Taken (currently in its opening week) and Transporter 3 (in its second week) take 6th and 7th place at the Japanese box office.
Over 80,000 spectators turned out for the opening weekend of Pierre Morel’s film Taken, one of France’s most successful films this year (released in Japan on 239 prints). In the same period, another film produced by Luc Besson, Transporter 3, attracted moviegoers in droves, registering 270,000 admissions in 10 days (on 161 prints).
Many new French titles are slated for release in upcoming weeks, with Go Fast, Martyrs, and Clean hitting the screens next weekend, Faubourg 36 (Paris 36) released September 5, and Coco avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel) released September 19. After a somewhat sluggish year for French films in Japan in 2008 due to the absence of hit titles, 2009 looks set to show a marked improvement for French cinema.
The photo opposite features Nora Arnezeder, one of the stars of Faubourg 36 (Paris 36), taking part in promoting the film with Japanese media representatives. Ms. Arnezeder also met with members of the public in Tokyo Wednesday evening at a preview screening, at which she performed an a capella version of a song from the film’s soundtrack.
Media Gallery
Nora Arnezeder à Tokyo
Christophe Barratier à Tokyo
