[News] "A Simple Life" & "Seediq Bale" Asian films nominated for Venice film festival's Golden Lion 2011.

[News] "A Simple Life" & "Seediq Bale" Asian films nominated for Venice film festival's Golden Lion 2011.
Cr. - http://www.channelnewsasia.com/

ROME : Battling Hollywood big-names such as George Clooney and European classics like "Wuthering Heights" for the prestigious Golden Lion will be three Asian entries including an adaptation of manga classic "Himizu" by celebrated Japanese director Sion Sono.

Adapted from Minoru Furuya's dark psychological manga "Himizu", the story is about a troubled junior high school boy whose life descended into darkness after being abandoned by his parents.

The film is directed by cult favourite director Sion Sono, who had previously dabbled in directing films of the same genre including 2001 thriller "Suicide Circle" and the 2008 "Love Exposure" which won the Caligari Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Twenty-two films, all world premieres will compete for the Golden Lion award with screenings at the glittering Venice Film festival which opens with "The Ides of March", George Clooney's fourth film as director, that's expected to draw actors Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Evan Rachel Wood.

Also in the running for the award are European entries that include Roman Polanski's "Carnage", "Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy" by Tomas Alfredson and "Wuthering Heights" by Andrea Arnold.

Apart from the Japanese entry, the other Asian films being screened for the prestigious awards include China/Hong Kong film "A Simple Life" starring Hong Kong actor and actress Andy Lau and Deanie Ip, and China-Taiwan film "Seediq Bale".

"A Simple Life" directed by Ann Hui, three-time winner of Best Director for the Hong Kong Film Awards, "A Simple Life", is based on a true story, illustrates the touching relationship between a man and a servant who worked in his family for five generations and took care of him since he was born.

China-Taiwan film "Seediq Bale" which is based on true events of the Wushe Incident in the 1930s depicts the anti-Japanese struggles of the Seediq warriors from Formosa (now Taiwan).

By Wei Te-Sheng, director of 2008 film "Cape No. 7"-- the second highest grossing film in Taiwan, the film is split into two 90-minute installments to be released in Taiwan in September.

The decorated cast includes Japanese actor Ando Masanobu, Taiwan singers Landy Wen and Vivian Hsu.

All eyes however, are on the red carpet and the expected appearance of Hollywood heart-throb George Clooney whose movie "Goodnight and Good Luck" won best screenplay and best actor awards in Venice in 2005.

In his latest movie "The Ides of March" Clooney doubles as the star of the US presidential campaign thriller, where a fresh-faced aide helping the Democratic governor campaign in the Ohio primaries discovers just how dirty politics can be.

Fans eagerly attending the premiere are already speculating about who will accompany the rakish 50-year old down the red carpet after he announced his split from Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis last month.

Madonna and Al Pacino will also grace the red carpet at this year's Venice film festival although their movies are not in the competition.

Screening "W.E.", a film about King Edward VIII's romance with American divorcee Wallis Simpson, will be American music icon Madonna, who's hoping for a better reception from the critics for efforts as a director, as compared to her first film "Filth and Wisdom".

That movie is expected to draw large crowds along with the presentation by "The Godfather" star Al Pacino, of his third film as a director, with a version of Oscar Wilde's once-banned "Salome".

The grisly tale of lust and greed that's part documentary, part drama, also stars Pacino as King Herod.

Skipping events and the screening of "Carnage" which is set in New York's Brooklyn but shot in Paris, will be cult director Roman Polanski.

Wanted for alleged sexual assault, Polanski is staying away out of fear of extradition said officials in Venice, although the stars of the comedy-drama Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet are expected to make an appearance.

The Venice Film festival which is the oldest in the world runs from August 31 to September 10 and the official line-up for the 68th edition of the top prize will include a "surprise" film to be revealed closer to the time.