Norwegian gem ‘Before Snowfall’ competes in Best Narrative competition at Tribeca Film Festival
Screen cap from extraordinary Kazakh film ‘Harmony Lessons’
by Sam Juliano
The 12th Tribeca Film Festival launched on Thursday and for Lucille and I it was quite a hectic four day weekend mainly spent watching fifteen (15) feature films at the Claridge Chelsea Cinemas and the SVA on 23rd Street and at the AMV Village 7 on 11st Street and Third Avenue. The annual event will continue through Sunday, guaranteeing in the neighborhood of 18 to 20 more films before all is said and done, if current projections pan out. Seeing such a formidable number of films in a relatively limited time window requires a good deal of stamina and the ability to choose the films that in the end are the right ones. There is some luck involved of course, but advance research and a familiarity with the kind of films that make Tribeca such a unique venue will increase the chances for a favorable outcome.
While I plan to post a comprehensive and film-specific round-up after the festival’s conclusion next week, I would still like to size up the first batch of movies seen over the event’s opening days. As it is now two films from abroad, the Norwegian Before Snowfall and the Kazakh-German Harmony Lessons, both stark and harrowing films that are strangely beautiful and wrenching emotional works are the finest I have seen to this point. The latter film, driven by a fascinating surreal context and ravishing visuals, is helmed by the young director Emir Raigazin, and came close to winning the prestigious Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival last year, while. Similarly the strong narrative underpinning of the strangest of ‘road’ movies, Before Snowfall, garnered the oft-arresting film a major Scandinavian award for it’s Kazakh-Norwegian director Hisham Zaman, who followed up the Sunday afternoon screening with a most engaging Q & A at the CCC.
The American inde Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, shot partially during Hurricane Sandy, follows the train ride of an autistic youngster who is reported missing from his Rockaway home, and whose disconnection is chronicled with deft subtlety and cinematic artistry. The fascinating minimalist work is based on a true story, and will surely bring it’s young director some well-deserved acclaim. Sellouts on Saturday and Sunday attest to the great word-of-mouth and interest the film is generating.
Of the others, while I was grateful for the opportunity to see each and every one (Thank you Pete Torres!) I quite liked Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, Flosting Skyscrapers and G.B.F., and thought the documentary Lenny Cooke was reasonably well-done.
The ratings are as follows:
Before Snowfall **** 1/2 (Sunday, CCC)
Harmony Lessons **** 1/2 (Saturday, CCC)
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors **** 1/2 (Sunday, CCC)
Bluebird ** (Thursday, SVA)
Lil Bub & Friendz ** 1/2 (Thursday, SVA)
Bottled Up ** (Friday, CCC)
G.B.F. *** 1/2 (Sunday, AV7)
Floating Skyscrapers *** 1/2 (Friday, CCC)
Frankenstein’s Army * (Friday, CCC)
The Machine ** 1/2 (Saturday, SVA)
Run and Jump ** (Saturday, CCC)
Lenny Cooke *** (Saturday, CCC)
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? **** (Saturday, CCC)
Whitewash * 1/2 (Sunday, AV7)
Almost Christmas ** (Sunday, SVA)
‘Stand Clear of the Closing Doors’ a powerful observational portrait of an autistic boy who is lost during Hurricane Sandy
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Writers/Founders
Wonders in the Dark 
Sam, so your tryst with this year’s Tribeca Fest has already begun and how! !5 films is a fantastic start indeed!!! And the best part is, you have already seen 2 films worth strongly recommending – need to look out for them. I’d be eagerly waiting for your review of the festival that you are planning for next week.
