2012 Film Club Offerings Part 2
Tuesday, 12 March 2013 10:31
Ali Lexa
Here are some more of the films KPFK Film Club members were able to see in 2012
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, SINGALONG, a Christmas Eve tradition, is Norman Jewison's adaptation of the Broadway musical, set in the Ukrainian village of Anatevka, starring Topol in his legendary portrayal of Tevye, the milkman, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by poverty, prejudice, and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters. Played at Laemmles NoHo7, Town Center 5 and the Royal in West L.A.
THE NUTCRACKER, presented in 3D by the Russian Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, which was its original home in 1892. Screening throughout LA on one night only.
THE PHAROAH'S DAUGHTER, presented as a part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series, was originally a hit in 1862, but fell out of favor with the Soviet regime. Resurrected by the Bolshoi Ballet in 2000, it became a favorite once again. A young Englishman travelling through Egypt meets a caravan of Arab merchants at the foot of a pyramid. when a storm breaks out, they take shelter where the daughter of one of Egypt's most powerful Pharoahs lies in a tomb nearby, relaying her story through the dreams of an opium pipe.
IN THE HOLY LAND OF TYROL focusses on a Bavarian woman married to a Tyrolean furniture maker who accidentally kills a French soldier during the Occupation. Fleeing to her husband's family farm, she finds herself despised by his Catholic family, eventually earning their respect by concocting a drastic plan to keep her husband from returning to the war. Part of Film Festival Flix, played at Laemmles Playhouse 7 and Noho7.
THE NUTCRACKER presented by London's Royal Ballet, a holiday favorite the world over, screens as part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinemas series. A magician's secrets, an enchanted gift, a guiding angel and a visit through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets, Tchaikovsky's classic is a must-see for audience of all ages. Played at Laemmle Theatres througout LA.
WALTER AND TANDOORI'S XMAS is a 3D animated comedy in which Walter, endearing, compulsive and funny, travels the world with his faithful sidekock, Tandoori, a hyperactive chicken, confronting environmental wrongs which need righting. Played at the Regency, Van Nuys Plant 16.
BARRYMORE stars Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer, re-creating his tour-de-force Tony Award-winning role as the acclaimed actor John Barrymore. Set in 1942, no longer a box office star, Barrymore reckons with the ravages of a life of excess. Renting a theatre to raise money for a revival of his 1920 Broadway triumph in "Richard III," he reflects on the highs and lows of his stunning career. Played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas.
A ROYAL AFFAIR, Denmark's official entry for the Academy Awards Best Foreign Film, is the true story of an ordinary man who wins the h eart of a queen and starts a revolution. Centering on the love triangle of queen Caroline Mathilda, it is the gripping tale of not only a passionate and forbidden romance, but the brave idealists who risk everything in their pursuit of freedom for their people. Played at the Landmark.
2012 AFI FILM FESTIVAL, running Nov. 1 through 8 at Mann's Chinese Cinemas at Hollywood and Highland:
KON-TIKI,Based on a true story, Thor Heyerdahl, alone in his belief that Polynesia was first populated by settlers from South American rather than by men from the East, is determined to raise funds for an expedition to prove his hypothesis. Epic in amibition and scale, with stunning cinematography and first-class special effects, the extraordinary journey pits man against shark and storm.
THE HUNT, is about the witch-hunt that ensued when a daycare worker is accused of sexually abusing the young daughter of one of his closest friends. Featuring an extraordinary performance by Mads Mikkelsen, winner of Best Actor at Cannes, as a man whose life is on hold, including his ability to retain friends and family.
THE SAPPHIRES, from the Land Down Under, an inspiring ahd thrilling true story of a later 1960's girl group caught up in the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Taking their music on the road, battling prejudice against their aboriginal heritage, with a screenplay by the real-life son and newphew of the four incredible women discovered in an outback pub by an Irish manager with a ear for soul.
CITY PARKING, follows two disparate LA lives which come together in a parking garage late one night. A frustrated graffiti artist and a heartbroken Westside girl break into cars as they get to know each other, scare off her ex-boyfriend and finish a mural. Screens as a part of AFI Fest at Mann's Chinese 2 on Wed. Nov. 7th.
CLOUD ATLAS stars Academy Award winners Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon and Jim Broadbent, based on David Mitchell's bestselling novel where everything is inter-connected across time and space. A single story unfolds in multiple timelines over a span of 500 years with characters meeting and reuniting from one life to the next, born and reborn, having an impact on their past, present and future.
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, winner of Best Director at Sundance, Ava Duvernay's story of a bright, young medical student who suspends her own hopes and dreams of a medical career when her husband is incarcerated. Caught between two men and two worlds, she struggles to keep body and soul together. Featuring music by KPFK's own Morgan Rhodes, it plays at Laemmles NoHo 7 in North Hollywood.
ARGO, based on true events, chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis - the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. In Nov. 1979, as the Iranian Revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the US embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage, but six Americans find refuge in the hom of the Canadian ambassador as a CIA "exfiltration" specialist concocts a risky plan to get them out safely.
HOLY MOTORS is an audacious and fantastical cinematic vision in which the City of Light is the backdrop for nearly a dozen surreal adventures throughout Paris in a ravishing, shape-shifting fever dream. A conventional businessman is transformed into a motion-capture acrobat, a sewer-dwelling leprechaun, an assassin and the leader of an accordion marching band. A potent allegory for movie magic itself, it ran at the Nuart in West LA.
TRIAL BY FIRE: LIVES REFORGED celebrates the strength and courage of seven burn survivors who, with the support of their caregivers and families, reclaim their lives after the devastation of fire. Challenging us to look beyond the superficial and redefine our concept of true beauty, it follows the journeys of ordinary people who rise above their injuries and pain to discover new dreams through unexpected insights and a transformed worldview. Featuring actor J.R. Martinez, it was part of DocuWeeks.
THE OPTIMISTS, a universal story, it explores how different communities of ethinic and religious backgrounds stood by each other during the Holocaust offering insights into building bridges and defending human rights. In Bulgaria, 50,000 Jews survived the Holocaust with the help of Bulgarian Christians, as Sephardic Jews were helped by Christians and Muslims from all walks of life. Ran at Laemmles Music Hall and Town Center.
ALL TOGETHER, starring Jane Fonda, in her first French language film since Godard's 1972 "Tout Va Bien," it follows five aging friends who decide to move in together. A crowd-pleasing comedy about the joys of "communal" living, it also stars Geraldine Chaplin and Calude Rich. Playing at Laemmle Town Center 5.
12th ANNUAL HUNGARIAN FILM FEST, which ran Nov. 16th through 22nd at Laemmle's NoHo 7, showcases the richness of Hungarian cinema with this year's highlight "The Door," starring Oscar-winer Helen Mirren and "The Tragedy of Man" winner of the Palm D'Or at Cannes and Oscar entry "Just the Wind."
AN EVENING WITH KYLIAN/INGER/WALERSKI, danced by the Nederlands Dans Theatre, "the most balletic modern dancers in the world." The NY Times says, "If you see one live performance this year, Nederlands Dans Theatre in the one to see." Part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series.
MAN AT WAR takes a provocative look at computer gamers who continue to fight WWII European air battles in the virtual world, trying to change the course of history. For some it's a hobby, but for many it's an addiction consuming most of their time at the expense of family life and social contacts. The film follows the players and their lives, including training courses and rallies. At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
GENERATION P is a political satire centering on a cynical Russian poet who becomes caught up in the world of high-stakes advertisting shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, in a world populated by gangster, new millionaires and advertising gurus. Exploring man's identity in a modern, branded world, it played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas.
SAVING AMERICA'S HORSES is a trenchant expose that reveals how the public has been misled by government agencies and corporate interests disregard laws designed to protect the public, the horses and the environment. Set against sweeping, pristine landscapes, it is deeply passionate look into the world of wild and domestic horses, their connection to history and the future of the nation, offering compelling expert testimony, undercover footage and true life stories to highlight imminent health risks to humans and environment caused by the capture, removal, transport and stockpiling of horses to be slaughtered.
THE REVISIONARIES follows the rise and fall of some of the most controversial figures in America education through some of their most tumultuous battles, including an avowed Creationist of the Religious Right, a Houston attorney and law professor at Falwell's Liberty Unviersity and an anthropology professor from Southern Methodist University, as the highly politicized Texas State Board of Education rewrites teaching and textbook standards for its 5 million schoolchildren. At Laemmles Playhouse 7.
BALLET IN CINEMA, continues with "L'ALTRA META DEL CIELO," a contemporary ballet by MacArthur "Genius" Grant winner, Martha Clarke, set to the music of controversial Italian rock star Vasco Rossi, a man known for drug use, racism and misogyny. A groundbreaking piece which transforms hatred into a piec which glorifies the feminine rather than tear it down. Screened at Laemmle Theatres.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO is one of the finest jewels in the operatic repertoire. Mozart's masterpiece is presented by the Royal Opera House in an illuminating production as part of Laemmle's Opera in Cinema series, revealing the tensions between masters and servants on an estate in the 1820's.
SPLIT: A DEEPER DIVIDE is a riveting investigation into the partisanship paralyzing our politics which looks beyond the rancor to reveal the truth of why our cuntry is more divided and our politics more gridlocked than ever, with unparalleled access to some of the most insightful and recognizable figures in politics and society - ranging from Senators Evan Bayh and Chuck Hagel, Lawrence Lessig, Noam Chomsky, Robert Putnam, Tucker Carlson and Amy Goodman. Played at Laemmles.
ARAB FILM FESTIVAL, ran Oct. 19th through 21st at the Writers Guild, featured films from both emerging and established directors, which provided alternatives to stereotypical images of Arab culture, politics and art. Opening Night's feature was "Man Without a Cell Phone."
5th ANNUAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL, ran Sept. 26th through Sept. 30th at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, with Opening Night at Linnwood-Dunn, screening of "Jump" a modern fairytale of a New Year's Eve in Derry. Other highlights were "Let the People Sing" a gritty tell-all documentary charting the rise of the legendary music group The Wolfe Tones, and special evening hosted by Fionnula Flanagan, honoring filmmaker Lelia Doolan, director of "Bernadette" Notes on a Political Journey" about Bernadette Devlin, the face and voice of the Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland.
LEAST AMONG SAINTS, movingly illustrates a veteran's hard-fought road returning from war to face a broken marriage and a broken life. When a troubled ten-year-old calls out for help, he can't turn away and, much to the dismay of an embattled social worker (played by Laura San Giacomo), it transforms his life. At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS, based on Emily Bronte's classic of star-crossed lovers, receives a radically distinct re-telling in filmmaker Andrea Arnold's adaptation of the epic story of Heathcliff and Cathy, spanning childhood to young adulthood. With a sweeping score, stripped down to its roots of heart-stopping beauty, cruelty, and impulsiveness. Played at the Nuart.
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS is the touching story of a family tragically divided. A trouble teenager in the 1980's in New York, struggles to discover a sense of self and strength while grappling with her tumultuous relationship with her mother while dreaming of reuniting with her father in Guyana, whom she hasn't heard from in 13 years. Spanning two continents and three decades, it offers a nuanced lense into the plight of displaced immigrant families struggling to create a better future. Played at the Nuart.
WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACTIVISTS, takes us inside the world of Anonymous, the "hactivist" collective which has redefined civil disobedience for the digital age. Exploring its historical roots as it becomes a worldwide movement with the reach and power to transform our time. At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
VERSAILLES '73: AMERICAN RUNWAY REVOLUTION is a documentary about the legendary fashion show, nicknamed the "Battle of Versailles" pitting French haute couture against innovative American ready-to-wear designers, in front an audience of the era, which included Princess Grace of Monaco, Andy Warhol, Christina Onassis and Josephine Baker. Playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
THE AMBASSADOR is a darkly comic, genre-bending documentary which rips the lip off political corruption and exploitation in the Central African Republic. Danish filmmaker Mads Brugger, whom the Huffington Post calls "the most provocative filmmaker in the world," transforms himself into an outlandish caricature of a European-African consul immersing himself in the life-threatening underworld of nefarious bureaucrats where he encounters blood diamong struggling, bribery, and murder. Playing for one week only at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 Fairfax Ave., in LA.
THE HOUSE I LIVE IN follows the policy failure in the war on drugs. From the dealer to the grieving mother, to the narcotics officer, the inmates and senators, these heart-wrenching stories encapsulate the tragic errors which have earned the US the dubious distinction of being the world's leading jailer and a system of mass incarceration which disproportionately affects the poor. At Laemmle Theatres.
SIMON AND THE OAKS, based on the Swedish bestseller, is an epic drama spanning the years from 1939 to 1952 offering a unique depiction of fate, destiny, and freewill. In a vivide portrayal of the situation for Jews in Sweden during WWII, it is the griping story of an intellectually-gifted, working class boy befriended by the son of a wealthy Jewish bookseller who fled Nazi persecution. At The Landmark.
WAKE IN FRIGHT, one of the seminal films in Australian cinema, tells of a British schoolteacher's descent into personal demoralization at the hands of drunken, deranged derelicts while stranded in a small town in the outback. Winner of the Palm D' Or in 1971 at Cannes, it is one of only two films to be shown there twice. Called by Nick Cave "the best and most terrifying film in Australian existence," Roger Ebert deemed it "powerful, genuinely shocking, and rather amazing." Play at the Nuart.
SAMSARA, from the Sanskit word meaning "the ever-turning wheel of life" is a stunning visual meditation inspired by breathtaking images and natural wonders. Filmed over 5 years in twenty-five countries on five continents, with no narration or dialogue this non-traditional documentary from the award-winning filmmakers of "Baraka" and "Chronos," encourages the viewers' own interpretation, with transcendant music from Lisa Gerrard and Michael Stearns. Playing at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd in LA.
LIFE IS STRANGE is a documentary which evokes the vibrant life of Jewish families in pre-World War II Europe, through childhood memories of survivors. Intimate conversations are presented against a tapestry of rare footage that takes us to the heart of pre-war Yiddish culture, as well as a universal experience of carefree childhood and how memory of the past can be retained when the world that created it no longer exists. Currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills and Town Center 5 in Encino.
SUPERCAPITALIST is a financial thriller about a maverick New York hedge fund trader who moves to Hong Kong and orchestrates a mega-deal that switfly escalates beyond his control. Caught between competing American and Asian cultures of profit-at-all-costs, he takes the ultimate risk when his life and Hong Kong's future are staked on a corrupt billion dollar deal. Playing at Laemmle's NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood.
DOWNTOWN EXPRESS is a classic story of youthful rebellion set in the world of Russian immigrants in NYC. Told with a unique voice through music, it explores the clash of old world values with the lure and excitement of a new country as a virtuoso violinist and Julliard student prepares for a recital to launch his career. He careens between the two worlds as he encounters and falls in love with a singer-songwriter. Starring acclaimed musicians Quint and Nellie McKay, DOWNTOWN EXPRESS opens on Fri. August 24th at Town Center 5 in Encino.
SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN, a remarkable documentary of fame-deferred, follows the mystery and mythology of Rodriguez, the greatest '70s US rock icon who never was. Considered by some a "Chicano Bob Dylan," his masterpiece album, "Cold Fact" sank into oblivion in the US, but through a simple twist of fate resurfaced in South Africa to provide a meaningful soundtrack to thelives of young anti-apartheid activists. Amidst rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide, his parallel life of acclaim and success a continent away is revealed when two South African fans set to find out what happened to their hero. Opens on Friday, July 27th at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
LITTLE WHITE LIES, starring Oscar winners Marion Cotillard and Jean Dujardin, follows a close-knit group of friends whose bonds are tested and strengthened over a summar holiday when one of their colleagues meets with an unfortunate motocycle accident. A heartfelt French spin on "The Big Chill" with a soundtrack ranging from Creedence Clearwater Revival, to Nina Simone, Bowie and Janis Joplin, it's a generational statement of youthful frivolity giving way to middle-aged pleasures and sorrows amid the intricacies and indulgences of contemporary relationships. LITTLE WHITE LIES opens on Friday, August 24th at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
DEATH BY CHINA, from bestselling author and filmmaker Peter Navarro, tackles the destructive economic trade relationship with China. Continuously flooding US markets with illegally subsidized products since 2001, over 50,000 American factories have disappeared, more than 25 million Americans can't find a decent job and America now owes more than 3 trillion dollars to the world's largest totalitarian regime. Through compelling voices across the political spectrum, the US-China relationship is broken and in urgent need of repair in order to further world peace and prosperity. Playing at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
COMPLIANCE, inspired by a chilling true story, it explores just how far one might go to obey an authority figure. When the high-strung manager of a local fast food joint receives a phone call saying her employee has stolen money from a customer, she follows the officer's step-by-step instructions for investigation, no matter how invasive, as the line between legality and reason becomes hauntingly blurred. Screens for one-week only at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd.
THE WELL-DIGGER'S DAUGHTER is an exquisitely-crafted melodrama in which a father in pre-WWI France is torn between his sense of honor and his deep love for his daughter when she gets in trouble with a wealthy pilot. A remake of the 1940's classic, it opens on Friday, July 27th at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex, Town Center 5 in Encino and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
16th ANNUAL DOCUWEEKS presents an exceptional lineup of worldwide documentary films over the course of three weeks. This year's highlights include: "Digital Dharma," about Eugene Smith's mission to preserve ancient Tibetan texts; "Once in a Lullaby," about the YouTube sensation choir in the journey to perform at the Oscars, "Garden in the Sea," an artists ecological vision inthe Sea of Cortez, "Holy Man", "La Source," narrated by Don Cheadle, about a Princeton janitor's efforts to bring water to Haiti; at Laemmle's NoHo 7 through August 30th.
WE WOMEN WARRIORS, screening as part of DocuWeeks through Aug. 30th, follows three native women caught in the crossfire of Columbia's warfare, using nonviolent resistance to defend their people's survival. One-third of Columbia's 102 aboriginal groups face extinction, trapped in a protracted predicament financed by the drug trade. WE WOMEN WARRIORS bears witness to neglected human rights interweaving stories of female empowerment, unshakable courage, faith, and endurance.
HEIST: WHO STOLE THE AMERICAN DREAM? exposes the roots of the American economic crisis and the destruction of the American dream. With clearn, fact-driven storytelling, HEIST unflinichingly reveals the results of four decades of de-regulation, massive job outsourcing and tax policies favoring the mega-corporations and wealthy elites. From the New Deal of FDR to trickle down Reagonomics and class warfare, it is a political thriller which posits that those responsible should be accountable with rigorous reform and dismantling entities too big to fall. Played at Laemmle's NoHo 7.
NUIT #1 is Anne Emond's award-winning feature debut in which two strangers meet on a packed, sweaty dance floor at a rave, end up spending the night together, baring their emotions as well as their bodies, with epic conversation, exploring and revealing, attaching and embracing in a powerful, intimate portrait of a one-night stand. An exclusive one-week engagement at the Nuart in West LA.
YOU'VE BEEN TRUMPED is a David-and-Goliath tale of Scottish homeowners who take on real estate mogul Donald Trump, despite legal threats and police harrassment , when he attempts to build a luxury gold resort through one of Britain's last stretches of coastal wilderness. Told without narration, YOU'VE BEEN TRUMPED captures the cultural schism between the media-savvy Trump and a deeply-rooted Scottish community.
UNTIL THEY ARE HOME brings to light the dedication of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team members who returned to the island of Tarawa in 2010, the site of one of the most horrific battles of WWII in order to recover the remains of fallen heroes and fly them back to American soil. Narrated by Kelsey Grammer. Played at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
IT IS NO DREAM: THE LIFE OF THEODOR HERZL follows Herzl, as assimilated Jew from Budapest, who, until his late wenties wanted only to be a successful playwright, but after witnessing the court proceedings of the Dreyfus trial in Paris and rampant anti-Semitism, he pursued his vision for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, advocating peaceful co-existence between Jews and Arabs. Initially ridiculed for his political treatise "Der Judenstaat," it later became the foundation for a grass-roots movement of oppressed Jews to join Herzl's Zionist movement leading to the establishment of the modern state of Israel. Featuring rare archival footage, interviews and never-before-seen stills, IT IS NO DREAM played at Laemmle's Town Center 5.
CO-DEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME, a tongue-in-cheek cult favorite at Sundance, is a wryly funny romantic comedy mash-up and 1950's sci-fi spoof in which three extra-terrestrials from the planet Zots are sent on a mission to rid themselves of romantic emotions, which are considered toxic to their planet's atmosphere, by having their hearts broken on Earth. Meanwhile, government agents seek to find the spaceship and cover-up the aliens' existence. Deemed by The Hollywood Reporter as "a hilarious date movie for couples of all orientations," it played at the Downtown Independent Theatre.
DARK HORSE, Todd Solondz' examination of the irretrievability of youth and the mercilessness of time passing. An unexpectedly tender, dark comedy starring Mia Farrow, Christopher Walken and Jordan Gelber of "Boardwalk Empire," it depicts the arrested development of a Jewish man in his thirties, in a poignant portrait of a man-child who finally glimpses a chance for true love. A special one-night screening presented by the American Cinematheque, followed by Q&A with the director, at the Egyptian in Hollywood.
LA FOLIE ALMAYER, co-presented by American Cinematheque and the Consulate General of Belgium, freely adapted from Joseph Conrad's first novel, this hypnotic drama follows a European trader's faded dreams of finding fortunate in Malaysia. Gorgeously shot in the dense, lush jungles, it showcases an aesthetic spontaneity through long takes. The screening was followed by Belgian beer reception.
CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT, from the Award-winning director of "Up the Yangtze," comes a riveting documentary on China's ever-changing economic landscape through the lens of sports. Following a charismatic, former boxing star and coach as he recruits young fighting talent from impoverished villages across Sichuan province, with the hope of discovering China's next Olympic heroes, it is not only sports drama, but astute social commentary and a beautifully crafted portrait of an athlete.
TOP PRIORITY: THE TERROR WITHIN is a new documentary about a national security whistleblower, former Customs & Border Protection Office, Julia Davis, who was falsely declared a domestic terrorist and subjected to retaliation of unprecedented proportions by the Dept of Homeland Security.
PATANG: THE KITE is a poetic journey to the old city of Ahmedabad, weaving together the stories of six people transformed by the energy of India's largest kite festival. Music & fireworks, food and laughter provide healing and renewal when a Delhi businessman takes his daughter on a surprise trip back to his childhood home, an entire family has to confront its own fractured past and fragile dreams. Originally screening at the Intl. Indian Film Fest, it opened theatrically at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS is a cautionary tale of corporate bullying and media spin by Swedish documentarian Fredrik Gertten asking "What is a big corporation capable of in order to protect its brand?" Following his previous film, "Bananas," which recounted the lawsuit of 12 Nicaraguan plantation workers brought against Dole, the filmmaker was threatened with defamation suits and PR scare tactics. Utilized by law schools and legal experts to teach defense of freedom of speech, it reveals a corporate mindset which believes "It is easier to cope with a bad conscience than a bad reputation." Played at Laemmles Pasadena 7.
AI WEI WEI: NEVER SORRY is a fascinating close-up lok at renowned Chinese artist and dissident Ai Wei Wei and his ongoing battle with the Chinese government. Having helped to design Beijing's iconic Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, he denounced the Games as party propaganda and disappeared into police custody for three months. With unprecedented access to the charismatic artist, his family and friends, first-time director Alison Klayman filmed when authorities shut down his blog, beat him up, bulldozed his studio and held him in secret detention. A compelling portrait of this passionate dissident for the digital age who blurs the boundaries of politics and art. Played at Laemmles Town Center 5 and Playhouse 7.
THE GREEN WAVE is a powerful documentation of populist protests in Iran following the suspicious victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the presidential election of June 2009. Cell phone videos posted on the internet, Twitter messages, as well as animate blog posts and interviews with human rights advocates and exiled Iranians bear witness to the brutal attacks by government militias to repress a rebellion. Played at Laemmles Music Hall 3.
THE IMPOSTER is based on a true story with the twists and turns of a riveting thriller. In 1994, a 13-yr-old boy disappears without a trace from San Antonio, Texas only to resurface several years later in southern Spain with a story of kidnapping and torture. His overjoyed family finds that all is not quite what it seems when an investigator delves into this strange tale, challenging perceptions at every turn. Played in an exclusive one-week engagement at the Nuart in West LA.
NOOR FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 3 through 8th at Laemmle's Music Hall, celebrating cinematic works by and about Iranians around the world. "Changing perceptions one frame at a time," it reaches out to the non-Iranian community and promotes Iranian-American artists in Hollywood. Highlights included, "The Iran Job," "A Very Close Encounter," and the Oscar-winning "A Separation."
KUMARE is an insightful look at faith and belief in which a seemingly wise guru from the East indoctrinates a group of followers in the West, but who, in actuality, is the alter ego of American filmmaker Vikram Gandhi impersonating a spiritual leader for a social experiment designed to challenge one of the most widely accepted taboos, that only a tiny 1% can connect the rest of the world to a higher power. Asking if illusion can reveal a greater spiritual truth, he must confront difficult questions about his own identity and whether or not his disciples will accept his final teaching. An exclusive one-week engagement ran at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood.
1st KOREAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 9th through 11th at the Korean Culture Center in LA, featuring themes and talents across the Korean-American diaspora. Highlights include: THE LA RIOTS: REFLECTIONS ON OUR FUTURE, "WEDDING PALACE: BEHIND THE SCENES, a documentary of the triumphs and struggles of financing the first independent US-Korean film co-production, SHOULD'VE KISSED, set in the cut-throat audition world of NY following a confident Korean actor who struggles to find work and "ULTIMATE CHRISTIAN WRESTLING about a group of traveling evangelical pro-wrestlers from rural Georgia.
UNION SQUARE follows the troubled relationship between two estranged sisters on the verge - one of marriage, the other of a nervous breakdown, as they reunite in NY's Union Square. Starring Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino, Tony/Grammy winner Patti Lupone, and Tony-nominee Tammy Blanchard. Opening July 13th at Laemmle Theaters.
TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL, running July 26th through July 28th in the heart of beautiful Topanga, features a unique roster of socially conscious films. Opening night kicks off with "On Day on Earth", an epic time capsule created from footage collected by amateur videographers around the world on a single day, Oct. 10, 2010; Friday evening, the 27th, celebrates 100 years of dance; Saturday's "Friendship and Community" program features United Nations Shorts Showcase, along with "The Welcome" about a healing 5-day retreat for vets & their families, suffering from PTS; Sunday's "Sea and Sensibility" concludes with "Minds in the Water," a doc which follows a professional surfer's quest to protect dolphins, whales, and creatures of the sea, and Closing Night film, "Gidget: An Accidental Icon," with the real-life Gidget in attendance.
THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 3rd through August 5th at Laemmle's NoHo 7 celebrating the happy ending with films taht are humorous, inspirational, optimistic and capturing the beauty of our world. Some of this years highlights were "Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey," about a Buddhist monk's eco-pilgrimmage in the Himalayas; "Beast Wishes" about a unique couple's, love affair with monster movies; and "La Ultima Isla" about a young girls magical life on a remote island with her estranged aunt.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 March 2013 10:35
2012 Film Club Offerings Part 1
Tuesday, 21 August 2012 19:39
Ali Lexa
Here is a list of some of the films KPFK Film Club members were able to see in 2012
TOP PRIORITY: THE TERROR WITHIN, follows a national security whistleblower, former Customs and Border Protection Officer, Julia Davis, who was falsely declared a domestic terrorist and subjected to retaliation of unprecedented proportions by the Dept of Homeland Security. Opening July 13th at Laemmle's NoHo 7.
NEVER STAND STILL, filmed at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the idyllic mecca for artists and audiences from around the world, this documentary into the passion, discipline and daring of the dance world features amazing performances by world-renowned dancers and choreographers such as Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Suzanne Farrell, Mark Morris, Judith Jamison and Bill Irwin, alongside new innovators, with behind-the-scenes insights and rare archival footage. Opened at Laemmle's Music Hall.
CRAZY EYES stars Lukas Haas as a wealthy, alcoholic divorcee and father torn between his past love and present infatuation. Seemingly living the Hollywood dream, his obsession for a gorgeous, unattainable girl brings him to the brink, pushing his life to dangerous extremes when his young son might ultimately be the one to teach him how to be a man. At the Nuart.
RAYMONDA, the classic dance showcase, presented by the Bolshoi Ballet at part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series.
THE DOWNTOWN FILM FESTIVAL, running July 6th through 13th, features Opening Night "The Diary of Preston Plummer" starring Robert Loggia and Rumer Willis; along with docs such as BEYOND POLLUTION, about the aftermath of the BP oil spill; FALLING UP, a Skid Row documentary of hope, survival and love; and features such as FUZZ TRACK CITY, a comic neo-noir thriller of murder, betrayal and music surrounding a 1970's rock record; and DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR about struggles of sexuality and gender in 1970's San Francisco. At the Downtown Independent and Hayworth Theater. KPFK IS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR.
THE LAST RIDE, inspired by the mysterious last days of country music legend Hank Williams, stars Henry Thomas in a lonely two-man odyssey of a boy coming-of-age and a man leaving this world before his time, a victim of his own abuses. Following his meteoric rise to recording and radio super-stardom in the late '40s, the tortured genius of Hank Williams succumbed to drugs, alcohol, and a hair-trigger temper which ruined two marriages and a host of friendships. Trying to rectify tings at the end of 1952, he hired a local kid to drive him through the bleak Appalachian countryside. Opened at Laemmle's NoHo 7.
SAN PEDRO LABOR FEST recognizes the positive impact of the ILWU and other unions on the lives of their members and the community-at-large. With gallery exhibits, musical performances, poetry readings and book signings, it screened three films documenting labor and environmental struggles, featuring "Locked Out," "Who Bombed Judi Bari?" and "We Are Wisconsin." At the Grand Annex and the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.
PETER GRIMES, set in a fishing village, is the story of a man accused by his neighbors of committing unspeakable crimes and the subsequent repercussions of their actions. Benjamin Britten described his opera at the struggle of the individual against the masses. The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual. Part of Laemmle's Opera Cinema series, from Teatro a la Scala.
GISELLE, the quintessential romantic ballet, recounts the moving story of a peasant girl whose everlasting love transcends death. One of the most technially demanding and emotionally challenging roles, it has been a showcase for the world's leading ballerinas. With Peter Wright's staging, this production from the Royal Ballet, it is one of the most popular and enduring works of the dance canon. Part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series.
LOOK EAST: KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL offerings included POETRY, PIERRE RISSIENT: MAN OF CINEMA, and A HOMETOWN IN HEART, ran June 23-24 at Mann's Chinese in Hollywood.
NOBODY ELSE BUT YOU is a neo-noir French thriller and offbeat comedy about a bestselling crime novelist with writer's block. When he encounters the possible murder of a beautiful, but troubled celebrity who believes she is the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe, truth is stranger than fiction. A risque murder mystery reminiscent of "Fargo" and "Twin Peaks', played at the Nuart.
ONE DAY ON EARTH is a documentary made in every nation of the world on the same day, Oct. 10, 2010. Presenting the challenges andhopes of humanity from a diverse group of volunteer filmmakers assembled by a participatory media experiment, it reveals an interconnected, perilous, wonderful world. Opened at Laemmle's Music Hall.
HENNING MANKELL, WALLANDER: THE REVENGE follows chief inspector Kurt Wallander as he investigates and solves crimes in the deceptively dark underbelly of picturesque, modern Sweden. A global sensation, it was also adapted bythe BBC starring Kenneth Brannagh. Starring Krister Henriksson as the police inspector this is the first episode of the original, immensely popular Swedish crime series. Opened at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
EXTRATERRESTRIAL is a hilarious, sexy sci-fi comedy involving a forgotton one-night stand, a jealous ex-boyfriend, an eccentric neighbor and possibly the end of the world when a flying saucer hovers over a deserted city. At Laemmle's NoHo 7.
BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW is a searing, slow-mo slice of heavy synth psychedelia, a Reagan-era fever dream in which the two main inhabitants are a disturbed, beautiful girl held captive and her "doctor" who is on an obsessive hunt for the scientific key to inner peace. Played at Cinefamily in Hollywood.
THE MATCHMAKER, set in Haifa in the summer of 1968, it is a tale of a teenage boy who goes to work for a matchmnaker, a mysterious Holocaust survivor, with an office in the back of a movie theatre, run by a family of 7 romanian dwarves and which shows only love stories. Opening to a new world built on the ruins of an old one, he learns the mysteries of the human heart as his life collides with the unexpected. Played at Laemmle's Music Hall 5, Town Center Encino, and Fallbrook 7 in West Hills.
THE INTOUCHABLES is an irreverant, uplifting comedy about friendship, trust and human possibility, which has broken box office records in France and across Europe. Winner of the Cesar Award and based on a true story of friendship between a handicapped millionaire and his street-smart ex-con caretaker, it depicts an unlikely camaraderie rooted in honesty and humor between two individuals who, on the surface, seem to have nothing in common. At the Landmark.
YOUR SISTER'S SISTER, directed by Lynn Shelton and starring Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt, is a comic, poignant tale of grief, romance and sibling rivalry. When an affable, but emotionally unstable slacker retreats to a friend's cabin in the Pacific Northwest seeking solitude and catharsis, he develops a complicated bond with his ex-girlfriend's sister, a lesbian reeling from the abrupt end of a 7-yr. relationship. Played at The Landmark.
SUNKISSED, a documentary screening at LAFF, which follows a couple's search to find out why children on the Navajo reservation have been stricken with XP, a rare pediatric disorder that turns sunlight into a deadly foe.
CALL ME KUCHU, documentary screening at LAFF, which follows the last year in the life of activisit David Kato, as he struggled to repeal Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality bill which proposes death for HIV-positive gay men and prison for anyone who fails to turn in known homosexuals.
GERHARD RICHTER PAINTING is a thrilling documentary of the creative process of one of the world's greatest living painters, juxtaposed with intimate conversation with critics, collaborators, and rare archival material. A mesmerizing fly-on-the-wall perspective following the range of techniques and ideas involves inthe creation of a large-scale abstract canvas by the infamously media-shy German artist. Played at Laemmle's.
CHELY WRIGHT: WISH ME AWAY is an award-winning documentary following the first country music star to come out as "gay," risking her career and personal relationships in order to live an authentic, meaningful life. Utilizing video diaries over three years, along with interviews with family, friends, and key players in the country music world, revealing both devastation and transformation in Nashville and within the LGBT community. Played at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
ORDINARY MIRACLES: THE PHOTO LEAGUE'S NEW YORK is a tribute to the high purpose of photography and the unmatched panorama of urban life in NY neighborhoods during the 30's & 40's as captured by the group that was the center of American photography at a time when the camera was "the central instrument of our time." Featuring little-known examples of leading photographers and League veterans, narrated by Campbell Scott, Played at Laemmle's NoHo 7.
MARINA ABRAMOVIC: THE ARTIST IS PRESENT follows the woman affectionately known as "the grandmother of performance art" as she prepared for a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. With total access, this captivating journey inside the world of radical performance addresses the constant question, "But why is this art?". Played exclusively at the Nuart.
THE INVISIBLE WAR is a devastating expose of injustice uncovering the epidemic of sexual abuse which pervades the American military, in which over 500,000 US soldiers have been victimized. THE INVISIBLE WAR played at Laemmle's Monica4-Plex.
PINK RIBBONS, INC. looks at how the breast cancer movement has moved from activism to consumerism and challenges viewers to rethink their assumptions about the meaning of breast cancer in our society. Inspired by the book by Samantha King, activists and medical experts from Barbara Enhrenrich to Dr. Susan Love, are interviewed, along with frank, personal discussions among women living with breast cancer. Currently playing at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex in Santa Monica and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
CHILDREN OF PARADISE, Marcel Carne's epic masterpiece, is a tale of a woman loved by four different men. Deftly intertwining theatre, literature, music, and design, 19th century Paris is brought to life with poetic realism, complete with hucksters and aristocrats, thieves and courtesans, pimps and seers. This spectacular restoration screens at Laemmle's Royal in West LA and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
FRANKENSTEIN, part of LA Theatre Works screenings from the National Theatre of Great Britain, adapted for the stage by Nick Dear and directed by Danny Boyle, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, alternating roles as Viktor Frankenstein and the Creature, who is cast into a hostile universe by his horror-struck maker and met with cruelty wherever he goes. This remarkable production of the gothic classic addresses scientific responsibility, parental neglect, and the very nature of good & evil. Broadcast in HD at the state-of-the-art James Bridge Theatre on the UCLA campus in an encore screening once only on Juane 17th at 4:00 pm
GISELLE, Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema continued with the Royal Ballet's production of this quintessential, most romantic of ballets, which recounts the moving story of a peasant girl whose everlasting love transcends death. One of the most technically demanding and emotionally challenging roles, it has been a showcase for the world's leading ballerinas.
6th ANNUAL GREEK FILM FESTIVAL, running May 31 through June 3, focussing on Green Initiatives, showcasing films from Greece and Greek filmmakers, including the Opening Night film screening at the Egyptian, "A GREEN STORY," the story of Van Vlahakis who left Greece with $22 in his pocket to pursue the American dream and ended up founding Earth Friendly Products; and "SAYOME" screening at the Linwood Dunn Theatre, in which a woman, after living in Crete for 35 yrs returns to her Japanese homeland to reunite with her estranged family upon the death of her mother. SUPER DEMETRIOS in which only Thessaloniki's own superhero can save the city from its worst nightmare; TUNGSTEN, about three men living in crisis-ridden Athens within the timeframe of a single day, revealing a world in havoc, where victims become villains and vice versa; RAW MATERIAL, a documentary about illegal gypsy immigrants who don't live by the norms or speak the Greek language, but gather garbage and recycle Athens' material in an attempt to improve their lives; UNFAIR WORLD, in which a disenchanted policeman's decision to follow his own sense of justice results in unlikely events culminating in an equally surprising outcome. KPFK IS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR.
DANCES WITH FILMS, celebrates its 15th year at Mann Chinese Theatres, championing the indie film at its best, opening May 31 with "Attack of the Bat Monsters," and "Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life," and running through June 7. Screening over 80 Narratives, documentaries, shorts and videos, a full roster of films available at danceswithfilms.com
MIGHTY FINE, a powerful, semi-autobiographical drama set in the '70s about a father's love for his wife and daughters and their vulnerability in the face of his unpredictable, explosire rage. Starring Chaz Palminteri and Andie McDowell, playing at Laemmle's Music Hall.
HIGH SCHOOL, in which a high school principal (played by Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero-tolerance drug policy, and a soon-to-be valedictorian attempts to beat the system by spiking the school's bakesale brownies or risk losing his scholarship when their half-baked plan goes up in smoke. Also starring Adrien Brody as a law student-turned-drug dealer, Psycho Ed. Preview screening on at the RAVE 18, 6081 Center Dr. in LA on Wed. May 30th at 7:30 pm.
MONDAY MORNING is a hard-hitting social drama about those who have fallen out of the system. Centering on LA's hardcore homeless population, MONDAY MORNING is a time "when a city wakes up - cars start honking, sprinklers start gushing, trucks barrel down the road, workers hose down the sidewalks and the homeless get out of the way." MONDAY MORNING screens on Saturday, May 19th and Sunday, May 20th at 11:00 am ONLY at Laemmle's Monica 4-plex, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica.
2nd ANNUAL LA SKINS FEST WOMEN'S NIGHT features UP HEARTBREAK HILL, which chronicles the lives of three Native American teenagers in Navajo, New Mexico, as they navigate their senior year at a reservation high school. Screens one night only, Thurs. May 31st, 7:30 pm, at the Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, near Griffith Park
LA FILLE MAL GARDEE continues Laemmles Ballet in Cinema series. A delightful, beloved, sunny comedy, with virtuosic choreography by Frederick Ashton. Both funny & touching, it is irresistible to audiences of all ages. The story of a young girl, her suitor and her larger-than-life mother who tries to marry her off. Playing Tuesday, May 29th at 7:30 pm at Laemmles Monica 4-Plex, Playhouse 7, Town Center 5 and Claremont.
GRAND ILLUSION, Jean Renoir's timeless story of men trapped in the stark reality of WWI and the fantasy of a noble era that crashed and burned with it. Once banned by the Nazis and considered lost, GRAND ILLUSION managed to survive WWII, after which it was recovered and re-discovered as a masterpiece. Rialto Pictures and Laemmle Theatres present GRAND ILLUSION in a stunning new digital restoration to honor its 75th Anniversary at Laemmle's Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles and Playhouse 7 in Pasadea. Opening Friday, May 18th.
A BAG OF HAMMERS, starring Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvik and Rebecca Hall revolves around the friendship of two charming grifters who, posing as car valets, steal the cars instead of parking them. Everything changes, however, when they meet a 12-yr.-old boy, neglected by his mother, whose presence ultimately forces the larcenous duo to choose between a life of crime and the opportunity to grow up and face being true adults. A BAG OF HAMMERS opens on Friday, May 18th at Laemmle's Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
THE CUP is a gripping, inspiring story of brotherly love and triumph of the human spirit in a moment that captured the attention and hearts of the world. Starrig Brendon Gleeson, it tells the story of a legendary racing family destine for greatness until tragedy strikes just days before the prestigious Melbourne Cup. THE CUP is currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., in Beverly Hills.
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES travels with Paul Simon back to South Africa 25 yrs after his first trip there, revisiting the making of his classic recording "Graceland" viewing from a historical vantage point, the turbulence and controversy which surrounded the album's genesis. His artistic decision to collaborate with South African musicians created a new world musical fusion while igniting political cross-fire. The resulting masterpiece sold 14 millions copies, receiving universal praise from critics. Providing a revelatory perspective, it features interviews iwth key anti-apartheid activists of the time, along with musical legends Quincy Johns, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney, David Byrne & Peter Gabrield. Currently playing at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex 1332 2nd St. in Santa Monica.
ROMEO & JULIET IN YIDDISH is Eve Annenberg's gritty, funny, wildly inventive new feature. It follows a bunch of kids putting on a production of "Romeo & Juliet", but the kids are Yiddish-speaking, drug-using, ex-Orthodox Jewish scam artists. Featuring predominantly non-actors, it portrays diversity & identity of the modern Jewish experience is colloquial Yiddish not acted on the screen in over 70 years. Currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
TONIGHT YOU'RE MINE is a free-wheeling, rock and roll love story set against the raucous magnificence and unforgettable sounds at a leading musical festival in Scotland. Filled with mud, lust, betrayal, booze, port-a-loos and 100,000 people partying to great music, two lead singers find themselves handcuffed together and no one has the key. Currently playing at The Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd.
IN THE FAMILY is the remarkable feature debut of Director Patrick Wang, a penetrating, original story of Chip, a precocious and loving 6-yr.-old who, having lost his mother at birth, knows life only with his two dads, Cody and Joey. When a car accident tragically alters their lives, Joey struggles to regain his balance and retain custody of Chip amidst bleak prospects. Playing at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex.
