Page 29 - Aruba Today
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PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Tuesday 16 February 2016
‘Star Wars: Episode
VIII’ starts filming,
adds del Toro
NEW YORK (AP) — “Star members are the Oscar- In this Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, file photo, actor Benicio Del Toro poses for photographers upon ar-
Wars: Episode VIII” has be- winning del Toro, the Os- rival at the BAFTA 2016 film awards at the Royal Opera House in London.
gun filming and has added car-nominated Dern and
Benicio del Toro and Laura newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. Associated Press
Dern to its cast. The production start an-
The Walt Disney Co. an- nouncement was ac- Cast of ‘Alone in Berlin’ sees
nounced that “Episode companied by a brief
VIII” started principal pho- video that showed shoot-
tography at London’s Pine- ing picking up right where
wood Studios on Monday. “The Force Awakens” left
Written and directed by off. (Stop here if you don’t
Rian Johnson, the “Star want to read a reference
Wars” sequel will follow J.J. to the ending of “The Force
Abrams’ box-office smash Awakens.”) Johnson is
“The Force Awakens.” It’s shown directing Mark Ha-
set for release in December mill (Luke Skywalker) on a
2017. remote island off the coast
Joining returning cast of Ireland.q
Author Pat Conroy parable for today’s Europe
has pancreatic cancer,
promises hard fight BERLIN (AP) — The drama
“Alone in Berlin,” about
In this May 16, 2014, file photo, author Pat Conroy speaks to a a middle-aged German Actors Mikael Persbrandt, Daniel Bruehl, Emma Thompson, Bren-
crowd during a ceremony at the Hollings Library in Columbia, couple who risk their lives to dan Gleeson and director Vincent Perez, from left, pose for the
S.C. oppose the Nazis, contains photographers during a photo call for the film ‘Alone in Berlin’
lessons for present-day Eu- at the 2016 Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, Monday,
Associated Press rope and its treatment of Feb. 15, 2016.
refugees, cast members
said Monday. Associated Press
Premiering at the Berlin
BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) -- Au- en books including “The Film Festival on Monday, pecially in Germany. plays her on-screen hus-
thor Pat Conroy says he Prince of Tides” and “The the film is based on a 1947 “The sense of people turn- band Otto Quangel, said
has pancreatic cancer, Great Santini.” On Face- book by German author ing their backs on people the couple stood out pre-
but promises he will fight book, Conroy says he has Hans Fallada that became who need help ... not be- cisely because they were
the disease hard and finish spent his entire life trying a surprise hit in the U.S. ing able to say the truth, unremarkable people until
a novel he owes his fans. to figure out who he is and and Britain when it was first not being able to say what the moment they decided
The 70-year-old South Car- he doesn’t believe he has translated into English sev- you really feel I think is very to voice dissent.
olina novelist made the an- come close. en years ago. current at the moment,” “Even if in practical terms
nouncement Monday on He quit drinking in his mid- “What the film is dealing said Emma Thompson, who they didn’t start a revolu-
his Facebook page. 60s after being hospital- with is unfortunately still plays Anna Quangel, a tion, the idea of a personal
Conroy didn’t give many ized with a failing liver and very relevant and current mother who blames Adolf and ordinary refusal to go
details about his diagno- high blood pressure. He because in all of Europe, Hitler for her son’s death along with the policy of
sis or a prognosis. But he has struggled with diabe- especially in this country, during World War II. hatred, I think, is a massive
promised to “fight it hard” tes and other ailments in there is a movement to the Brendan Gleeson, who thing,” he said.q
and told his fans “I owe you recent years. right,” said German actor
a novel and I intend to de- Pancreatic cancer is one of Daniel Bruehl, who plays
liver it.” the deadliest cancers and a Gestapo officer tasked
Conroy has written a doz- can be difficult to treat.q with finding out who is
leaving postcards with
anti-Nazi messages around
Berlin. “I think we all have
to be very alert that we are
not poisoned by all those
people and their rising rac-
ist and fascist attitude.”
The recent influx to Europe
of people fleeing war and
persecution in Africa, Asia
and the Middle East has
been accompanied by
a rise in anti-foreigner vio-
lence and growing support
for nationalist parties, es-
