Actor With Down's Picks Up Film Prize

A Spanish actor with Down's syndrome has picked up the best actor award at the San Sebastian film festival. Pablo Pineda won the prize for his portrayal of a man with Down's syndrome who gets a university degree and falls in love in Yo Tambien (Me Too). Pineda said the role called for "a lot of introspection, I had to relive some very difficult moments." Chinese film City of Life and Death, about the Japanese occupation of Nanjing in 1937 won best film. The film also picked up the prize for best cinematography. "Outside China, nobody really knows this tragedy so it was a dream for me to make this movie," said director Lu Chuan. He added that the film took four years to complete, from preparation to post-production, with a very tight budget. The film recounts the killing of 300,000 Chinese civilians and prisoners of war by Japanese invaders. But Lu's portrayal of the Japanese soldiers as ordinary people caught up in war has angered some Chinese nationalists, who view the Japanese less favourably. The director has received a letter containing a death threat. The black and white film depicts the execution and rape of many Chinese civilians during the three-day siege of Nanjing. Spain's Lola Duenas won best actress for her role as Laura, the work colleague Pineda's character, Daniel, falls in love with in Me Too. Best director went to Spain's Javier Rebollo for La Mujer Sin Piano (Woman Without Piano). Australian film Blessed took the best screenplay award.