RESTLESS CITY tells the story of an African immigrant surviving on the fringes of New York City where music is his passion, life is a hustle and falling in love is his greatest risk. Play at Laemmle's NoHo 7 and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, as well as Rave 18 Cinemas, 6081 Center Dr. in LA.
THE HIGHEST PASS follows seven motorcycle riders and a modern guru as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime, trekking to the highest pass in the Himalyas. From award-winning documentarian, Jon Fitzgerald, THE HIGHEST PASS chronicles a motorcycle trip from Rishikesh to Ladakh, where each participant must confront their fear of death in order to fully live their lives. With music from Jon Anderson of "Yes," THE HIGHEST PASS opened on Friday, 4/27th at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
28th ANNUAL LA ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FEST, ran May 10 through 20 at venues in LA and Long Beach, celebrating the best and brightest of Asian Pacific Cinema, including VALLEY OF THE SAINTS, in which war & poverty force a young boatman to run away from Kashmir with his best friend. They become trapped in his lake village, encountering a mysterious woman researching the dying lake; CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT, documentary in which a master coach recruits poor, rural teenagers and turns them into Western-style boxing champions; GREAT WALL, MY LOVE, a romantic comedy in which a mismatched pair travels across China; THE ORATOR, from New Zealand, in which an unassuming villager and taro farmers lives a happy, but unconventional life with his wife and daughter. When his plantation is threatened, he is forced to speak out and defend all that he holds precious.
THRIVE: WHAT ON EARTH WILL IT TAKE? is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what's really going on in our world, by following the money upstream, uncovering the global consolidation of power. Filmmaker Foster Gamble (of Proctor & Gamble lineage) and his wife, Kimberly, set out to answer some fundamental questions about the striking imbalances ruining the lives of billions, lifting the lid on a Pandora's box of systemic issues while seeking solution strategies which are informed, practical, and profound. Further info is available at www.thrivemovement.com. Screened one night only at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex, following by a Q&A with filmmakers.
HEADHUNTERS focusses on Norway's most successful headhunter seems to have it all. Married to a beautiful gallery-owner, he owns a magnificent villa - but is living larger than he should. To keep it up, he steals art on the side. When a CEO candidate for a company that he is recruiting for also happens to be in possession of a very valuable painting, he sees his chance to become financially independent, but soon runs into trouble - and it's not financial problems that are threatening to knock him over this time. Opened on Friday, April 27th at The Landmark.
7TH ANNUAL SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVVAL presents films exploring religious, ethnic and cultural crossroads from Albania to Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Solvenia, Turkey and other countries throughout Southeastern Europe. SEE Fest ran May 3-7 at the Goethe-Institut in Los Angeles, offering over 30 features, documentaries, shorts & panels covering the troubled history and cultural diversity of the Balkan region.
CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL, presented by Cal Arts and Northwest Film Forum ran May 5-13 at REDCAT, with two weekends of exhilarating animation and live-action short-film programs appropriate for the entire family, showcasing offerings from over 25 countries that shed light on kids' experiences from around the globe.
MAMITAS is a beguiling coming-of-age romance in which a cocky, but charming, Latino firebrand is suspended for insulting a teacher. when he meets a bookish, no-nonsense New York girl who sees past the swaggering facade, the two embark on an unikely friendship which inspires him to find out who he really is. Set in Echo Park with a talented young cast, MAMITAS opened on April 27th at Laemmle's Playhouse 7.
ELLES stars Juilette Binoche as a journalist researching an article on student prostitution for the French edition of "Elles" magazine. With a husband married to his cell phone and a son addicted to Play Station, she confronts her bourgeois life when two young women open up to her about the reality of their lives in the sex trade as sordid scenes play out against the humor and naturalness that both girls bring to their encounters with Anne. ELLES opened on April 27th at the Nuart.
PEOPLE V. THE STATE OF ILLUSION, from the team that brought us "What The Bleep Do We Know?", is a compelling new docudrama which addresses the need for emotional recovery in a time of economic recovery, getting to a place of happiness, peace, and mental health in the midst of job loss, challenging relationships, illness, and stress. Exploring the science and power of our perceptions and imaginations, you are judge and jury in a trial that includes some of the nation's leading thinkers as expert witnesses in the fields of neuroscience, biochemistry, psychology, quantum physics, and consciousness theory. PEOPLE V. THE STATE OF ILLUSION opened on April 27th at Landmark's Regent in Westwood.
THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH tells the story of the transformation of the American city following WWII, through the lens of the infamous Pruitt-Igoe housing development. Once heralded as the model public housing project of the future, it ended in rubble two decades later, an iconic event deemed "the death of modernism" by architectural theorist Charles Jencks. Seeking to set the historical record straight, THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH re-evaluates the rumors and the stigma to implode the myth. Opened on Friday, 4/27 at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
MY WAY is an epic, never before heard story of WWII of two young marathon runners, one a native Korean and the other a Japanese aristocrat, once bitter rivals, who find themselves in the Japanese army fighting the Soviets and the Chinese. Taken prisoner and forced to fight for the Soviety, their mutual hatred and distrust become a reliance on each other for survival, as they are bound together by history. They discover that, in a world at war, one's enemy is sometimes one's salvation. From director noted Korean filmmaker Kang Je-Kyu, MY WAY opens on Friday, April 20th at Laemmles Monica 4-Plex, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and NOHO 7 in North Hollywood.
SURVIVING PROGRESS is an intelligent, provocative documentary which explores the concepts of progress in our modern world, guiding us through economics, consumption and environment, featuring powerful arguments from such visionaries as Jane Goodall, Margaret Atwood, Stephen Hawking and others. Visually spectacular, it invites us to contemplate progress traps that have destroyed past civilizations and which currently threaten our own. Opening for a limited engagement at The Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.
FIGHTVILLE journeys into the world of Mixed Martial Arts, which has grown from a gladiatorial sideshow into a billion dollar phenomenon. From the filmmakers of "Gunner Palace" and "The Prisoner: Or How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair", this documentary follows a group of young athletes who strive toward greatness, revealing a physical manifestation of the quest for the American Dream. Opens on April 20th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
LUMMIS DAY SCREEN NIGHT offers a first-look excerpt from the in-progress film adaptation of Culture Clash's "Water & Power", introduced by author/playwright/Culture Clash co-founder, Richard Montoya. Also screening is Roman Polanski's classic, CHINATOWN, starring Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson. One night only, Sat. April 21st at 7:00 pm at the Highland Park Ebell Club, 131 Avenue 57.
THE BALLAD OF GENESIS AND LADY JAYE follows the celebrated progenitor of "industrial music" an influential, innovative link between the pre- and post-punk eras, Genesis P-Orridge, who more recently has defied artistic boundaries with a series of sex re-assignment surgeries in order to more closely resemble his love, Lady Jaye, who remained his wife and artistic partner for nearly 15 years. Currently running at The Nuart in West LA.
THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE tells the story of Tania Head's miraculous story of recovery and loss during 9/11 which eearned her the respect of victims' families, public officials and Americans everywhere. Becoming President of the World Trade Center Survivors Network, she tirelessly fought to give survivors support and prominence in a post-9/11 landscape. There was only one problem - She wasn't there. Exposing the truth behind 9/11's most infamous survivor, the documentary examines the full circle of deception, with exclusive footage shot before her story crumbled. Currently playing at Laemmle's NOHO 7 at 5240 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.
SCENES OF A CRIME follows the harrowing interrogation of Adrian Thomas, whose 4-month-old baby lay brain dead in a pediatric ICU. When doctors suspected abuse, police detectives wages a psychological bettle repeatedly lying to and threatening him, eliciting a false confession. His son misdiagnosed with a brain fracture that didn't exist, jurors had to weigh defense arguments against a videotaped spectacle of Thomas sparring with detectives on a path toward self-destruction. Currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
10th ANNUAL INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES, screened the following highlights at the Arclight, April 10th through 15th: ABU, SON OF ADAM, India's entry for the Academy Awards in which an elderly copule works to realize a life-long dream; GATTU, in which a street urchin is determined to defeat Kali and rule the skies above him; CORRODE, Jury winner for Best Feature, in which a housewife's obsession and desire is triggered by an unfinished sculpture of the goddess Lakshmi; DELHI IN A DAY, a dark comedy with a Jane Austin-style understanding and humor of class in modern nouveau-riche India; SHORTS PROGRAM 2, a collection of noteworthy short films.
BALLET IN CINEMA features the world's most famous ballet companies in live and encore broadcasts. This month's presentation is the London Royal Ballet in Shakespeare's classic feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, set to the music of Prokofiev.
THE MANZANAR FISHING CLUB is a rousing, quirky documentary which tells the story of WWII Japanese-American internment through the eyes of internees who shared a love of fishing, slipping past armed guards, barbed wire and searchlights to fish for trout in the surrounding waters of the Sierra Nevada. Despite his parents' reluctance to speak of this painful episode in their lives, Director Cory Shiozaki vowed to tell the story of the Japanese community's imprisonment and persecution so that it would never happen again.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA is a thriller where nothing is as it seems,when a group of men drive through the countryside in search of a body of the victim of a brutal murder, but the suspect can't remember where he buried the body. Winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes, it is currently playing at Laemmle Theatres.
WE HAVE A POPE tells the story of Melville, a cardinal who panics when he finds himself elected Pope. To avoid a crisis, the Vatican calls in an unlikely psychiatrist to help him deal with the title of God's representative on Earth. Nanni Morretti's lateset film showcases his deep humanism and humor in dealing with serious issues. Currently running at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in LA.
MIS- HUMAN SECRET WEAPON tells the story of the secret US Army Military Intelligence Service comprised mostly of 2nd generation Japanese Americans who pledged absolute allegiance to the US at a time when most Japanese Americans faced internment. Playing a crucial role in both persuading surrender of Japanese troops, they also served during post-war occupation of Japan, with their contributions and achievements remaining classified and largely unacknowledged. Currently playing at Laemmle's NoHo7 in North Hollywood.
THE ISLAND PRESIDENT is a portrait of Mohamed Nasheed, the democratically-elected President of the Maldives, who was forced to resign in a coup d'etat orchestrated by the military forces loyal to the former dictator. Director John Shenk (of "Lost Boys of the Sudan") brings this David and Goliath tale to the screen with transparency and intimacy as Nasheed battles climate change which threatens to destroy his nation. The Indian Ocean is rising and if carbon emissions continue at their present levels, the Maldives will disappear. As he pointedly notes, "It won't be any good to have a democracy if we don't have a country."
RENDEZVOUS WITH FRENCH CINEMA brings seven films to the screen in a one-day celebration of French cinema. Highlights include: "SMUGGLER'S SONG," which traces an 18th Century folk hero/bandit and his songs leading up to the French Revolution; "THE SCREEN ILLUSION" commissioned by La Comedie-Francaise in a wildly inventive update of the 17th century tragicomedy of a hotal concierge on the trail of a missing young man who has left female hearts aflutter; and "THE LAST SCREENING" in which "Cinema Paradiso" meets "Psycho" in a provocative genre film of the many secrets of a manager/projectionist of a repertory cinema in the provinces.
THE TROUBLE WITH BLISS stars Michael C. Hall ("Dexter" and "Six Feet Under") in an offbeat comedy/drama set in NY which follows Morris Bliss, a 35 year-old with no money or job prospects, who shared an apartment with his disdainful father (played by Peter Fonda). His life starts to unravel as he juggles relationships with a sexually precocious 18 year-old (Brie Larson) and a very forward neighbor (Lucy Liu), causing him to realize that change is long overdue.
STANDING OVATION is a positive tale of perseverance, passion and reaching for the stars. Set in Atlantic City, five best friends form a singing group called The 5 Ovations. Short on money, but rich in friendship, talent and hope, they face a rival group seeking to win the biggest music video contest of the year. Featuring 20 original songs and showcasing a cast of talented young performers, in a special one-night-only screening at the Nuart.
17TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL ran March 21st through 25th at Raleigh Studios in LA, celebrating the commonalities and differences of the human condition by providing a nurturing environment and education structure in exhibiting family-oriented films from around the world including Syria, China, Uzbekistan and others. This year's fest honored Jennifer Yuh Nelson, director of "Kung Fu Panda 2".
26th ANNUAL ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL ran March 15th through 29th celebrating the best of Israeli cinema with over 30 award-winning films and thought-provoking documentaries, television shows and student shorts. Highlights included "MY LOVELY SISTER" based on a surreal Morroccan-Jewish legend, and "SALSA TEL AVIV", a romantic comedy of different worlds, passionate jealousy, misunderstanding and salsa dancing.
LAST DAYS HERE, from the makers of "Rock School," is an astonishing fly-on-the-wall portrait of an underground music icon that will surprise you at every turn and have you laughing, crying and cringing. Neither rock doc nor junkie oblivion epitaph, it covers the hugely talented, prematurely aging and completely dysfunctional Bobby Liebling (founder of metal pioneers Pentagram) through his endless states of metamorphosis, drugs, jail, love and band reunions. Screened exclusively at Cinefamily's Silent movie theatre.
SEEKING JUSTICE is an action-packed thriller starring Nicholas Cage as a happily married man whose quiet life is turned upside down when his wife (played by January Jones) is brutally attacked one night while leaving work. When Simon (played by Guy Pearce) proposes an intriguing offer for vengeance, he is unwittingly drawn into a dangerous underground vigilante operation with deadly consequences. A sneak preview was screened at The Rave 18 theatres.
FREE MEN, based on real life events, tells the story of the Grand Mosque of Paris, whose founder and rector supported and sheltered Muslim and Jewish freedom fighters from the Nazis in Paris, 1942. When a young, unemployed Algerian is arrested as a black marketeer, he cuts a deal with French police to spy on the Mosque, but is transformed by his friendship with an Algerian singer.
CASA DE MI PADRE, in Spanish with sub-titles, stars Will Farrell as Armando Alvarez who has lived and worked on his father's ranch in Mexico his entire life. Facing financial difficulties, his younger brother, a successful businessman (played by Diego Luna) shows up with his fiancee. All hell breaks loose when Armando finds himself in love with the fiancee and at war with Mexico's most feared drug lord (played by Gael Garcia Bernal). A sneak preview screened at AMC Burbank 16.
AROUND JUNE is a love story set in the shadow of San Francisco's shipyards where an eccentric young woman named June lives a quiet life under the care of her much-adored Uncle Henry and the watchful eye of her domineering and controlling father. Her life changes when she meets a penniless undocumented immigrant, whose unconditional love gives her the insight and courage to express herself, follow her dreams, and live her own life.
THIRD ANNUAL LA ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL, hosted by this year's artistic director, Sean Lennon, honors the legendary Bill Plympton and features "Akira" "Fantastic Planet," and "Team America, with puppeteers in attendance and an opening party hosted by Tom Kenny (aka Spongebob Squarepants). Additional highlights are the Oscar-nominated French hit family film, "A Cat in Paris," anniversary screening of "Shrek" and "Iron Giant."
CHICO & RITA is a love letter to the music and culture of Cuba. Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature, it is an adult-animated story of love and heartbreak between a beautiful singer and a young piano player, set against the color, bustle and music of Havana 1948. A passion project of Academy Award winning director, Fernando Trueba, it features a soundtrack by legendary Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes.
SOUND OF NOISE is a Swedish comedy about a group of musical anarchists who orchestrate a series of musical attacks on a city using only found objects as their instruments. With a disgruntled tone-deaf cop hot on their trail, they revel int he music and the chaos they create. Screened at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre.
IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT was nominated for Best Documentary for the 2011 Academy Awards. It charts the rise and fall of an organization the FBI called America's number one domestic terrorism threat. Part coming-of-age tale, part cops-and-robbers thriller, it chronicles the transformation and radicalization of one of its members, with never-before-seen archival footage.
THE TURIN HORSE, awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, has been deemed the final statement of one of the great innovators in contemporary cinema, Hungarian filmmaker Bela Tarr. In 1889 Italy, Friedrich Nietzsche intercedes when a cab driver brutally whips his stubborn horse. Nietzsche's fate is juxtaposed with the cab driver's menial life with his daughter int he countryside, as the horse stops eating and the apocalypse approaches.
TO CATCH A DOLLAR is an inspiring documentary which follows Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus as he brings his revolutionary microfinance program to the US giving loans to low-income entrepreneurs, in addition to changing the lives of women from Bangladesh, the screening was followed by a Q&A with Elizabeth Ross of Relief International. Presented by the Skirball Cultural Center in conjunction with their "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" exhibit.
NOREGIAN WOOD, based on the internationally acclaimed bestselling novel of Karuki Murakami, is a moving tale of loss and sexuality. Set in Tokyo in the late '60s during a time of global instability, Watanabe looks back on his days as a freshman university student and his relationships with two very different women. Screened at Laemmle's Music Hall.
THE GOLD RUSH, Charlie Chaplin's timeless silent masterpiece in a 35mm restoration, screens along with three other Chaplin classics at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre.
THIS IS NOT A FILM is a clandestine documentary shot partially on an iPhone and smuggled into France in a cake for a last-minute submission to Cannes. Depicting the day-to-day life of acclaimed director Jafar Panahi during his house arrest in Tehran while appealing his six-year prison sentence, including a 20-year ban from filmmaking, his cause has been championed by Juliette Binoche, Isabella Rosselini, Sean Pean and others. Panahi discusses his plight and the meaning of the art of filmmaking.
HAPPY celebrates World Happy Day, exploring the nature of happiness, from Academy Award-winning director, Roko Belic.
RAMPART stars two-time Oscar nominee, Woody Harrelson in a powerful performance as a rogue cop in the Rampart precinct, dedicated to doing "the people's dirty work," while asserting his own form of justice, often blurring the lines between right and wrong. From Director Oren Moverman ("The Messenger"), is also stars Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Buscemi, Cynthia Nixon and Ann Heche.
IRANIAN TABOO exposes the Islamic regime's attacks onthe followers of the Bahai faith in Iran. Banned from entering his homeland, documentary filmmaker Reza Allamehzadeh enlists the aid of friends who clandestinely filmed inside Iran to explore this century-old taboo.
OSCAR SHORT DOCS showcases this year's Oscar nominees including: "The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement"; "Incident in New Baghdad<' about the 2008 slaying of two Reuters journalists and unarmed civilians by US attack helicopters; and "Saving Face" from Pakistan about women attacked with acid and their struggle for justice.
OSCAR ANIMATED AND LIVE-ACTION SHORTS showcasees this year's Oscar nominees, often difficult to get a chance to see. Screening at the Nuart in Santa Monica.
SILENT HOUSE is a uniquely unsettling horror thriller starring Elizabeth Olsen, in a preview screening, along with "OPEN WATER" in a tribute to directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, by American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.
RETURN is the moving story of a woman's struggle to re-adjust to her everyday life after returning home from war. As her sense of dislocation ripples through her world, she risks becoming an outside with friends and family in the Rust belt.
FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD is a powerful story of an Albanian family caught up in a blood feud when a minor dispute escalates into a major confrontation and murder. Director Joshua Marston ("Maria, Full of Grace") boldly contrasts antiquated traditions with the lives of young people whose future is at risk because of them.
HOW MUCH DOES YOUR BUILDING WEIGH, MR. FOSTER? is a documentary portrait of premier architect, Norman Foster, for whom Buckminster Fuller framed that famous question. Rising from humble beginnings, he went on to design iconic works including the Hearst Building in NY, Berlin's Reichstag, and the Beijing Airport's International Terminal.
NO MAN'S LAND, the 2002 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, follows two soldiers from opposing sides of the conflict in Bosnia/Herzegovina in 1993 who become trapped in no man's land, while a 3rd soldier becomes a living booby trap. Screened in conjunction with the Southeast European Film Festival.
CRAZY HORSE explores the legendary Parisian cabaret club, one of the most mythic places dedicated to women. Famed documentarian Frederick Wiseman reveals the elegant dedication through a grueling schedule of rehearsals, performances, and backstage preparations for a new show. Screened at the Nuart.
BONSAI PEOPLE: THE VISION OF MUHUAMMAD YUNUS follows the quest of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and his humanitarian, worldwide phenomenon of "microcredit" giving small loans to poor, rural women in a new approach to solving the world's most difficult problems of healthcare, education, and alternative energy.
LULA is the deeply moving story of Brazil's most beloved president, whom Time Magazine deemed "one of the most influential people in the world." Born into extreme poverty, but guided by a strong mother who faced overwhelming obstacles, raising eight children on her own, never waivering in her commitment to giving them a better life.
PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL SELECTIONS, including "SHOOT THE MESSENGER" from the UK, dealing with the importance of education of inner city youth, dealing with self-hatred and lack of community empowerment; "L'ABSENCE," from Guinea/France, it's a meditative look at immigration and its effects on both those who leave and those who are left behind; "INSIDE STORY," form South Africa, a fascinating look at how AIDS affects the lives of young people, with a stunning use of computer animation.
THE GREY, writer-director Joe Carnahan's powerful, multi-layered relentless action drama, stars Liam Neeson, as a man confronting the will to survive and what is worth fighting for. When their plane crashes in the remote Alaskan wilderness, an unruly group of oil rig roughnecks battle mortal injury and merciless weather, with only a few days to escape the icy elements and a vicious pack of predatory wolves on the hunt, before their time runs out. In a special American Cinemateque double-feature with Carnahan's much-celebrated film, NARC, starring Ray Liota and Jason Patric, the screening was followed by a Q&A with the director.
