Author: Richelle

Foreign Language Films – October 2008

Richelle

Blame it on Fidel

When Fernando and Marie decide to dedicate themselves full time to various political causes, their nine-year-old daughter, Anna, must learn to face the world on her own. In French with English subtitles. Cast: Nina Kervel, Julie Depardieu, Stefano Accorsi, Benjamin Feuillet, Martine Chevallier, Mar Sodupe, Gabrielle Valliers, Raphaëlle Molinier. Not Rated

Under the Same Moon

In the hopes of providing a better life for her nine-year-old son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. While she struggles for a better future, fate forces her son to embark on an extraordinary journey to find her. In Spanish with subtitles in English. Cast: Adrian Alonso, Kate del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, Maya Zapata, Carmen Salinas, María Rojo, Mario Almada, America Ferrera. Rated: PG-13

New Music CDs – September 2008

Richelle

Click on Titles to order from the Library Catalog.

Death Magnetic Metallica, CD 781.66 MET 2008 – One of the most influential bands in music, ranked eighth on the list of the biggest-selling groups in history, Metallica unveils its ninth studio album, Death Magnetic. The band’s first album in five years, Death Magnetic is also its first with renowned producer Rick Rubin (Danzig, Slayer, System Of A Down, Slipknot), first with bassist Robert Trujillo, and first on Warner Bros. Heavy and thrashy, unafraid to embrace the band’s past yet move into the future.

Covers James Taylor – Covers is the cd that James Taylor fans have been anticipating for years. Recorded live with his full band in a barn in Massachusetts that was transformed into a studio, the album is a treasury of songs he has performed live over the years, but never recorded. It is an American songbook of tunes made famous by artists as varied Buddy Holly, The Dixie Chicks, The Temptations, Leonard Cohen, George Jones and Eddie Cochran, but embraced and interpreted by James Taylor in a way that makes each one his own. It is a significant work by one of the greatest artists of his generation, which pays tribute to classic American songs from Broadway to Nashville, Detroit to Memphis and across all boundaries. Covers is in itself a classic James Taylor recording.

The QuiltGym Class Heroes, CD 781.66 GYM 2008 -Gym Class Heroes’ eagerly anticipated third release, The Quilt, follows 2006’s RIAA gold-certified As Cruel As School Children. Acclaimed for their unique approach to alternative hip-hop, Gym Class Heroes became an international sensation in 2007 with their #1 blockbuster hit, ‘Cupid’s Chokehold/Breakfast In America’.

Santogold Santogold, CD 781.66 SAN 2008 – “The future of music, today” – Rolling Stone 10 Artists To Watch. “Singing in a haunting, sensual wail…she adds a layer of softness to an unusual mix of synthesizers, dance hall rhythms, and percolating new wave” – NY Times. “Future-pop princess…next big thing” – Spin. “Santi White is Santogold…the collaborators and players may change, the sounds may shift, but at the center is one woman’s indelible vision” – The Fader. SXSW / Coachella shows, 2007 tours with Bjork, M.I.A., songs featured in Entourage, Grey’s Anatomy, Grand Theft Auto.

That Lucky Old Sun Brian Wilson, CD 781.66 WIL 2008 – Brand new album from legendary writer, producer, arranger and performer Brian Wilson, produced by Brian and created in the Capitol Records Studios where he first recorded in 1962.

Do You Know Jessica Simpson, CD 781.642 SIM 2008 – ‘Come on Over’ the first single from her highly-anticipated 2008 Country album, was written by Jessica, Rachel Proctor, and Victoria Banks. It has already made history as the highest chart debut by a solo artist with no prior history on the Country chart as it races up the charts. The album was produced by Grammyr Award winning songwriter Brett James (Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts) and famed producer John Shanks (Alanis Morissette, Bon Jovi, Keith Urban). Jessica had a hand in penning almost every song on the album, joining some of the best songwriters in Nashville (Troy Verges, Hillary Lindsey). Even more noteworthy is that the title track, “Do You Know,” was written for Jessica by one of her musical idols, Dolly Parton, who also graces the track with her own unique vocals.

Still Unforgettable Natalie Cole, CD 781.63 COL 2008 – 17 Years After The Multi-Platinum Album “Unforgettable…With Love”, The Eight-time Grammy Winning Singer prepares to release her follow-Up album ‘Still Unforgettable’ on 29th September with substantial UK promotion to coincide with the release. This much anticipated release is a timeless collection of popular tracks from the great American songbook, transformed to life with Natalie’s beautiful vocal and iridescent flair. Natalie has had an amazing string of hits throughout the years including ‘This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)’, ‘Miss You Like Crazy’ and ‘Pink Cadillac’, achieving Grammy success eight times over. 1991 saw the release of ‘Unforgettable’ featuring her own poignant arrangements of her Father the legendary Nat King Cole’s greatest hits. The album went on to sell over 14 million copies worldwide. Recorded at the historical Capital Studios in LA and produced by Natalie herself, the album features classics ‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ a duet with Nat King Cole, ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’, ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’ and ‘But Beautiful’. Pre-ceding the album release, is the lead track from the album ‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ – a wonderful duet with her late father Nat King Cole, which was first released by him in the 1950’s

Time the Conqueror Jackson Browne, CD 781.66 BRO 2008 – Browne’s first studio release in six years. Recorded with his longtime band Kevin McCormick, Mark Goldenberg, Mauricio “Fritz” Lewak, and Jeff Young, along with two additional members, Chavonne Morris and Alethea Mills. Look for them on tour this fall.

