November 09, 2007
SLIFF DAY 2
A quick program note....
Tickets for the November 15th 7pm screening of "Bill", the film with Aaron Eckhardt and Jessica Alba which had some location filming shot in St. Louis has sold out.
But fear not. There still are plenty of cinematic options for that time on that date. There is a great program about Walt Disney that same night at the Art Museum hosted by Neal Gabler.
I however am looking forward to "Orange Revolution" which also screens at that time at the Tivoli. This documentrary about the 2004 Orange Revolution in the Ukraine is important in light of Vlad Putin's recent power grab and the fact that the film was made by St. Louisan Steve York. This doc is a compelling option for history poli sci nerds like myself.
But back to today.....
A few ideas of stuff to see.
Global Shorts
Screening at 2:30pm today at Frontenac. I am excited about the offering but have to work and will miss it. Urgh! This means that you, intrepid reader, should go in my stead. The program features short films from places like India, Iran, Morocco and Brazil amongst others. The SLIFF shorts are always compelling and this one is a particulalry strong package.
The Collector
This Polish film screens at 4:30pm at Frontenac. A debt collector has a 'moral epiphany' with interesting results on his love life.
Getting Home
This Chinese film is terrific. I had an opportunity to see a screener of it and I highly recommend it for its warmth and humor. It's kind of like "Weekend At Bernie's" in a way. Zhao, a Chinese worker honors a promise made to his friend Liu and carries (literally) his dead body all the way across China to his family home in the 13 Gorges. What happens along the way is both a testament to the human spirit and a panoramic social commentary on contemporary China.
The 13 Gorges has been in the news recently because it forced the relocation of over 4 million people. Cities in the gorges were leveled brick by brick its citizens to make way for this super dam. Knowing this helps understand the film at the end a bit better but I digress...
Enough about hydraulics already. This funny, touching and powerful and funny film is one of the best offerings of the Fest!
Those wanting to see a great international film should scurry over to Plaza Frontenac and catch this 7pm screening.
The Melon Route
Screening at Frontenac at 9:30pm this Croation entry to SLIFF chronicles the tragic drowning of Chinese immigrants on the Bosnian/Croat border. The plot deals with the relationship between the one survivor of the incident and the smuggler who got her into Croatia.
The Sacred Family
Much has been said about the burgeoning South American film scene. Director Sebastian Campos' use of hand held cameras and improvised dialogue makes this film about the disintegration of family an interesting film to see.
Slither
SLIFF brings out zombie nation in full effect with a 7pm screening at Webster screening of James Gunn's 2006 B movie scaretacular. The onscreen presence of zombies and Firefly's Nathian Fillion means that this will be a geek fest of epic proportions. This clever film was grossly overlooked at the box office. Charles Guggenheim Cinema St. Louis Award winner Gunn will be in attendance to intro the film and conduct a Q&A afterwards.
Grace Is Gone
Hey it's John Cusack as a dad! This is a powerful film about childhood innocence war, love, marriage and tragedy. Not the most cuddly of films at this year's festival, but a pretty good one nonetheless. See this! It has contemporary themes that loudly resonate with us all and Cusack usually makes pretty decent movies. Shown at he Tivoli at 7pm.
Punk's Not Dead
Punk rock is 30! scary! As the Sex Pistols tour again and countelss old school punk bands reform to cash in comes this film about the halcyon days when wearing boots, ripped jeans, shredded shirts and lots of safety pins was a statement against authority.
I like many others cut my adolescent teeth through the music of The Sex Pistols, The Damned, Fear, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, the Vandals and the like, so this is an interesting trip down memory lane.
Susan Dynner loved this stuff too, except she knows all these people and got them to be in her film about Punk rock. Her film examines the culture of punk and explores how the DIY ethos of punk has been co-opped by crappy bands, MTV and Hot Topic.
Although there won't be a pit there'll be plentry of adrenaline and rage at 9:15 at the Tivoli!