In the meantime, I managed to watched the following movies this past week:-
– Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses, a comparatively weak sequel to the riotous Leningrad Cowboys Go America
– Arth, a decent examination of marital fidelity, from the 80s, directed by Hindi filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt
– Viridiana – Bunuel’s scathing & masterful home-coming film (made in his homeland Spain after many years of exile in Mexico) – The Last Supper freeze frame was easily the film’s most unforgettable moment
Shubhajit—
Thanks very much for your eternal enthusiasm and very kind words! Tonight and tomorrow will be modest by comparison with just two films lined up for each night, but then things will get hairy again. I’d actually say there are three films now that I’d strongly recommend adding STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS. I have seen the LENINGRAD sequel but am intrigued! The last scene of Bunuel’s masterpiece VIRIDIANA is indeed the most famous in the film! I have heard of Bhatt, though not necessarily this particular Hindi film. Thanks as always my excellent friend! Have a great week!
An amazing performance Sam! Sounds like there’s a lot to be excited about with middle east cinema. I’ve read about Stand Clear, and everybody’s praising it. Hope you get to see the new Neil Jordan vampire flick.
Thanks Peter! Certainly it was exhausting on Friday after a day at school and then the four films afterwards. Yes, mid-east cinema has really hit the high note teh last few years, and there are a few others at this festival from that region I am hoping to see–TABOOR and/or WADJDA. I am aiming to see Jordan’s BYZANTINE too! Yes, STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS is a talk of the festival!
Sam, I was reading with baited breath to see if you caught ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME at Tribeca. I made a small contribution to its post-production costs via an online fund-raiser, so apparently my name will be in the credits (probably with hundreds and hundreds of others, in very small type!). I am dying to see it myself, especially as the fabulous Ms. Stritch, musical thetre legend, has done her last show at the Carlyle and retired to her home state of Michigan. The reviews have been good, and I’m hoping for a fitting tribute.
You’ve once again done some mightly prolific moviegoing and I will look forward to your more in-depth assessments of the Tribeca offerings. Some of the Tribeca films are available OnDemand now.
Anyway, the only film I saw this weeke was DJANGO UNCHAINED (at last) which I liked a good deal more than I expected to, although I’m mystified as to all the accolades for Christoph Waltz – to my mind, the standout performanes were from Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson. In other highlights, Marlon and I had the great pleasure to hear jazz great Diane Schuur perform at Chicago’s Jazz Showcase club this weekend – an amazing musician and singer! In my spare time, I’ve very belatedly decided to catch up with MAD MEN, which I’d never watched; as of yesterday, I’ve made it through Season One and I am hooked. Great acting and writing, and great period detail – although I don’t find Jon Hamm’s Don Draper nearly as interesting a character as Elizabeth Moss’ quietly up-and-coming, secretary-turned-ace-copywriter, Peggy Olson. I am dying to get going on Season 2.
Lest I sound a bit full of myself in that first paragraph, let me assure everyone that my contribution to the Stritch film was truly SMALL – we’re talking low two-digit numbers here. They made it really cheap to be a credited film backer!!
I loved Stritch as Alec Baldwin’s mother in ’30 Rock.’
Ah Pat, you have me scurrying to try and fit in the ELAINE STRITCH documentary, which to be honest should have been a given for me from the start! The problem is that the three times it is showing just don’t work in. But I am almost certain this will be placing in the competition, and if so will run a few times more on the fest’s final day (Sunday) So there is an excellent chance I will see it then! That’s great news that I might be seeing your name in the credits, and despite you’re downplaying it, I think that is really neat! I really have my fingers crossed to see it. As far as DJANGO I am very happy to read that favorable response! I did like Waltz however quite a bit, but I’ll definitely agree with you that Di Caprio and Jackson were as good and also deserving of recognition. The jazz events sounds fantastic! And what better city than Chicago to cover this musical form? You guys are the best in that regard! Next time I visit I must go to that club! I still need to see MAD MEN!! Thanks so very much Pat! Have a great week!
As you have had yourself set into a theater seat I have been nearly bolted to my chair this past weekend. I have been finding new books sent by authors themselves at my door and on PDF files in my in box I have just about finished my third book for one weekend. Now if I could just figure out how to make some money from these requests! Still not enough purchases from my blog.
