27/10/2005

For the second week running Europeans occupy the front seats in theatres across Czech Republic. Of the new six films released four are European, offering a variety of genres.
While the next much anticipated national release, Jan Svankmajer’s philosophical horror Lunacy (Sileni) is not due until November 17, cinema-goers can turn to the work of another of Europe’s enfant terrible, Lars von Trier. His drama Manderlay [+see also:
trailer
film profile] continues where the Danish director left off with Dogville [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. The film, already screened in Karlovy Vary this year, is produced by Zentropa Entertainments. It is released in Czech Republic by Artcam.

Franziska Buch’s family feature Bibi Blocksberg and the Secret of the Blue Owls (Bibi Blocksberg und das Geheimnis der blauen Eulen) is the sequel of the Bibi Blocksberg film which is considered as the German answer to Harry Potter and was a major box office hit in Germany in 2002. Released by Atypfilm, is offered only in a dubbed Czech version.

Magic albeit of a different kind is also the keyword in the Hungarian animated feature The District (Nyócker!) by Áron Gauder, a story of children trying to find the secret for peace in an infamous town quarter, which has left good impressions in festivals around the globe. It is produced by Lichthof Productions and its world sales are handled by SzimplaFilm and MDC International. Its Czech release is done by CinemArt.

Luc Jacquet’s documentary The March of the Penguins [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (La marche de l'empereur), a journey into the world of the Emperor penguins, has grossed almost USD 90 million worldwide since its premiere last February while becoming the most successful French feature in history in terms of receipts in North-America. It is produced by Bonne Pioche and sold worldwide by Wild Bunch. Its Czech distributor is Intersonic.