I don't post Kino stuff on the list that often so as not to clutter up important cinematic discussion but we are putting out two very important releases for which support by the academic community is ESSENTIAL: THE MAN WHO LAUGHS- Paul Leni's 1928 silent masterpiece ( and my all time favorite silent film) and three African Films on DVD which will be the first sub-Saharan African films offered on DVD YEELEN by Souleymane Cisse HYENNAS by Djibril Diop Mambety GENESIS by Cheick Oumar Sissoko All of the above will retail for $29.95 each on DVD and $24.95 each on VHS but will be on SALE for 25%-30% on our web site www.kino.com None of these films will be stocked by Blockbuster and very few will find their way into your local video store so if you want these kinds of films to be available, you should support them. Frankly we try hard to keep putting out more boutique titles but it is depressing that we can sell ten to twenty times as many copies of second rate current release or older action film than any silent or African film. Here is some brief information on these films but for more details ( and to order) go to the web site. Please note THE MAN WHO LAUGHS is available to order NOW but the African Films will not be up for a week ( releasing late 10/28) Details as follows THE MAN WHO LAUGHS US 1928 110 Minutes Based on Victor Hugo's novel set in 18 Century France , this is a really, really creepy and brilliant film about a young boy whose has a permanent "smile" carved in his face and grows up to take revenge on those responsible. Frankly this film has been widely seen in poor bootleg videos or dupey 16mm prints, this is a stunning restoration from Cineteca di Bologna with oodles of extras as follows The original Movietone soundtrack has been newly restored by Universal Studios. Special Features: * An original 20-minute documentary on the making of the film * Candid home movie footage of Conrad Veidt and fellow European emigrés Greta Garbo, Emil Jannings, and Camilla Horn. * Extensive gallery of rare photographs and art. * Booklet essay by John Soister, author of Conrad Veidt On Screen. * Excerpt of the Italian release version, with unique hand-painted title cards. * Excerpt from Victor Hugo's original novel. THE MAN WHO LAUGHS will be released Sept 30 MASTERWORKS OF AFRICAN CINEMA YEELEN Mali 1987 105 Minutes In Bambara with English subtitles Set in the powerful Mali Empire of the 13th century, YEELEN tells of the journey of Niankoro, a young sorcerer who must confront an evil sorcerer who is also his father. One of most widely acclaimed African films ever made YEELEN is as visually stunning as anything from Hollywood HYENAS Senegal 1992 113 Minutes In Wolof with English subtitles Awash in the hypnotic colors and intoxicating sounds of West Africa, HYENAS is a wicked comedy depicting the devastating effects of greed & poverty on a stricken village. GENESIS Mali 1999 102 Minutes In Bambara with English subtitles A retelling of chapters 33-37 from the book of Genesis from an African perspective, the film portrays the bitter rivalry between brothers Jacob and Esau which threatens to engulf both clans in a never-ending cycle of violence. Unlike Hollywood's sanitized versions of the the Bible, GENESIS shows men driven as much by greed and anger as devotion to God. The African films will be released on DVD & VHS on 10/28 E mail me directly with any questions or orders. Thanks Jessica Rosner Kino International 333 W 39th St. 503 NY NY 10018 [log in to unmask] ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]