I did go to see CIRCA an Australian acrobatics group which was very interesting. And the Seattle Men’s Chorus. Performing Abba-fabulous. Oh yes made a lemon merange pie! Which I can no longer eat but needed to finish off lemons
We are having a film festival for Earth Day here. Culminating with Arts Walk and Procession of the Species parade next weekend. There is huge excitement in town
I have added your list to my list. It will probably take me a long time to see most of these. But several really caught my eye. It is all about good story telling. Thanks for this good report makes me feel connected
Patricia—
If money could indeed be made on those requests you would be sitting pretty indeed! I applaud you for the time and dedication you have invested in the reading sessions, and despite being late to the party I will soon be checking out your reviews at PATRICIA’S WISDOM. Lemon merange pie has always been a favorite with me, but the others in my house are not fans. The Seattle Men’s Chrus sounds like great stuff! That’s something I would really appreciate! And the upcoming Earth Day walk and parade is one of those must-attend events! The town should well be excited! As to the Tribeca line-up it’s always a guess as to how many will receive theatrical openings. But it seems every year more and more do, and then there is the option of seeing some on the Tribeca streaming. I will attempt to size up the entire festival next week, pointing to the ones I deem essential. Thanks as always my friend, and have a great week!
15 films in 4 days! Incredible Sam. It has been 6-7 years since I managed such numbers at a film festival & don’t think I have that kind of energy. But as usual, you continue to amaze 🙂
nice to see you discovered some worthy films & look forward to more discoveries. Our film fest wrapped up last night & I enjoyed COMPUTER CHESS which was playful. But the film that knocked me over was THE ACT OF KILLING which packs quite a punch. So many discussion points & aspects that jump out. One of the finest docs I have ever seen although the material doesn’t make it that easy to watch calmly.
Sachin: Coming from the master trooper himself that is quite the statement! You have redefined the marathon yourself, and I know you are way too modest. Friday was challenging after that day of work, but Saturday and Sunday were much easier to manage. I have only two tonight, but one is an Italian film called ALI BLUE EYES, a picture some are saying could be the greatest of the entire festival. We’ll see. I am greatly looking forward to THE ACT OF KILLING (and understand why it would be so disturbing) and extend kudos to you for winding up your festival with some new discoveries! Thanks as always my friend! Have a great week!
Thanks Sam. But I managed 4-7 films per day at a film festival just few times. I can’t even make it more than 2 films per day in a cinema now although I see more at home. I find it easier to watch at home which is why I admire your constant trips to the cinema. When I see too many films at a cinema in quick succession, I avoid the theatre for a few weeks 🙂
have a good viewing week…
I hear ya Sachin, but you are quite a modest fellow. Ha!
Sam-
Holy Toledo! You and Lucille are genuine movie troopers with marathon-type endurance. And I know you guys thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of it!
The word picture you painted of STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS definitely has my ears perked! (although I’d probably cry through the whole thing).
I’m in beautiful San Diego as we speak. My sister is traveling so I’m here for my dad. I return home on May 5.
Laurie—
Lucille’s trooper label is actually more laudatory than my own as she is coming off that gall bladder event. The Tribeca Film Festival is an annual affair that we have come to look forward to, and we do manage to go into marathon mode! Ha! As a whole it has been quite a festive endeavor indeed. Oh STAND CLEAR has your name written all over it my friend! It’s an emotional film for sure, but not cathartic in that sense, so I do believe you would hold up better than you think. The weather in San Diego must be divine, and I wish you a wonderful sojourn there. Hope and anticipate all is well with Dad. Have a terrific week my friend. Many thanks as always!
Fifteen films! Fuck it, Lucille’s out of danger, we’re goin’ to the movies, kids!