Down to Earth Jem, CD 781.66 JEM 2008 – Down To Earth is the 2008 album by Jem. Since her 2004’s acclaimed Finally Woken, Jem has spanned the globe. Born in Wales, she resides in LA. On Down to Earth Jem shared production and writing duties with cohorts both old and new, Jeff Bass, one of the two brothers credited with discovering Eminem, and Lester Mendez (Shakira, Santana, and Nelly Furtado). On three other selections, she joined forces with Mike Bradford (bass with Kid Rock) and counts Uncle Kracker and Deep Purple among his production credits.The album reflects the singer/songwriters far-ranging influences including Brazilian percussion on the title track, a hip shaking track complete with funky banjos on ‘Crazy’ and the tempestuous Latin-flavored track ‘I Want You To’.

Only By the NightKings of Leon, CD 781.66 KIN 2008 -Kings of Leon return with the release of their highly anticipated fourth album ‘Only By The Night’ on 22nd September through Columbia Records. ‘Only By The Night’ is a bold and expansive sonic statement that looks set to solidify Kings of Leon’s position as one of the most important international acts of 2008 and beyond. It follows rapidly in the footsteps of the bands previous albums ‘Youth And Young Manhood’, ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’ & ‘Because Of The Times’, which have quickly established them as one of the most prolific and acclaimed acts around.

Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes, CD 781.66 FLE 2008 – Seattle’s Fleet Foxes traffic in baroque harmonic pop. They draw influences from the traditions of folk, pop, choral, gospel, sacred harp singing, West Coast music, traditional music from Ireland to Japan, film scores, and their NW peers. The subject matter ranges from the natural world and familial bonds to bygone loves and stone cold graves.

Rattlin’ Bones Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, CD 781.642 CHA 2008 – 2008 collaboration between Chambers, the beloved Australian singer/songwriter and her husband Shane Nicholson. Drawing on both their songwriting talents and unique voices, Rattlin’ Bones heralds a return to the Alternative Country roots that first launched Kasey’s stellar career. This is Chambers and Nicholson writing and performing heartfelt songs that speak with an undeniable honesty. Whilst giving a sizeable nod to Chambers’ Country Music upbringings, Rattlin’ Bones equally secures Nicholson’s natural fit on the rootsy highway.

Destination China CDs

Richelle

Just added to the Collection! Erhu ChantAnonymousCD 781.6 MEI 20061. Idyllic Tune2. Weeping River Of Sorrow3. Celebrating The Harvest Of Grapes4. Ode To Shanmenxia Gorge5. Birdsong Echoing In A Quiet Valley6. A Bunch Of Flowers7. Moon Reflected In The Twin-Spring Lake8. Ballad Of North Henan Province

Spirit on Two StringsJie-Bing Chen CD 781.6 CHE 19931. Moon Reflects On Erh-Chaun Spring2. Soughing Pines3. The Flowing River4. On The Way Home5. Birds Singing In A Deserted Mountain6. Flicking Of The Candlelight7. Eve’s Night8. Singing At Leisure9. Bright Prospects

The Essential Guide to ChinaVarious ArtistsCD 781.6 ESS 20082008 three CD set. The Essential Guide to China features over three hours outstanding music celebrating the rich culture and heritage of this ancient and fascinating country. In the lead up to the Olympics, awareness of China and Chinese culture will be at an all-time high, with mass media coverage and profile on all things Chinese. This triple disc set features distinctive traditional music, lush scores from Chinese movies, plus a selection of atmospheric meditation music, evoking the natural beauty and tranquility of China – this set has it all! Essential.

Best of Cui Jian 1986-1996Cui JianCD 781.6 CUI 20061. I Have Nothing2. Solution3. Flying4. Fake Monk5. Starting All Over6. This Space7. Stepping Out8. Bondoir Lady9. It Is Not That I Don’t See10. Wild On The Snow11. Tolerate12. Piece Of Red Cloth13. New Long March

Jasmine FlowerBeijing Angelic ChoirCD 781.6 BEI 1997 1. Children from the Mountain2. The Celebration of the Tribal Harvest Festivals3. The Anthem of Parents4. Eight Fiery Horses5. Snow-White Flower Blossoms6. Wedding7. Dong-Dong Kui (The Anthem Of Joy)8. The Jasmine Flower9. My Beautiful Homeland10. Lady A-Shi-Ma11. The Jubilant Torch Festival Celebration12. My Lovely Hometown13. A Rainy Day

Tan bo Zhongguo = Tug at China’s HeartstringsGuanren GuCD 781.6 TUG 20071. Jolly Tune2. Night Banquet3. Street-Walking Musicians4. In the Still Of Late Night5. Tune From Jin Region6. When Spring Visits South China7. Journey Beyond Xi Kou8. Riddle Guessing9. Camel Bell Ring Echoing Along the Silk Road10. Xi Trio For Three Sets Of Cymbals11. Ambush On All Sides12. Night In Moscow13. Saber Dance

Sunny SpringWu Wen’GuangCD 781.6 WU 2006 Maestro Wu has greatly contributed to the ancient Chinese qin art and this specially priced two-disc set captures some of his finest moments

Young Virtuosi from ShanghaiLiu Ming-yuanCD 781.6 CHI 2006 There is a startling contrast between the ultra-modern megalopolis of Shanghai and the traditional instruments played with amazing virtuosity by young outstanding musicians. Here, six brilliant soloists featur interpret pieces ranging from very old times to the early 20th century. Their precise, sensitive interpretations, as well as the well-documented liner notes, make this album a pleasant introduction to ancient, traditional, and classical styles of erudite Chinese music.1. Wai shan hu chuan ge2. Jin diao3. Gua hong deng4. Yi zu wu qu5. Liu shui6. Han jiang can xue7. Mai cai8. Bei ge9. Shan cun xiao jing10. Bing zhong yin11. Mo li hua12. Xi yang yang13. Han ya xi shui14. Jiang jun ling15. Shan dan dan16. Yu zhou chang wan

