November 19, 2008
DAY 7
Last night's cinema was right on.
I arrived to a crowded and loud Tivoli lobby just in time to pop into Love You More in the Shorts Program.
Love You More
This much lauded short is the result of collaboration between Sam Taylor-Wood and Patrick Marber (Control) and features a cameo from Pete Shelley.
It is 1978, a dreary time in the UK and two adolescents escape it all by hooking up while listening to the newly released Buzzcocks single, Love You More. www.loveyoumorefilm.com
Pretty friggin fun!
Wood is now working on a John Lennon pic.
After that ended I darted off to go see the excellent doc, The Wrecking Crew.
I could not believe the timing worked out.
The Wrecking Crew
The Wrecking Crew is Denny Tedesco's wonderful film about the talented LA studio musicians who made the West Coast sound of the 60s and 70s.
These cats played on every record of note at the time and it was great to learn their story. They truly were a band of brothers.
Tedesco did a great job of getting terrific memories out of them about their careers and lives.
Tedesco did a Q&A afterwards and was very responsive to the audience. It's nice when people who make movies you like are nice.
This is the best doc I have seen so far this year.
The film's website is www.wreckingcrew.tv
Here's the 411 on tonight...
The Tiger's Tale
7:00pm
Plaza Frontenac
This Irish film, written and directed by John Boorman (Deliverance), stars the always solid Brendan Gleason as a property owner who makes it big and then gets a little big for his britches when he plans to build a sports stadium. As the story unfolds his fiscal hardships causes him to dive deeper into mental instability.
The Pope's Toilet
7pm
Tivoli
I cannot remember if I have seen a film from Uruguay before but if their cinema culture is anything like the continent's then there is opportunity for some very good things.
Over the last few years South America has had some really great films coming out of Brazil as well as Argentina, Peru and Chile. The Pope's Toilet has an opportunity to put Uruguay on the map.
Melo is a bicycle smuggler who hauls goods to a fro through the country relentlessly dodging authorities in an effort to make money. Unfortunately it all goes crazy when word gets out that the Pope is coming to town. Melo decides to take advantage of the tourists and pilgrims by building a pay toilet on his lawn. It all turns over badly, leading to a powerful emotional climax.
Stranded: I've Come From a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains,
9:00pm
Tivoli
Another Uruguayan excursion, this time a documentary about a 1972 air crash and the survivors who hung on for dear life for 72 days in the frozen Andes. This is a documentary about the power of belief and strength.
Opera Jawa
9:15
Plaza Frontenac
Opera Jawa is a singing and dancing extravaganza from Indonesia. Siti is a lonely housewife who is seduced by the local butcher when her husband is away. The ensuing battle for her affection is epic.
As we turn into the home stretch of the Festival it would be prudent to get advance tickets for weekend films. There will be sellouts.