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Portugese-language
drama, set in 1910 Brazil, about a young man who must
decide whether he wants to perpetuate a generations-old
feud after a rival family murders his older brother. Based
on the novel Broken April, by Ismail Kadare.
Walter Salles (Central Station) directs from
a screenplay by Karin Ainouz, Sergio Machado and Salles
(Central Station). With José Dumont
(At Play in the Fields of the Lord), Rodrigo
Santoro, Rita Assemany (Central Station),
Ravi Ramos Lacerda, Luis Carlos Vasconcelos, Othon Bastos
(Central Station) and Flavia Marco Antonio.
Also known as Abril Despedacado. PG-13: some
violence; a scene of sexuality. April 19 limited. Miramax.

Thriller
about a man who thinks his brother may have become an
infamous serial killer thanks to the influence of their
demon-slaying dad. Actor Bill Paxton (Vertical
Limit) makes his feature directorial debut from
a screenplay by Brent Hanley. With Paxton, Matthew McConaughey
(The Wedding Planner, 13 Conversations
About One Thing), Mathew J. OLeary (Domestic
Disturbance), Jeremy Sumpter and Powers Boothe (Men
of Honor). Flat. R: Violence; some language. April
12. Lions Gate.

Jason
Voorhees finds his murderous energy little diminished
when a professor and his students defrost the maniac on
a spaceship in the year 2455. Directed by James Isaac
(The Horror Show) from a screenplay by Todd
Farmer. Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th: The Final
Chapter, Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday)
returns as silent, bemasked Jason. Newcomers to the series
include Lexa Doig (TVs Andromeda), Lisa
Ryder (TVs Andromeda), David Cronenberg
(Last Night), Melody Johnson (The Virgin
Suicides), Derwin Jordan (Turn it Up),
Boyd Banks (The Ladies Man), Chuck Campbell
(Angel Eyes), Yani Gellman (Urban Legends:
Final Cut), Kristi Angus, Jonathan Potts (When
Night is Falling), Peter Mensah (Bless the
Child) and Dylan Bierk (Bait). R: Strong
horror violence; language; some sexuality. April 26. New
Line.

Drama,
set in Los Angeles, about a twentysomething schoolteacher
who ends her long-term relationship and begins a quest
to find the happiness in life that has thus far eluded
her. Henry Barrial makes his feature directorial debut
from a screenplay by Stephanie Bennett and Barrial. With
Bennett, Jeramy Guillory, Laura Katz (TVs Alien
Hunter), Marnie Shelton (The Muse),
Nicklaus Lange (Legally Blonde), Billy Ray
Gallion and Tom Vitornio. 80 min. April 26 limited. Lot
47.

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Mandarin-language
drama, set in 1930s China, about a young woman who must
choose between two men an actor and a cellist
until those two men grow attracted to each other. Directed
by Chi Yin (In a Strange City) and film producer
Li-Kong Hsu (The Personals, Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon) from a screenplay by Hui-Ling
Wang (Eat Drink Man Woman, Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Ming-xia Wang. With Rene
Liu (The Personals), Li-jen Tai, Yaoxuan Shu,
Ya-lei Kuei, Chao-te Yin and Lei Huang. Also known as
Ye Ben. 119 min. April 26 in New York. Strand.

Documentary
about unusual homes a waterfall-powered tree house
in Hawaii, a houseboat in the Louisiana bayou, a revamped
abandoned missle silo, to name a few and their
eccentric occupants. Directed by Chris Smith (American
Movie). April 26 in New York. 65 min. Cowboy.
French-language
drama about a divorced minister whose love for a young
woman is tested by World War I, the morals of Protestant
society, and the economic upheavals that threaten to shatter
his aristocratic world. Directed by Olivier Assayas (Irma
Vep, Late August, Early September) from
a screenplay by Jaques Fieschi (The School of Flesh).
With Emmanuelle Beart (La Bûche), Charles
Berling (The Bridge), Isabelle Huppert (The
School of Flesh), Dominique Reymond (Come
Undone), Andre Marcon (Late August, Early
September) and Alexandra London (Happiness
is in the Field). Also known as Les Destinees
Sentimentales. Scope. 180 min. April 5 limited.
Wellspring.

Romantic
comedy about an enormously attractive woman who must sharpen
her romantic skills when she meets a great guy who pays
her little attention. Directed by Roger Kumble (Cruel
Intentions) from a screenplay by Nancy M. Pimental
(TVs South Park). With Cameron Diaz
(Vanilla Sky), Christina Applegate (Just
Visiting), Selma Blair (Storytelling),
Thomas Jane (Original Sin), Parker Posey (The
Anniversary Party) and Jennifer Gimenez (Vanilla
Sky). April 26 limited. Sony.

Comedy-drama
about a man who, unable to make a living as a birthday
clown, reinvents himself as a transvestite clown who entertains
at bachelor parties a job that leads to a horrific
incident that comes back to haunt him when he achieves
fame with his own TV show. Actor Bryan Johnson makes his
feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back vets Johnson,
Brian O'Halloran, Ethan Suplee (John Q), Jason
Mewes, Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier, as well as Scott
Schiaffo (Clerks), David Klein (Chasing
Amy), Matthew Maher (Dogma), Walter
Flanagan, Jay Petrick, Brian Quinn, Jerry Lewkowitz, and
Ralph Lambiase. Flat. 91 min. R: Disturbing sexual violence;
some shootings; strong language. April 26 in New York,
Los Angeles and San Francisco. Lions Gate.

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