HeyUGuys brings you the latest in World Cinema film trailers in association with Film Dates UK.

Each week we’ll be showcasing some of most anticipated foreign releases as well as highlighting a few hidden gems which may have fallen off your radar. It’s no surprise that Hollywood has turned to World Cinema for inspiration in recent years with the number of remakes getting more and more popular.

Whilst it remains to be seen how many of these remakes go on to succeed or stay true to their original story counterparts, we decided it was high-time we turned the spotlight onto the next wave of foreign films to grace our screens.

This week we have 8 new trailers for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Civilization (Hævnen / In A Better World)

UK Cinema Release Date: Monday 21st February 2011 – (Glasgow Film Festival)

Synopsis: Anton is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that lead them to difficult choices between revenge and forgiveness. Anton and his wife Marianne, who have two young sons, are separated and struggling with the possibility of divorce. Their older, ten-year-old son Elias is being bullied at school, until he is defended by Christian, a new boy who has just moved from London with his father, Claus. Christian’s mother recently lost her battle with cancer, and Christian is greatly troubled by her death. Elias and Christian quickly form a strong bond, but when Christian involves Elias in a dangerous act of revenge with potentially tragic consequences, their friendship is tested and lives are put in danger. Ultimately, it is their parents who are left to help them come to terms with the complexity of human emotions, pain and empathy. (Danish)

Vicky the Viking (Wickie und die starken Männer)

UK Cinema Release Date: Tuesday 22nd February 2011

Synopsis: Vicky is a viking-boy who lives with his parents Halvar and Ylva in the small village Flake. He is a typical viking boy, but rather fearful. He is also not very strong but smart. One day he sails with the grown up vikings out to the sea and to experience a great and funny adventure. (German)

Autograph

UK Cinema Release Date: Tuesday 22nd February 2011 – (Glasgow Film Festival)

Synopsis: The plot revolves around three lives – a superstar, a young director and a theatre actress – and how their coming together during the process of making a film, changes them forever. The film is also a humble tribute to Satyajit Ray’s Nayak. (Bengali)

Flight (Udaan)

UK Cinema Release Date: Tuesday 22nd February 2011 – (Glasgow Film Festival)

Synopsis: After being abandoned for eight straight years in boarding school, Rohan returns to the small industrial town of Jamshedpur and finds himself closeted with an authoritarian father and a younger half brother who he didn’t even know existed. Forced to work in his father’s steel factory and study engineering against his wishes, he strives to forge his own life out of his given circumstances and pursue his dream of being a writer. (Hindi)

A Distant Neighbourhood (Quartier lointain)

UK Cinema Release Date: Wednesday 23rd February 2011 – (Glasgow Film Festival)

Synopsis: Who wouldn’t want to relive the past with the benefit of hindsight? That’s the appealing notion at the centre of this time-travelling tale inspired by a manga from Japanese graphic artist Jiro Taniguchi. Pascal Greggory is Thomas, a fifty-something graphic artist suffering from a creative block. He takes the wrong train to a book signing session and soon finds himself back in the town where he grew up. He faints and then wakes up to discover it is the summer of 1967, he is fifteen all over again (Leo Legrand now takes the role) and it is just a few days before an event that would change his life forever. His newfound dilemmas prove to be clever, believable and surprisingly touching. (French)

Life, Above All

UK Cinema Release Date: Wednesday 23rd February 2011 – (Glasgow Film Festival)

Synopsis: “Life, Above All” is a emotional and universal drama about a young girl (stunningly performed by first-time-actress Khomotso Manyaka) who fights the fear and shame that have poisoned her community. The film captures the enduring strength of loyalty and a courage powered by the heart. Directed by South African filmmaker Oliver Schmitz (“Mapantsula”, “Paris, je t’aime”), it is based on the international award winning novel “Chanda’s Secrets” by Allan Stratton. (German)