A quick, jagged tour through my mind as it sloshed about in its brain pan last night:
Watched a spoof of ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?’ enacted by men in drag on YouTube and realized that you can’t parody a parody; you can’t parody what’s already a self-parody. Still, it’s always funny to watch men dressed up as women (‘Some Like It Hot’), but the opposite isn’t true. Women dressed up as men a la ‘Victor/Victoria’ are almost never funny. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking this.
In the sacrificial mother-love soaper “Stella Dallas’ Stanwyck’s floozy raiment is way overdone, making the film unintentionally comic when it should be tugging at your heart. But the ending, with Babs weeping in the rain as her daughter is married, is almost as famous a dilated piece of pathos as Chaplin’s final close-up in ‘City Lights.’ Only Stanwyck could range between vulgarity and tenderness so beautifully. More Stanwyck , this time with Clifton Webb as her husband, both aboard the doomed oceanliner ‘Titanic.’ As the film splashes on, one begins to wonder who did what to whom in THAT conjugal sack (though the couple did manage to produce a son). Mercifully, this ship goes down much quicker than James Cameron’s CGI hulk. Finally got around to seeing Tarkovsky’s forbidding ‘Stalker’ and liked it much better than ‘The Sacrifice,’ with that film’s interpolated witch character included so that Josephson can make his Faustian pact (those levitating bodies!) to save the planet and his family from nuclear annihilation. ‘Stalker’ is an earnest study of empiricism and faith in a squalid and likely radioactive totalitarian state and is one of the most meticulously and profusely decorated films I know, rivalling Bunuel’s ‘L’Age d’Or’ and passages from Cocteau. “Edward II” — all I could think of was that Jarman keeps trying to compose his film frames like tableaux vivants of master paintings, and sure enough there came Francis Bacon’s ‘Painting 1946’ with its split carcass. With Tilda Swinton looking like a model fresh from the pages of a Diana Vreeland Golden Age ‘Vogue’ issue. Swinton probably washes her hair in dead champagne like the French do and like Vreeland recommends. Finally, Chaplin’s “Limelight,” which I found exquisitely mawkish, or is that an oxymoron? Bertolucci calls the film a ‘sublime exorcism’ as a new artist (Claire Bloom) is born from the corpse of a dead breed (Chaplin, Keaton and the silent clown/artists).
Mark—
Thank you as always my friend! Yes, like anything else once the sunlight comes out all the dreariness of the past is no longer even rememebered. Of course Lucille was quite confident, and we devised various plans whereas she wouldn’t have to engage in long walks. Obviously with any film festival there will always be a fair number of forgettable films, but the ones that were excellent made the entire affir worthwhile. And we are basically only half way through at this point. I rather like LIMELIGHT but I do see your point. And quite a whirlwind tour of cross dressing from both genders, and I agree that the men-to-women are much runnier as a general rule. We had some exceedingly funny scenes in Mel Brooks’ THE PRODUCERS as you will well recall I’m sure. One day I’ll mend the error of my ways with SOME LIKE IT HOT. Love that BABY JANE parody of a parody discussion! Ha! And STELLA DALLAS is a bonafide classic. I also prefer STALKER to THE SACRIFICE, though I still like the latter. And Jarman’s EDWARD II is certainly a visual treat though maybe not in a league with CARAVAGGIO. Thanks as always my friend! Have a great week!
Oh, I love ‘Limelight,’ even though I know it’s far from Chaplin’s best work, much inferior to the great silents like “The Gold Rush’ and ‘City Lights.’ ‘Exquisitely mawkish’ or ‘mawkishly exquisite,’ a gobbledygook phrase that works either way, and I believe Chaplin’s score received a very belated Academy Award in 1973, after ‘Limelight’ had been re-released as part of a Chaplin revival a year earlier. Apparently, the film had been killed so successfully by anti-Communist hysteria in 1952 that the film hadn’t lasted a single week in Los Angeles, thus disqualifying it for Academy consideration. Stupefyingly, this was Chaplin’s only competitive Oscar win.
