This summer 2 films, "Belphegor" (June 15/Nikkatsu/60 theaters) and "Dead Weight" (August 31/Gaga/100 theaters) hit the screens in Japan, brightening a lean season for new French releases in Asia. As was the case in France, summer proved a somewhat sluggish period for French films in Asia.
From September however, and especially in October, the pace picked up. "8 Women," "The Travelling Birds," "Dead Weight" (aka "Ball and Chain"), "Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra" and "Irreversible" have been released in numerous territories in Asia and look set to be the leading lights of this end of 2002 in the region.
Rare enough to warrant a mention is the release of a French film in China: "Wasabi." The film was sold via the Japanese distributor JVC as part of China Films' flat deal acquisitions, outside the annual import quota of 20 films.
