Cloud Atlas (U.S., Germany)
Opened Jan. 9
Science Fiction. Directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer. The film consists of six stories, set across centuries and continents. In the 1840s, on a voyage through the Pacific Islands, Adam Ewing (Jim Sturgess) befriends a scheming doctor (Tom Hanks) and falls into trouble. In the 1930s, young composer Robert Frobisher (Ben Whishaw) is hired to assist the legendary musician Vyvyan Ayrs (Jim Broadbent) while he seduces Ayrs’ wife while also writing his letters to his true love, Sixsmith (James D’arcy). In 1970s San Francisco, an investigative reporter (Halle Berry) uncovers the truth about a nuclear power plant. In the present day, publisher Timothy Cavendish (Broadbent) is confined to a convalescent home staffed by a brutal nurse (Hugo Weaving). In Neo-Seoul, Sonmi-451 (Bae Doo-na) rises up against the system that bred her. Lastly, Zachary (Tom Hanks) befriends a woman (Berry) who holds the last knowledge of civilization.
Life of Pi (U.S.)
Opened Jan. 1
Drama. Action. Adventure. Directed by Ang Lee. Pi (Suraj Sharma)’s family prepares to move upon hearing that the government’s financial aid for the family’s zoo will be cut off. The family boards a ship to Canada with their zoo animals. But an unexpected storm sinks the ship and only Pi, who gets on a lifeboat, survives the deadly accident. On the lifeboat, an injured zebra, a starved hyena and an orangutan with a handful of bananas increase the tension. However, the real surprise is unveiled when Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger, appears from the bottom of the boat. As time goes on, starved animals attack and eat each other until Pi and Richard Parker are the only ones left. Pi finds a survival guidebook on board and learns to live with the tiger on a lifeboat.
Tower (Korea)
Opened Dec. 25
Drama. Action. Directed by Kim Ji-hoon. Mr. Jo (Cha In-pyo) has plans for a “White Christmas” party for tenants and VIPs at Tower Sky, the super-luxurious landmark building complex he owns in Seoul. Part of the event will involve helicopters circling above, sprinkling snow on everyone below. Lee Dae-ho (Kim Sang-kyung) is a single father and manager of the 120 story luxurious landmark building complex, Tower Sky in Seoul. He is an earnest employee liked by his colleagues and is secretly in love with Seo Yoon-hee (Son Ye-jin), a restaurant manager. Dae-ho has promised to spend the day at an amusement park with his daughter Ha-na, but has to cancel the event when he is needed at the party. Whilst the party is in full swing one of the helicopters crashes into the building and the building catches fire.
Love 911 (Korea)
Opened Dec. 19
Romance. Drama. Directed by Jeong Gi-hoon. Kang-il (Go Soo) is an unhappy firefighter who lost his wife to an illness. He suffers from guilt for choosing to stay with a fire victim instead of going to his wife who was desperately calling him for help and died before he arrived. Losing his wife only made him work harder, always putting himself out there to save lives in danger. His nothing-to-lose attitude and strong work ethic intrigues Mi-soo (Han Hyo-joo), a medical doctor who also suffers from heavy guilt. While working as a surgeon, she made a critical mistake during an operation that left her patient brain-dead. Mi-soo openly tries to flirt with him and tries to get his attention, though Kang-il shows no interest and often ignores her at first. Soon the two become lovers, but a problem arises when Kang-il tries to convince Mi-soo that the right thing to do is apologize to the patient’s family, even if it requires her to give up her dream job.
Les Miserables (U.K.)
Opened Dec. 18
Drama. Romance. Directed by Tom Hooper. Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is a convict who was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread. After being released from a French prison after serving 19 years, he desperately looks for shelter, but no one helps the ex-convict. Valjean arrives in the town of Digne where he is given a great amount of fortune by Bishop Myriel, and starts a new life in the town of Monteruil-sur-mer. Now the owner of a factory and the town’s mayor, Valjean hides his identity and lives as an honest man under the name Madeleine. One day, Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), the ruthless policeman who hunted him for decades after he broke his parole, moves to the town, finds Jean Valjean and tries to hunt him down again. Valjean goes on the run with Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), the daughter of a factory worker whom he promised to take care of, searching for new refuge.
