"Kieslowski is frequently cryptic in his responses to journalists, refusing to respond to questions about the meaning of a particular film. But in [this] fascinating new book, he reveals a little more of himself, and while his pessimism sometimes surfaces in odd, self-deprecating ways, the artist's warmth trickles through, too . . . Throughout the book, Kieslowski's practical observations about filmmaking suggest a concern for young filmmakers, an acute mind, a somewhat sad disposition, and a profound skepticism that nevertheless cracks open in the face of art, revealing a man capable of brilliant insight and poetic vision . . . An engrossing read for film buffs, students, or anyone interested in the cultural history of Eastern Europe."— –

"Stok has done a fine job of translating Kieslowski's Polish into idiomatic English without losing his personal tone of voice." –Sight & Sound

In its depiction of one family, Yi Yi accurately and expertly captures the themes and details, as well as the beauty, of everyday life. Following its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000, Yi Yi has collected a host of awards from prestigious international film festivals. Yi Yi garnered its director, Edward Yang the Best Director at Cannes Award in 2000 and was nominated for the Palme d'Or in the same year. Yi Yi is an epic story about the Jiang family seen through three different perspectives: the father NJ (Nien-Jen Wu), the son Yang-Yang (Jonathan Chang), and the daughter, Ting-Ting (Kelly Lee). The three-hour piece starts with a wedding, concludes with a funeral, and contemplates all areas of human life in-between with profound humour, beauty and poignancy. The other Taiwanese cast members include Elaine Jin as NJ's wife, Min-Min, Su-Yun Ko as NJ's former love Sherry, Hsi-Sheng Chen as Ah-Di, and Pang Chang Yu as Fatty. The film also stars Japanese comedian Issei Ogata as a Japanese software mogul, Ota.

The Toth family resides in Northern Hungary. The couple has a daughter and a son, the latter a member of the armed forces. When his weary major is ordered to take a vacation, the son talks him into a visit to his family home. Comedy endues when the Toth's go overboard trying to make things pleasant for the visiting major in hopes of an easier life for their son the soldier.

Virtuoso Indian percussionist Zakir Hussein and noted bassist/producer/world music advocate Bill Laswell formed the group Tabla Beat Science as a project that would bring together Indian ragas and Western rock, psychedelic, and hip-hop flavors in a new and innovative manner. Tabla Beat Science: Talamanam Sound Clash - Further Adventures in Hypercussion features Hussein, Laswell, and their five-piece band melding musical cultures on-stage before a rapt audience at San Francisco's legendary Fillmore Auditorium, captured for posterity using state-of-the-art camera and sound equipment.