PINA,Wim Wenders' exhilarating Academy Award-nominatd film, captures the brilliantly inventive dance world of legendary choreographer, Pina Bausch. Originally conceived with Bausch, Wenders continued the project after her untimely death in 2009. A dance film like none other, it utilizes 3D technology to bring the viewer deep inside Bausch's playful, thrillingly unpredictable, sensual dance pieces. PINA is currenlty playing at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in the Westiside Pavilion.
JOFFREY: MAVERICKS OF AMERICAN DANCE, a special presentation at Zipper Hall at the Colburn School, tells the full history of the groundbreaking dance company from its inception in 1956 to the present. Mixing ballet with modern dance in a uniquely American style of dance, it cultivating a diverse group of talented artists, regardless of race, gender, or body type. Narrated by Mandy Patinkin.
KILL LIST, the second feature from British director Ben Wheatley, follows an out-of-work hitman with no job, no money, or health insurance and a wife who is constantly on his case. Back in the game after a botched job, things begin to unravel and he is plunged into the heart of darkness. Screened at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre.
A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL is an award-winning documentary which follows five Ethiopian women suffering from debilitating childbirth injuries and their hope for a better life despite rejection by their husbands and communities as they make the arduous journey to Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in search of a cure. Presented by the Skirball Cultural Institute as part of the "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" exhibit.
KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND is an edge-of-your-seat thriller from Norwegian filmmaker Marius Hoslt. Based on the true story of a notorious reform school uprising in 1915 which forever altered the way juvenile delinquents are treated. Starring Stellan Skarsgard as the facility's governor who believe that manual labor, rigid discipline and harsh punishment can turn the boys into honorable members of society, with tragic results.
FLOWERS OF WAR is an epic story of love and sacrifice set during Japan's 1937 invasion of China. Told from the perspective of a young girl, it is an intimate, elemental and paradoxically universal celebration of the human spirit. From the director of "Raise the Red Lantern," FLOWERS OF WAR stars Christian Bale as a dissolute Westerner who seeks refuge in a Catholic church, he meets a beautiful Chinese courtesan who helps him rescue a group of schoolgirls from a terrible fate at the hands of the Japanese. FLOWERS OF WAR opens on Friday, Jan. 20th at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in the Westside Pavilion.
MISS BALA, Mexico's official entry for Oscar's Best Foreign Language film, tells the story of Laura, a young woman whose aspirations of becoming a beauty queen turn against her, delivering her into the hands of a gang that's terrorizing northern Mexico. Learning that the price of a crown might not be worth becoming an unwilling participant in a violent drug war, she is shaken and transformed. On Variety's 2011 list of Directors to Watch, writer-director Gerardo Naranjo has been heralded as a major talent after an impressive debut at Cannes. MISS BALA opens on Friday, Jan. 20th at Landmark's Regent, 1045 Broxton Ave. in Westwood.
MAN ON A MISSION: RICHARD GARRIOTT'S ROAD TO THE STARS is a riveting account of video game inventor Richard Garriott's lifelong quest to become the first son of an astronaut to also blast into space. Known in the gaming world as "Lord British," he turns to private space travel to make his dream come true. MAN ON A MISSION captures everything from his training in Russian to launch aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, as well as life aboard the International Space Station, resplendent with a view of the earth and never-before-seen views from the inside of the capsule during fiery re-entry. MAN ON A MISSION opens on Friday, Jan. 20th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
ADDICTION, INCORPORATED is Charles Evans' taut, journalistic expose which tells the riveting story of Victor DeNoble, the first whistleblower to reveal the tobacco industry's efforts to manufacture a "maximally addictive" product. Having succeeded in inventing a safer form of nicotine, he inadvertently revealed how addictive nicotine truly is. His position was then terminated, his lab closed and his research buried in a vault. Today, as new laws go into effect, tobacco companied are once again rolling up their sleeves and arming themselves for litigation. Fifteen years in the making ADDICTION, INC. will startle you with previously undisclosed information straight from the mouths of key players. ADDICTION, INCORPORATED opens on Friday, Jan. 13th for a limited engagement at the Nuart.
1ST ANNUAL TUNISIAN FILM FESTIVAL, running Jan. 10th through 12th, celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Tunisian Democracy revolution iwth screenings and special events dedicated to Tunisian Cinema, culture and creativity. Presented by freetunisia.org and the Levantine Center's New Voices of Middle Eastern Cinema, it includes filmmakers, musicians, artists, cultural ambassadors, actors and surprise guests. Opening night ceremonies began with a concert by MC Rai followed by screenings and Q&A with filmmakers, at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. KPFK WAS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR of this very special event.
DAVID, follows the son of the Imam of a Brooklyn mosque who has to juggle the high expectations of his father with feelings of isolation from his peers in the Muslim community. Through an innocent act of good faith, he befriends a group of Jewish boys who mistake him for a fellow classmate at their Orthodox school, drawing them into a dilemma inspired by youthful deceit and good intentions. Followed by a discussion with cast and crew and presented by the Levantine Center's New Voices Series, DAVID screens at the Covina Women's Club on night only on Jan. 15th and again at the Woodland Hills Community Church on Jan. 18th.
NILOOFAR is the story of a twelve-year-old girl whose dream is to read and write, but in her village, education is only provided to boys. When her father arranges her marriage to an older man, she does everything in her power to escape her ill fate. the screening, in conjunction with the Skirball's 'Women Hold Up Half the Sky' exhibit, was following by Q & A with award-winning writer/director Sabine El Gemayel. In Persian and Arabic with English subtitles. One night only special event at the Skirball Cultural Center.
THE WAY is a modern-day odyssey - the soulful journey of a man rocked by personal crisis who sets off on an epic mountain trek on the 500-mile Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimmage made by millions for more than a thousand years to search for adventure and answers, thinking he is utterly lost, only to keep bumping into surprise moments of community, companionship and inspiration that begin to steer his way. This spirited road-movie-on-foot crosses territory that is alternately comic, adventurous and keenly moving, even as it becomes an unforeseen gift from a son to a father. Directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, THE WAY is filled with comedy, joy, wonder and breathtaking landscapes. THE WAY screened at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
LONDON RIVER, set against a backdrop of the July 7th 2005 terrorist attacks in London, LONDON RIVER tackles the fear and prejudice of a mother searching for her daughter as she crosses paths with a West African man from France also searching to find his missing son. Although they come from very different cultural backgrounds, they share the same hope of finding their children alive, giving each other the strength to continue their search and find faith in humanity. LONDON RIVER played at Laemmle's Royal in West L.A.
CORMAN'S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL is a star-studded tribute to Hollywood's prolific writer-director-rebel. A seminal influence in filmmaking over the last 60 years, Corman launched the careers of future film luminaries, capitalizing on undiscovered talent and pushing the boundaries of filmmaking. Featuring interviews with such icons at Peter Bogdanovich, Robert de Niro, Peter Fonda, Pam Grier, Ron Howard, William Shatner and Jack Nicholson, CORMAN'S WORLD chronicles Corman's cult empire one low-budget success at a time. CORMAN'S WORLD screened at the Nuart in West L.A.
MOZART'S DON GIOVANNI, one of the greatest operas ever written, performed by the Teatro Alla Scala in Italy, another fine addition to Laemmle's Emerging Pictures in Opera Cinema series in a live broadcast Dec. 7th and followed by encore performances. Screened at Laemmle Theatres throughout the Los Angeles area.
CRAZY WISDOM: THE LIFE & TIMES OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA RINPOCHE explores the cultural shift created by the "bad boy of Buddhism" who fled the Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959 for Britain. Trained in a rigorous monastic tradition, but seeing that a cultural gap blocked his students from any deep understanding of Buddhism, he renounced his voews, eloped with a 16-year-old and lived as a westerner, consuming alcohol and having intimate relations with his students. Using humor as an essential part of his teaching, he quipped, "Enlightenment is better than Disneyland," while warnig of the dangers of the western spiritual supermarket. Was this the "crazy wisdom" which caused Alan Ginsberg to consider him his guru, made Catholic priest Thomas Merton want to write a book about him, and Joni Mitchell to write a song about him? Twenty years after his death, his works translated into 31 languages, his name still evokes admiration and outrage. CRAZY WISDOM played at Laemmle's Monica-4-Plex.
CHARLOTTE RAMPLING: THE LOOK is a biographical study of the legendary actress as told through her conversations with some of her closest friends and collaborators. Intercut with footage from some of Rampling's most celebrated films, including "Stardust Memories," "The Night Porter," and "The Verdict," this deeply personal 'self-portrait through others' is a revealing look at one of the screen's most classical objects of desire. CHARLOTTE RAMPLING: THE LOOK played at Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills.
OUTRAGE, the new film by legendary writer/director Takeshi Kitano, depicts a corrupt Yakuza underworld where there are no heroes, but constant betrayal and vengeance. In a ruthless battle for power, several clans vie for the favor of their head family as rival bosses seek to rise through the ranks, scheming and making allegiances over saki. OUTRAGE enjoyed an exclusive engagement at th Nuart, 11272 Santa Monia Blvd., in West LA.
SHAME, is an award-winning documentary which tells the story of Mukhtaran Mai, a Pakistani woman whose life changed forever when her village's tribal council sanctioned a punishment against her for a crime allegedly committed by her younger brother. Following the custom of 'honor for honor', Mai was gang-raped and publicly paraded. Rather than succumb to humiliation and eventual suicide, Mai sought justice, shaking Pakistan's decaying judicial system to the core, eventually paying her reparations. Becoming an internationally renowned spokesperson on Pakistani women's rights, she invested in schools to give local children the education she never had - even the children of her attackers. Part of the Skirball's "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" exhibit, SHAME depicts her astonishing spirit, resilience, and self-belief which sustained her through her incredible journey. SHAME screened for one-night only at the Skirball Cultural Center.
COOK COUNTY is an unflinching, raw and real story of a rural life where crystal meth dictates the family dynamic. In a visceral tale of three generations of meth addicts living in the wood of East Texas, 17-year-old Abe struggles to beat addiction, trying to protect himself and his young niece from an abusive uncle, leading to a suspenseful ending where harrowing choices must be made. COOK COUNTY played at Laemmle's Monica4-Plex, Playhouse 7 and Fallbrook 7 in West Hills.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, enjoyed by audiences of all denominations, brings to the screen such classics at "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "Sunrise, Sunset," and "If I Were a Rich Man." Set in a Ukrainian village, it stars Israeli actor Topol, who repeats his legendary London stage role of Tevye, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by his poverty, the prejudice of non-Jews and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters. Presented one night only in a sing-along screening at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
THE ROOM, a midnight cult sensation, is an electrifying, quirky, black comedy about love, passion, betrayal and lies, depicting relationships in the lives of its five major characters, raising the question, "Can you really trust anyone?" TIME Magazine calls it "The awful movie everyone wants to see," and Entertainment Weekly says, "It's a guilty pleasure in every sense of the word," with audience members rushing to the screen to imitate the action, tossing footballs, and engaging in dialogue with the characters. THE ROOM screens at Landmark's Regent Theatre in Westwood as part of a monthly midnight screening series.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 March 2013 10:31
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2011 Part 3 Previous Offerings
Tuesday, 17 January 2012 20:17
Ali Lexa
BOXING GYM is documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman’s portrait of a boxing gym dwelling on the discipline of training people from all walks of life – men, women, children, doctors, lawyers, judges, immigrants, teenagers trying to develop strength and assertiveness, professional boxers, alongside amateurs where the gym is a classic melting pot where people meet, talk and train. Says Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor, “We are so used to boxing movies that heighten the violence that “Boxing Gym” comes across as restorative. It’s a boxing movie minus all the bull that usually goes with it.” The Boston Globe calls it Wiseman’s most hypnotic, rhythmically assembled observation of corporeal expression.” BOXING GYM opens on November 5th at Laemmle’s Sunset, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Town Center in Encino.
WASTELAND - Director Lucy Walker’s inspiring documentary WASTE LAND follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. His collaboration with the garbage pickers inspired his photographic images, revealing the dignity and despair of the “catadores” as they begin to re-imagine their lives through recyclables and the transforming power of art. WASTE LAND opens on Friday, November 5th for a limited engagement at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, in West LA.
NORA'S WILL - Mariana Chenillo's feature film debut, NORA'S WILL (CINCO DIAS SIN NORA) involves a woman's suicide just before Passover, creating complications for her loved ones. Deemed a "deft blend of comedy and tragedy, "warm and entertaining" NORA'S WILL, is the winner of seven Mexican Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A non-sentimental film about love and mortality, NORA'S WILL has been called "a true find, a strikingly good literate, emotionally engaging movie that will leave you wanting to see it again." Exclusive LA engagement at Laemmle's Royal in West LA and Town Center 5 in Encino.
RECENT OFFERINGS:
AFI FILM FESTIVAL - Experience a world class film festival for free. Go to www.afifest.com for a full schedule and roster of film. Two special screenings offered to KPFK Film Club members:
ERASERHEAD - David Lynch's startling black and white dreamscape deemed one of the creepiest films ever made, seething with bodily fluids and mutant hypnotic beauty. ERASERHEAD screens on Saturday, November 6th at 3:30 pm at the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. (on a double-bill with the classic SUNSET BOULEVARD.)
AMIGO - John Sayles' compelling drama about the moral quandaries facing US soliders and local cooperators a century ago in the Phillipine-American war, with strong parallels to current events. AMIGO screens on Saturday, November 6th at 9:45 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
THE TWO ESCOBARS, says Documentary magazine, deftly weaves together the precariously and tragically entwined stories of Andres and Pablo, and how the dreams of elevating a nation's hope through the exploits of its national sport were both fueled and shattered by the dark elements that defined a nation's identity." Fest 21 calls "The Two Escobars" a compelling profile that will make you never watch the World Cup in the same way again. "The Two Escobars" opens at Laemmle's Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills on Friday, Oct. 29th.
GHETTO PHYSICS: WILL THE REAL PIMPS AND HO’S PLEASE STAND UP! – From the filmmakers of “What the Bleep Do We Know?!” this underground sensation is part documentary, part Saturday Night Live satire, part narrative. With exclusive interviews with notable entertainers and thinkers, from Dr. Cornel West to Ice-T to Norman Lear it begins by looking at the evocative world of the Pimp and Ho and how it translates to the entire social power game around us and finally bringing that awareness to its impact on a student’s life. Rather than right/wrong, good vs. bad, Ghetto Physics focuses on Empowerment and hope through speaking truth to power and choosing the role one wishes to play in every situation. GHETTO PHYSICS opens October 22 at the RAVE 18 at the Howard Hughes Center, 6081 Center Drive, #201, in Los Angeles.
is the story of how the young Alan Ginsberg broke down societal barriers in the face of an infamous public obscenity trial. In his famously confessional style, Ginsberg, poet, counter-culture icon, and chronicler of the Beat Generation recounts the road trips, the love affairs, and the search for personal liberation that led to his timeless epic poem, HOWL. James Franco stars as Ginsberg in a career-defining performance, leading an all-star casting including, Jeff Daniels, David Strathairn, John Hamm, Treat Williams, and Mary Louise Parker. HOWL opens October 1st at Laemmle’s Sunset 5, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center, Encino and October 8th at Monica-4 Plex.
HOWL
INHALE is a moral thriller in which a rising Santa Fe District Attorney and his wife await an organ donor for their daughter, who is on a waiting list for a lung transplant. As desperation leads them into the world of black market organ trafficking, they are forced to decide what is right when career, family, and innocent lives hang in the balance. Starring Dermot Mulroney, Diane Kruger, Sam Shepard and Vincent Perez, INHALE was selected as the closing night gala screening for the Anaheim Film Festival. INHALE opens at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in Hollywood on October 22nd.
NOWHERE BOY captures the crucial formative years of John Lennon, as a smart and troubled young man hungry for experience and a desire to escape the complexities of his family life. Imagine, Liverpool 1955, the teenage years of John Lennon. Depicting the underlying currents that shaped the creative and inspirational qualities which lead to the formation of the Beatles and the lasting legacy which continues 30 years after his death. Coinciding with the birthday of John Lennon, NOWHERE BOY opens at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles on Friday, October 8th.
STONE involves a seasoned parole officer and a volatile inmate find their lives dangerously intertwined. Directed by John Curran and featuring powerful performances by Robert DeNiro, Ed Norton, Milla Jovovich, and Frances Conroy, STONE weaves together parallel journeys of two men grappling with dark impulses. Set in the quiet desperation of economically ravaged Detroit and the stifling brutality of a maximum security prison, this tale of passion, betrayal and corruption examines the troubled past and an uncertain future. STONE opens at AMC Century City and the ArcLight in Hollywood on Friday, October 8th.
ALTIPLANO is a haunting, ravishingly beautiful film about our divided yet inextricably intertwined world. When deadly traces of mercury from silver-mining bring illness and death to a village in the Andes, the villagers seek retribution, mistakenly blaming the outbreak on Western doctors who work in the nearby mountain clinic. Two women – the fiancé of a villager killed by mercury poisoning and the wife of a doctor killed in the protest-turned-riot are brought together. Winner of the Grand Prize at both the Bankgok and Virton film festivals, an official selection at Cannes, ALTIPLANO opens on Friday, October 1st at Laemmle’s Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills.
KINGS OF PASTRY says the Herald Scotland is the culinary “Hurt Locker”. Forget Master Chef, in filming this funny documentary about a serious French pastry competition, filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, secured exclusive rights to shoot the prestigious Best Craftsman in France competition, the ultimate recognition for a pastry chef, through three intense days of mixing, piping, and sculpting desserts from delicate chocolates to 6 foot sugar sculptures. Working under the scrutiny of master judges and the critical palates of some of the world’s most renowned chefs, the film follows chef Jacquy Pfeiffer, co-founder of Chicago’s French Pastry School, as he journeys back to his childhood home of Alsace to practice for the contest. Along with two other competitors, he vies, amidst passion, sacrifice, disappointment and joy, to become one of the Kings of Pastry. From the filmmakers of “The War Room” and “Don’t Look Back” this delicious celluloid experience opens October 8th at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills.
SECRETARIAT, screening Sept. 23 only at the Landmark (Westwood and Pico). Based on the remarkable true story, it chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery, agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horseracing knowledge. Against all odds, with the help of veteran trainer, Lucien Laurin, she manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering perhaps the greatest living racehorse of all time. Starring Diane Lane, John Malkovich, and James Cromwell.
SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE is an intimate portrait of life, death, friendship and the movies, as recalled by some of Hollywood’s greatest cinematic artists. Academy-Award nominated filmmaker Daniel Raim captures the late life coming together of renowned art directors Robert Boyle, Henry Bumstead and Albert Nozaki, along with legendary cinematographers Haskell Wexler and Conrad Hall. This deeply engaging, thought-provoking celebration of these octogenarian artists, responsible for some of the greatest films of Hollywood’s Golden Era, chronicles iconic scenes from our collective imaginations through snapshots, drawings, paintings, interviews, and vintage footage. Far more than mere nostalgia, SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE explores the artist’s moral obligation to truthfully portray the human condition.
LOVELY, STILL is a mysterious and tender love story, starring Academy Award winners Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn. What begins as an awkward encounter quickly blossoms into a new chance for romance. This uncommonly lovely tale of an elderly couple’s affair takes us on a heartfelt and wonderful journey, revealing an unexpected twist. Skillfully and sensitively directed by Nik Fackler, with music by Conor Oberst.
GENIUS WITHIN: THE INNER LIFE OF GLENN GOULD weaves together an unprecedented array of never-before-seen footage, photographs and excerpts from Gould’s private home recordings and diaries, along with personal interviews with his most intimate friends and lovers, reconstructing his thoughts on music, art, society, love and life. The enigmatic musical poet and world-renowned pianist continues to captivate 28 years after his untimely death. Variety calls “GENIUS WITHIN” a must-see for serious music fans.”
A MOTHER’S COURAGE is a new documentary which charts the journey of a mother trying to unlock the mind of her autistic son. Consumed by the search for treatments for her son, she travels from Iceland to the US and Europe meeting with top experts, advocates and other families touched by struggles with autism. From the challenges of doctor visits, experimental treatments, the inability to communicate and perform daily tasks, to the hope of innovative therapies, a mother’s pain and suffering is lifted by the hope that her son might be able to express himself on a level she never thought possible. Narrated by Kate Winslet and with music by Sigur Ros and Bjork, Variety calls A MOTHER’S COURAGE, “A mystery replete with miracles. Will leave audiences stunned and rethinking what has long been considered a disorder devoid of hope.”
ARPA FILM FESTIVAL, SEPT 21 - 26th, Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., LA, CA 90028, PH: 323-461-2021. Offering over 40 feature films, shorts, documentaries, videos and animated films, including the first Armenian feature, the restored 1926 silent film "Namous."
NESHOBA: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM tells the story of the Mississippi County still divided over the meaning of justice 40 yrs after the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. With unprecedented access to Edgar Ray Killen, the 80 yr. old Baptist preacher and notorious racist indicted in 2005 by the State, the award winning filmmakers take viewers on a journey into the mindset of a man who still feels that the murders were justified as “self defense” of a way of life and the rage and denial that still exist within the wildly disparate views within the community. NESHOBA: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM opens Sept. 10th at Laemmle’s Music Hall and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
TEZA (or MORNING DEW) is Haile Gerima’s tale of an idealistic young intellectual, from his origins in a small Ethiopian village, through his years as a med student in Europe, his return to Ethiopia, where he ends up a casualty of the Marxist military revolution that overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, and his exile to West Germany where he becomes a victim of racism. TEZA examines the displacement of African intellectuals at home and abroad and the internal struggle to stay true to one’s self and one’s homeland through memory and the right to own one’s past in the midst of powerlessness and the dissolution of humanity and social values.
