Arkles Entertainment News this month

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Kia Ora and greetings,

News this month on

** May 13 - "Osama" opens New Zealand wide ** April 22 - "Nemesis Game" in Wellington ** April 25 - "Christmas" opens in Dunedin ** "Kombi Nation" now on video and DVD ** "Orphans and Angels" headlines another festival

OSAMA It's almost the brink of the 13th May launch of OSAMA the controversial Golden Globe winner for ‘Best Foreign Film’! This exciting and powerful film is the first feature to come out of Afghanistan since the Taleban rule ended. Apart from its weighty social and historical interest, this tale of religious extremism captivates its viewers and challenges their perception of a strange and mysterious world.

OSAMA takes us on one young girl’s journey to save herself and her family. By becoming a boy, she gains access to work and food, things denied to women only families in the Fundamentalist state that was Afghanistan. Her journey is one that will ask much of its viewers, whilst sharing with them the primitive beauty that is this ravaged nation. Through this small, personal story about one girl’s fate, we are allowed a rare insight into this country and its political, religious and social upheaval.

OSAMA is rated M – content may disturb. It is 82 minutes long and opens nationally on Thursday the 13th of May, 2004.

The Christchurch Press awards it 4½ Stars, and says “Osama has won numerous film accolades including Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes and it’s easy to see why… Full of heart-wrenching, starkly beautiful imagery, Osama is both politically and emotionally powerful.”

Wellington's Dominion Post gives the film 4 stars and calls the film "powerful for its restraint, suggestiveness and contemplativeness". It compares OSAMA to KANDAHAR and comments on the cinematography saying "[Osama] has striking, lingering images, such as a sea of women in blue burkas being water cannoned and shot at…the Middle East is [now] the source of some very bold, stimulating and, most importantly, hopeful cinema.”

You can read many more reviews at http://www.arklesentertainment.com/osama/

Even US President George Bush says, “you ought to see the film OSAMA”!!!

NEMESIS GAME OPENS IN WELLINGTON The winner of Best Cinematography and much more at the last NZ Film Awards, "Nemesis Game" opens this week for a strictly limited season at Wellington's Lighthouse Cinemas. Screening times are in local papers and at www.lighthousecinema.co.nz. This is a compelling thriller with superb performances including an amazing turn from Rena Owen. Be there. This is a strictly limited season!

KOMBI NATION In other news, KOMBI NATION is now available on VHS and DVD in all good video stores throughout New Zealand and from May 19 across Australia. The DVD is packed with special features such as deleted scenes, the actor’s auditions, a making-of documentary, a photo gallery and writer/director’s award winning short film collection. A must for all who missed this classic kiwi comedy/road trip on the big screen, want to see it again, or to check out the extras.

Aucklanders should also book now for the fantastic Auckland Theatre Company show GOLDIE starring Michael Hurst (HERCULES) and KOMBI NATION’s Jason Whyte. It runs April 22-May 22 at the Maidment. More details at www.atc.co.nz.

ORPHANS AND ANGELS ORPHANS AND ANGELS has been selected for another international festival! This time it’s the Arizona International festival which last year screened another wee NZ film by the name of WHALE RIDER. ORPHANS is the only Australasian title to play in the line up of mainly North American fare and Director Harold Brodie “continue[s] to be surprised at the ongoing success of what is a self-funded independent feature.” Arkles is proud to be able to offer this film for your viewing pleasure on VHS and DVD from May 19 in New Zealand and June 16th in Australia.

CHRISTMAS STARTS A FEATURE SEASON Arkles Entertainment is over the moon to be working with the winner of so many awards at the last NZ Film Awards.

Dunedinites will get to see CHRISTMAS as it starts its season at the Academy Cinema, Dundas Street, on Sunday the 25th of April. This black comedy is a must see after taking out all of the major digital film awards at the 2003 NZ Film Awards, including ‘Best Feature’.

And finally check out this very worthwhile site with listings of captioned films for the deaf or hearing impaired: www.captionmovies.co.nz.

http://www.arklesentertainment.com

Osama out May 13 - Christmas opening April 25 - For Good now showing - Kombi Nation now available on video

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