By Julio Nakamurakare
Herald staff

CINCO DIAS SIN NORA. In a last, desperate effort to irk her husband, a woman named Nora commits suicide during a Jewish celebration in which no funerals are to be held. Looking for clues as to Nora’s suicide, her relatives find long-concealed secrets which would have never come to light. (Mexico, 2008, in Spanish). Written and directed by: Mariana Chenillo. With: Enrique Arreola, Ari Brickman, Juan Carlos Colombo, Marina de Tavira, Max Kerlow, Verónica Langer. Scope. Distributed by Primer Plano. NC13. Running time: 91 minutes.

NINE. Inspired by and staged as a tribute to Italian director Federico Fellini’s film 8 e 1/2 (1963) — about a doppelganger of a moviemaker stuck in his career — Nine was developed as a stage musical, once played in a limited engagement by Spanish actor Antonio Banderas. The film version features Daniel Day-Lewis as the befuddled director who resorts to his own mesmerizing life to construct his new movie. (Nine, US / Italy, 2009, in English with Spanish subtitles). Directed by: Rob Marshall. Written by: Michael Tolkin and Anthony Minghella, based on the eponymous Broadway musical by Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston, in turn inspired by the Italian musical by Mario Fratti, originated by Fellini’s 8 e 1/2. With: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, Stacy Ferguson. Scope. Distributed by Columbia. Rating: n/a. Running time: 118 minutes.

INVICTUS. Clint Eastwood’s latest film focuses on the epic story of South African leader Nelson Mandela, freed after 30 years in prison and then becoming the nation’s president. Invictus concentrates on Mandela’s wise, fruitful use of the 1995 Rugby World Cup as a key factor to help bring down the racial barriers in South Africa after years of apartheid. Matt Damon plays the team captain transformed by Mandela’s personality and his team experience. (US, 2009, in English). Directed by: Clint Eastwood. Written by: Anthony Peckham based on John Carlin’s book. With: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern, Julian Lewis Jones. Scope. Distributed by Warner. NR. Running time: 133 minutes. See review on pages 4/5.

ASTRO BOY. Taking up where the 1963 TV series left off, Astro Boy is a child robot created by a scientist who has lost his child. The robot is fitted with state-of-the-art technology with which to fight a group of aliens bent on destroying the Earth. (Hong Kong / US / Japan, 2009, dubbed into Spanish). Directed by: David Bowers. Written by: Timothy Harris and David Bowers, based on the TV series by Osamu Tezuka. Voiceovers in the original English-language version: Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Nicolas Cage, Charlize Theron, Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Nighy, Donald Sutherland. Scope. Distributed by Alfa. NR. Running time: 94 minutes.

ZOMBIELAND (Tierra de zombies). Two dissimilar individuals (Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg) must survive in a world mostly peopled by zombies. Mutual support is the only way to survive, as well as forging alliances with others who, like them, are threatened by evil forces. (US, 2009, in English). In English. Directed by: Ruben Fleischer. Written by: Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. With: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard, Bill Murray. Scope. Rating: n/a. Running time: 88 minutes.