SOUL KITCHEN, winner of the Special Jury Prize and Young Cinema Award for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival, centers on a disorganized young German-Greek restauranteur and his motley assortment of patrons. Down on his luck and mending a broken heart, he leaves his Soul Kitchen in the hands of his ex-con brother, leading to disastrous results. With soul music at its core, SOUL KITCHEN features music by Kool and the Gang, Quincy Jones, Sam Cooke mixed with a Hamburg hip hop and Hans Albers. SOUL KITCHEN opens September 3rd at Laemmle’s Royal Theatre at 11523 Santa Monica Blvd.in West Los Angeles.
MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN, short-listed for the Academy Awards, is an acclaimed documentary that exposes the battle of one white farmer who refused to back down, against Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and his land reappropriation policy which ultimately became gifts to Mugabe’s supporters. Seeking to protect the family farm and the livelihoods of 500 black workers who live and work there, Mike Campbell, a 75-year old grandfather, took the unprecedented step of challenging Mugabe’s Land Reform in international court. Shot with the risk of imprisonment, MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN is the only documentary to come out of Zimbabwe in recent years, where a total press ban still exists, perhaps the only glimpse inside Mugabe’s modern-day Zimbabwe. MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN opens August 13th at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
HENRI CLOUZOT'S INFERNO. In 1964, inspired by Felini’s 8-1/2, master filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot began L’ENFER, an obsessive tale of jealousy, suspicion, cruelty, madness and contaminated relationships. Starring Romy Schneider and Serge Reggiani, the calamitous project was riddled with problems - lack of discipline, out of control budgets and special effects, temperamental actors, as well as the filmmaker’s own collapse. Clouzot’s widow locked away the footage for decades, eventually turning the 185 cans of surviving material over to archivist Serge Bromberg. The result is an extraordinary documentary, HENRI CLOUZOT’S INFERNO. HENRI CLOUZOT’S INFERNO opens July 30th at Laemmle’s Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.
Latin-American Showcase presents 4 novel films from Argentina, Mexico and Columbia including: MUNDO ALAS, a concert/road film (featuring the music of Leon Gieco) about a group of musicians, singers, dancers and painters on a tour which culminates in a concert in Buenos Aires. Gieco, Argentina’s most important folk-rock singer/songwriter will perform a brief set before each nightly screening. CONOZCA LA CABEZA DE JUAN PEREZ, a comedy in which the head of a low-life circus magician recalls what led him to his decapitation. MUSICA EN ESPERA (MUSIC ON HOLD), an Argentinian romantic comedy about a music composer with writers’ block, and a bank assistant who inadvertently gives him just the melody he needs when she places him on hold. And EL VUELVO DEL CANGREJO, set in the Afro-Columbian community of La Barra on the Pacific Coast, CRAB TRAP depicts a young man trying to feel his past and the clash between a remote village and modernity.
2010 USA-Australia Film Showcase brings you a bit of “down under” with three award-winning, as yet unreleased films including: ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, a bittersweet comedy, starring Geena Davis, about a dysfunctional urban family coping with the consequences of a tragedy; THE WAITING CITY, directed by Claire McCarthy, starring Radha Mitchell. Most recently the closing gala film of the Indian Film Fest, an Australian couple travel to India to adopt a baby, but the overwhelming power of India pulls them in unexpected directions. And CHARLIE and BOOTS, which follows the efforts of a son to bring his grieving father out of depression by taking him on the fishing trip of a lifetime.
MESRINE, PART 2: PUBLIC ENEMY NO.1, directed by Jean-Francois Richet, continues the story of the legendary French gangster of the 60’s and 70’s, chronicling his incredible life of crime while manipulating the media, government and police. Planning his last and greatest escape from France, seeking to leave behind the iconic character he created and became, MESRINE, PART 2: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1 stars the charismatic, award-winning Vincent Cassel, opens September 3rd at Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
HIGHWATER, Writer-Director Dana Brown follows in his famous father, Bruce Brown’s footsteps, with the surfing documentary HIGHWATER, which follows the men and women who gather each year for the “Seven Mile Miracle” on Oahu’s North Short, the ultimate big wave surfing challenge, the Triple Crown. This compelling look at the 55-day, 3-tiered granddaddy of surfing competitions, combines awesome footage, interviews and the North Shore zeitgeist. “If there’s such a thing as too much beauty in a film, the surfing documentary HIGHWATER is guilty of it. HIGHWATER opens Sept. 3 at Laemmle’s Monica-4 Plex, 1332 2nd Street, in Santa Monica.
GET LOW is a magical, moving blend of folk tale, fable and real-life legend from first time director Aaron Schneider.Starring Academy Award winner Robert Duvall in one of his finest performances as Felix Bush, a hermit who plans and attends his own funeral, revealing a shocking confession to the townspeople who have ostracized and demonized him. GET LOW costars Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, and Lucas Black in a remarkable tale of secrets, heartbreak and a desire for redemption. GET LOW is currently playing at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
ANIMAL KINGDOM is the remarkable feature debut of Australian writer/director David Michod. Starring Guy Pierce in a tale from the underworld of a Melbourne crime family, in the tradition of the Krays and Ma Barker, you’ve never seen a matriarch quite like Smurf Cody, in a masterful performance byJackie Weaver. With the death of his troubled mother, Joshua Cody is reluctantly taken into the family gangster business amidst a minefield of witness protection, corrupt cops, slippery lawyers and a paranoid, vengeful relatives. He comes to realize in order to survive he must determine how the game is played and choose his place in the cunning and brutal animal kingdom. ANIMAL KINGDOM opens at AMC Century 15, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WTIH FIRE is the second film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's literary sensation, MILLENIUM TRILOGY. The unforgettable Lisbeth Salander, the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker returns, this time as a prime suspect in the murder of two journalists on the verge of exposing trafficking in Eastern Europe and Sweden. Alone in his belief of Lisbeth's innocence, publisher Mikael Blomkvist plunges into an examination of the slaying, implicating highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government. Meanwhile, Lisbeth is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she herself is the prey, compelling her to revisit her dark past. THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WTIH FIRE opens at Laemmle's Fallbrook, Monica, 4-Plex, Playhouse 7, Town Center and Claremont on Friday, July 9th.
STAR TREK, the 2009 film directed by JJ Abrams which chronicles where it all began for the young Kirk and Spock, before they unite aboard the Enterprise to fight Nero, a Romulan who threatens the United Federation. STAR TREK, the 11th and most recent film in the franchise.
THE TILLMAN STORY is the true story behind the tragic death of NFL star Pat Tillman, and subsequent covered up by the military. This essential and infuriating documentary follows his family’s tireless efforts to penetrate the official lies. Directed by Amir Bar Lev. Playing at Laemmles.
TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL, offers a socailly-conscious slate of films including KPFK favorites, “South of the Border, “Dirt,” “Save the Farm,” and “Blue Gold,” as well as “Lost Angels” about the marginalized on Skid Row, a Haiti Cine Institute student showcase and an international day with short films from India, Ireland, and Switzerland. The opening night’s screening of “Easy Rider” honors the late Dennis Hopper, while other honorees include David Lynch and Patricia Arquette. Go to topangafilmfestival.com for full roster of films, venues and directions.
STAR TREK: NEMESIS. In 2002’s NEMESIS, the 10th feature in the franchise series, a final generation’s journey begins, when the Federation is threatened by a Capt. Picard clone who takes control of the Romulan empire. With a special in-person appearance by Will Wheaton, this 70 mm galactic sized print landed at Laemmle's Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles.
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION. When the peaceful Ba’ku are threatened, Capt Picard and crew must defend their harmonious natural existence and the regenerative radiation that gives them to live long and prosper. Directed by Jonathan Frakes, 1998’s STAR TREK: INSURRECTION stars F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy and Anthony Zerbe. Also screening an extra added bonus, the short film parody “Brokeback Enterprise.”
THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL, celebrates the happy ending with films that make audiences laugh and capture the beauty of our world.It promises to be entertaining, optimistic, humorous, heartwarming and leave the audience feeling good. Screenings offered to Film Club members include:
A MI ME GUSTA: How do you change a country and improve its conditions?After years of portraying Venezuela as a violent country, this is the first romantic comedy with no drugs, violence, prostitution or guns, answering the question, “Why do people stay?” Margarita Garcia has a dream to become a great chef in London. She leaves everything behind to start a new life, but she is forced to return to Venezuela and start all over. Paul Welsare, the admired British Cook comes to Venezuela to work for Christmas. If she only manages to receive a recommendation, she will have the passport to success in her hands. Between family, friends and kitchen stove ignites this love story between a cold English man and a passionate Latin woman only to prove that – home is where the heart is.
ACCIDENTAL ICON: THE REAL GIDGET STORY, She gave Sally Field her start, Former Motion Picture Academy President Frank Pierson calls Gidget a “proto-feminist figure,” and Former US Surf Champion Jericho Poppler Bartlow says, “I remember thinking, Gidget could do it…I know I can.” This one-hour documentary narrated by Jorja Fox (“CSI”) and produced by Brian L. Gillogly and Robert Masters, explores the largely untold story of the real “Gidget,” Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, and how her account of surfing Malibu in the mid-50’s became the basis for a best-selling novel by her father Frederick Kohner. A half century later, “Gidget” is celebrated as an enduring Hollywood movie/TV franchise and a slice of Americana, with considerable impact on popular culture and the sport of surfing.
ART HOUSE: A household of under-achiever art students face eviction by a dishonest college dean and a philistine big donor who have the intention of turning the students' colorfully rundown home into a golf-team dormitory. When the students fight to preserve their home, known for decades as a hard-partying haven for artists and artist-wannabes, their friendships are tested, secret loves confessed and futures put on the line. It's time to prove they're more than posers.
TALES FROM EARTHSEA, based on Ursula K. LeGuin’s book series, considered one of the greatest in fantasy literature, is an epic tale of redemption and self-discovery. Goro Miyazaki and the famed Japanese animators at Studio Ghibli present this sweeping adventure set in a mythical world filled with magic and bewitchment. It follows a master wizard as he searches for the force behind a mysterious disturbance that has caused an imbalance in the land of Earthsea. Suddenly crops and livestock are dwindling, dragons have reappeared and humanity is giving way to chaos. With voices of Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin, and Mariska Hargitay.
AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN is legendary director,Jacques Rivette’s tale of lost love, chance encounters and the transformative power of art. AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN stars Jane Birkin and Sergio Castellitto. On a winding mountain road, Vittorio stops to help Kate whose car has broken down, later finding an intriguing story which leads him into the world of her family’s travelling circus and the lives of its performers. The New York Times calls AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN “As transporting and graceful as a ride in a balloon.” Deemed “an ephemeral 85 minute daydream,” by Artforum.
MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON is acclaimed French director Stephane Brize crafts a modern day, “Brief Counter,”an elegant, moving tale of an unexpected romance between a married man and his son’s teacher and their attempt to restrain their desires. Crafted with grace and subtlety MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON.
VIDEOCRACY, is Erik Gandini's critically-acclaimed documentary about the carnivalesque world of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and its effect on his country's culture, examines the mercenary underbelly of the high-glitz, low-politics, skin-baring media culture promulgated by Berlusconi's use of his ownership of the majority of Italy's television stations as a powerful tool to shape public opinion for financial and political benefit. Gandini gains remarkable access to the opulent world of Berlusconi's associates and the armies of willing wannabes that swarm around them, examining the key players (and their conflicted interests) and unveiling a modern Italy as both comedy and tragedy.
LET IT RAIN is Agnes Jaoui's intimate portrait of a feminist writer, workaholic politician who returns to her childhood home in the South of France to help her sister sort out their mother's affairs. In the course of filmming an amateurish documentary on "successful women" to help out two blundering filmmakers, their lives begin to unravel as each character examines and faces their own values and individual life choices. An Academy Award nominee for "The Taste of Others," this bittersweet comedy is currently playing at Laemmle's Sunset 5 in Hollywood, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Fallbrook in Woodland Hills.
EYES WIDE OPEN, a haunting tale of a doomed Orthodox Jewish gay couple, tells the tale of Aaron, a respectable butcher in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox community. Married and a dedicated father of four, he hires Ezri, a handsome 22-year-old student as an apprentice and soon develops feelings for him. Forboding, guilt, inner torment and intense condemnation from the community catch up with him leading to a radical decision. Deemed the Best New Feature at the Palm Springs Film Fest, "Variety" calls EYES WIDE OPEN "soberly fascination, intense, and restrained."
JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, follows the 76-year-old brash, irreverent, legendary comedy icon over the course of 14 months. With unprecedented access, filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg capture the behind-the-scenes reality of one of the most resilient survivors in show business, revealing her struggles and breakthroughs in a male-dominated field. Brutally honest and self-aware she shares the private dramas and trauma of dealing with financial ruin and her husband's suicide, her rising and falling out with Johnny Carson andher ultimate triumph as a Tony-nominated, Emmy Award-winning talk show host, successful QVC entrepreneur and "Celebrity Apprentice" victor. A quintessential story of determination and career reinvention, this surprisingly intimate portrait reveals the vulnerabilities and resourcefulness of this consummate performer and pioneer.
RESTREPO, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, chronicles the deployment of a platoon of US soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley at a 15-man unit called “Restrepo” named after a medic killed in action. Author Sebastian Junger and photographer Tim Hetherington take you through an entirely experiential portrait of war that is emotionally harrowing and devastating in its immediacy. Their cameras never leave the valley, with no intervention from politicians, generals or diplomats, solely through the lense of the soldiers’ life in one of the military’s most dangerous outposts, RESTREPO is unforgettable and shattering experience of war.
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS lands on Stardate seven-thirty-one-twenty-ten as the voyages of the Star Ship Enterprise continue into the next Generation. Trekkees set your phasers on stun and your time-space coordinates for 11:55 pm to beam you to STAR TREK: GENERATIONS. Capt. Picard must enlist the help of a supposedly dead Capt. Kirk, to stop Soren (played by the inimitable Malcolm McDowell), a renegade scientist willing to murder on a planetary scale in order to enter a space matrix. Patrick Stewart takes over the helm in this 1994 film, along Jonathan Frakes, Levar Burton, Brent Spiner and the rest of the Next Generation crew, along with your favorites from the original Star Trek Cast. With a special in-person appearance by Dennis McCarthy, the film’s composer along with an bonus screening of the short film, The Hasty Hare, STAR TREK GENERATIONS, lands at Laemmle’s Royal Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Los Angeles, midnight on July 31st
RIVER OF LOVE is Michael Tobias’ moving documentary of the life, mission, and work of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known as Amma. It follows the internationally acclaimed humanitarian and spiritual leader, known as “the hugging” holy woman from her childhood struggles in Southwestern India to her teachings and healing work in a unique embodiment of love and compassion. RIVER OF LOVE will screen Sunday, August 1 from 12:30 – 4:45 pm at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica at 1328 Montana Avenue. With sacred sounds and music by the Kirtan group Bhakti Ma, and Sheela Bringi, whose music is now featured in the film “Eat, Pray, Love.
OLIVER STONE’S SOUTH OF THE BORDER, takes you across five countries to explore ongoing social and political movements, as well as the mainstream media’s misperception of South America. Gaining unprecedented access to seven elected presidents, including Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia, Lula da Silva of Brazil, Cristina Kirchner of Argentina, Fernando Lugo of Paraguay, Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Raul Castro of Cuba, Stone sheds new light on these regional transformations through the surprising intimacy of casual conversations with these leaders.
FRITZ LANG’S “METROPOLIS”, considered one of the greatest films in cinematic history returned to The Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax, in a newly-restored 2-1/2 hr. version, the result of two-years of painstaking restoration of a negative found in an Argentinean archive. This 1927 pioneering sci-fi epic brings alive the Zeitgeist of Lang’s Expressionist Tomorrowland, producing indelible images that have lost none of their power to astonish, featuring Brigitte Helm in the dual performance of Maria and the Machine man made in her image.
TRIBUTE TO DENNIS HOPPER, "BLUE VELVET," "RIVER'S EDGE," "HOOSIERS," and "TRACKS." A truly larger-than-life original wildman and gifted writer/actor/director who created some of the most memorable movies and movie roles of the silver screen. The Silent Movie Theatre, at 611 N. Fairfax in Los Angeles, honors three of his greatest performances from the ultimate creep, Frank Booth BLUE VELVET, to his Oscar-nominated turn in HOOSIERS as “SHOOTER” who knew “Everything there is to know about the greatest game ever invented,” to Feck in THE RIVERS EDGE, in which he plays a hollowed-out ex-biker which “only an actor who’s truly been to hell and back can convey.”
STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME, the fourth in the movie series, was directed by Leonard Nimoy and starring William Shatner and all of your original Star Trek favorites. 1986's STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME takes Kirk and crew back to 20th Century Earth to recover two humpback whales, the only beings who can communicate with a mysterious space probe which is endangering the oceans and threatening to destroy 23rd Century Earth. With a special in-person appearance by Nichelle Nichols, STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME landed for one night only Stardate seven-ten-twenty-ten, to continue the ongoing summer midnight screening series at Laemmle's Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles.
STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK is the third in the Star Trek movie series. Directed by Leonard Nimoy and starring William Shatner, and Christopher Lloyd as Krug, 1984's "STAR TREK III: The Search for Spock," explores the sacrifices made for friendship, when the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. With surprise in-person guests, thie 70 mm galactic-sized print landed for one night only, Star date six-twenty-six, twenty-ten at Laemmle's Royal Theatre, where the series continues for 11:55 pm, midnight screenings, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Los Angeles.
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, in a galactic 70 mm print, stars Ricardo Montalban and features the film debut of Kirstie Alley. Special in-person appearance by the film's director, Nicholas Meyer.
GANGSTER'S PARADISE, JERUSALEMA, is an unflinching look into the crime, corruption, and the transgressions of those looking to survive in the most crime-infested district of Johannesburg. Directed by Ralph Ziman and starring Rapaulana Seiphemo ("Tsotsi") and Robert Hobbs, Kenneth Nkosi ("District 9"), it tells the story of Lucky Kunene, a small-time criminal who graduates to bigger, more aggressive acts. Eventually, his trouble with the law, coupled with an escalating war between local drug lords creates a tense standoff. With both sides closing in, Kunene mus stay one step ahead or his empire and his life will come crashing down.
STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. This sixth in the series, released in 1991, Directed by Nicholas Meyer, stars Kim Cattrall, Brock Peters, and the great Christopher Plummer as General Chang. When the Klingon moon explodes, the Enterprise must leads a quest for a peace treaty. When plans go array, the Enterprise and the Excelsior, commanded by Capt. Sulu, head for a deadly rendezvous with General Chang. With a special in-person appearance by Mr. Sulu himself, George Takei.
STAR TREK, THE MOTION PICTURE, 1979's first Star Trek adventure for the big screen, blasts off this Star Trek Spectacular series of Midnight screenings shown in a galactic 70 millimeter-size print. Trekkies set your phasers on stun and your time-space coordinates for 11:55 pm on June 12 to beam you to this first cinematic voyage of the Star Ship Enterprise. In-person appearance by actress Arlene Martel (Vulcan princess T'Pring from the original series episode "Amoke Time.") Playing one night only at Laemmle's Royal Theatre at 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Los Angeles.
THE PAINTER SAM FRANCIS, artist Jeffrey Perkins' lyrical, intimate portrait of a friend, mentor, and leading light of American abstract art, was forty years in the making. Through interviews with friends, family and fellow artists, including Ed Ruscha, Bruce conner and James Turrell, Perkins illuminates a mysterious and complex personality and his singular, diverse body of work. For Francis, art was a parth to transcendence; for Perkins, Francis was art. "THE PAINTER SAM FRANCIS" is a labor of love, a moving portrait of a friend and tribute to the power of art. Currently playing at Laemmle's Monica 4-plex at 1332 2nd Street in Santa Monica.
BREATHLESS, Jean Luc Godard's revolutionary debut film and hallmark of the French New Wave, stars cinematic icon, Jean Paul Belmondo as a small-time hood and the rapturous Jean Seberg, as his Herald-Tribune-hawking girlfriend. Rialto Pictures presents this breathtaking 50th Anniversary restoration of the 1960 masterpiece, with newly revised subtitles. "BREATHLESS"remains stunningly original. The NY Times says, "Breathless still has the power to defy conventional expectations about what a movie should be, while providing an utterly captivating movie experience. Much as it may have influenced what was to come later, there is nothing quite like it. Even at 50, it is still cool, still new." BREATHLESS opens May 28th at Laemmle's Royal in West Los Angeles.
AFTER THE CUP: SONS OF SAKHNIN UNITED tell the story of a soccer team that couldn't create a new Middle East, but showed the world what it could look like. Bnei Sakhnin is the first team from an Arab town to win the Israeli Cup and represent Israel in European competition. Fielding Arab, Jewish, and foreign-born players, owned by an Arab and coached by a Jew, Bnei Sakhnin's success has begun to represent a symbol of co-existence, a potential bridge between the Arabs and Jews. "AFTER THE CUP" opens on May 28th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. A special "Talkback" will be held with the director in conjunction with the Levantine Center, on May 30th.
THE LIVING WAKE, is a dark comedy set in a timeless storybook universe. Self-proclaimed artist and genius, Ke. Roth Binew, has one day to live. He sets out on a bicycle powered rickshaw with his best friend, Mills, to hand out invitations to his final party, a living wake. In a final attempt to probe life's deepest mysteries, he endures ridiculous trials and whimsical adventures, culminating in his final performance on a makeshift stage in an open field. THE LIVING WAKE opens at Laemmle Sunset 5 on May 21st.