Eleven Centuries of Traditional Music of ChinaVarious ArtistsCD 781.6 ELE 1989 1. The Ambush3. Water And Clouds Over The Rivers Hsiao And Hsiang4. Wild Geese Descend On Level Sands5. High Moon6. Thunderstorm7. Water Lilly8. The Metamorphosis Of The Solitary Female PhoenixLook directly into the sunCD 781.6 LOO 20071. Close Your Cold Eyes2. Jai Jung3. Mario And Peaches4. Storm Eyes5. Pink 09 – Determining the Dose6. Dang7. Take Me Home8. What More9. Shanghai10. Song 511. Love Of Sun12. Nasty13. Fight Your Apathy14. Hold The Line15. Light16. Chian17. Panda18. We Just Free

Erhu classicsChen, JunCD 781.6 JUN 20001. Shaking Red Candle Flame2. Horse-Racing3. River Waters4. Erquan Spring Reflecting The Moon5. Beautiful Coconut Tree Island6. Moonlight7. Yizhihua8. Village Scenery9. Sunshine On Tashkurgan10. Galloping War-Horses

Chinese bamboo flute musicCD 781.6 CHI 19931. Capriccio For Chinese Flute2. The Flower Of Hsin-Jang3. A Tayal Folk Song4. The Funy On The Horseback5. Go Dating With My Love6. The Maidens Of The Tea Mountain7. Chatting With An Old Friend By The Window8. The Song Of The Four Seasons9. The Crab And The Egret

Phases of the moonCD 781.629 PHA 19811. The Moon Mirrored In The Pool2. The Moon On High3. Days of Emancipation4. Dance of the Yao People5. Peking Opera Melody: Flowing Water6. Tashwayi7. Spring on the Pamir Plateau8. Purple Bamboo Melody9. Dancing in the Moonlight10. Song of the Herdsmen11. Spring on a Moonlit River

Silk Sound Liu Fang CD 781.6 LIU 20061. High Mountains And Rippling Waters 2. Jasmine Flower 3. The King Of Chu Doffs His Armour 4. Primary Meeting 5. The Dragon Boat 6. Gold-Embroidered Tapestry 7. Kanding Love-Song 8. Autumn Moon Over The Calm Lake 9. Light Wind In A Cloud Of Falling Snow-Flakes 10. Autumn Moon Over The Han Imperial Palace 11. A Walk In The Country Of Dreams

Classical Chinese Folk Music Various Artists CD 781.629 CLA 1999 Disc: 1 1. Zi Zhu Diao (Purple Bamboo Melody) – Chen Dacan 2. Yu Ge (Song Of The Fisherman) – Li He 3. Jiang He Shui (Rivers And Streams) – Chen Dacan 4. Wu Bang Zi – Li He 5. Sai Ma (Horse Races) – Chen Dacan 6. Springtime On The Tianshan Mountains – Cheng Yu 7. Gu Xiang (My Home Town) – Chen Dacan 8. Huan Le Ge (Happy Song) – Li He 9. Liang Xiang (Beautiful Evening) – Chen Dacan 10. Chun Dou Xiang Jiang (Spring Comes To Xiang River) – Li He 11. Er Quan Ying Yue (Spring Water Reflects The Moon) – Chen Dacan 12. Flowing Water From The High Mountain – Cheng Yu 13. Feng Shou (Bumper Harvest) – Chen Dacan Disc: 2 1. Mu Min Xin Ge – Li He 2. Ping Hu Qiu Yue (Still Lake Under The Autumn Moon) – Chen Dacan 3. Guo Sou Xing (A Trip To Guo Sou) – Li He 4. San Liu (Three And Six) – Chen Dacan 5. In The Evening Of The Torch Festival – Cheng Yu 6. E Ma Yao Ling (Hungry Horses Ringing Bells) – Chen Dacan 7. Xi Xiang Fen (Happy Reunion) – Li He 8. Han Gong Qui Yue (Autumn Moon At The ‘Han’ Palace) – Chen Dacan 9. Three Ancient Tunes From Yenzhou:The Moon High In The Sky/Appreciation Of Plum Blossom By Winter… – Cheng Yu 10. Zo Xi Kou: The Wedding/The Cry Of Separation/Departure/Hope – Li He 11. Xi Yang Yang – Chen Dacan

Rough Guide to the Music of ChinaVarious Artists CD 781.6 CHI 20031. Yi Wu Suo You (Nothing To My Name) – Cui Jian2. Silaihuar – Urna3. Jiu Kuang ‘The Drinking Song’ – Yao Gongbai4. Wo Yao Hui Jia (I Want To Go Home) – Bai Hong5. My 1997 – Ai Jing6. Stone Forest Nocturne – Min Xiao-Fen7. Hong Niang Hui Zhang Sheng – Zheng Jun Mian8. Shanaxi Air – Silk Road Music9. Yellow Banana – Hang On The Box10. Nocturnal Light – Kin Tall11. Li Xiang Lan – Lan Guei Ji Ji12. The Green Brook Running – Tse Chun Yan13. Tirik Bostan – Sinkiang Uighur Autonomous Region, Song & Dance Ensemble14. Bo – Wu Xing15. Chiang Wei Cu Cu Kai – Gong Chio Xia16. Autumn Moon – Tats Lau17. The Night Of Bonfire – Liu Fang

Heavenly Bamboo and Silk StringsCD 781.6 HEA 20061. Autumn Meditation at the Dressing Table, A Theme of Tunes from the Nort2. Tune for a Peaceful Night3. Turned Over Curtain, Guangdong Music4. Wind Bathing Melody, Xiao and Music Band5. Autumn Wind Tune, Sichuan Genre Music6. Lament for Ying City, Ancient Tune7. Spring Thoughts in the Palace, Lute and Xiao Tune8. Three Variations on the Yangguan Theme, Xun and Music Band9. Thinking of an Old Friend, Ancient Tune10. Swirling Purple Cloud, Zither and Xiao Tune11. Puan Incantation, Ancient Tune

Album Descriptions and Artwork taken from AllMusic.com and Amazon.com

Destination China DVDs

Richelle

The Sewickley Public Library celebrates Destination China throughout the month of September 2008. All the library’s departments have planned a variety of programs to showcase the rich cultural heritage of China. We invite you to come along on our journey of exploration and discovery!

