DOMESTIC DRAMAS (2005)
Total running time 114 minutes
These narrative shorts convey the humor and tragedy that make up the most common spheres of our existence and the upheaval that results when the things we most desire refuse to come to fruition or are achieved in unexpected ways. [SFiFF Program Guide]
Seven are on the program; I saw five, as I had to leave for work.
SHOW AND TELL: TOMMY PALLOTTA AND A SCANNER DARKLY (2006)
This was a last minute add-on to the Festival, so its not in the Program Guide and I have no cool graphics.
Tommy Pallotta has produced:
1. A Scanner Darkly (2006) (producer)
2. Hell House (2001) (associate producer)
3. Waking Life (2001) (producer)
4. Figures of Speech (2000) (producer)
5. Snack and Drink (2000) (producer)
6. Roadhead (1999) (producer)
7. High Road (1996) (producer)
Tommy Pallotta was here to show clips of his Rotovision (?) animated films leading up to A Scanner Darkly, a Richard Linklater film, to be released this summer, based on a novel by Philip K. Dick .
Continue reading “SFiFF xii: Show and Tell: A Scanner Darkly”
SWIMMERS (2005)
USA 90 minutes
This film was a bonus during SFiFF for members only on Sunday morning.
The Swimmer was a 1968 movie starring Burt Lancaster and based on a story by John Cheever. Reportedly there is a remake of that in production starring Alec Baldwin. Swimmers bears no relationship to that, whatsoever.
Written and directed by Doug Sadler
Cast:
Cherry Jones [two-time Tony Award-winner] as the Mother
Sarah Paulson as the Niece
Tara Devon Gallagher as the Girl
Maryland Outer Banks
Eleven year-old Girl loves to swim, during a swim meet; her left eardrum pops, requiring surgery that will cost $11,000.
Continue reading “SFiFF xi: Swimmers”
ROMANCE AND CIGARETTES (2005)
USA, 115 minutes
Written and Directed by John Turturro
Cast: James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Kumar Pallana, Christopher Walken, Mandy Moore, Aida Turturro, Mary-Louise Parker, Eddie Izzard, Elaine Stritch and more.
John Turturro’s exuberant new film is many things: a warm, affectionate portrait of a working-class American family; an homage to the musical; a scatological celebration of outrageous behavior; an exploration of love and a vehicle for some of the world’s finest actors to let it rip in a deliriously over-the-top, no-holds-barred melodrama of the age-old love triangle. [SFiFF Program Guide]
The plot and moral doesn”t matter, just sit back and enjoy these wonderful actors doing wonderful things, it”ll come to you.
I laughed ‘til I cried.
Do yourself a favor and see this as soon as it comes around.
Continue reading “SFiFF x: Romance and Cigarettes”
ILLUMINATION (2004)
France, 130 minutes
Written and Directed by Pascale Breton
Cast: Clet Beyer, Melanie Le Rey, Catherine Hosmalin, Herve Furic, Albertine Dagand
This was the U.S. Premier
SCRIBBLE SCRAPPLE I.C.YOU (2006)
U.S.A. 90 minutes
Five short live performances with movie screen.
Golin Levin from Pittsburgh, presenting THE MANUAL INPUT WORKSTATION started off with an overhead projector, doing hand shadows, when he would make a hole, it would fill up with light and he”d open his hand and drop it—thunk! or ping!—and stuff would roll around making its noise and pretty soon there were lots of thingys rolling around and making a cocophany of digital light and sound. Weird and cool at the same time.
BASHING (2005)
Japan 82 minutes
Written and Directed by Masahiro Kovayashi
Cast: Fusako Urabe, Ryuzo Tanaka, Takayuki Hato
With an initial disclaimer that the film is fiction “loosely based on real events,” Kobayashi plunges into the desolate daily existence of Yuko, an aid worker whose recent kidnapping and release in the Middle East has made her the town pariah once back at home. As the narrative begins, the situation has reached a tipping point and, in quick succession, Yuko is shunned by coworkers, fired from her job, harassed by strangers and dumped by her boyfriend. The message to Yuko, finally stated in blunt terms by a taunting voice on her answering machine is thus: “If you”d been killed, you would have been a heroine. Now you are nothing but an embarrassment to us all.” [SFiFF Program Guide]
DELICATE CRIME (2005)
Brazil 87 minutes
Directed by Beto Brant
Written by Marcal Aquino, Marco Ricca, Beto Brant
Based on a novel by Sergio Sant”Anna
Cast:
Marco Ricca, Lilian Taublib, Felipe Ehrenberg, Maria Mandella
Director Beto Brant weaves together a complex trio of characters who collide in a web of passion, control and manipulation.
THE WAYWARD CLOUD (2005)
Taiwan/France 112 minutes
Directed by Tsai Ming-Liang
“The most audacious film to date from the visionary director Tsai Ming-Liang.” [SFiFF Program Guide]
I won”t say that there was a story to The Wayward Cloud; there were scenes. Often the scenes were shot with a fixed camera, people moving within the frame—or moving in and out of the frame—and sometimes no people at all for minutes at a time, causing a palpable anticipation. We”re usually in a tall apartment building in Taipei, Taiwan, in an apartment, in the hallways, in the elevator, in the stairwell. A few scenes are outside the building; and the musical scenes are in fantasyland.
ALL ABOUT LOVE (2005)
Hong Kong 96 minutes
Directed by Daniel Yu, Written by Daniel Yu, Lee Hong Loh
Genre: Drama /Romance
Cast:
Andy Lau …. Ko/Derek
Charlie Yeung …. Tse Yuen Sam
Charlene Choi …. Zi Qing
This was the North American Premier of All About Love. The Director, Daniel Yu and star, Andy Lau did a Q&A after.
Continue reading “SFiFF iv: All About Love”
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