SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE wins Oscar 2009 for Best Picture

Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Freida Pinto), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show s questions.Each chapter of Jamal s increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show s seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show?When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out.

(Source: Imdb.com)

OSCAR ACCEPTANCE SPEECH TRANSCRIPT

"Thank you so much to the Academy. As you can see, our film was a collaboration between hundreds of people, and I am so happy that so many of them could be with us here tonight to share this moment. Together we've been on an extraordinary, extraordinary journey. When we started out, we had no stars, we had no power or muscle. We didn't have enough money really to do what we wanted to do. But what we had was a script that has inspired mad love in everyone who read it. We had a genius, for a director. We had a cast and crew who were unwavering in their commitment and whose talents are up on the screen for all of you to see. We had partners in Film4 and Celador. In Pathe and FOX Searchlight, who had the courage to support us. We had a shared love for the extraordinary city of Mumbai, where we made the movie. Most of all we had passion and we had belief and out film showed that if you have those two things, truly anything is possible. I want to thank on a personal note, my mum and my dad for their support over the years... And I want to thank all of you very much indeed. Thank you."

(Source: mahalo.com)

Etiquette

How to Greet someone in Britain
The Handshake

A handshake is the most common form of greeting among the English and British people and is customary when you are introduced to somebody new.

The Kiss

It is only when you meet friends, whom you haven't seen for a long time, that you would kiss the cheek of the opposite sex. In Britain one kiss is generally enough.

Formal greetings

The usual formal greeting is a 'How do you do?' and a firm handshake, but with a lighter touch between men and women.

‘How do you do?’ is a greeting not a question and the correct response is to repeat ‘How do you do?' You say this when shaking hands with someone.

First person "How do you do?"
Second person " How do you do?"

'How are you?' is a question and the most common and polite response is "I am fine thank you and you?"

First person "How are you?"
Second person "I am fine thank you and you?"

Nice to meet you – Nice to meet you too. (Often said whilst shaking hands)

Delighted to meet you– Delighted to meet you too.

Pleased to meet you – Pleased to meet you too.

Glad to meet you - Glad to meet you too

Good Morning / Good Afternoon / Good Evening

Informal greetings

Hi - Hi or hello

Morning / Afternoon / Evening ( We drop the word 'Good' in informal situations).

How's you? - Fine thanks. You?

Thank you / thanks / cheers

English people sometimes say 'cheers' instead of thank you. You may hear 'cheers' said instead of 'good bye', what they are really saying is 'thanks and bye'.

Acceptable Behaviour in England

Terms of Endearment - Names British people may call you

You may be called by many different 'affectionate' names, according to which part of the Britain you are visiting. Do not be offended, this is quite normal. For example, you may be called dear, dearie, flower, love, chick, chuck, me duck, me duckie, mate, guv, son, ma'am, madam, miss, sir, or treacle, according to your sex, age and location.

Visiting people in their houses

When being entertained at someone's home it is nice to take a gift for the host and hostess. A bottle of wine, bunch of flowers or chocolates are all acceptable.

Time

British people place considerable value on punctuality. If you agree to meet friends at three o'clock, you can bet that they'll be there just after three. Since Britons are so time conscious, the pace of life may seem very rushed. In Britain, people make great effort to arrive on time. It is often considered impolite to arrive even a few minutes late. If you are unable to keep an appointment, it is expected that you call the person you are meeting. Some general tips follow.

You should arrive:

* At the exact time specified – for dinner, lunch, or appointments with professors, doctors, and other professionals.
* Any time during the hours specified for teas, receptions, and cocktail parties.
* A few minutes early: for public meetings, plays, concerts, movies, sporting events, classes, church services, and weddings.
If you are invited to someone's house for dinner at half past seven, they will expect you to be there on the dot. An invitation might state "7.30 for 8", in which case you should arrive no later than 7.50. However, if an invitation says "sharp", you must arrive in plenty of time.

Manners are Important. DOs and DON'TS (Taboos)

Do stand in line:

In England people like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait patiently for their turn e.g. boarding a bus. It is usual to queue when required, and expected that you will take your correct turn and not push in front. 'Queue jumping' is frowned upon.

