52nd City: SLIFF

The Inferno

The Inferno
Sunday, 11/16/08
3:00pm
St. Louis Art Museum

I am so ready for this. The Inferno is a fully restored print of terrific cinema from 1911. It is Italy's first feature film and we are so lucky to be able to see a fully restored print in a theater setting.

It takes Dante's The Inferno and amps up the fantasy and magicalness.

The film also offers us a rare moving glimpse of popular of pre WW1 European pop culture.

To make it all better you get the cherry on top of having New Music Circle provide the film score.

Day 3

I just stopped by the Tivoli to get tickets for later this week. The Micro Budget Filmmaking seminar was in progress. this seminar is a great thing because it tells filmmakers how to make the movies they want within the parameters of common fiscal sense.

Of Time & the City
12:30pm
Tivoli

Liverpool is one of my favorite cities in England. Besides the Mersey and surrounding Docklands it has a rich, blue collar history steeped in shipping and manufacturing. Culturally the city gave us The Beatles, Echo & the Bunnymen and loads more. But what people often overlook about Liverpool is that the city has a rich diverse tapestry to it. it's definitey blue collar somewhat today but the burgeoning arts scene continues to transform the city.

But I digress...
Terence Davies documentary chronicles his affliction from, passion for and love affair with the city.

-Rob Levy

Schrader

I saw 'Adam Resurrected' last night. It was a solid film with great acting from Jeff Goldblum. I would not have expected him to have it in him. After all, he's been so schmaltzy in his previous films.

Mr. Schrader mentioned before the film that it would play on the coasts for a week this year before openng in wide release around March of next year.

I am a serious fan of two of his films, Raging Bull and Taxi Driver. I saw saw The Walker at the SLIFF last year and found it funny as well. I guess what I like about his films is that they are very different from each other but taken as a body of work they are all very rich and colorful.

One of the great things about Film Festivals is that they have provide an opportunity to interact with the creative folks behind the films. This gives the film watcher a chance to see what makes them tick which is pretty cool. For this film Paul Schrader was on hand to intro the film and do a Q&A afterwards. He seemed cordial and happy to be in town.

The Festival was indeed in full swing. the Tivoli lobby was busy and active and people seemed buzzed and energetic about the Festival.

-Rob Levy

SLIFF Day 2

In case you want to avoid the masses at the Tivoli for Adam Resurrected here are some other fine films!

Late Bloomers
7:15pm
Plaza Frontenac
From Germany comes this geriatric comedy about Martha, an elderly widow who causes a fuss in her neighborhood by opening a lingerie store. Along the way the neighbors cause a big stink and she finds happiness and courage in her new endeavor.

Arrive early as it will draw a good sized crowd. Late Bloomers is a perfect film for you to take a mom or grandparent to. It also is a nice jumping point for that fussy friend you may have who knows nothing of foreign films.

Blind Mountain
7:00pm
Plaza Frontenac
From China comes a powerful yet dreary film about the illegal trading of women. It’s a brutally tough film with superb acting and gripping emotions. Despite it’s intensity I really enjoyed Director Yang Li’s previous film, Blind Shaft. As a filmmaker Li does a fantastic job of getting resonating performances from his cast. Not the happiest of films, but one that will stick in your craw for awhile afterwards.

Shadowland
10:30pm
Tivoli
This highly popular thriller was a sellout at the recent local Filmmakers Showcase. The plot revolves around Laura who is injured in an accident with no memory. She meets Julian, a man who may or may not be trying to help her. The drama intensifies as she delves deeper and deeper for answers. Director Wyatt Weed and producers Robert Clark and Gayle Gallagher will be on hand for a Q&A.

-Rob Levy

SLIFF DAY 2

I was flipping through Entertainment Weekly today and noticed that at least five of the films offered at this year's festival have an Oscar buzz around them or come highly recommened. Pretty cool.

Brian Spath, the man programs the Shorts for SLIFF and the engineer who keeps the trains running at the Cinema St. Louis Office has his own blog. You can dig it at

lordspathington.blogspot.com

A few things….

*Get tickets early for any films you want to see. Sell outs will happen.

*Plan on looking for parking as you figure out your schedule of films.

*Don’t be an ass to the ticket seller and staff at the venues. This is an extremely busy time for them so respect them ans work with them whenever possible!

*Rate the films. Your vote REALLY does count!

-Rob Levy

SLIFF DAY 2

Adam Resurrected
7pm, Tivoli

There are lots of nifty films on top to open up the weekend of the St. Louis International Film Festival but none are bigger is scope and hype than “Adam Resurrected,” the latest film from 2008
SLIFF Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Paul Schrader.

Targeted for wide release in time for the Oscars, Adam Resurrected a tense drama performed by an interesting cast. Schrader ("Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull) is a cinematic titan, Jeff Goldblum is known for odd and quirky roles.

On paper it seems odd to pair them in a project together; however their collaboration is generating a serious Oscar buzz. Goldblum reinvents himself as an ex-circus clown plunged into the horror of a Nazi concentration camp. Willem Dafoe co-stars is the creepy camp commandant who dehumanizes him by making him perform in the camp. The film also features a terrific turn from Sir Derek Jacobi.

Adam Resurrected will probably sell out so get your tickets early!

-Rob Levy