There will be a strong Japanese presence at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. “Umoregi,” the latest feature from Oguri Kohei (photo), had both the official selection committee and the Director’s Week organizers fighting over it. They agreed to “co-sponsor” it and it will be shown as part of the Director’s Week lineup. The title “umoregi” means lignite, a rare fossil wood. Oguri’s “Shi no Toge” (The Sting of Death) won the Grand Prix and the International Critic’s Award at Cannes in 1990. Also: Kobayashi Masahiro’s “Bashing” is entered for the Palme d’Or competition section; “Operetta Tanuki Goten,” starring Odagiri Jo and Zhang Ziyi and directed by Suzuki Seijun, will get it’s world premiere; “Eli, Eli, Lema, Sabacthani,” starring Asano Tadanobu and directed by Aoyama Shinji; and newcomer Uchida Kenji’s “Unmei Janai Hito” has been chosen for the Critic’s Week.
• Singer Go Hiromi (49) certainly knows a thing or two about self promotion. He headed back to his home in New York yesterday after a brief visit that saw him release his first new single in over three years, play a gig at the venue where he made his debut more than 30 years ago, and announce his divorce from Nami (34), his second wife of just four years.