. A film-festival favourite that rollicks with touches of slapstick comedy.

Belgium, 2005
Japanese title: Iceberg
Opened: July 31
Director: Dominique Abel
Cast: Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel, Ophélie Rousseau
Distributor: French Film Co.