“Owl an the Sparrow” – from New American Filmmakers Program at Hawaii International Film Festival

8/11 (sat) 13:00 ~ Sangyo-shinko building 3F

8/14 (tue) 20:00 ~ Uno Port Pier#2 Trailer Theater

 

Dir: Stephane Gauger, Vietnam/USA, 2007 97min. Drama.

There is a kind of happiness that money or fame can’t buy. It is simple to reach it, but as people grow, it gets harder. Thui, the main character, is a bright orphan in Veitnam. She meets a lonely man and woman while selling flowers on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and makes them happy with the power of children. This is a heartful story packed with children’s power and that will surely give a good dose of courage to young and old viewers. (part of this text was taken from the film’s official website)

The Best Dramatic Festure Award at San Francisco Int’l Asian American Film Festival, Audience Award at Los Angeles Film Festival. Although made with a super low budget, a nomination to the John Cassavetes Award at Independent Spirit Award proves that this is a real kind of independent film that grabs people’s heart across borders. It had a theatrical run in Japan in 2008 under the title of “The Happiest Place in the World”. *(from NAF Selects)


Stephane Gauger:

Born in Saigon, raised in Orange County, California, Gauger received a bachelor arts degree in theatre and French literature. He subsequently worked in the camera and lighting departments on independent films in the U.S. and Southeast Asia, including Sundance winner “Three Seasons”, all the while honing his writing and directing craft on short narrative and documentary films.  “Owl and the Sparrow”, his feature debut premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and won over fifteen awards at international film festivals. Gauger was nominated for Breakthrough director at New York’s Gotham awards as well as the John Cassavetes awards at the Independent Spirit Awards.  His other filmography includes a short film: Seabirds (1998), and two other feature films:Vietnam Overtures” (2008), a documentary on Vietnam’s classical music scene, and “Saigon Electric” (2010),  a Vietnamese hip pop film.

We’d like to send our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Stephane Gauger to make his wonderful film available to UPAF. Thank you!


前売 Pre-order




前売 Pre-order