FATHER OF MY CHILDREN, follows a seemingly successful film producer who confronts despair and failure and monetary troubles mount with his film company. As his cinematic world unravels, his family is left to cope and start anew. Deemed by "Variety" as a director to watch, Mia Hanson-Love paints a deeply moving portrait of a family undergoing dramatic rupture. THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN opens on May 21st at The Landmark Theatre, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles,
HERE AND THERE, winner for Best Narrative at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, has been called an indie tour de force, comparable to "The Visitor" with a Serbian twist on a timeless theme of what it means to be human. Robert, a depressed and broke middle-aged New Yorker, is being evicted from his apartment and hires Branko, a young Serbian immigrant to help him move out. Desperately wanting his girlfriend to join him in the US, Branko hatched a marriage scheme with Robert to help her obtain a visa, exposing fish-out-of water Robert to the best traditions of Balkan hospitality. Opens May 21st at Laemmle Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., LA
LOOKING FOR ERIC, Ken Loach's latest follows a Manchester postman who finds his life in a downward spiral. After a failed marriage and trying to raise his stepsons in trouble, he is transformed when he turns to his idol, French-born soccer genius and philosopher, Eric Cantona, whose enigmatic advice on life, love, and fellowship inspire him to get his life back on track. LOOKING FOR ERIC is a warm, bittersweet tale combining Loach's trademark realism and compassion for the working man with sweetness, humor, and humanity. Opens May 21st at Laemmle Theatres throughout Los Angeles.
EVERYONE ELSE, Director Maren Ade's film involves a young couple forced to re-examine their fragile relationship as fears and insecurities surface while they vacation in Sardinia. Their relationship is brought to the brink as they compare themselves to a seemingly happier and more successful couple. With a second chance to discover themselves and each other, they strive to be as happy as "everyone else." The Hollywood Reporter deems "Everyone Else" a "brilliant, delicious, accutely observed dissection of the ties between two young lovers." "Everyone Else" opens May 14th at Laemmle Sunset 5. For further info, go to www.laemmle.com
DANCE MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL,at Redcat is Dance Camera West's 9th Annual presentation. Opening with "Screendance: A New Visual Language", it presents a unique cinematic experience focussing on the intersection of cinematography and choreography. From experimental shorts to documentaries, surreal visual abstractions, as well as narratives, it offers a broad range of cinematic styles, exhibition formats, and subject matters which traverse global perspectives. For further info on the entire series, visit: www.dancecamerawest.org.
BEHIND THE BURLY Q, In the early part of the 20th Century, burlesque and vaudeville acts were one of America's most popular forms of entertainment, until cinema drove them from the mainstream. "Behind the Burly Q" reveals the true story of the Golden Age of Burlesque as a part of America's cultural history through the intimate and surprising stories of the women (and men) who lived it. "Behind the Burly Q" open May 7 and Laemmle's Sunset 5, 8000 sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.
ASIAN-PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL Celebrates the 70th Birthday of Bruce Lee with industry panels and a compelling line-up of documentaries and narratives focussing on the Asian Experience from around the world. Some of the highlights include:
In the Matter of Cha Jung Lee, a documentary of self-discovery and the universal question of who we are, tracing the story of filmmaker Borshay Liem's return to Korea to search for the girl under whose name Borshay arrived in the U.S. in 1966.
Mamachas del Ring about the first indigenous women wrestlers of Bolivia, and their fight for rights over their own bodies and desires.
Macho Like Me, a hilarious, self-experimenting documentary sets off to prove the widespread belief among women that men simply have it better, attempting to answer the classic, female inquiry of "If I Were A Boy."
Mao's Last Dancer, Brought to the screen by acclaimed director, Bruce Beresford ("Driving Miss Daisy," and "The Black Robe"), based on an inspiring true story which speaks to personal and cultural freedom, passion and determination.
The Actresses, Six actresses, across different age groups are brought together on Christmas Eve for a once-in-a-lifetime "Vogue" magazine cover shoot. Of course, when working with actresses with their respective entourages and demands, anything can happen. Shot documentary-style, "The Actresses" is rise with industry jokes, low-blows, egos, and insecurities.
PHYLLIS AND HAROLD is an astoundingly frank journey through the ups and downs of a 59-year marriage. With great humor and poignancy, filmmaker Cindy Kleine draws on a lifetime family home movies and interviews over 12 years, mixing reportage, cinema verite, and animation to uncover her family secrets following her father’s death. PHYLLIS AND HAROLD delves into the mysteries and nature of living and the losses faced with the passage of time. Documentarian Ken Burns deems the film a “masterpiece,” devastating, true, sad, and funny. Playwright Wallace Shawn calls it the most outrageously sensual of documentaries,“the graceful, painful music of two people who dance together for a lifetime, but barely touch.” PHYLLIS AND HAROLD is currently playing at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS, is directed by Bahman Ghobadi, and co-written by Roxana Saberi, whose book “Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran” has recently caught the world’s attention. “NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS” tells the story of two young musicians, recently released from prison, who decide to form a band, combing the underworld of contemporary Tehran for other players. Forbidden by the Iranian authorities to play their music, they plan to escape and dream of performing in Europe against all odds. Winner of the Special Jury prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Fest., it recently screened at AFI Fest and South by Southwest. Opens april 23rd at Laemmle Town Center 5 in Encino.
PAPER MAN, directed by Michelle and Kieran Mulroney, is a whimsical, funny, touching story of an unlikely friendship between a middle-aged novelist who has never quite grown up and a young girl whose family tragedy has stolen away her youth. As their quirky relationship unfolds, they share their dreams and discover new life. “Paper Man” stars Jeff Daniels, Lisa Kudrow, Ryan Reynolds and Emily Stone is a break-out performance. It opens April 23 at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL (SEE FEST) offers films from Southeast European countries, including Hungary, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Turkey and many others. It opens Thursday, April 29th at the Goethe Institut, 5750 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles and closes Monday, May 3rd at the James Bridges Theatre on the UCLA campus. The Festival promotes diversity and cultural exchange through its roster of quality, topical films. KPFK is a proud Media Sponsor and Film Club members are offered a pair of tickets to the screening of their choise, excluding Opening Night. For further info: www.seefilmla.org
FOOTPRINTS is the feature film debut of award-winning writer Steven Peros When a young woman wakes up in the footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre with no idea who she is or how she got there, her dream-like journey of self-discovery through Hollywood begins. Spanning one day, from sunrise to sunset, through the celebrity impersonators, Scientologists, tourguides shopowners and the quirkiness of Hollywood, FOOTPRINTS features poignant performances by Hollywood veterans Pippa Scott and H.M. Wynant. FOOTPRINTS screens at the American Cinemateque at the EGYPTIAN THEATRE in Hollywood, Wednesday, April 28th. Cast and Crew will be in attendance after the screening for Q and A.
REEFER MADNESS, originally called, “Tell Your Children” became a cult classic of misinformation, exposing the dangers of “the devil weed,” which many feared would lead our nation’s youth to violence, insanity, or suicide. Two Special Event screenings celebrated the DVD release of the 75th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors’ Edition of this infamous offering. With over 2 hours of bonus film clips including: The Weed of Death!, Betty Boop in Happy You and Merry me, Marijuana: Threat or Menace?, Hemp for Victory, The Push and feature film, Marihuana: Sins of Youth and More! All attendees will get a DVD. “Reefer Madness” screened for one night only, at the Vine Theater, 6321 Hollywood Blvd. (just west of Vine)
THE INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES, OFFERS THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN CINEMA.
HARISHCHANDRACHI FACTORY, India’s entry into the Oscar race, it celebrates the joy and wonder of moving images as it tells the story a first-time filmmaker who meets with a host of unexpected challenges in trying to film his religious epic.
ROAD, MOVIE, is a beautiful, coming-of-age drama which masterfully blends themes of love, friendship, danger, and wonder in a young man’s journey across the majesty of the Rajasthani desert.
FATSO, is Rajat Kapoor’s witty, romantic comedy showing the lighter side of death, in which the afterlife is a bureaucratic mess and the wrong man finds his life cut short, but even death can’t stop him from trying to reclaim his earthly love.
HARRY BROWN, directed by Academy Award Nominee Daniel Barber, stars two-time Oscar-winner Michael Caine, in a powerful, poignant performance as a man brought to the brink by gang violence and the death of a friend. Set in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Britain, this gritty, provocative drama deals with the struggle of a man who seeks to face loss, avenge his friend's death and cope with the deteriorating world around him. KPFK Film Club members are invited to a special screening of "Harry Brown" at Laemmle's Sunset 5 on Thursday, April 22nd at 7:00 pm.
WHO DO YOU LOVE, directed by Jerry Zaks, starring Alessandro Nivola and Jon Abrahams as Leonard and Phil Chess, founders of legendary Chess Records, home to the blues of Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters, the rock and roll of Bo Diddeley and “At Last” but not least, Etta James. From the childhood dreams of young Leonard and Phil, growing up in Chicago, the sons of Polish immigrants, to the opening of their Macomba Club and a gamble to become record producers, “WHO DO YOU LOVE” features authentic musical performances in a film Marshall Chess deems a “great snapshot of the era in which the music that was to become the foundation of rock and roll was created. Opening April 16th at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, Monicas, and Fallbrook. PLEASE NOTE - CHANGE OF VENUE: PASSES WILL BE HONORED ONLY AT LAEMMLE'S MUSIC HALL, 9036 WILSHIRE BLVD., BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211.
THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, this year’s Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film, from Argentina, involves a retired criminal court employee and would-be author who revisits a case involving the rape and murder of a beautiful young woman. Argentina in 1974 becomes the backdrop for the violence, hate, revenge and death that rule people’s lives and fates. No longer an observer, he becomes a central character in a drama of increasing danger and corruption. In delving into his past choices, he awakens his demons and faces his future, discovering the winding path he must take to understand, justify and find meaning for his own life, facing the woman he still loves after thirty years and the case that continues to haunt them both. Opens April 16th at The Landmark, Westside Pavilion, 10850 West Pico.
41st and CENTRAL, THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE LA BLACK PANTHERS, is the first part in a documentary series that follows the Southern California chapter of the Black Panther Party, from its black power beginnings through its tragic demise. Despite the Party's formation of free medical clinics and childrens' breakfast program, it was also known as the msot violent political group in the U.S. Featuring first-hand accounts by former Party members, along with archival footage, this in-depth study is the inaugural presentation in the Pan African Film Festivals "Encore" series, a monthly offering for which KPFK is a proud Media Sponsor. "41st and Central" continues to run through April 15th at the Culver Plaza Theater, 9919 Washington Blvd. in Culver City.
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, based on Stieg Larsson’s literary sensation, is the highest grossing film in Swedish film history and 2009’s highest grossing film in Europe. Part of Larsson’s “Millenium Triology,” this suspenseful story involves the disappearance of Harriet Vanger from a family gathering of the powerful and secretive Vanger clan. When her uncle employs a financial journalist and a troubled, but resourceful computer hacker to investigate, a dark and appalling family history begins to unravel. currently playing at Laemmle Theaters.
THE ECLIPSE is renowned Tony-award nominated playwright Conor McPherson’s exquisitely-crafted drama of the supernatural, stars Aiden Quinn and Irish actor Ciaran (Keeran) Hinds, winner of the Best Actor award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. When teacher, widow, and father, Michael Farr starts to see strange apparitions in the night, the lives of three people converge in a life-altering collision in this story about the challenges of love, fear of the unknown, loss and grief. THE ECLIPSE is currently playing at Laemmle Theaters.
HAWAII: A VOICE FOR SOVEREIGNTY, a film by Catherine Bauknight, is the first documentary of its kind to feature the Native Hawaiians' journey to sustain their culture, spirituality, and connection to the land. Passes were offered to our members to attend this special screening, panel discussion and cultural ceremony which was held on April 3rd at the Pasadena Convention Center. The event opened with a Cultural Ceremony with Hawaiian elders and special guest Kiowa Gordon from the Twilight Saga, New Moon, addressing the Hawaiian and indigenous cultures.
VENTURA FILM SOCIETY FESTIVAL 2010 running at the historic Elks Lodge in Ventura, the festival offered our members passes to any screening from a slate of over 50 feature films and documentaries, including an 8-film tribute to actor/director Paul Mazursky.
GREEN LIFESTYLE FESTIVAL offered to our members all-day passes to this 2-day "green fest", which took place at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus, with food and yoga demonstrations, music and dance entertainment, and a broad range of films dealing with sustainability and the ecology.
EASIER WITH PRACTICE, Writer/director Kyle Alvarez’ feature film debut “Easier with Practice” first screened at the 2009 AFI fest. It stars (“Hurt Locker’s”) Brian Geraghty in a remarkable, breakthrough performance as fledgling author, Davy Mitchell, who, while on a book tour discovers how phone sex leads to relationship, communication, and ultimately self-revelation. “Easier with Practice” is a funny, sensitive, insightful exploration of the ever-evolving ways that people find each other and themselves in the modern world.
MOTHER, latest award-winning film from Korean director bong Joon-ho, a unique murder mystery about a mother's primal love for her son and her own investigation to find the girl's killer. "In an obsessive quest to clear her son's name, she steps into a world of unimaginable chaos and shocking revelations."
The Red Riding Trilogy is an ambitious, dark, thrilling trilogy of crime drama films set in Yorkshire in the ‘70s and ’80, adapted from David Peace’s cult noir novels.
AFI FILM FESTIVAL. Experience a world class film festival with the 24th Annual AFI Fest. (Go to www.afifest.com for a full schedule and roster of films. Two special screenings offered to KPFK Film Club members:
ERASERHEAD - David Lynch's startling black and white dreamscape, deemed one of the creepiest movies ever made, seething with bodily fluids and mutant, hypnotic beauty. ERASERHEAD screens Sat., Nov. 6th at 3:30 pm at the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. On a double-bill with the classic SUNSET BLVD.
AMIGO - John Sayles' compelling drama about the moral quandaries facing US soldiers and local cooperators a century ago in the Phillipine-American War, with strong parallels to current events. AMIGO screens, Sat. Nov. 6th at 9:45 pm at Grauman's Chinese.
NORA'S WILL, Nora had a plan. It would bring her ex-husband, Jose, and the rest of their family together for a magnificent Passover feast. But there is a flaw in her plan- a mysterious photograph from the past, hidden under the bed, which leads Jose to reexamine their relationship and rediscover their undying love for each other. Starting October 29th at Laemmle Theaters: http://www.laemmle.com/viewmovie.php?mid=5929
Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 20:19
2011 Part 2 Previous Offerings
Tuesday, 17 January 2012 20:17
Ali Lexa
EAMES: THE ARCHITECT AND THE PAINTER, narrated by James Franco, is the first film about Charles and Ray Eames since their deaths, drawing extensively from a cache of archival material, visually stunning films, love letters, photographs and artifacts produced in mind-boggling volume during the 40-yr. epoch of the Eames office, unrivaled in its impact on American design. With family interviews, clips from exhibitions for clients like IBM, Westinghouse, Polaroid and the US government, they pushed the envelope for communicating ideas to the masses with "information overload."
TOMBOY brings a light and charming touch to childhood gender confusion, parent-child relationships and the even more complicated one between one's heart and body. When a French family moves to a new neighborhood, one of the daughters is mistaken for a boy by the local kids. With her Jean Seberg haircut and tomboy ways, she decides to pass herself off as Mikael, finding resourceful ways to hide her true self and take advantage of her new identity. Opens Nov. 25th at Laemmle's Royal, Playhouse 7 and Town Center 5.
GARBO, THE SPY is a documentary thriller about Juan Pujol Garcia, a double agent, who fed false information to the Nazis about the Normany invasion, saving thousands of lives while fabricating a network of phantom agents across Europe. Interweaving propaganda footage, interviews with the man himself, along with key players in Garbo's life, including novelist and intelligence expert Nigel West, who tracked him down in Venezuela when everyone thought he'd died thirty years before. Opens Nov. 25th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
INCENDIARY: THE WILLINGHAM CASE is an enigmatic, haunting documentary which investigates a 26-yr. old Texas murder mystery, full of scientific twists and political turns, ultimately ending with the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham for the murdes of his daughters who died in an arson fire. In a case which became a rallying cry for forensics reform and the anti-death penalty movement, Texas Governor Rick Perry ignored the science that could have saved Willingham's life in a battle between science and speculation. Currently plaing at the Nuart in West LA.
ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN takes place in the dangerous sprawling slum that surrounds Rio de Janeiro. When the head of Rio's Police Operations Battalion is accused of a massacre when a mission to quell a jail riot ends in the violent death of a gang leader, the citizens of Rio embrace him as a hero. With impending elections, he attempts to bring the gangs to their knees only to find he's making it easier for dirty cops and corrupt politicians. Currently playing at Laemmle's Sunset 5 and Playhouse 7.
THE HEIR APPARENT: LARGO WINCH, based on the Belgian comic book, stars Kristin Scott Thomas and French action film sensation Tomer Sisley. When billionaire financier Nerio Winch and the head of the W Group is murdered, his second in command must locate his only heir, an unknown adopted son wo must overcome drug traffickers, assassins, corporate raiders and double-dealing insiders. Currently playing at Laemmle Monica 4-Plex.
STEVE JOBS: THE LOST INTERVIEW, is the original, unedited interview by Robert Cringley of Steve Jobs, Apple's design icon and cranky genius who revolutionized the computer industry and the way we process information and the world around us. The highlight of the epic 1995 mini-series, "Triumph of the Nerds" was less than 10 minutes of this historic interview, in which Jobs sorely criticized Microsoft for making bad products, but the master tapes disappeared. The entire interview surfaced recently in London. Restored and improved, this unique in-theatre experience played two nights only at Landmark's Regent Theatre in Westwood.
THE 5th ANNUAL LA SKINS FEST at the Autry National Museum near Griffith Park, celebrates the creative talents of various American Indian tribes and Canadian First Nations. A 4-day event which spotlights dramas, docs, shorts, and animation films with Native American themes, produced by indigenous people. In addition to workshops and musical events, highlights include: "The Dome of Heaven" about a mixed-blood Cherokee girl who, with the help of ancient Indian myth discovers the significance of having a voice; "California Indian," about an LA radio host returning to the reservation he grew up on; and "The Dead Can't Dance" a horror spoof complete with a zombie-creating plague. KPFK was a Media Sponsor on this event.
UNDERFIRE: JOURNALISTS IN COMBAT delves into the experiences of top-tier correspondents from AP, NY Times, the BBC, LA Times and others to bring a deeper understanding into the psychological cost of covering war. Documentary filmmaker Martyn Burke and Anthony Feinstein, a psychiatrist who treats journalists in healing the trauma of war, piece together combat footage and first-hand accounts to reveal what they see, think and feel as they confront an ever-increasing savagery in war.
THE CONQUEST chronicles the volatile, right-leaning Nicolas Sarkozy's startling rise to the French presidency and the emotional, psychological stakes involved in the conquest of power, complete with in-party backstabbing, media manipulation, riots and extra-marital affairs. Even as he is achieving his ultimate ambition, he is despondent and alone as his wife, who for 20 yrs., struggled to pull the man she loved from the shadows to the light, walks out on him for another man.
NOTHING SPECIAL, writer/director Angela Garcia Combs' feature film debut, spins a dark, but witty tale of Louise (played by the director's daughter, Julia), an ambitious young insurance underwriter at a crucial turning point in both her career and her relationship with her bi-polar mother (played by Karen Black). Louise become a surrogate daughter for her trailblazing, encouraging boss (played by Barbara Bain), who is fighting for her own health and family issues. A coming-of-age story of mothers and daughters and three women living in the shadow of the Hollywood sign.
KILLING BONO, based on real life events, tells the story of young Irish rocker Neil McCormick and his younger brother Ivan, who attempt to become rock stars, but can only look on as their school friends form U2, going on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Directed by Nick Hamm and based on Neil McCormick's memoir.
AN AFRICAN ELECTION charts the anatomy of the 2009 presidential elections in Ghana. In a world plagued by stolen elections, secret government agendas and exploitation of African natural resources, what value does democracy offer? For Ghana, it could be the difference between peace and prosperity or murderous chaos under a military coup. Director Jarreth Merz captures the intrigue of electioneering, the intensity of vote-counting, as well as the emotions and ethical decisions that either threaten or maintain the integrity of the democratic process.
A JOURNEY IN MY MOTHER'S FOOTSTEPS retraces the life and inspirational journey of Jessie, a 75-yr. old housewife who dedicated her life to education, safety, and the quality of life for thousands of children working with Mother Theresa and other visionaries, herself becoming the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and international recognition. She also happens to be the filmmaker, Dina Rosenheimer's mother.
THE MAN NOBODY KNEW is a powerful look about CIA spymaster and former CIA head, William Colby, told by his son, Carl, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, with rare archival footage, never-before-seen photos and an extensive array of interviews with a "Who's Who" of American intelligence. Offering a probing history of the CIA, it is also a personal memoir of a family living in a highly secretive world, a mysterious father and a son desperate for his love, as well as a look at the costs of a nation's most clandestine actions.
YOUNG GOETHE IN LOVE is a tale of beguiling innocence and romantice love, following the young and tumultuous Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as he aspires to be a poet, but after failing his law exams, he is sent by his father to a sleepy provincial court to mend his ways. Eager to prove himself, he soon wins the praise of his superior, but when Lotte enters his life, nothing is the same, with the lovers unaware that her father has already promised her to another.