Chinese Language Films

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Set in the early 1970s during the later stages of China’s Cultural Revolution, two city-bred teenage best friends are sent to a backward mountainous region for Maoist re-education. Cast:Xun Zhou, Kun Chen, Ye Liu, Shuangbao Wang, Zhijun Cong. Based on the novel by Sijie Dai.Chinese language tracks, with optional English subtitles. Not rated.

The Blue Kite Told from the perspective of a young boy, Tietou, this film traces the fate of a Beijing family and their neighbors through the political and social upheavals in China in 1950’s and 60’s. Mandarin language track with English subtitles. Cast: Lu Liping, Yi Tian, Zhang Wenyao, Chen Xiaoman, Pu Cunxin, Li Xuejian, Guo Baochang, Zong Ping. Not rated.

Chungking Express Two interwined romantic tales take place inside the Ch‘ung-ch‘ing high-rise shopping center in downtown Hong Kong: A policeman falls in love with a snack bar waitress while a house detective gets involved with a female drug dealer. In Chinese with English subtitles. Cast: Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung, Faye Wang. Rated PG-13.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Set in 19th-century China, two master warriors are faced with their greatest challenge when the treasured Green Destiny sword is stolen. Mandarin or English language tracks, English subtitles. Cast: Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhan Ziyi, Chang Chen, Lung Sihung, Cheng Pei Pei. MPAA Rating: PG13.

Dim Sum A Chinese immigrant widow faces the New Year with apprehension after it is predicted that it would be the year she dies. Her list of things to do, which includes seeing her daughter get married and visiting China one last time, soon comes into focus. Cantonese or English dialogue with optional English subtitles. Cast: Laureen Chew, Kim Chew, Victor Wong, Joan Chen.

Eat Drink Man Woman A retired master chef and widower is worried about the future of his three unmarried daughters who are skeptical about marriage. Yet he himself surprises them with his secret love affair with a young woman many years his junior. In Mandarin Chinese with English, French & Spanish subtitles. Cast: Sihung Lung, Kuei-mei Yang, Chien-lien Wu, Yu-wen Wang, Winston Chao, Ah-leh Gua, Sylvia Chang.

Endless Way As he comes of age, Ah Ming must begin a life of endless labor to bring sacred water to his family. Forced into an arranged marriage with a young girl from a neighboring village, he must forsake his true love, Ah Shui. Unable to cope with the harsh routine that each villager must endure, Ah Ming’s wife leaves, never to return, and the long suffering Ah Shui steps forth to care for Ah Ming and his ailing mother, sharing their pain and grief. Chinese (Mandarin) dialogue with optional English subtitles. Cast: Chen Chuang, Xia Lu, Du Jing, Liao Guanzhen. Not rated.

Fallen Angels Set in the neon-washed underworld of present day Hong Kong, this story intertwines two exhilarating tales of love and isolation. In Chinese with optional English subtitles. Cast: Leon Lai Ming, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Charlie Young, Michele Reis, Karen Mok. Originally produced as a motion picture in 1995.

Farewell My Concubine Story that spans more than 50 years in the lives of two men at the Peking Opera, friends since childhood, and the woman who comes between them. Also an absorbing drama of the period in Chinese history from the warlord era through the Cultural Revolution. In Chinese with English subtitles. Cast: Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li. Based on the novel by Lilian Lee. Rated R.

Going to School with Dad on My Back Based on a true story, Going to School with Dad on my Back focuses on the selfless acts a family must endure to ensure the survival of their brightest, and the hope of a better future for all of China. Chinese dialgoue with optional Chinese or English subtitles. Cast: Yan Danchen, Jiang Hualin, Qiang Zhao. Based on a true story.

Hero Long ago, China was divided into seven kingdoms all fighting for supremacy. The King of Qin was most determined to become the first emperor of China. Though many tried to assassinate him, only three inspired fear. The King promised endless wealth and power to anyone who defeats his would-be murderers. No results come until ten years later, when a man called Nameless brought the weapons of the three assassins to the Qin King’s palace. Nameless claimed to be an expert swordsman who had defeated all three warriors and had to tell his story to the King. Cast: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Man-Yuk, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, Donnie Yen. Mandarin dialogue, with optional English subtitles. MPAA rating: PG-13

House of Flying Daggers During the reign of the Tang dynasty in China, a secret organization called “The House of the Flying Daggers” rises and opposes the government. Leo is a police officer who sends officer Jin to investigate a young dancer named Mei, claiming that she has ties to the “Flying Daggers” organization. Leo ends up arresting Mei, only to have Jin break her free in a plot to gain her trust and lead the police to the new leader of the secret organization. But things are far more complicated than they seem. Chinese dialogue, dubbed English or dubbed French dialogue, English or French subtitles. Cast: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Song Dandan. Rated: PG13.

The Iron Monkey The legendary Iron Monkey teams up with a young girl to battle corrupt and greedy government officials in ancient China. Rated: PG-13. Cast: Donnie Yen, Yu Rong Guang, Jean Wang, Tsang Sue Man. Original Chinese language track and English language track.

Legend of the Black Scorpion Scheming royals and other officials seek to conquer empires and consolidate power to form a single omnipotent dynasty. Meanwhile, a legendary empress who has the fighting skills unparalleled by any man, harbors forbidden desires for her stepson. Set in the Age of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, tells the story of a royal court in turmoil including forbidden love, deceit, revenge, overpowering beauty, and greed. Mandarin and English dialogue, with optional English subtitles. Not rated.