Do take your hat off when you go indoors (men only)

It is impolite for men to wear hats indoors especially in churches.
Nowadays, it is becoming more common to see men wearing hats indoors. However, this is still seen as being impolite, especially to the older generations.

Do say "Excuse Me":

If someone is blocking your way and you would like them to move, say excuse me and they will move out of your way.

Do Pay as you Go:

Pay for drinks as you order them in pubs and other types of bars.

Do say "Please" and "Thank you":

It is very good manners to say "please" and "thank you". It is considered rude if you don't. You will notice in England that we say 'thank you' a lot.

Do cover your Mouth:

When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand.

Do Shake Hands:

When you are first introduced to someone, shake their right hand with your own right hand.

Do say sorry:

If you accidentally bump into someone, say 'sorry'. They probably will too, even if it was your fault! This is a habit and can be seen as very amusing by an 'outsider'.

Do Smile:

A smiling face is a welcoming face.

Do open doors for other people:

Men and women both hold open the door for each other. It depends on who goes through the door first.

Do not greet people with a kiss:

British people only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.

Avoid talking loudly in public:

It is impolite to stare at anyone in public. Privacy is highly regarded.

Do not pick your nose in public:

People are disgusted by this. If your nostrils need de-bugging, use a handkerchief.

Avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging:

This is only done among close friends.

Do not spit:

Spitting in the street is considered to be very bad mannered.

Do not burp in public:

You may feel better by burping loudly after eating or drinking, but other people will not! If you cannot stop a burp from bursting out, then cover your mouth with your hand and say 'excuse me' afterwards.

Do not ask personal or intimate questions:

People like their privacy. Please do not ask questions such as "How much money do you earn?" "How much do you weigh?" or "Why aren't you married?".

(Texts taken from and copyright of projectbritain.com)

