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.