Lust, Caution Set against the backdrop of Japanese occupied Shanghai in 1942, a young woman finds herself swept up in a radical plot to assassinate a ruthless and secretive intelligence agent. As she immerses herself in her role as a cosmopolitan seductress, she becomes entangled in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue, love and betrayal. In Mandarin, with optional French or Spanish subtitles. Cast: Tony Leung, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Wang Leehom. Based on the short story Se, Jie by Eileen Chang. Rated R.

Mongolian Ping Pong A ping pong ball, found floating in a stream, becomes the source of wonderment for three young boys who live in the remote grasslands of Mongolia, a magnificent landscape little changed since the time of Genghis Khan. In Mongolian; with optional English subtitles. Cast: Hurichabilike, Dawa, Geliban, Yidexinnaribu, Badema, Jinlaowu, Wurina, Buhebilke, Sarengaowa, Dugema, Jirimu.

Raise the Red Lantern In the 1920s an educated young Chinese woman is given to a feudal nobleman as the newest of his many wives. She must adjust to this confined, traditional life and to her resident predecessors. Cast: Gong Li, Ma Jingwu, He Caifei, Cad Cuifeng. Based on the novel Wives and Concubines by Su Tong. Mandarin with English, simplified and traditional Chinese subtitles. MPAA Rating: PG.

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Takada is an aging Japanese fisherman who has been estranged from his son for many years. When the son is diagnosed with terminal cancer his daughter-in-law, Rie, summons him to the hospital. When his son refuses to see him, Rie gives him a videotape about the work his son was doing on a documentary film in a remote region of China’s Yunnan province. Still troubled by the relationship, Takada decides to go to China and complete his son’s work in part to develop an understanding of his son, and in part to do something for him. Once in China a series of obstacles and relationships bring him unexpectedly closer to both an understanding of himself and of his son. In Chinese, Portuguese or French with English, French, Spanish or Portuguese subtitles. Cast: Takakura Ken, Terajima Shinobu, Li Jiamin, Jiang Wen, Qiu Lin. Rated PG.

The Story of Qiu Ju An ordinary, courageous woman in a small villlage fights against the system in her quest for justice. Mandarin language track with English subtitles. Cast: Gong Li, Lei Lao Sheng, Liu Pei Qi, Ge Zhi Jun, Ye Jun, Yang Liu Chun. Based on the novel “The Wan family’s lawsuit” by Chen Yuan Bin. Rated PG

The Story of the Weeping Camel In the Gobi Desert of Chinese Mongolia, a family of nomads, who assist in the birth of its camel herd, face a crisis when one white calf is rejected by its mother. With all hope lost, the family sends its two young boys on a journey to a far-off village to fetch a musician capable of performing a magical ceremony. In Mongol with English subtitles. Rated PG.Documentaries

China Revealed Get a fresh perspective on China one of the world’s richest cultures as you hear individual life stories told through the eyes of the locals. Insightful storytelling and spectacular photographic techniques brings to life the fascinating and complex contemporary world of one of the greatest nations on earth. In one of the few times in its 5000 year history – the oldest most populous nation opens its doors to the rest of the world. The economics of Feudalism and Communism are out and Capitalism is in. Old walls are being torn down and a futuristic landscape of glass and steel is shooting up in its place. Exploring where tradition meets modernity follow the dreams of a 12-year-old Olympic hopeful then join rice farmers tilling land their ancestors have worked for 18 centuries. Using the latest generation of hi-definition cameras and effects techniques see China like you’ve never seen it before. It’s a visual delight delving deep into the people and places of the oldest civilization on the planet.

China’s Lost Girls This National Geographic Special explored the bias against girls that exists in China, where they are commonly aborted, abandoned, or killed, and the practice of adoption of these unwanted children by Americans. Chinese native girls who have been adopted by American couples relate their experiences. Hosted by Lisa Ling.

Chop Socky Offers an in-depth look at Hong Kong’s film legacy and its influence on global cinema, from its earliest beginnings to the latest big-budget epics. In English with Chinese dialog sequences. Narrator: Mark Kaufmann; featuring: Jet Li, Jackie Chan, John Woo, Bruce Lee. Originally produced as a television program titled Cinema Hong Kong : King Fu in 2003. MPAA rating: Not rated.

Found in China: a Documentary A group of six Midwestern families with Chinese adoptive daughters take a heritage trip to China. The documentary focuses on the 9- to 13-year old girls and their feelings about being adopted as they learn about the culture of their homeland and the circumstances of their adoption.

Shanghai Ghetto The incredible story of thousands of Jews and their dramatic escape from the Nazis to China during World War II.

Wild China: a Land of History, Mystery and Extraordinary Diversity Journey across China from the peaks of the Himalayas to the barren steppe, the sub-Arctic to the tropical islands, through deserts both searingly hot and mind-numbingly cold and see a dazzling array of mysterious, beautiful, wild and rare creatures. Narrated by Bernard Hill.Disc One: Heart of the Dragon, Shangri-La and Tibet. Disc Two: Beyond the Great Wall, Land of the Panda and Tides of Change.Travel

Destination China In this Pilot Guide Travel film viewers will attend a traditional Long Horn Mio ceremony, visit the Huangguoshu Waterfalls, the largest in Asia, visit a silk factory in Suzhou, the silk capital of China, and attend the temple fair celebrating the end of the silk harvest. The film ends with a walk among the 8,000 terracotta warriors built to guard to tomb of China’s first emperor, Emperor China. Not Rated.

