Historical drama “Persona Non Grata” wraps production in PolandNovember 7, 2014 - 17:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Japanese historical drama “Persona Non Grata” has wrapped after shooting entirely in Poland, with Polish cities used as stand-ins for Berlin, Moscow, Tokyo, New York, Bucharest, and Kaunas and Klaipeda in Lithuania, according to Variety. The film, which is produced by Tokyo-based Cine Bazar, centers on Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat working in Lithuania, who during World War II saved over 10,000 Jewish people, issuing them with transit visas through Japan to Curacao in the Caribbean. The film is set in the period from 1934 until 1955, in Europe, Asia and North America. It was filmed entirely in Poland, mainly with Polish crew. Polish company Akson Studio, which recently produced epic war drama “Warsaw 44” and “Walesa: Man of Hope,” a biopic about the Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, was the line producer. “Persona Non Grata” is directed by Cellin Gluck and features an international cast, composed of Japanese, Polish, French and Russian actors. Chiune Sugihara is played by Japanese actor Toshiaki Karasawa, while Koyuki — known mainly for the main female part in “The Last Samurai” — plays Sugihara’s wife. Agnieszka Grochowska (“Walesa: Man of Hope”) plays a Russian woman, Irina, the diplomat’s first big love, who had a great impact on his work. Borys Szyc (“Snow White and Russian Red,” “The Mole”) plays a Polish officer who establishes contact with the Japanese diplomat. The film will premiere in Tokyo in the second half of 2015. The pic’s shoot took 41 days, plus 15 days for the second unit. The exterior locations and buildings located in Berlin, Kaunas, Moscow, Tokyo and New York were recreated in Warsaw. Plac Zamkowy (Castle Square) played Red Square in Moscow. Fields next to Liwiec River doubled for Israel. The Manchuria scenes and the POW camp in Dachau were produced in Lower Silesia. The “Soldek” ship in Gdansk portrayed the steamship connecting Vladivostok with the coasts of Tsuruga in Japan. The harbor in Gdynia played the harbor in Klaipeda. The grand ball in Bucharest was filmed in the interiors of the former Palace of Poznansky, now part of Museum of the City of Lodz. Film Commission Poland worked with Cine Bazar to find locations and liaise with the Polish film industry. Top stories The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. The festival made the news public on March 19, saying that “several options are considered in order to preserve its running” Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |