DIRECTORS’ CUP 2011 VOTING, FINALS! Kenji Mizoguchi vs João César Monteiro

My own Mizo ranking:

1.Sansho the Bailiff
2.Tales of the Taira Clan
3.The Life of Oharu
4.Story of the Late Chrysanthemums
5.Ugetsu Monogatari
6.Straits of Love and Hate
7.The Woman of Rumour
8.Chikamatsu Monogatari
9.Street of Shame
10=Portrait of Madame Yuki
Miss Oyu

Must see more Monteiro, especially Silvestre and God’s Comedy, but of the 4 i’ve seen in the final (i like them all):
1.Trails
2.Recollections of the Yellow House
3.Fragments of an Alms Film
4.Flor do Mar

Kenji Mizoguchi – 1 vs. João César Monteiro – 0

Both were new for me, so I am very grateful to the managers: for relatively obscure Monteiro – thanks to DC I learned to love this unique artist (it wasn’t from the first film); and for fantastic Mizoguchi – god in disguise of the mundane.

I must be one of those few people to really love Street of Shame…I would take it over Late Crysanthemums or Straits of Love and Hate, and its final moments are more powerful than anything in my favorite Monteiro films.

Kenji Mizoguchi – 0 / João César Monteiro – 1

These are very consistent directors. Monteiro is consistently astonishing, and I am consistently ambivalent about Mizoguchi. In fact, I think my least favourite of the five Monteiro films (uh… Veredas, maybe?), I probably appreciated more than my favourite of Mizoguchi’s (almost certainly The Story of the Floating Chrysanthemums, which has kind of stuck with me).

Someday I’ll be able to gel with Mizoguchi’s formal aesthetic and unique brand of melodrama. I’ll never get anything out of Street of Shame, though. And in the meantime, just remembering the end of Recollections of Yellow House puts a grin on my face. I’ll be checking out some of Monteiro’s intriguing last features soon, and I’ll keep trying with Mizoguchi. An interesting final, and thanks to both managers for an impressive slate of films!

Kenji Mizoguchi – 1 vs. Joao Cesar Monteiro – 0

Both great directors and have enjoyed watching films by both particularly Montiero since I wasn’t familiar with him before the cup. But I have to give it to Mizoguchi not just for the quality of films that were shown, but I do believe Kenji has been an outstanding manager. He could have gone with all the big name films and he didn’t and stuck with some lessor seen and often under appreciated films.

5-6 with Monteiro in the lead, with just a few hours to go!

Ha,. Tommy, House of Leaves and Malkin (and Dennis of course) voted as i expected.

Did the Director’s Cup just end an hour ago without anyone noticing?

It’s crazy that there had been so many participants when the cup started to see that there are only 11 votes in the final match.

So Monteiro wins the same way Nikolaidis won last year: with a pretty low voting turnout.

Things will never change even amongst future cinephiles…..

Congrats to Kuxa though :D

Just to be official here.

VOTING IS CLOSED

I was very very afraid that this would be decided by one vote, and thus I would feel a lot more responsible when I felt like these set of films were about as equal as you good get. Unfortunately my fear came true.

It’s crazy that there had been so many participants when the cup started to see that there are only 11 votes in the final match.

People fall out and stop participating as the directors they are managing get bumped. Even if you make them promise to commit to participating consistantly. They still give up. Too bad.

Still like I said, I think it’s appropriate to have the final be decided by the few who stuck with it.

To vote in the final, you needed to watch eight films. That’s a bigger ask than a one-on-one match. (especially when a number of the films can only be watched online)

Congrats to Kuxa, you did the old fox proud, hourray for Portugal! No worries, Risselada. Thanks for all your work to keep the tournament running, and Cecil of course, and others- it took a lot of doing and commitment, and the sun will shine brighter tomorrow in the land of Maria de Medeiros and Leonor Silveira..

Got any other Monteiro recommendations?

I forgot to say, Monteiro was born on Groundhog Day- so no wonder he won!

To vote in the final, you needed to watch eight films.

Actually ten films.

We want Kuxa, we want Kuxa!

Thanks to you Kenji! Your enthusiasm and knowledge and commitment are always important to these cups!! I’m gald your director made it to the finals!! :)

Congrats to Monteiro, to Portugal, to Kuxa, and to Kenji for his excellent handling of Mizoguchi! Despite voter turnout tapering off at the end, this was a wonderful event, and special thanks must go to Riss and Cecil for keeping it running.

Congrats to Kuxa, who introduced me to Monteiro (much appreciated!).and to Kenji. Job well done!

I can’t believe it’s all over. This one seemed much longer than the last one—and participation turned out much as we expected—but it was still so very rewarding. To have a venue for so much discovery each year is truly something to treasure, and everyone gets what they put into it.

So for anyone who discovered a new favorite or broadened their filmic vocabulary—you win!

Hey, I have just come in from a long day at work and found Monteiro has won the Cup!!!!!!!!! yay!!

Shame about the turnout, but hey, two great directors up against each other and some truly amazing films from both. I hope this will give Monteiro and his filmography a platform to reach out to further users and even those that didn’t vote will be inspired to watch his films.

Thanks to Kenji for being a great finalist and inspiring cinephile:) and for all those users who have discovered and appreciated Monteiro’s work.

Some more suggestions…..

God’s Comedy
Hips of J.W
Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen

All three very much up there with the films I showcased and definitely worth a look.

He may not look happy, but inside he is ecstatic!!!

Kuxa, I want you to know I almost voted for Monteiro based on Trails alone. Absolutely one of my favorite films.

Congrats, and enjoy your winnings!

Congratulations, Kuxa, and a BIG thank you to Risselada, House, Cecil and the others who managed this event. I was only a semi-regular (hence perhaps my wish for a format which would have allowed me to semi-participate), but this was great fun, still easily the best thing that happens on the MUBI forum. Lots of great films.

And what does the winning manager win? At least a free movie, I hope :)

A pity I didn’t manage to watch all remaining films at time to participate in the finals. Anyway, congrats to Kuxa, based on what I’ve seen by Monteiro he deserves to win the event, and I’ll make sure to watch the films I haven’t seen yet someday soon.

Monteiro’s birthplace, Figueira da Foz:

I wouldn’t be surprised if compatriot Manoel de Oliveira won the next Cup. And Portugal could do really well in a European or 2nd world cup.

Congratulations to Kuxa and all the managers who have made this cup possible. A great event.

Unfortunately I only know three Monteiro’s films, the only two released in Spain (Recordações da Casa Amarela, A Comédia de Deus) and Veredas, so I could not participate in the final against the better-known Mizoguchi.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if compatriot Manoel de Oliveira won the next Cup.”

Greece vs Portugal in the next Cup, the two winners of the DC tournaments.

Kakogiannis vs Oliveira

:PPPP

Yes, Greece and Portugal, shamefully omitted from the world cup (and shat on by the economic powers that be). But mubi taste has become clearer since then.

Thank you Kenji for some real treasures. Congratulations to Kuxa Kanema and JCM!