SOME OF MY ZHANG YIMOU´S MOVIES

ZHANG YIMOU: Painting on Film

For many film directors today, it is difficult to create a masterpiece that contains both aesthetically pleasing elements and an intriguing plot. For most directors, it becomes a choice of one over the other, and sadly, the priority usually goes to the plot. Fortunately, one director seems to have perfected the recipe for a balance between the two and his name is Zhang Yimou. Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director who has produced and directed numerous action films that incorporate beauty, love and Chinese tradition into unique masterpieces. In addition to being a talented director, Zhang Yimou has even written some of his own scripts and worked with international stars, such as Zhang Zi Yi and Jet Li. As Chinese action film director, Zhang Yimou has created countless cinematic productions that capture both the beauty and the culture of China using plots laced with elements of action and stories of love.
While each of Zhang Yimou’s films have completely unique plots, they all have similarities in style. One aspect that is intuitively obvious is Zhang Yimou’s stunning use of vivid color in his films. One of the many instances of this can be seen in his movie “Hero”. In one of the scenes, the viewer can see two women dressed in vibrant red from head to foot standing in the middle of a grove of bright yellow trees with leaves falling all around them. The contrast between the costumes and the background provides for quite a dramatic effect. In addition to using color to enhance his films, Zhang Yimou also uses traditional Chinese elements such as elegant costumes and scenic views of China’s many landscapes. His films allow the viewers to experience the winds of a desert, the solitude of a bamboo grove, and the romance of an open field all within the same film. The beauty of the scenery and costumes in all of Zhang Yimou’s movies serve to enrich each script. All of his movies are written in Chinese and are beautifully scripted. Even after being translated to English, the dialogue still retains its eloquence. In combination with the film’s score, the overall effect of the soundtrack is exquisite and adds to the beauty of the film.
In addition to the set-up of Zhang Yimou’s films, the acting and choreography is also stunning. From battle scenes to love scenes, it appears that every move has been carefully calculated. For example, in “The House of Flying daggers” there is a particular fight scene in which the battle looks more like a dance. The soldiers in this scene move in sync with very calculated and graceful gestures. It is also apparent that Zhang Yimou has a very baroque style, seeing as commonly the actors or other subjects are very carefully posed in the center of a shot. This creates a very dramatic and moving atmosphere in many of Zhang Yimou’s works.
Other than the obvious visual beauty of Zhang Yimou’s films, there are also symbolic elements that add to the splendor of his productions. Many of his films contain themes concerning love and destiny. For instance, in his film “The House of Flying Daggers” the central theme surrounds the problem of choosing between one’s love and one’s duty. Most of Zhang Yimou’s themes use twists on traditional Chinese views about ideas such as honor or fate. In addition to adding an aesthetic component to each film, color also plays a symbolic role. A perfect illustration of the symbolism of color in Zhang Yimou’s films is in “Hero”. In this movie, a story is told through many different perspectives and each time the story is told, the colors in the scenery and costumes change color. Each color symbolizes something different and tells the viewer more about the veracity of the various versions of the tale and the ideas of the person telling it. As well as using color to give the viewer a better sense of what is going on in the film, Zhang Yimou also uses music. For example, in “The House of Flying Daggers”, one specific song is played every time the story is dealing with indecision and a different song is played during every romantic scene. Zhang Yimou uses elements like these to evoke the right emotions in his viewers so the story can be experienced in the way that it was intended.
Beneath the visual and symbolic elements of the film, the cinematics of Zhang Yimou’s films are really what tie all of the components together. The various shots and angles he uses in his movies add to the ambience of the scene and create the perfect montage of images to emphasize the mood. Commonly, during Zhang Yimou’s action scenes, the camera angle switches quite often whereas in a romantic scene, the shots are generally longer in duration. This gives the action scenes a faster pace and the romantic scenes a slower one. While these common elements of the filming style create structure, some of the more unique shots provide flavor for the film. One of the unique shots that Zhang Yimou uses is a high angle crane shot rotating around a subject. While this can be seen in many of his movies, one example is in “The House of Flying Daggers” when the two main characters are kissing in a clearing. This special shot allows the viewer to see the passion of the scene and also the beauty of the forest that serves as the background. Another interesting shot that Zhang Yimou uses is a point of view shot that looks through something else, like hanging beads, trees, or a window. This gives the viewer the opportunity to experience what the character is experiencing. A further shot that can be seen in Zhang Yimou’s movies is a point of view shot that follows a moving object. This can be seen in many of his movies, but one particularly memorable instance of this shot is in “Hero” when the city of Zhao is under siege and the camera seems to follow the arrows as they bombard the city. This sort of shot really adds drama to the movement.
Ranging from the obvious to the most subtle of elements, Zhang Yimou’s films truly capture the wonders of China through stories of love and destiny. While not everything is realistic, the mythical elements of his movies are part of what give them their appeal. Zhang Yimou has definitely perfected the recipe for capturing beauty and portraying it in the most unexpected ways in his films. His films are unique in the aspects of the story, the scenery and the cinematography. Through the creation of his many masterpieces, Zhang Yimou has shown the world that he has mastered the art of paint on film.

( Article by Rachael Jander)

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (2006)

HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS (2004)

HERO (2002)

NOT ONE LESS (1999)

ROAD HOME (1999)

