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Intangible Asset No 82

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"Intangible Asset Number 82 is a fantastic film - a look into a world I never knew existed - totally inspiring - it blew my mind - thank you"- Grammy winner Bill Frisell

DIFF's INTANGIBLE ASSET NUMBER 82

30th Durban International Film Festival

23 July to 2 August 2009

“Looking back now, I don't know how I lived like that.

But I believe in reincarnation, and I believe I was born with this destiny.”

- Bae Il-Dong (Korean pansori singer, recalling the seven years he spent living

by a waterfall learning to sing) 

What lengths will people go to for their music? How do they discover the tools of self-expression and develop an individual voice? Where does the calling come from? What does it mean to be a musician in modern times?

Tackling these questions and more, Australian singer Emma Franz documents long time friend and colleague, Simon Barker – an Australian drummer acclaimed as one of the most persuasive and individual voices in drumming today - as he searches for enigmatic Korean Shaman, Kim Seok-Chul; a man he believes to be one of the world's great improvisers.

After hearing a recording some time ago, Barker made a commitment to find and learn from the shaman . Yet despite his official designation as South Korea 's 82 nd Intangible Asset, Kim Seok-Chul had remained elusive. After seven years of setbacks and obstacles, and with the shaman in his eighties, Barker's commitment had intensified and he returned to Korea for a seventeenth time. It is at this point that the film commences, his ongoing search creating the narrative against which his personal and musical transformations are revealed. Barker's journey becomes a rite of passage, as he has meaningful encounters with the engaging and exotic characters who will eventually lead him to the shaman under portentous circumstances.

Alongside Grammy Award winning guitarist Bill Frisell's comment that “Intangible Asset Number 82 is a fantastic film…a look into a world I never knew existed….totally inspiring….it blew my mind….thank you”, Rodolfo Stroeter had this to say: “Beyond words, the film dives into the mixing pot of cultural diversity, bringing to the audience a wonderful insight into the similarities and synchronicities of different cultures through the unique and most universal language of music. Thru the eyes of director Emma Franz, we can feel that believing in art and intuition is still one of the best roads one can take.”

Franz documented the journey observationally in High Definition, later utilising the intimacy of a thought diary, various concert footage, interviews, and super 8 elements to examine a deeper philosophical search for the tools of self-expression. The result is a layered story that provides intimate insight into the life of a creative musician, as he is inspired and transformed, and showcases music as a universal language.

About the filming Texas University 's Ellen Spiro adds: “Franz does an incredible job. Her lighting (mostly natural) is beautiful and her images are powerful. She is able to capture a singer perched on a waterfall and a private shamanic ceremony, both difficult circumstances under which to film, and disappears into both scenes easily so that the audience feels like its participating in the action… I found myself totally captivated by Barker's journey and Franz's strong imagery.”

The South African premiere of Intangible Asset no. 82, supported by the Australian High Commission, takes place at Cinema Noveau (Gateway) at 18h30 on 24 th July, with a second screening at Ster-KineKor Musgrave at 12noon on Sunday 26 th July.

For full programme details of the Durban International Film Festival visit www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or telephone the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/ 1704. Further information about the film and a trailer can be found at www.IntangibleAsset82.com

In a year deeply constrained by funding cutbacks festival organisers the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN ) highlight the important role played by principal funders the National Film and Video Foundation, Stichting Doen, HIVOS, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, German Embassy, Goethe Institute of South Africa, City of Durban, Industrial Development Corporation, with support from East Coast Radio, Durban Film Office, Department of Arts and Culture Film, Video and Sound Archives, French Embassy of South Africa and other valued sponsors and partners.

Ends

For festival queries contact
031 260 2506
diff@ukzn.ac.za

For media queries contact:
Sharlene Versfeld
Tel: 031-8115628
Fax: 0866827334
Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za