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May 19, 2013

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Japan and Iran movies tipped at Cannes

A film about baby-switching by Japan's Kore-eda Hirokazu that ponders nature versus nurture premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, joining an Iranian challenger as contenders for the top prize.

"Soshite Chichi Ni Naru" ("Like Father, Like Son") is one of two Japanese films out of the international roster of 20 vying to take home the Palme d'Or prize on May 26 from the world's largest film festival being held on the French Riviera.

Japan has won four times before. Its other offering this year is the stunt-filled police thriller "Wara No Tate" ("Shield of Straw") by Takashi Miike.

"Soshite Chichi Ni Naru" stars singer and actor Masaharu Fukuyama as workaholic Ryota who, along with his docile wife Midori, played by Machiko Ono, is grooming his six-year-old son Keita for success.

Their outwardly picture-perfect family life is shattered one day after the hospital where Keita was born informs them they made a mistake and Keita is not their biological son.

"I wanted to create this total upheaval in the morality of the main character," Hirokazu told journalists.

"Soshite Chichi Ni Naru" is Hirokazu's fourth film to compete at Cannes.

A rival family drama, "Le Passe" ("The Past") by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, also received critical praise after its premiere on Friday.

Hirokazu's gentle film is a contrast to many over the first four days of competition that have been marked by violence.

Mexican film "Heli" includes a sickening torture sequence, while a man in Chinese film "Tian Zhu Ding" is driven to a bloody rampage after failing to thwart corrupt officials.




 

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