The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz
The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz |
| Iranian lawyer and filmmaker win EU’s Sakharov Prize Posted: 26 Oct 2012 06:39 AM PDT BRUSSELS, Oct 26 — The European Union's prize for human rights and freedom of thought was awarded to two Iranians today, a lawyer and a filmmaker who have both been cut off from the outside world for defying the country's leadership. Imprisoned human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, 49, and filmmaker Jafar Panahi, 52, were awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for their courage in defending their own and others' basic freedoms, the parliament said. Named in honour of Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, the prize has been awarded by the European Parliament annually since 1988. The first recipients were Nelson Mandela and Russian author and dissident Anatoly Marchenko. Russian punk group Pussy Riot was also nominated this year. "The award... is a message of solidarity and recognition to a woman and a man who have not been bowed by fear and intimidation and who have decided to put the fate of their country before their own," said European Parliament President Martin Schulz as he announced the winners. Marietje Schaake, a Dutch liberal member of the parliament who nominated Sotoudeh for the prize, said the recipients should draw attention to the repressive action carried out by the Iranian authorities towards human rights' activists. "These winners are true symbols of the long struggle the Iranian people face every day. The systematic repression, use of violence and censorship are felt by the entire population," she said. "This prize gives support to all those Iranians that pay a high price for their struggle for freedom, justice and dignity." Sotoudeh was arrested in September 2010 on suspicion of spreading propaganda and conspiring to harm state security. She is now serving a six-year jail sentence in solitary confinement. She has defended journalists and rights activists, including Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and Dutch national Zahra Bahrami, who was hanged in January 2011 on drug trafficking charges. "Law and justice" "I know that you require water, food, housing, a family, parents, love, and visits with your mother," Sotoudeh began in a letter written from prison to her children, who were prevented from seeing after she refused to wear a chador, a full length traditional garment. "However, just as much, you need freedom, social security, the rule of law, and justice." Sotoudeh began a hunger strike on October 17, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. She is protesting against a travel ban placed on her daughter and authorities' limits on visits with her family, ICHRI said. Sotoudeh's husband, Reza Khandan, told ICHRI that she appeared "very thin and weak" during his visit on October 21, but that she refused to break the hunger strike, in which she is refusing food but not water. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, has urged the Iranian authorities to consider releasing Sotoudeh. Panahi began his career working as a cinematographer for the Iranian army and became a prize-winning director, winning at the Venice Film festival for "The Circle" in 2000. Panahi ignored state censors to make films about ordinary people coming to terms with the country's religious and cultural codes, the citation said. In 2006 he made "Offside", which depicted a group of young women dressing up as men to attend a World Cup qualifying match. The state's censors were also under the impression that the women were men but nevertheless withheld a film licence unless Panahi was prepared to re-edit his four previous films. In December 2010, Panahi was convicted by Iran's Islamic republic of making anti-government propaganda and was placed under house arrest. An additional 20-year ban on filmmaking did not deter him and in 2011 he made "This Is Not a Film" about a day in his life. The film was transported out of Iran on a USB stick hidden inside a cake and has since been shown to the world. Film critic Roger Ebert called the work "an extraordinary act of courage," and American director Steven Spielberg and French actress Juliette Binoche have been among other film luminaries who have spoken up for Panahi. Among other candidates for the prize this year was Belarussian opposition activist Ales Bialiatski. — Reuters |
| Herman Munster returning to TV, sans neck bolts Posted: 26 Oct 2012 05:51 AM PDT  Actor Jerry O'Connell. — AFP pic O'Connell, 38, who stars as Herman Munster in a new version of the TV series, is taking a more subtle approach to the tale of the family of monsters and ghouls living in the crumbling mansion. "Mockingbird Lane", due to air today as a one-hour NBC special, features Portia de Rossi as Lily and Eddie Izzard as Grandpa. Reuters spoke with O'Connell about stepping into the shoes of late actor Fred Gwynne. Q: Doing a reboot of a popular television series can often be a risky venture. Do you worry about fan reaction? A: "I actually prefer the term 're-imagining.' That being said, it's really scary doing it. I had to stay away from Twitter for a few days after it was announced that I was playing Herman Munster because people were upset. People have very specific ideas about this show. I drop my kids off at school, and this teacher said to me, 'So you're going to be the new Herman Munster, right? My husband and I really love that show, so please don't mess it up'." Q: How do you think fans will receive executive producer Bryan Fuller's darker, edgier version? A: "I have a feeling that Munster fans will be pleasantly surprised and that new fans will come around as well. Bryan Fuller is a crazy Munster fan. I believe a large chunk of his salary goes toward buying Munsters collectibles, and he has a huge shrine of Munsters memorabilia in his home." Q: "Mockingbird Lane" is airing as a Halloween special. Will it be scary? A: "There are very scary elements. It's a pretty graphic show. There are two scenes where Grandpa performs open-heart surgery, and you see pretty much every detail of that. Grandpa is a vampire, and he does eat some of our neighbours. My kids, who are both three, did see the show. And I know you're probably calling child services now, but it was a little too much for them." Q: So what genre does "Mockingbird Lane" fall under? A: "That's what so tricky. It's a horror movie, a family show with comic elements, and at the same time, a heartfelt sort of drama. It's really like no other show out there. My storyline is all about my relationship with my son. But Grandpa (Izzard) is always interjecting, 'We're Munsters and we should feel pride.' And I'm trying to offer my son guidance, telling him, 'You're just going through puberty where you're turning into a werewolf. You have to try to control this power and try to be as normal as possible.' And Grandpa's storyline is 'No! We shouldn't have to try to control it. He's a monster, and he's a Munster, let him be free and wild!' There's a really touching sort of storyline about the old school versus the new school of parenting. And at the same time, Eddie Izzard is eating mountain lions. It's just crazy! Nothing like this has been done on TV before." Q: The show coincides with recent jokes about the likeness between Republican vice presidential contender Paul Ryan and young werewolf Eddie Munster. What's your take on this? A: "I think it's just the widow's peak. When we were shooting, Mitt Romney hadn't picked Paul Ryan as his running mate yet. But I thought it would have been a really great cross promotion. Maybe we could do an episode when Eddie is older - like a flash forward - with Paul Ryan doing a guest spot." Q: At the age of 11, you landed the role of Vern in Rob Reiner's "Stand By Me." Was this your first acting role? A: "No, one of my first jobs was a Duncan Hines chocolate chip cookie commercial. The other kids had this spit bucket, so they didn't get sick. But I never used the spit bucket, and I remember thinking, 'I can totally do this.' 'Stand By Me' was my first big acting role and just a wonderful experience ... I was a kid with a lot of energy and a bit hyperactive, who was often told to be quiet and calm down in class. I remember doing 'Stand By Me,' where my hyperactivity was actually encouraged on the movie set. I have very fond memories of it." — Reuters |
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