SmartTravels Pacific Rim: Shanghai Two episodes of the television series SmartTravels Pacific Rim. Follows Rudy Maxa on tours of Shanghai and Hong Kong. Discusses popular tourist attractions and provides historical background and practical information.Films Set in China

The Amazing Panda Adventure On a trek into the lush bamboo forests, Ryan is unexpectedly separated from his father. With the help of a young Chinese girl, he aims to bring to safety a baby panda that he’s boldly taken away from heartless poachers. They’d better move fast, however: the poachers are coming after them and the baby panda cannot survive much longer without its mother. Cast: Stephen Lang, Yi Ding, Ryan Slater. Rated PG.

The Forbidden Kingdom A discovery made by a kung fu-obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors. Cast: Collin Chou, Liu Yifei, Li Bing Bing, Michael Angarano, Jackie Chan. Rated PG-13

Home Beyond the Sun The story of one woman’s desperate effort to help an eight-year-old orphan girl escape poverty and oppression in Mainland China.

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness Based on the true-life story of Gladys Aylward, an English missionary that led a group of children through war-torn China in the 1930’s. Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Robert Donat, Curt Jurgens. Based on the book The Small Woman by Alan Burgess. Rated PG.

The Invincible Iron Man While raising the ruins of a long-buried Chinese kingdom, billionaire inventor Tony Stark digs up far more than he bargained for. He unleashes an age-old prophecy that foretells the resurrection of the Mandarin, the emperor of China’s darkest and most violent dynasty. In order to confront destructive forces, Tony creates an armored suit infused with high-tech weaponry. Marvel animated features. Voices: Marc Worden, Gwendolyn Yeo, Rodney Saulsberry, Elisa Gabrielli, John McCook, Fred Tatasciore. Rated PG-13

The Last Emperor The true story of Pu Yi, who, at the age of 3, toddled to the Imperial Dragon Throne to become “Lord of 10,000 Years,” China’s last emperor. Cast: John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole, Ying Ruocheng. Not Rated.

The Painted Veil Set in the 1920s. A young English couple, Walter a middle class doctor and Kitty, an upper-class woman, get married for all the wrong reasons and relocate to Shanghai. Kitty falls in love with someone else. When Walter discovers her infidelity, in an act of vengeance, he accepts a job in a remote village in China that is being ravaged by a deadly epidemic. He takes his wife along and their journey brings meaning to their relationship and gives them purpose in one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth. Cast: Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Diana Rigg. Based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Rated PG-13

The White Countess Set in 1930’s Shanghai, a blind American diplomat develops a curious relationship with a young Russian refugee who works odd and sometimes illicit jobs to support members of her dead husband’s aristocratic family. Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave, Hiroyuki Sanada, Allan Corduner, Ying Da, Madeleine Daly, Lee Pace, Madeleine Potter, Luoyong Wang, John Wood. Rated PG-13.Chinese Heritage

Combination Platter Kitchen mayhem, irate customers and potential romance unfolds as Robert, an illegal immigrant working at a Chinese restaurant in New York as a waiter, desperately searches for a way to stay in the United States. He reluctantly agrees to meet an American woman, Claire, with the hopes of marrying to obtain a green card. Will Robert obtain his green card before immigration catches up with him? Chinese and English dialogue, with optional English subtitles. Cast: Jeffrey Lau, Coleen O’Brien, Lester “Chit-Man” Chan, Colin Mitchell, Kenneth Lu, Thomas K. Hsiung.

Double Happiness Jade must choose between family and personal happiness. Her parents want her to marry a successful Chinese man and she wants to make her own decisions. When she falls in love with a white university student, the façade of the perfect Chinese daughter begins to crack. A story about pursuing your dreams while living up to everybody else’s. Cast: Sandra Oh, Stephen M.D. Chang, Alannah Ong, Donald Fong, Frances You. Rated PG-13.

The Joy Luck Club Follows the story of four lifelong friends, whose lives are filled with joy and heartbreak, and shows how their experiences have affected the hopes and dreams they hold for each of their children. Cast: Tsai Chin, Kieu Chinh, Lisa Lu, France Nuyen, Rosalind Chao, Lauren Tom, Tamlyn Tomita, Ming-Na Wen, Michael Paul Chan, Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Rich, Russell Wong, Vivian Wu. Based on the novel by Amy Tan. In English and Chinese with English subtitles. Rated R.

Smile Lin lives in a world of quiet hardship in China, longing to live without fear or shame. Katie lives in a world of pampered ease in Malibu and wants something new and challenging in her life. When these two come together, their lives are forever changed. Cast: Mika Boorem, Luoyong Wang, Beau Bridges, Cheri Oteri, Linda Hamilton, Shuai Chi, Jia Song, Jonathan Trent, Erik von Detton, Yi Ding, Sean Astin. MPAA rating: PG-13

New Releases on DVD – September 2008

Richelle

Baby Mama
A successful, single businesswoman who dreams of having a baby discovers she is infertile and hires a working class woman to be her unlikely surrogate. Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Romany Malco, Maura Tierney, Holland Taylor, Sigourney Weaver. Rated PG-13

The Counterfeiters
The Counterfeiters is the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. Awards: Oscar – Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. Language: German, English, Hebrew, Russian or dubbed French dialogue, English, French or Spanish subtitles. Cast: Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Marie Bäumer, Martin Brambach, Dolores Chaplin. Based on the book The Devil’s Workshop by Adolf Burger. Rated: R

88 Minutes
A college professor who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI has only 88 minutes to live and must tie up all loose ends. Cast: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, Deborah Kara Unger, Benjamin McKenzie, Neal McDonough. Rated R

Flywheel
A dishonest used car salesman turns his life around, after he is caught deceiving customers and must return their money. Cast: Alex Kendrick, Janet Lee Dapper, Tracy Goode, Walter Burnett, Treavor Lokey, Richie Hunnewell, Lisa Arnold, Rutha Harris, Steve Moore, Roger Breland. Not rated.

