Middle East distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment is gearing as much as launch iconic Oscar-nominated Rio de Janeiro gangland drama City of God throughout the Gulf international locations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the primary time.
Co-directed by Brazilian administrators Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, the film made waves again in 2002 for its practical depiction of the rise of gang violence within the favelas of Rio de Janeiro with a younger unprofessional solid.
Dubai-based Front Row initially launched the movie straight to DVD within the Gulf as a consequence of quite a lot of native restrictions however some 20 years later is pushing on with a theatrical launch in an indication of how the area is opening up.
Front Row’s deliberate February 22 launch coincides with the twenty first anniversary of the film’s 2003 theatrical launch following its Out of Competition world premiere at Cannes in 2002, and likewise ties in with a worldwide re-release on February 23.
The initiative additionally coincides with Front Row’s twentieth Anniversary.
“The film holds a special place in our hearts; it was our first acquisition, and at the time we couldn’t release it theatrically due to language restrictions imposed by cinemas, and also because we couldn’t afford the budget it needed to stand out, so it went straight to DVD,” says Front Row CEO Gianluca Chakra.
“We’ve come a long way since, and City of God remains an unforgettable masterpiece that deserves to be seen on the silver screen. What better way of celebrating our 20th?”
Front Row is co-distributing City of God with The Festival Agency, led by Leslie Vuchot, who acquired the rights from Wild Bunch.
The partnership is a part of drive by Front Row to launch various classics within the Gulf area that weren’t introduced on the large display screen first time spherical.
Its different latest re-releases embrace Old Boy, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.
The firm re-released Luc Besson’s Leon and is planning to deliver the French director’s cult movie The Fifth Element again to the large display screen within the area quickly.
Chakra says the crew is dedicated to re-releasing classics and cult movies, particularly in Saudi Arabia which is having fun with a cinema renaissance following the lifting of the its 35-year yr ban on cinema theatres on the finish of 2017.
City of God was nominated in 4 classes on the 76th Academy Award however went residence empty handed. However, it often options on critics lists as one of many prime movies of all time and is ranked #25 on IMDB with an viewers rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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