Also Available on VOD Source: Artsploitation Films press release
Artsploitation Films, the rising American film distribution company, continues to deliver edgy international movies to North American audiences with its third release, HARD ROMANTICKER ( ??????????, Hadoromanchika, 2011). Based on director Gu Su-yeon’s semi-autobiographical novel, HARD ROMANTICKER is a spectacular and violent gangster movie that delivers its story with equal amounts style and carnage. Dripping James Dean style cool, the bleach blond Gu (Shota Matsuda) is a young cocky-Korean Japanese hoodlum living in Tokyo. When someone accidently kills the grandmother of a ruthless rival thug. Gu soon finds himself on the receiving end as he becomes the target for bloody, even deadly revenge. And it doesn’t help that the police are on his tail as well. What’s a snarling cigarette puffing thug to do? With tons of ultra-violence, rampaging youths and nihilistic retribution HARD ROMANTICKER is a modern take on A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, Yakuza style. Artsploitation’s release of HARD ROMANTICKER, will arrive on DVD for the first time ever on January 22. The DVD extras include a fully illustrated booklet containing critical analysis of the film by writer Patrick Macias -- a renowned expert on Japanese pop culture. Heralding the arrival of HARD ROMANTICKER on January 22, Artsploitation Films will ship its first release, GANDU, on December 18 (*Please note this is the new street date, moved from December 11). Directed by Bengali filmmaker “Q” (Kaushik Mukherjee), this independent Indian film is a deliriously frantic, music-infused look at one poor young man and his dreams of becoming a rap star. GANDU (Hindi slang for “asshole”) is a bold and entertaining example of new Indian filmmaking that, ironically, is banned in India. It will be available on DVD and VOD. Artsploitation’s second DVD release on January 8, is the award-winning Finnish comedy LAPLAND ODYSSEY. The film was hailed by the Toronto International Film Festival as “…the hippest, freshest comedy to emerge from Finland in years.” The film will also be made available for download from online digital retailers. It will be offered in High Definition Video on Demand (VOD) and Standard Definition VOD from various providers.
HARD ROMANTICKER
Director: Su-yeon Gu Screenwriters: Su-yeon Gu, Mitsunori Gu Cast: Shota Matsuda, Kento Nagayama, Atsuro Watabe, Tokio Emoto, Sei Ashina, Shido Nakamura, Keiko Awaji, Kaname Endo, Yûya Endo, Hakuryu, Yuma Ishigaki, Nobuaki Kaneko, Naoki Kawano, Claude Maki, Yoko Maki, Motoki Ochiai, Gôta Watabe, Dai Watanabe Producer: Masahiro Harada, Kimio Kataoka Cinematography: Hideyuki Mushû Editors: Kazuhisa Takahashi, Katsurô Watanabe Original Music: Kaoru Wada DVD Distributor: Artsploitation Films Price: $24.99 Street Date: January 22, 2013 UPC: 854555004026 ISBN: 9781939196026 Running time: 109 minutes Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1/16 x 9 Language: Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese with English subtitles Rating: NR SPECIAL FEATURES • Trailer • 12 page collectors booklet that includes an essay on HARD ROMANTICKER, a study of Toei Studios Yakuza films by Japanese cinema expert Patrick Macias and a gallery of original Toei movie posters
About Artsploitation Head Raymond Murray
Murray is the co-founder of TLA Entertainment Group and its president/CEO since its inception in 1981. Over the years, the company has operated art house cinemas and later, award-winning video stores in New York City and Philadelphia. Today, the company runs www.tlavideo.com, one of the country’s largest online DVD/VOD sales sites. Murray also founded and continues to be the Artistic Director of Philadelphia QFest and was Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Film Festival (2001-10). In 2000, Murray and partners launched TLA Releasing, a film distribution company that released films in North America. The company expanded its focus with the launch of the genre-focused Danger After Dark label in 2003. In 2004 it opened an office in London and expanded operations in the UK. Prominent releases include Suicide Club, Latter Days, Death of a Dynasty, Another Gay Movie, The Trip, Adam and Steve and Sleeper Cell.