The Forbidden Kingdom
A discovery made by a kung fu-obsessed American teen sends him on an adventure to China, where he joins up with a band of martial arts warriors. Cast: Collin Chou, Liu Yifei, Li Bing Bing, Michael Angarano, Jackie Chan. Rated PG-13

The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant
In 1788, Mary Bryant, a starving young Cornwall girl, is convicted of a petty crime and sentenced to seven years in the Australian penal colony of Botany Bay. When Mary initiates an escape, she embarks on an arduous four thousand-mile journey toward freedom in a tragic and triumphant story that would make her one of history’s most fascinating and courageous unsung heroines. Cast: Romola Garai, Jack Davenport, Alex O’Laoughlin and Sam Neill. Rated R

The Love Guru
An American raised outside of his country by gurus returns to the States in order to break into the self-help business. Cast: Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, Romany Malco, Meagan Good, Omid Djalili, Ben Kingsley. Rated PG-13

Made of Honor
A guy in love with an engaged woman tries to win her over after she asks him to be her maid of honor. Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kadeem Hardison, Chris Messina, Richmond Arquette, Busy Philipps, Whitney Cummings, Emily Nelson, Kathleen Quinlan. Rated PG-13

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
When a governess loses her job, she is thrown into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer. Cast: Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Cia`rn Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong. Based on the novel by Winifred Watson. Rated PG-13

Persepolis
The coming-of-age story of a precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl that begins during the Islamic Revolution. In French or English with optional subtitles in English and Spanish. Voices: Chiara Mastroianni, Sean Penn, Catherine Deneuve, Gena Rowlands, Iggy Pop. Based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. Rated PG-13

Pope Dreams
A coming-of-age tale about a young man at a crossroads in life. Filled with heart, music, life, loss…and a set of drums. Cast: Julie Hagerty, Stephen Tobolowsky, Phillip Vaden, Marnette Patterson. Not rated.

Recount
Explores one of the most dramatic and controversial events in recent U.S. election history, which shook a nation’s faith in the ability to stage a fair and open election. Cast: Kevin Spacey, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley, Laura Dern, John Hurt, Denis Leary, Bruce McGill, Tom Wilkinson. An HBO Production, Rated TV-MA.

Smart People
A widowed professor experiences both a new love and an unexpected visit from his adopted brother. Cast: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holmes. Rated R

Then She Found Me
A New York schoolteacher hits a midlife crisis when, in quick succession, her husband leaves, her adoptive mother dies, and her real one shows up. Cast: Matthew Broderick, Colin Firth, Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Ben Shenkman. Based on the novel by Elinor Lipman.

What Happens in Vegas
After the wildest party night of their lives, strangers Jack and Joy wake up to discover that they got married. When Jack wins a three-million-dollar jackpot using Joy’s quarter, their hopes of a quick annulment end as each wants to keep the money. After a no-nonsense judge sentences them to six months of “hard marriage,” the pair go to outrageous lengths to try to cheat each other out of the money. Cast: Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Rob Corddry, Treat Williams, Dennis Miller. Rated PG-13

Feature Length Films and TV Series – September 2008

Richelle

Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Ace Ventura, pet detective is on the case to find the Miami Dolphins’ missing mascot and quarterback Dan Marino, and whether he’s undercover, under fire or underwater, he always gets his man … or beast!. Cast: Jim Carrey, Sean Young, Courteney Cox, Tone L¯oc, Dan Marino. Rated PG-13

Band of Brothers
This is the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army, drawn from interviews with survivors as well as soldiers’ journals and letters. Cast:Kirk Acevedo, Eion Bailey, Michael Cudlitz, David Schwimmer, Douglas Spain, Richard Speight Jr., Donnie Wahlberg. Originally broadcast by HBO in 2001. Based on the book by Stephen Ambrose.

Country Matters
Adaptations of short stories by A.E. Coppard and H.E. Bates. Set against the English countryside during the post-World War I period. Reveals the timeless and constant qualities of the British landscape and its people. Cast: Ian McKellen, Prunella Ransome, Susan Penhaligon, Robert Keegan, Rosalind Ayres, Peter Firth, Penelope Wilton, Susan Fleetwood, Gareth Thomas, Brian Marshall, Jane Lapotaire, Stephen Chase, Keith Drinkel, Mary Weinbark, Prunella Scales, Nicholas Hoye. Originally broadcast on television between 1972 and 1973. Not rated.

Eleanor and Franklin: The Early Years & The White House Years
He was one of America’s greatest presidents leading the nation out of its darkest years and guiding it through one of its most difficult wars. She was his wife a First Lady who declined the role of White House hostess and instead devoted herself to public service. This exclusive HBO Double Feature brings together the two critically acclaimed films (“The Early Years” and “The Whitehouse Years”) detailing the Roosevelt’s saga presenting an intimate portrait of their public and private lives. Cast: Jane Alexander, Edward Hermann, Priscilla Pointer, Walter McGinn, Rosemary Murphy, Blair Brown. Based on the book by Joseph P. Lash. Not Rated.

The English Patient
Based on the novel by Michael Ondaatje, a complicated WWII saga told in flashback sequences. Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Naveen Andrews. Rated R

Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
Despite the success of his highly-rated (but critically-panned) sitcom, Andy can’t help but wonder if true artistic respectability will ever come his way. Andy decides to take drastic measures: he fires his loyal but useless agent Darren; pulls the plug on his hit show; and turns down roles he considers “beneath him.” Cast: Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant. Originally broadcast on HBO in 2007. Rated TV-14.

Flying Leathernecks
It’s World War II. Major Dan Kirby (John Wayne) is hard on his marines. His subordinate Captain Carl Griffin thinks the Major is overdoing it, but Kirby proves that there is a method to his madness after all. Cast: John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Don Taylor, Janis Carter, Jay C. Flippen.
Originally released as a motion picture in 1951. Not rated.

