Film Movement Grabs Un Certain Regard Standout

I think Film Movement‘s company motto should be “no excellent film gets left behind”. I’ve repeatedly missed out Lee Isaac Chung‘s debut film on the festival circuit, but it looks like FM have given a second life to the debut of a promising new director (Chung was fittingly nominated for the Indie Spirit’s Someone to Watch Award). The company is looking at a May release.

Munyurangabo accomplished one of those rare triple crown feats: it started its festival life at Cannes, made its way to TIFF and landed in Berlin. The story commences with the stealing a machete from a market in Kigali, Munyurangabo and his friend, Sangwa, leave the city on a journey tied to their pasts. Munyurangabo wants justice for his parents who were killed in the genocide, and Sangwa wants to visit the home he deserted years ago. Though they plan to visit Sangwa’s home for just a few hours, the boys stay for several days. From two separate tribes, their friendship is tested when Sangwa’s wary parents disapprove of Munyurangabo, warning that “Hutus and Tutsis are supposed to be enemies.”

I’d be curious to know where Chung is at with Lucky Life – a North Carolina set story about four friend’s compassion for a dying friend, a project which was part of last year’s projects at Cannes’ Atelier.