Home Media Magazine - November 18-24, 2007 - (Page 21) www.homemediamagazine.com PIPELINE Gets Some Help From U2 Mexican TV star Eduardo Arroyuelo makes his feature film debut in ‘the film that touched U2’s heart’ By Angelique Flores CINE MERCADO 7 Días stayed under the radar at the U.S. box office, garnering $16,791 from a limited theatrical release. However, it was nominated for five Ariel awards, won two Silver Goddess Awards in Mexico and caught the attention of super rock group U2. Xenon Pictures is bringing the film to DVD Nov. 20 (see review, page 18). Extras on the DVD ($24.99) include the featurette “The Mexican Way,” the music video for “Bienvenido al Anachocer” by La Ley, and a CNN interview with the director and screenwriter Fernando Kalife. The movie is in Spanish and has English subtitles. 7 Días stars Eduardo Arroyuelo as a smalltime promoter in Mexico named Claudio, who gets into debt and mixed up with the mob. He has seven days to book a U2 concert Arroyuelo stars as Claudio in Xenon Pictures’ 7 Días. or he loses his life. The film co-stars Martha Higadera and Jamie Camil. “Most of the scripts that were handed to me Arroyuelo won the Silver Goddess award for were typical Mexican city, urban stories,” ArBest Newcomer – Male in the Mexican Cinema royuelo said. “Not that it’s unreal, but it’s pretty Journalists awards in 2006. The actor had done a much most of the films that were being done lot of television work in Mexico, but 7 Días is his then. A [film] that stars a middle-class hero was first starring role in a feature film. the first thing that made [7 Días] different. And “I had offers before for leading roles in films, but he was coming of age.” I wanted it to be a special movie for the first film Also, Arroyuelo explains, the film had a simple, to have under my belt,” he said. “[Claudio] was a but still globally appealing and contemporary wonderful character. It was a wonderful film.” script. The film was shot four years ago, as Mexican “There’s no explicit sex or violence, which cinema was starting to boom again. are usual ingredients for a commercial film,” ‘7 Días’ BRIEFS I ‘AFFAIR TO REMEMBER’ REMEMBERED ON NEW DVD One of the most romantic films of all time soon will get the VIP DVD treatment. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is preparing a two-disc 50th anniversary edition of An Affair to Remember, which stars Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr and was nominated for four Oscars. The DVD, due Jan. 15, 2008, features a new digital transfer of the film as well as a commentary by vocalist Marni Nixon and film historian Joseph McBride, a vintage “Fox Movietonews” report on the film’s shipboard premiere, and several featurettes and documentaries focused on the production, the making of the film and the key creative talent. he said. “This doesn’t have it. It was so simple.” Arroyuelo said that films such as 7 Días will help give the film industry in Mexico a boost. Besides getting actors excited about the script, Arroyuelo said the film also got the seal of approval from such heavies as director Guillermo Arriaga and rock band U2. Writer-director Kalife made U2 an integral part of the movie without having access to or permission from the band. He shot the film using U2 concert footage and music in the hopes of getting clearances during post-production. In a lucky twist of fate, Bono was vacationing in Mexico and heard about Kalife’s project through a mutual friend. So Bono requested to meet Kalife and see the film. The meeting was arranged, and Bono called it “the film that touched U2’s heart.” The band loved the movie and subsequently gave the film their blessing and Kalife cost-free clearances for their concert footage and music. “He said it was a very humble homage to the band,” Arroyuelo said. “[Bono] didn’t hesitate on giving us his help.” Even though he was the star of the film, Arroyuelo never got a chance to meet Bono. “I’m the only one [of the cast and crew] who hasn’t met any of them,” he said. “Everybody else has but me.” I LIONSGATE TO RELEASE DOC ON NUREMBERG TRIALS French filmmaker Christian Delage’s gripping documentary Nuremberg: The Nazis Facing Their Crimes will be released on DVD Nov. 20 by Lionsgate, in time for the 60th anniversary of the celebrated Nuremberg Trials. The film incorporates rare, restored courtroom footage shot under the supervision of legendary director John Ford and features an interview with 92-year-old Bud Schulberg, the only surviving member of the Field Photographic Branch Ford dispatched to gather footage to make the Nazi plan a key piece of evidence in the trial. Narrated by Christopher Plummer, Nuremberg had its official premiere earlier this year at Lincoln Center in New York City. – Thomas K. Arnold Visit moreDVDinfo.com, call R. Stadin at 212-879-04448. Distributors: Baker&Taylor, Ingram & VPD http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://moredvdinfo.com
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