The Hiding Place
With the Nazi invasion of Holland, Corrie ten Boom’s family joins the resistance to help save persecuted Jewish families. When they are arrested and imprisoned in concentration camps themselves, they have nothing left to cling to but their faith. Cast: Julie Harris, Jeannette Clift, Eileen Heckart. Rated PG. Based on the true story by Corrie ten Boom.

House M.D. Season Four
Reunite with the perplexing and prickly Dr. Gregory House as he tackles impossible cases while putting a new staff of potential team members through the medical wringer with his trademark sarcasm and irreverent bedside manner. Cast: Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, Kal Penn, Peter Jacobson, Olivia Wilde. Not rated.

Inspector LynLey Mysteries: Series 6
Suave, sophisticated Detective Inspector Lynley and his prickly, plebian sidekick Detective Sergeant Havers are back with two new gripping mysteries in this sixth and final series. But with Lynley struggling to cope with his wife’s death — and Havers struggling with her partner’s heavy drinking — will they be able to focus on solving crime? Cast: Nathaniel Parker, Sharon Small. Based on Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley mysteries. Not rated.

Mr. & Mrs. Bridge
Story of a Kansas City couple, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, whose lives are affected in different ways as their children grow up and leave home, and more adventurous friends bring new ideas into their home. Mrs. Bridge questions the life she has led, but her husband remains a firm believer in family and home, regardless of the changes in the world around him. Based on the novels “Mr. Bridge” and “Mrs. Bridge”, by Evan S. Connell. Cast: Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Blythe Danner. Rated PG-13.

Partners
Sergeant Benson (Ryan O’Neal) is the biggest ladies man on the force. Kerwin (John Hurt) is a gay man, works a desk job and keeps quiet about his personal life. When a double murder lands on Benson’s desk, he’s forced to go undercover into the gay community in order to bring the killer to justice. It’s a tough job for a macho cop – but fortunately, he’s got a partner. Benson and Kerwin team up to solve the crime, and find themselves doing things that were never included in their job description. Written by Francis Veber (La Cage aux folles), this hilarious fish out-of-water comedy delivers equal parts thrills and laughs.

Top Gun
At the elite Navy Fighter Weapons School, cocky, young pilots compete against one another in the air as well as on the ground. Cast: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt. Rated PG.

Foreign Language Films – September 2008

Richelle

The Counterfeiters
Germany, 1936. Salomon “Sally” Sorowitsch is the king of counterfeiters. He lives a life of cards, booze, and women. Suddenly his luck runs dry when he is arrested by Superintendent Friedrich Herzog. He is immediately thrown into the Mauthausen concentration camp. There, Salomon exhibits exceptional skills and is soon transferred to the upgraded camp of Sachsenhausen. Upon his arrival, he once again comes face to face with Herzog, who is there on a secret mission. Hand-picked for his unique skill, Salomon and a group of professionals are forced to produce fake foreign currency under the program Operation Berhard. The team, which also includes detainee Adolf Burger, is given luxury barracks for their assistance. Salomon attempts to weaken the economy of Germany’s opponents. But, Adolf refuses to use his skills for Nazi profit and would like to do something to stop the operation. Now faced with a moral dilemma, Salomon must decide whether his actions are ultimately the right ones. Awards: Oscar – Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. Language: German, English, Hebrew, Russian or dubbed French dialogue, English, French or Spanish subtitles. Cast: Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Marie Bäumer, Martin Brambach, Dolores Chaplin. Based on the book The Devil’s Workshop by Adolf Burger. Rated: R

Documentaries and Nonfiction Films – August 2008

Richelle

Attenborough in Paradise: and Other Personal Voyages
A collection of seven of David Attenborough’s celebrated nature programs. Topics covered include: the courtship displays of birds in New Guinea; the “music” of the wild; David Attenborough’s career as a nature filmmaker.

Earth: The Biography
Earth is an incredible, exceptional planet with an amazing life story full of cataclysmic disasters, eleventh-hour coincidences that save it from extinction, and an astonishing power to continually regenerate. Uses breathtaking footage and special imaging to tell the story of the great forces that shape the planet – volcanoes, the ocean, the atmosphere and ice. Traveling from Ethiopia’s unique lava lake to an ice cave under a glacier in Greenland and amazing locations in between, examine the forces that have helped create and foster life on Earth. Narrator, Iain Stewart.
Originally broadcast on the BBC in 2007.

Found in China: A Documentary
A group of six Midwestern families with Chinese adoptive daughters take a heritage trip to China. The documentary focuses on the 9- to 13-year old girls and their feelings about being adopted as they learn about the culture of their homeland and the circumstances of their adoption.

Galápagos: the Islands that Changed the World
The inspiration for Darwin’s theory of evolution, the Galápagos Islands are a living laboratory, a geological conveyor belt that has given birth to and seen the death of many species of plants and animals. Narrated by Tilda Swinton. Originally broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation, 2006.

Incredible Britain
Join actor Robbie Coltrane as he shows viewers the back roads of London to Glasgow, stopping along the way to learn of some of the more interesting customs of the local people. Includes fun facts map and biography.

Life in Cold Blood
David Attenborough tells the epic story of the most enduringly successful animals to ever walk on land – reptiles and amphibians. The latest technology enables extraordinary and previously unseen behavior to be captured in intimate detail.

Life in the Freezer
Hosted by David Attenborough, this BBC-TV six-episode television series explores the landscape, wildlife, and underwater reaches of Antarctica.

Life in the Undergrowth
David Attenborough guides the viewer through a miniature universe teeming with life, never normally seen, yet all around us. New technology reveals surreal vistas and their extraordinary inhabitants.

The Life of Birds
David Attenborough journeys across seven continents filming thousands of species of birds, revealing their patterns of behavior.