THE OTHER "F" WORD is a revealing, funny, touching film which asks what happens when a generation of punk rock's leading anti-authoritarians become dads. THE OTHER "F" WORD follows Jim Lindberg, a 20-yr. veteran of the skate punk band Pennywise on his hysterical and moving journey to the ultimate authority role, fatherhood. Featuring fellow fathers, Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, Art Alexakis of Everclear, skateboarder Tony Hawke.
PIANOMANIA take us to a place where passion and the pursuit of perfection collide with artistic obsession and a little madness. No detail is too inconsequential for Steinway & Sons chief technician and Master Tuner. Juggling the demands of the pianist, instrument, and the piece to find the perfect match, PIANOMANIA reveals the commitment and understanding of sound as powerful as the musician's. Winner of the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco Film Fest.
BEING ELMO chronicles the life story of Kevin Clash, multiple award-winning genius and master Muppeteer behind the beloved furry red monster we know and love from Sesame Street. With teenage aspirations to become a puppeteer, striving to be a part of Jim Henson's renowned team, Kevin's supportive family and relentless quest to perfect his art, made his dreams come true. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, BEING ELMO combines archival footage with interviews with Frank Oz, Rosie O'Donnell, Cheryl Henson and others, to create a moving and rare behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Street and Jim Henson's beloved legacy.
2011 25th ANNUAL AFI FEST, celebrated its quarter-century anniversary as a program of the American Film Institute, kicking off with "J. Edgar" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, followed by centerpiece films such as Luc Besson's extraordinary story of Aung San Suu Kyi, starring Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis; Roman Polanski's "Carnage" and Michelle Williams in "My Week With Marilyn." Other highlights included an evening of conversation and film with Guest Artistic Director Pedro Almodovar.
OKA! is a fascinating journey into a disappearing culture. Directed by Lavinia Currier, OKA! is based on the Louis Sarno memoir, "Last Thoughts Before Vanishing from the Face of the Earth." Starring Kris Marshall and a magnificent ensemble cast, OKA! follows an ethnomusicologist who travels from New Jersey to the forests of Central Africa to record the music of the Bayaka Pygmies. Falling in love with a Bayaka girl and her forest lifestyle, he decided to stay. Journeying into the heart of the forest, Larry sees them maintaining a tenuous balance between their traditional forest existence and an increasing dependence on the Bantu villagers.
MY REINCARNATION chronicles the epic story of a Tibetan Buddhist Master and his western-born son, Yeshi, recognized at birth as the reincarnation of a famous spiritual master. Breaking away frm his father's tradition to embrace the modern world, he faces the challenge of keeping the family's threatened spiritual legacy alive. With complete access to their private lives, the filmmaker expertly distills a decades-long drama into a universal story about love, transformation, and destiny between a father and a son.
15th ANNUAL ARAB FILM FESTIVAL, ran Oct. 21st through 23rd at the Writers Guild in Beverly Hills, featuring works from both emerging and established directors, including comedies, family films, epics, political bio-pics and thrillers. The opener, "Egyptian Maidens" is set against a backdrop fo Egypt on the brink of revolution, following two unmarried women as they navigate the clash of traditional values and their emerging sense of independence. Other highlights included the award-winning "Hawi" and "Majid" a coming-of-age story by Moroccan filmmaker Nassim Abassi.
REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR brings the electric car back with a vengeance. In 2006, 5,000 modern electric cars were destroyed by the major car companies that built them. With REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR, director Chris Paine takes his film crew behind the doors of Nissan, GM and Tesla to find the story of the global resurgence of electric cars. Without a drop of foreign oil, this new generation of cars is America's future: fast, furious, and cleaner than ever.
KLITSCHKO tells the captivating story of the boxing world's most famous brothers, Vladmir and Vitali Klitschko, from the socialist drill of their childhood in the Ukraine, their initial amateur successes to their subsequent rise as international stars on the verge of holding championship titles of all five boxing federations. With never-before-seen footage of the draining fight preparations to conversations with companions, opponents, and family, KLITSCHKO is a fascinating portrait of two exceptional athletes who are, above all else, brothers.
EVERYDAY SUNSHINE: THE STORY OF FISHBONE enters the personal lives of this unique, fiercely individual band as they strive to overcome money woes, family strife, and the strain of being aging punk rockers on the road in a quest to preserve their musical legacy, debunking the myths of young black men from urban America.
BOMBAY BEACH is a cinematic glimpse into a ghostlike community on the edge of the Salton Sea, a barren landscape in the middle of the Colorado Desert, a rusting relic of a failed 1950's development boom. Filmmaker Alma Har'el crafts an adamantly atypical and artistically innovative metaphor for the failure of the American Dream by following the quirky lives of three inhabitants of BOMBAY BEACH, captured in a dreamlike poem of personal stories melded with documentary observations. With an original score by Zach Condon of the music group Beirut, along with the music of Bob Dylan, BOMBAY BEACH was the winner of the Tribeca Film Fest.
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL, part of Kat Kramer's series of "Films That Change The World" addresses homophobia, bullying and school violence. Narrated by Lily Tomlin, this powerful film enjoyed a world premier at the Sunset Gower Studios followed by a topical and provocative panel discussion, including Ms. Tomlin and the filmmakers on October 16th. An exclusive invite-only event.
BLOWFLY follows 72-yr.-old musician Clarence Reid, who could be your cranky grandfather until he puts on his gold-spangled superhero costume and becomes his alter-ego, "Blowfly," singing some of the raunchiest tunes you've ever heard. A major force in the Miami soul scene of the 60's and 70's, writing top 10 tunes for such R&B acts as Sam & Daev, Betty Wright, and KC & the Sunshine Band, his songs are currently sampled by acts from Ice Cube to Wu Tang Clan and Beyonce, but having sold his royalties for next to nothing, he takes his show on the road to small clubs and questionable bookings. With newfound popularity, he recently released the first single under his own name in more than 25 yrs.
TEXAS KILLING FIELDS is a tense, haunting thriller which follows a homicide detective in a small Texas town who, along with his partner, track a sadistic serial killer. Though the swampland crime scenes were outside of their jurisdiction, he ignores his partner's warnings, unable to turn his back on solving the gruesome murders. With the killer always one step ahead, the detectives find themselves racing against time to catch the killer and save a young girl's life. Produced by Michael Mann, TEXAS KILLING FIELDS stars Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke and Stephen Graham.
HELL AND BACK AGAIN reveals the devastating impact of a Taliban machine-gun bullet on the life of a 25-yr. old sergeant. Transitioning from stunning war reportage to a visceral, intimate portrait of one man's struggle at home to confront the physical and emotional difficulties of re-adjusting to civilian life. HELL AND BACK AGAIN comes full circle as it lays bare the true cost of war. Entertainment Weekly calls "HELL AND BACK AGAIN" a vivic and moving testament to what is really going on in Afghanistan and in the hearts and minds of the soldiers fighting there."
4th ANNUAL BEL AIR FILM FESTIVAL, running Oct. 12th through 17th, seeks to recognize the most creative films and individuals in the industry today, inspiring and educating filmmakers with panels, musical performances and networking opportunities. Featuring 23 world premiers, this year's honorees include legendary screenwriters Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz. Opening night gala at the Skirball Center, with subsequent screenings at UCLA's James Bridges Theatre. Highlights include "The Italian Key" a modern day fairy tale in which a 19-yr.-old orphan gets, as her sole inheritance, an antique key which unlocks both an old villa in Italy and the mysteries of her family's past. KPFK is a proud Media Sponsor. Full roster of films and panels at kpfk.org
FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN explores the complexities of life and commitment in a family torn apart when faced with unexpected tragedy. The Taylors seems the picture of a successful American family, but when a serious accident interrupts a family celebration, the reality of this Midwestern family's history and relationships come to light. All-star cast includes Willem Dafoe, Ryan Reynolds and Julia Roberts.
WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM follows the four-year odyssey of childhood friends, forever changed by a faraway war. From a small town in Michigan to the mountains of Afghanistan, it is an intimate look at the young men who fight our wars, their families and the town they come from. From restless teenagers enticed by signing bonuses and college tuitiion, to 23-yr. old veterans who spent their days sweeping for roadside bombs, subsequently dealing with disillusionment and the struggles of fitting in back home.
BENDA BILILI ("Look Beyond Appearances") follows an extraordinary group of paraplegic musicians from the streets of Kinsasha to the concert halls of Europe. Struggling to survive amidst extreme poverty in a volatile city they play on homemade instruments, getting around on customized tricyles, exerting a profound influence on the young street people they take under their wing with wisdom and love.
TOAST is the hilarious and touching memoir of food writer Nigel Slater's childhood, set to the songs of Dusty Springfield. It is a delicious love letter to the tastes and smells that turned a young boy into a lifelong foodie. Devastated by the loss of his mother, a new housekeeper makes an indelible impression on young Nigel as they each vie for his father's affections in a competitive cooking duel. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Oscar Kennedy and Freddie Highmore.
WEEKEND, winner of the Audience Award at SXSW, OutFest Intl. Jury Award, is a delicate and daring exploration of how two people come together only briefly, yet affect each other in profound ways. When Russell randomly picks up an artist at a gay nightclub, they share stories, sex and snippets of their lives, revealing a connection which will resonate throughout their lives.
EL BULLI: COOKING IN PROGRESS is a tasty peek at some of the world's most innovative and exciting cooking. For six months each year, renowned Spanish chef Ferran Adria, closes his restaurant, El Bulli, and works with his culinary team to prepare next season's menu. An elegant, detailed study of food as avante-garde art, as Adria himself says, "The more bewilderment, the better."
THE MILL AND THE CROSS is an unforgettable synthesis of life and art, focussing on a dozen characters populating the masterpiece, "The Way to Calvary," which depicts the story of Christ's Passion, set in Flanders under the brutal Spanish occupation of 1564, when the painting was created. Among them are the painter himself (played by Rutger Hauer), his friend and art collector, played by Michael York) and the Virgin Mary (played by Charlotte Rampling). As their lives unfold and intertwine, the viewer is drawn inside the aesthetic universe of the painting as we watch it being created.
SILENT SOULS is a road trip to the corners of the human soul, a requiem to love, an homage to women, a journey during which melancholy and tenderness fuse together. When Miron's beloved wife passes away, he asks his best friend to help him say goodbye according to the rituals of the Merja culture of West-Central Russia. Sharing intimate memories with his friend, he comes to realize that he wasn't the only one in love with her.
FINDING JOE is rooted in personal accounts and timeless stories of how Joseph Campbell's work is relevant and essential in today's world, providing a narrative for how to live a fully realized life in "following your bliss." Featuring interviews with notables from a variety of fields, including Deepak Chopra, Mick Fleetwood, Tony Hawk, Catherine Hardwick, Sir Ken Robinson, it traces Joseph Campbell's work as a professor at Sarah Lawrence College to his seminal work "Hero With A Thousand Faces" which greatly influenced artists and writers from Bob Dylan to Stanley Kubrick.
THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE, 1967-1975, is a revelatory audiovisual collage combining the treasure trove of recently discovered footage of the black power movement. When numerous Swedish journalists came to the US, drawn by revolution and urban unrest in the 60's, they gained the trust of movement leaders such as Angela Davis, Eldridge Cleaver, Bobby Seal, Stokely Carmichael, and others capturing them in intimate moments and unguarded interviews. With penetrating commentary by contemporary artists and activists influenced by the struggle, it features a soundtrack by Questlove.
GRANITO: HOW TO NAIL A DICTATOR is part political thriller, part memoir, taking us through a riveting, haunting tale of genocide and justice which spans four decades. Filmmaker Paula Yates' 1982 film, "When Mountains Tremble" introduced the world to the tragedy of the genocide against the Mayan people by the Guatemalan government, as well as the activist who fought against it. Twenty-five years later, outtakes and footage from that film became evidence in an international war crimes case against the former commander of the army, reuniting the filmmaker with those who contribute their "tiny grain of sand" to a continuing quest for the truth.
PROGRAMMING THE NATION asks the question, "Are we all brainwashed, or have we just lost our minds?" PROGRAMMING THE NATION takes an all-encompassing look at the history of subliminal messaging in America. In media, politics and pop-culture, since the late 1950's, subliminal content has been tested and delivered through all forms of mass-media, including Hollywood filmmakers Alfred Hitchcock and William Friedkin. Director Jeff Warrick leads this journey through the subconscious mind while examining the reported history, scientific research and potential effects of such techniques on society.
BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLD follows the 1972 chess match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, exploring not only the politically charged period of the early '70s, but also the nature of genius, madness and the game of chess itself. Director of Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner, Liz Garbus, traces the life of the troubled chess genius from his brilliant opening to his shocking endgame.
JANE'S JOURNEY is a portrait of the private person behind the world-renowned icon. Intimate conversations alternating with spectacular footage of her beloved chimpanzees, plus revealing interviews with her son, her colleagues and even Hollywood celebrities. Traveling the globe over 300 days a year, devoting her time and energy to saving our endangered planet, this remarkable documentary of the exceptional primatologist takes us across several continents from her childhood home in England to Tanzania where she began her groundbreaking research.
BERLIN '36 is based on the true story of Gretel Bergmann, one of Germany's best Gold Medal contenders in the 1936 Olympics, who unwittingly became a threat to the Nazis when, as a Jew, her skill and ethnicity undermined the Nazi belief that Aryans were the superior race.
THE WAY is a modern-day odyssey - the soulful journey of a man rocked by personal crisis who sets off on an epic mountain trek on the 500-miles Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimmage made by millions for more than a thousand years to search for adventure and answers, thinking he is utterly lost, only to keep bumping into surprise moments of community, companionship and inspiration that begin to steer his way. This spirited road-movie-on-foot crosses territory that is alternately comic, adventurous, and keenly moving, as the journey becomes an unforeseen gift from a son to his father. Directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, it is filled with joy, wonder, and breathtaking landscapes.
SLOVENIA BEGS TO DIFFER, presented by the Southeast European Film Fest in conjunction with UCLA Film and Television Archives, a selection of some of the most influential and fascinating Slovenian films from mid-century forward, screened at the Billy Wilder Theatre at the Hammer Museum, Sept 9th through 26th. Included are: "Dance in the Rain", an elegant and enigmatic love story; "Paper Planes", an unlikely love story from 1967 between a photographer and a young ballerina; "Raft of the Medusa" a cinematic homage to the 1920's Dada-inspired avante-garde movement in pre-WWII Yugoslavia; "Gravehopping", a deft, ironic comedy of graveside humor and closing with "9:06" a film noir, psychological drama where a police inspector investigates an unusual suicide.
SINGAFEST ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL, ran Sept 29th through Oct. 2nd at the Bigfoot Crest Theater in Westwood is a cinematic melting pot merging Eastern and Western cultures and genres to showcase the best of Asian cinema. From Kung Fu to anime, murder mysteries, romantic comedies and shorts, along with industry panels, luncheons, and mixers. The closing night feature, "The Girl With No Number," tackles the topic of human trafficking with a benefit screening for APEX and the Center for the Pacific Asian Family.
WE WERE HERE illuminates the profound personal and community issues raised by the AIDS epidemic, as well as the broad political and social upheavals. Focussing on five individuals in San Francisco whose lives were changed unimaginably when their beloved city morphed from being a hotbed of sexual freedom and experimentation to the epicenter of a terrible sexually-transmitted plague.
CIRCUMSTANCE, written and directed by Maryam Keshavarz, is set in contemporary Iran in the unseen world of the Iranian youth culture of underground parties, sex, drug, and defiance. Two vivacious young girls, one from a wealthy family and one an orphan of little means, discover their burgeoning sexuality, struggle with desires, boundaries, and the Morality Police in a repressive regime. Winner of the Sundance Audience Award.
GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC LIFE is a surrealistic treatment for graphic novelist Joann Sfar of the life of the legendary French singer-songwriter-provocateur who has influenced musicians around the world. Known as much for his decadent lifestyle and cynical wit as for his relationship with some of the world's most beautiful women, from Brigitte Bardot to Juliet Greco and Jane Birkin, his roots stemmed from a precocious childhood growing up in Nazi-occupied Paris as the son of Russian-Jewish parents. His transition from painter to jazz musician to pop-superstar is brilliantly portrayed by Eric Elmosnino in a Cesar-Award winning performance.
SPECIAL TREATMENT stars Isabelle Huppert as a high-class prostitute serving up sexual fantasies for her clientele, fed up with the underbelly of French masculinity. When she crosses paths with a neurotic psychoanalyst facing a marriage crisis, the two quickly realize a commonality in their chosen professions, finding that psychoanalysis is to life what prostitution is to love and how the appointment with one's self, via another person, can become an addiction.
LOVE CRIME stars Kristin Scott-Thomas in a remorseless tale of extreme office politics. A psychological "cat and mouse" game between a senior executive of a multinational corporation and her young assistant. Alain Corneau's last film is a complex and mischievous look at the corporate world.
LIVE FROM JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER presents an extraordinary one-night only event "Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play the Blues" to be broadcast to nearly 550 movie theatres nationawide on Wednesday, Sept. 7th at 7:30 pm. songs selected by 9-time Grammy Award winner, Marsalis, and 19-time Grammy recipient, Eric Clapton, will be brought to life by these musical virtuosos, along with members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in an unprecedented integration of New Orleans jazz, Delta blues, Caribbean sounds and beyond. Says Marsalis, "We wanted these concerts to sound like people playing music they know and love, not like a Project." Further info and venues at www.fathomevents.com.
NEW FILMMAKERS LOS ANGELES continues its monthly screening series on Sept. 23 at Sunset Gower Studios, 1438 N. Gower St. in Hollywood. The Shorts Program begins at 6:00 pm, followed by Documentary Programs at 7:45 pm and Features at 9:30 pm, which includes FRAMILY about a group of 30-somethings who decide to form a "framily" as a quick-fix to their relationship ills.
HAPPY, HAPPY, winner of the World Cinema Jury Prize at Sundance, is a warm comedy which tells the story of Kaia, an insistently happy person who uses joy as a survival technique. When the "perfect couple" moves in next door, her world opens up and both families are shaken. The Norwegian entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards.
MACHINE GUN PREACHER, special sneak preview of the true inspriational story of Sam Childers, former biker, drug dealer, and criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation, finding an unexpected calling saving hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children in East Africa. Outraged by the unspeakable horrors of starvation, disease, and enslavement, he ignores the warnings of more experienced aid workers and takes on the renegade militia which forces youngsters to become soldiers. Starring Gerard Butler.
MR. NICE is the remarkable true story of a legendary pothead and polymath. 43 aliases, 4 kids, 89 phone lines, 25 companies worldwide and over one million books sold. Rhys Ifans stars as Howard Marks, whose associates include the Mafia, CIA, IRA, and MI6. Nuclear physicist, school teacher, money launderer, fugitive and spy, MR. NICE follows his prodigious rise from a small town in South Wales to Oxford University and around the world. Sad and surreal, MR. NICE also stars David Thewlis in a hilarious turn as a beserk IRA terrorist, Chloe Sevigny and Crispin Glover.
SEMPER FI: ALWAYS FAITHFUL reveals the shocking Marine Corps cover-up of one of hte largest water contamination incidents in US history, at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune, which exposed nearly one million Marines and their families to high levels of carcinogens over the course of 30 years. SEMPER FI: ALWAYS FAITHFUL is a timely and sobering story of the betrayal of US soldiers focussing on the larger issue of the Dept of Defense as the nationa's largest polluter and raising questions about environmental conditions at other bases around the country.
15th ANNUAL DOCUWEEKS FESTIVAL presents an exceptional lineup of documentary films about the world, building awareness on vital and pressing global issues. The festival runs through September 8th and highlights include: "The Boy Mir," which follows a young boy growing up in Afghanistant from age 8 through 18; "A Bitter Taste of Freedom: about investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya who consciously gave her life for her convictions; "Miss Representation" which uncovers the glaring reality of objectivification of women in media and "The Carrier" a powerful and moving portrait of an unconventional family amidst a backdrop of the AIDS epidemic in Zambia.
THE FAMILY TREE reveals that life in suburban Serenity, Ohio is never quite as serene as it appears. The dysfunctional Burnett family - Bunnie, Jack, their twin 17-yr. olds and Kelly seems like a lost cause. When a freak accident leaves Bunnie with a case of amnesia, the Burnetts get a second chance at happiness. An affair with a neighbor, kids with guns, a suicidal teacher, a zealous religious club and one fateful squirrel combine to create mayhem as they try to survive the suburban jungle.
SILENT RIVER FILM FEST, running Sept 9th - 16th in Irvine, celebrates both the city's 40th anniversary and the spirit of the independent filmmaker. With a theme of "East Meets West" building a bridge through cinematic art. It also highlights Cinecause, which brings together celebrities with charitable causes. Opening Night kicks off with "The Highest Pass" and "I Am Kalam." Other highlights include the world premiere of "Goodbye, My Friend," and "Tareq Aziz: The Other Truth". For further info, go to www.silentriverfilmfestival.com, KPFK is a proud Media Sponsor.
5 DAYS OF WAR is an international action-packed thriller from director Renny Harlin, which sheds light on the complicated politics and dangers in exposing truth during wartime. Based on real events during the Russia-Georgian war in 2008. 5 DAYS OF WAR follows an American journalist, his cameraman and a young Georgian schoolteacher caught in the combat zone, desperately attempting to escape so they can live to broadcast their devastating footage. A special sneak preview on Thursday, September 1 screens at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd St. in Santa Monica.
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS is Woody Allen's love letter to Paris, examining the fanciful illusion of a life better than one's own. His latest romantic cmoedy follows an engaged couple who has experience there that will change their lives. The Opening Film at Cannes, with an all-star cast, including Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Michael Sheen and Carla Bruni, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS continues its hit run at Landmark's Westside Pavilion, 10850 W. Pico at Westwood Blvd.