Goya Awards

Best Film (Mejor película) : Camino de Javier Fesser
Best Director (Mejor director) : Javier Fesser por Camino
Best Leading Actor (Mejor interpretación masculina protagonista) : Benicio del Toro por Che, el Argentino
Best Leading Actress (Mejor interpretación femenina protagonista) : Carme Elías por Camino
Best Original Screenplay (Mejor guión original) : Javier Fesser por Camino
Best Adapted Screenplay (Mejor guión adaptado) : Rafael Azcona y José Luis Cuerda por Los girasoles ciegos
Best New Director (Mejor director novel) : Santiago Zannou por El Truco del Manco
Best Supporting Actor (Mejor interpretación masculina de reparto) : Jordi Dauder por Camino
Best Supporting Actress (Mejor interpretación femenina de reparto) : Penélope Cruz por Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best New Actor (Mejor actor revelación) : Juan Manuel Montilla "Langui" por El truco del mango Best New Actress (Mejor actriz revelación) : Nerea Camacho por Camino
Best Production Supervision (Mejor dirección de producción) : Rosa Romero por Los crímenes de Oxford
Best Cinematography (Mejor fotografía) : Paco Femenia por Solo quiero caminar
Best Editing (Mejor montaje) : Alejandro Lázaro por Los Crímenes de Oxford
Best Original Score (Mejor música original) : Roque Baños por Los crímenes de Oxford
Best Original Song (Mejor canción original) : A tientas de Woulfrank Zannou y Juan Manuel Montilla "Langui" por El truco del manco
Best Art Direction (Mejor dirección artística) : Antxón Gómez por Che,El Argentino
Costume Design (Mejor diseño de vestuario) : Lala Huete por El Greco
Best Makeup and Hairstyles (Mejor maquillaje y peluquería) : J. Quetglas, N. Sánchez por Mortadelo y Filemón. Misión Salvar La Tierra
Best Sound (Mejor sonido) : Daniel de Zayas, Jorge Marín y Maite Rivera por 3 días
Best Special Effects (Mejores effectos especiales) : Romanillos, Costa, Quetglas, Diaz, A. Grau y Ch. Remacha por Mortadelo y Filemón
Best Animated Film (Mejor película de animación) : El lince perdido de Raúl García y Manuel Sicilia
Best Animated Short Film (Mejor cortometraje de animación) : La Increíble Historia del Hombre sin Sombra de José Esteban Alenda

Best Documentary Short Film (Mejor cortometraje documental) : Héroes. No Hacen Falta Alas para Volar de Ángel Loza
Best Fictional Short Film (Mejor cortometraje de ficción) : Miente de Isabel de Ocampo
Best European Film (Mejor película europea) : 4 meses, 3 semanas, 2 días de Cristian Mungiu
Best Documentary (Mejor película documental) : Bucarest, la memoria perdida de Albert Solé
Best Foreign Film in the Spanish Language (Mejor película extranjera de habla hispana) : La buena vida de Andrés Wood (Chile- España)
Honorary Goya Award (Goya de Honor) : Jesús Franco

CAMINO by Javier Fesser

Based on a true story, Camino is an emotional adventure set around a dazzling 11-year-old girl simultaneously faced with two completely new events in her life: falling in love and dying. Above all, Camino is a bright light capable of shining through every one of the dark doors that try to stifle her desire to live, love and find happiness once and for all.

Blind Sunflowers by José Luis Cuerda

Blind Sunflowers investigates the darkness of the post-Civil War era, the effects of repression and the terrible consequences of the abuse of power.
Set in 1940, a year after the Civil War's end and a time of particularly violent oppression, Blind Sunflowers tells the tale of a family forced to lie to the outside world and live in constant terror of discovery.
Every time that Elena (Maribel Verdú) walks into her flat and locks the door behind her, a different life begins. To the outside world, she appears to live alone with her son, Lorenzo (Roger Príncep), and daughter, Elenita (Irene Escolar).
In reality, however, her husband Ricardo (Javier Cámara), a Republican schoolteacher, has been living in hiding with his family.

The Oxford Murders by Alex de la Iglesia

On a balmy summer's day in Oxford an old lady who once helped decipher the Enigma Code is killed. After receiving a cryptic anonymous note containing only the address and the symbol of a circle, Arthur Seldom, a leading mathematician, arrives to find the body. Then follow more murders - an elderly man on a life-support machine is found dead with needle marks in this throat; the percussionist of an orchestra at a concert at Blenheim Palace dies before the audience's very eyes - seemingly unconnected except for notes appearing in the maths department, for the attention of Seldom. Why is he being targeted as the recipient of these coded messages? All he can conjecture is that it might relate to his latest book, an unexpected bestseller about serial killers and the parallels between investigations into their crimes and certain mathematical theorems. It is left to Seldom and a postgraduate mathematics student to work out the key to the series of symbols before the killer strikes again.