Battle Royale 3D

UK Cinema Release Date: Thursday 24th February 2011 – (Glasgow Film Festival)

Synopsis: Forty-two delinquent students, three days, one deserted Island: welcome to Battle Royale. A group of delinquent students from a Japanese high school have been forced by legislation to compete in a new forum of reality television.The students are each given a bag with a randomly selected weapon and a few rations of food and water and sent off to kill each other in a no-holds-barred (with a few minor rules) game to the death, which means that the students have three days to kill each other until one survives–or they all die. The movie focus on a few of the students and how they cope. Some decide to play the game like the psychotic Kiriyama or the sexual Mistuko, while others like the heroes of the movie–Shuya, Noriko, and Kawada–are trying to find a way to get off the Island without violence. However, as the numbers dwell down lower and lower on an hourly basis, is there any way for Shuya and classmates to survive. (Japanese)

Submarino

UK Cinema Release Date: Friday 25th February 2011 – (Glasgow Film Festival)

Synopsis: As children, Nick and his little brother take care of their baby brother while their mother drinks herself senseless. But the baby dies, and both brothers blame themselves. Many years later, Nick is out of prison after serving time for an assault. He drinks, lives in a shelter and tries to help an old friend. When their mother dies, Nick meets his brother at the funeral. The brother, who remains nameless, is a single father to a young boy, but also supports a drug habit that is spiraling out of control. When an opportunity presents itself, he becomes a drug dealer to secure his son’s future. Eventually, the two brothers meet again. (Danish)

Check back next week for more trailers!

After a gruelling Avatar press tour that covered three out of the four corners of the earth, James Cameron has been caught on camera being welcomed back to the capital of the movie world by more than the usual fanfare of screams, shouts outs and photo requests. This time the visual record shows the side of a fan and director that definitely did not fulfill the festive cheer. Set your bo-peepers on this…

This whole thing reminds me of the time I met Bruce Campbell of ‘Evil Dead’ fame and asked for his autograph. The difference being was that I was forking out hard earned money for his signature at a film convention, hence I was justified in my request as I was paying for the pleasure of a genuine scrawl. What wasn’t justified was that I wanted my full size replica ‘Army of Darkness’ custom made chainsaw, shipped from the USA and carted to Coventry from London via Manchester, signed ”GRROOOVVY’ – Bruce Campbell”. What ensued was Mr. Campbell insisting on signing it, even after protest, frowning, a tentative handshake on his part and much discussion on what colour of pen to use, ”Saw Ya Later! – Bruce Campbell”. The whole thing still provides me with a 15 minute story about the facts of the experience, normally discussed over a strong pint, to this day.

After watching this video, I can identify with a fella who sounds like he had his feelings hurt with not getting the signature he wanted. What I can’t fathom is how he reacted with all the dignity of a scalded five year old. When my request wasn’t honoured, I just smiled at Bruce and vowed to myself that I would never buy one of his movies again without significant protest (mainly voiced to whoever the cashier would be at the time of purchase).

But what do YOU think about this clip? My humble thoughts focus on several facts that mix and match the pomposity of each sides reasoning, follow me on this journey of opinion:

• JC was walking through a luggage bay pick up door at the time of request (a task that is only accomplished with patience if you are a Zen master, even with help) - BUT he was returning from a global press tour promoting his latest $300 million epic where he had signed a million and one autographs anyway.
• Signing something takes a flattering two seconds that may mean everything or nothing to a die hard fan or prosperous autograph dealer, both of which would have waited in the cold for hours for the signing opportunity - BUT ‘No’ means ‘No’.
• When you say to the world media ‘I’ll sign as long as they keep lining up’ that you should ‘nut up or shut up’ - BUT asking for an autograph like someone who expects it just because he has ‘paid his hourly wage to see a movie’ is being ’unfairly expectant’ (I paid to see Avatar and I wouldn’t expect James Cameron to owe me an autograph if we bumped into each other).