WARRIOR is a tale of two brothers facing the fight of a lifetime and the possible wreckage of their family, within the brutal, high takes world of Mixed Martial Arts. Haunted by the past and heading toward a collision course, they must confront the forces which tored them apart while waging the most intense battle of their lives. Starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, Lionsgate pictures presents a special sneak preview at AMC Century City on Wed., August 31st at 7:30 pm.
SENNA is the story of Brazilian Formula One racing legend Ayrton Senna, whose remarkable achievements both on and off the track gave him mythical status. His quest for perfection, compassion, and integrity touched the hearts of Brazilians and race fans all over the world. Eschewing many standard documentary techniques in favor of a more cinematic approach, it draws from previously unseen archives of astounding F1 footage. SENNA opens August 12th at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
DARWIN is an insightful and moving documentary about an isolated community in Death Valley. A near ghost-town with no government, churches, jobs, or children, the residents depend on a fragile, gravity-fed waterline that descends from the mountains where top-secret weapons are being tested. DARWIN played as part of Docuweeks at Laemmle's Sunset 5 in Hollywood.
MOZART'S SISTER, directed by Rene Feret, is a fictionalized account of the early life of Maria Anna Mozart, 5 yrs. older than her sibling Wolfgang and a musical prodigy in her own right. Approaching marriageable age, limited by gender and forbidden from composing or playing the violin, a friendship with the son & daughter of Louis XV offers her ways to challenge the sexual morays and social order of her time. MOZART'S SISTER plays at Laemmle's Royal Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd in West Los Angeles.
BATTLE FOR BROOKLYN is a critically acclaimed, controverial verite documentary about one man and one neighborhood's enduring battle against corporate developers, asking the question none of us should ever have to face, "What would you do if they wanted to take your home?" Playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211.
THE NEW FILMMAKERS LOS ANGELES continues its monthly screening series with an LA premier and selected shorts. "Heaven Strewn" involves a botched counterfeiting transaction, a pregnant girlfriend and a job in periol, as a hapless duo stumbles upons a dangerous discovery which threatens a radical transformation of their friendship. Screenings at Sunset Gower Studios. Further info available at www.nfmla.org.
RAPT is Lucas Belvaux's thriller, inspired by the 1978 kidnapping of a French industrialist. Featuring Yvan Attal in a career-defining performance at the millionaire playboy who is abducted and brutally held for 60 days. RAPT was nominated for four Cesar Awards, including Best Film, Actor, and Director. RAPT opens Friday, August 12th at Laemmle's Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., in Beverly Hills.
THE WHISTLEBLOWER, stars Oscar winner Rachel Weisz, based on the true story of Kathy Bolkovac, a policewoman from Nebraska who takes a job with a private US contractor as part of the UN peacekeeping force in post-war Bosnia. When she uncovers a sex trafficking ring, the corruption goes all the way to the top of the UN High Commission and US State Department. An edge-of-your-seat thriller with an all-star cast including Vanessa Redgrave and David Straithairn, THE WHISTLEBLOWER is a powerful, indictment of governmental complicity in an immoral world where nothing is more dangerous than the truth. An important, and must-see film, THE WHISTLEBLOWER opens August 5th at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd., in Los Angeles.
8th ANNUAL ARTIVIST FILM FESTIVAL, running Thurs. August 18th through Sat. August 20th at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Where art meets activism with a global roster of films dedicated to raising awareness on vital issues such as international human rights, children's advocacy, environmental preservation, the humane treatment of animals and social justice through the universal medium of movies. Further info available at www.festival.artivist.com.
THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL, running August 12th through 14th at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, proves there is such a thing as a happy ending. Featuring life-affirming films to make you laugh while capturing the beauty of life, it features optimistic, humorous shorts and features to leave audiences feeling good. Opening night kicks off with "The Italian Key," a romantic fairytale in which a young woman's inheritance of an antique key unlocks an Italian village and the mysteries of her past. KFPK is a Media Sponsor, full roster of films available at www.fgff.org.
LIFE IN A DAY uniquely brings together the most compelling YouTube footage submitted from over 80,000 videos and 4,500 hours of deeply personal, powerful films reflecting life on planet Earth on a single day - July 24, 2010. With contributors from Australia to Zambia, from the heart of bustling cities to the most remote landscapes, LIFE IN A DAY, is produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin MacDonald (of "Last King of Scotland," and "A Day in September") who, with editor Joe Walker, present our lives in a microcosm of banality and profundity in an ordinary extraordinary day. At Laemmle Theatres.
THE FUTURE, written and directed by Miranda July, an examination and rumination on the tribulations of modern life, seen through the eyes of a talking cat. A thirty-something L.A. couple desperate to climb out of their rut and into their destinies, adopt a cat, literally altering the course of time and testing their faith in each other and themselves. Original, insightful and wildly inventive, THE FUTURE also stars Hamish Linklater (of "New Adventures of Old Christine"), opening August 5th at Laemmle Theatres.
SHOLEM ALEICHEM: LAUGHING IN THE DARKNESS is a riveting portrait of the great writer whose stories formed the basis for Broadway musical "Fiddler on the Roof," a rebellious genius who created an entirely new literature helping to shape a modern Jewish identity amidst anti-Semitic violence in 19th century Eastern Europe, capturing that world with brilliant humor. With rarely seen photographs and archival footage, voiced by Peter Riegert and Rachel Dratch, SHOLEM ALEICHEM opens on Friday, August 5th and 6th at Laemmle Theatres.
THE HARVEST follows three immigrant child farm workers as they journey from the scorching heat of Texas onion fields to winter snows of Michigan apple orchards and the tomato fields of southern Florida, sacrificing their childhoods to help their families survive. Each year, more than 400,000 American children are torn away from friends, schools, and homes to pick the food we eat. From executive producer Eva Longoria and Oscar-nominated director of WAR/DANCE, U. Roberto Romano, it reveals the true cost of the produce on our grocery shelves. THE HARVEST opens August 5th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
SALVATION BOULEVARD takes a wickedly funny look at the world of evangelical Christians and a not-so-holy preacher, played with gusto by Pierce Brosnan. Re-teaming with his "Matador" co-star, Greg Kinnear as a former Deadhead who finds love and salvation only to discover that God has another plan in store for him. SALVATION BOULEVARD is an adaptation of Larry Beinhart's hysterical novel examining our need to believe and belong, sometimes at the expense of reality, as well as our own goodness. With an all-star cast, including Jennifer Connelly, Marisa Tomei and Ed Harris, SALVATION BOULEVARD opens on Friday, July 15th at Laemmle's Sunset 5 in Hollywood.
BUCK follows real life "horse whisperer" Buck Brannaman as he teaches people to communicate with their horses through instinct, not punishment. Possessing near magical abilities, he transforms horses and people with understanding, compassion and respect, while healingh is own abusive childhood. Through this unsung hero, cowboy and sage on horseback, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing life's challenges. BUCK opens on Friday, June 17th at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
PROJECT NIM, from the Oscar-winning director of "Man on Wire," a documentary about Nim Chimpsky who, in the 1970's, became the focus of a landmark experiment studying an ape's ability to communicate with language if raised and nurtured like a human. PROJECT NIM follows his heartbreaking journey through animal experimentation, human society, in an unflinching and unsentimental biography revealing more about the humans than the animals. Playing at Laemmle Theatres.
TABLOID from acclaimed documentarian, Errol Morris, follows the stranger-than-fiction adeventures of Joyce McKinney, a former Miss Wyoming whose single-minded pursuit of the man of her dreams, a Mormon missionary, catapults her into British tabloid press, scandal sheet notoriety, gunpoint abductions, bondage, magic underwear and dreams of celestial union. At Laemmle theatres.
BELLFLOWER follows best friends Woodrow and Aiden, who spend their free time building Mad Max-inspired flamethrowers and cars in preparation for a global apocalypse, until Woodrow falls in low and they are forced to integrate into a new group of friends, setting off a journey of love and hate, betrayal, infidelity and violence more extreme than even their apocalyptic fantasies. Written and directed by first time director Evan Glodell. At the New Beverly Theatre, 7165 W. Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.
WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN is a moving story of four men whose lives briefly intersect in Los Angeles. A Japanese hitman who wakes up from a coma and befriends a hotal manager mourning the loss of his wife, as an illegal immigrant working in an Indian restaurant befriends a young British backpacker whose tourist visa has expired. WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN follows their gut-wrenching adventures as they try to survive emotionally and physically. Starring Eric Mabius of "Ugly Betty" and Will Yun Lee of "Hawaii Five-O." At Laemmle Theatres.
POINT BLANK is a taut, gritty French suspense thriller in which a happily married nurse and his pregnant wife become pawns between rival gang. When the wife is kidnapped, not knowing whom to trust, he has three hours to get a man under police surveillance out of the hospital. At Laemmle Theatres.
MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER was inspired by first-time director, David Robert Mitchell's experiences growing up in Michigan. A poignant, tender coming-of-age drama which follows four young people on the last night of summer before a new school year begins. Lost and confused, they explore the suburban landscape in search of love and adventure - first kisses, elusive crushes, popularity and parties - in search of human connection. At the Nuart.
NINE NATION ANIMATION features award-winning shorts from world-renowned Film Festivals, proving there's a lot more in the animator's toolbox than Pixar and "The Simpsons." From stop-motion to CGI, with stunning visuals and a provocative, amusing variety of inventiveness, with topics ranging from a cat & mouse tale in a futuristic landscape; a Chinese monk traveling with a tiger during the Tang dynasty, to blue collar working dissecting the meaning of "normal" as the world fall arounds them. At Laemmle Theatres.
SINGAFEST ASIAN NIGHTS at the Bigfoot Majestic Crest Theatre, one-night only special preview of SHAOLIN, starring Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau in a high-octane martial arts spectacular as a callous, cold-hearted warlord in China, circa 1912, whose troops desicrate a Shaolin temple in an act that will come back to haunt him, forcing him to seek spiritual guidance and redemption. In Mandarin with substitles and a cameo by Jackie Chan. Followed by a rare screening of LOVEDEATH, a Bonnie & Clyde yakuza epic, a must-see for Japanese film genre buffs. A comicbook style mixing romance & mayhem. In person tribut to the director Ryuhei Kitamura.
TOPANGA FILM FEST features a unique roster of socially conscious films in a perfect marraige of science and spirituality with salon discussions on the neuroscience of creativity, what makes us laugh and music in the movies. Opening night feature, presented by KPFK, "The Highest Pass" about a motorcycle-riding guru and a group of spiritual seekers on a trek 18,000 ft. in the Himalayas. Other highlights were "Bag It," "Regneration," and "Happiness." A preview look at films sure to be released in theatres.
NEW FILMMAKERS LA continues its monthly screening with three great shorts programs on topics ranging from animation, fighting wildfires, the history of hot tubs, and battling demons on the dark side, also a short comedy by Kirsten Nelson of TV's "Psych"; at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood.
THE TREE stars Charlotte Gainsbourg in Julie Bertuccelli's mystical drama of loss and rebirth in the Australian countryside. Blind-sided by the sudden death of her husband, a woman and her four children struggle tomake sense of life without him. Selected as the Closing Night film at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, THE TREE utilizes the harshly gorgeous landscape as a lyrical, yet foreboding metaphor for grief and coming-of-age. THE TREE opens on Friday, July 22nd at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., in West L.A.
WINNIE THE POOH sets out to find some honey, as he always does each day, but misinterpreting a note from Christopher Robin, he convinces Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, and Eeyore that their young friend has been captured by a create named "Backson" and they set out to save him. With voices by Craig Fergusson, John Cleese, Jim Cummings, and even Huell Howser, WINNIE THE POOH opens on Friday, July 15th at the Bigfoot Majestic Crest Theatre, 1262 Westwood Blvd., in Los Angeles.
BRIDE FLIGHT, based on a bestselling Dutch novel, follows three young women who emigrate from post-WWII Holland to New Zealand looking for a better life. En route to waiting fiances in Christchurch, they meet a dashing young man who comes to play a significant role in their lives. Through chance meetings, lvoe, betrayal and impenetrable bonds, they reunite 50 years later. BRIDE FLIGHT opens on June 10th at Laemmle's Royal, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Town Center 5 in Encino.
THE FIRST GRADER is based on the true story of an 84-year old Kenyan villager, an ex-Mau Mau freedom fighter who fights for the right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford and overcome the burdens of his past. Desperate to learn to read, even if it means sitting next to a six-year old, his passionate plea is supported by the head teacher despite opposition from parents and officials who don't want to waste precious school space on an old man. From the director of "The Other Boleyn Girl," "Justin Chadwick, with a script by Ann Peacock (of "Chronicles of Narnia" and "Nights in Rodanthe," fame) THE FIRST GRADER is a triumphant testimony to the transforming force of eduction and the shocking, untold story of British colonial rule 50 years early and the harsh condition of the British detention camps. THE FIRST GRADER opens on Friday, May 13th at the Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd., in Los Angeles.
ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT is the poignant, compelling saga of Flora, an orphaned baby African elephant who, sixteen years after being adopted by a circus producer, faces retirement from performing, a difficult and emotional journey which tests the bonds of man and elephant with feelings of loyalty, sorrow, admiration and joy. Eschewing sentimentality, ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT examines the problems andmysteries posed by keeping wild animals in captivity. Presented with the support of the Humane Society and recipient of an ACE Award grant, ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT opens June 24th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., in Beverly Hills.
TERRI is a funny, compassionate, poignant portrait of a sensitive young outsider, played by Jacob Wysocki. Abandoned by his parents and forced to care for an ailing uncle, he is mercilessly teased at school, but learns to reach outside of his insular world with the help of some unusual friends and a tough-talking principal,played by John C. Reilly. With wry humor and originality, for anyone who has ever felt alone or misunderstood, TERRI is about the courage it takes to build relationships and the rewards of taking that terrifying leap toward human connection. TERRI opens at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena on July 5th.
IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT charts the rise and fall of an organization the FBI has called "America's numer one domestic terrorism threat. Part coming-of-age tale, part cops-and-robbers thriller, IF A TREE FALLS chronicles the transformation and radicalization of one of its members, Daniel McGowan. Oscar-nominated director Marshall Curry uses never before seen archival footage and interviews with cell members, as well as the prosecutor and detective who were chasing them. IF A TREE FALLS asks hard questions about environmentalism, activism, and the way we define terrorism. IF A TREE FALLS opens on Friday, July 15th at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.
REJOICE AND SHOUT is Don McGlynn's inspiring documentary on the history of gospel music and its evolution from slavery through the Depression, WWII, the civil rights and empowerment movements, influencing Blues, R & B, hip-hop and rap. Featuring Smokey Robinson, Andrea Crouch, Mavis Staples, along with rare archival footage and recordings of Sister Rosetta Tharp, Blind Boys of Alabama, The Clara Ward Singers, and many more, REJOICE AND SHOUT raises the rafters with moving testimonials, sermonizing, hootin' and hollerin'. REJOICE AND SHOUT opens on Friday, June 24th at Laemmle's Royal at 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.
A LOVE AFFAIR OF SORTS is a modern twist on a love affair in the digital age, blurring the edges between reality and fiction. Shot entirely on a flip camera, it chronicles two lonely strangers, a painter, and a Hungarian nanny, and their desire to be constantly filmed during Christmastime in L.A. A LOVE AFFAIR OF SORTS takes a wry look at the way technology brings us together while simultaneously creating distance and how it may have changed what it is to love and be loved. A LOVE AFFAIR OF SORTS opens on Friday, June 24th at Laemmle's Sunset 5 in Hollywood.
THE LAST MOUNTAIN, award-winning documentarian Bill Haney's urgent new film, celebrates people heroically working together to stop a giant corporation from destroying their community's environment and economy. A true David and Goliath story, it features veteran environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., along with West Virginia activists whose efforts to stop continuing mountain top removal and its inherent health and environmental hazards, reveals a fight for our current and future well being. THE LAST MOUNTAIN opens June 15th at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, the iconic Nicholas Roeg film, stars David Bowie in his cinematic debut as a space oddity who lands on earth from a drought-stricken planet, seeking water and help for his civilization, but finds American decadence has a powerful gravitational pull. Also starring Buck Henry, Candy Clark and Rip Torn, this dazzling, visionary sci-fi allegory celebrates its 35th anniversary release with a new, uncut 35 mm print. THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH opens on Friday, July 8th at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West L.A.
CARS 2 stars Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy in this sequel to the animated hit, CARS. Who will have what it takes to be the fastest car on the planet? Lightning McQueen gets ready to take part in the first-ever World Grand Prix, but his trusty sidekick, Mater, gets sidetracked on a top-secret spy mission which takes him from Japan to Europe and everyone shifts into high gear to help an old friend. CARS 2 is currently playing through July 14th at the Bigfoot Majestic Crest Theatre, 1262 Westwood Blvd., in Los Angeles.
CHILDREN OF PARADISE continues Laemmle Theatres extraordinary cinematic classical ballet series. Inspired by Jacque Prevert's scenario for Marcel Carne's masterpiece of the ill-fated love of Baptiste and Garance, Jose Martinez' choreography brings to life 19th century Paris, revealing a magical, mysterious world. CHILDREN OF PARADISE screens one time ONLY in a live broadcast, Saturday, July 9th at 10:30 a.m. at Laemmle theatres throughout the Los Angeles area.
VINCENT WANTS TO SEA is a heartfelt and hilarious German road trip film about a Tourette's sufferer who is institutionalized by his father after his mother's death. To honor her memory, Vincent and two fellow patients escape from the hospital and travel to Italy to spread his mother's ashes at sea. Winner of two LOLA Awards, VINCENT WANTS TO SEA opens on Friday, July 1st at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., in West LA.
JIG is the remarkable story of the 40th Annual Irish Dancing World Championships. Thousands of dancers, teachers, and families descend on Glasgow, Scotland for a drama-filled week of rigorous dedication, elaborate costumes, wigs, makeup and, above all, passion for the dance. JIG opens on Friday, June 17th at Laemmle's Sunset 5.
L' AMOUR FOU follows the 50-yr. love affair between French-Algerian couturier Yves St. Laurent and industrialist/patron Pierre Berge, through extraordinary success, emotional turbulence and lingering devotion. when Ysves St. Laurent died in 2008, Berge auctioned off the art collection that was the result of their decades-spanning union and mutual passion for beauty. L' AMOUR FOU documents Berge's personal coming-to-terms with the death of his lifelong partner through the objects they shared in life, exploring the question, "Do we shape the things that surround us, or do those things shape us?" With guest appearances by Andy Warhol and Mick Jagger, L' AMOUR FOU is a must-see for fans of fashion, art, and Sixties, opens at Laemmle's Royal, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino on May 20th.
LA SKINS FEST celebrates Women's Night with a special screening of "Kissed by Lightning" on Thursday, May 19th at the Autry Museum, Wells Fargo Theatre, 4700 Western Heritage Way. KISSED BY LIGHTNING follows a Mohawk painter living in Canada, who must face the challenge of moving on with her life while dealing with the memory of her late husband, whose stories of the Iroquoiis Peacemaker inspired her popular paintings. Followed by discussion with filmmaker.
QUEEN OF THE SUN: WHAT ARE THE BEES TELLING US? is the award-winning documentary by Taggart Siegel (director of "The Real Dirt on Farmer John"), a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis. From the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, QUEEN OF THE SUN examines Rudolph Steiner's prediction of the collapse of the bee population. An ultimately uplifting look at the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists, and philosophers from around the world, including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk, and Vandana Shiva, it reveals both the problems and solutions in restoring humanity's historic and sacred relationship with bees, the engines that keep the earth in bloom. QUEEN OF THE SUN opens on June 17th at Laemmle's Monica 4-plex and Fallbrook 7 in West Hills.
CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS is a breathtaking documentary from master filmmaker Werner Herzog. Given rare access to the Chauvet Cave in France, this masterpiece is a glimpse into extraordinary 35,000 year old rock drawings, along with interviews with archeological and anthropological teams trying to unravel our most ancient mysteries and impulses. With Herzog's incomparable ruminations on mankind's impulses toward creative expression and the lives and stories behind them, CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS is a must-see into the heart of the origins of our artistic impulses. CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS opens on Friday, June 3 at Laemmle's Fallbrook in West Hills.
THE LA FILM FESTIVAL, in conjunction with the THE FORD AMPHITHEATRE Summer Series, presents three nights of outdoor screenings in a great summer setting located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, including:
DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME, an epic adaptation of the Judge Dee mystery series; BEATS, RHYMES, AND LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, Michael Rappaport's exuberant exploration of the turmoil and joy driving these pioneers of Bohemian hip hop; THE SEDUCTION OF INGMAR BERGMAN, a special theatrical presentation featuring LA Band Sparks and Guy Maddin in this live, musical world premiere of a fantasy about Ingmar Bergman, art, and temptation in 1950's Hollywood.
SINGAFEST ASIAN FILM NIGHTS is an amazing triple bill including the world premiere of the legendary short-film project THE GOD OF CLAY, adapted from an anti-war children’s book with some of Japan’s best known FX artists, followed by the feature film GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER (with discussion with Godzilla expert Steve Ryfle and film restoration expert Oki Miyano and producer Norihiko Iawasaki. Closing the evening is John Carpenter’s bleak, brilliant 1982 remake of THE THING, followed by a discussion with actor David Clennon and the producers and cinematographer. SINGAFEST ASIAN FILM NIGHTS screens on Thursday, June 23rd only, at the Bigfoot Majestic Crest Theatre, 1262 Westwood Blvd.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 20:19
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