Sam, TCM screened Tony Richardson’s ‘The Entertainer’ last night, and while the film looks a little moth-eaten these days there’s nothing musty about the performances of Olivier, Brenda de Banzie, Joan Plowright and Roger Livesey. Also with Albert Finney and Alan Bates. A cast of giants.
Mark, I completely agree with you on the cast of THE ENTERTAINER, especially Olivier’s turn, which is one of his greatest! Always a great picture to re-visit! And yes, it is pretty much an expected irony that Chaplin’s award-attention was for LIMELIGHT, though I like the film somewhat more than you do. Kael’s trashing of it was classic I know.
Sam, Kael’s the only serious flim-lover/critic I know who had a complete aversion to Chaplin’s work in its entirety, a staggering lapse of judgement.
Sam, the big deal on TV last week was TCM premiering Pierre Etaix’s films. I DVR’d them and have started watching. The Suitor certainly has its moments but was no revelation, but Yoyo arguably qualifies for that category. The multigenerational story rambles, or literally yoyos, but Etaix reveals a very strong visual imagination and an eye for the cinematically absurd. Also remembered in time for 1988 that I had Chabrol’s Story of Women recorded from several months back. Pretty good; hard to pick between it and Vera Drake for best in category. House of Women is another matter entirely, a weak 1962 women-in-prison picture with too much attention to their children for proper exploitation or enjoyment. More interesting was R. Altman’s debut, The Delinquents, if only for the spectacle of Tom “Billy Jack” Laughlin as an already-overaged teenager duped by the neighborhood JDs. Otherwise, not much evidence of the director’s style. Also interesting for its cast was Victor Schertzinger’s Friends and Lovers, almost certainly the only time you’ll get Adolphe Menjou, Erich von Stroheim, Laurence Olivier and Hugh Herbert all in one picture. The heroine prefers Menjou to the twentysomething Olivier but belongs to Stroheim. Poor Herbert never gets a chance. Bring on that Tribeca survey and have a great week with your family.
Samuel—
The sudden and most welcome rediscovery of Pierre Etaix’s work is one of the most joyful developments of the last year. You may recall that his canon was scheduled for a Film Forum Festival at the time we were walloped by Hurricane Sandy. I took the family over to see the film many consider his most popular film, but the storm forced cancellations of his other pictures. Etaix showed up at the theatre and I was delighted to take his picture with my youngest son Jeremy. I fell in love with Etait’s cinema just watching that one film, and am greatly looking forward to Criterion Etaix blu-ray collection that is just released. (With a $60 list price, it probably would make sense to wait for the 50% off Barnes & Noble sale in July). Every one of his films will be included in that must-acquired package:
http://www.amazon.com/Pierre-Etaix-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B00B2BYXQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366729097&sr=8-1&keywords=pierre+etaix+blu+ray
I am delighted to hear that TCM is covering his work! Based on what you have concluded I am especially interested in seeing YOYO, but will still check out THE SUITOR. Yes, Etaix’s visual imagination is what makes him so appealing, and the “absurdity” is part of his art for sure. STORY OF WOMEN is excellent, and I’d say I am pretty much with you on Altman’s debut. Thanks as always my friend for the banner comment, and kudos for another great week watching films! I will indeed do my best to size Tribeca as soon as it concludes. Have a terrific week!
Sam, I don’t know how you do it. That is an amazing, breathless pace and so much more to come. On this side I of the pond, my latest photo exhibit started on Friday at the Honeymoon Island Nature Center and runs through July while the Ruth Eckerd Exhibit continues to the end of May (can’t believe I have two shows running concurrently). I will be posting the photos on line soon and will let you know where and when. Have a great week and a lot of fun with the Tribeca FF!
On the film front this week…
The Place Beyond the Pines (****1/2) One of the best films I have seen for 2013.
Quartet (***1/2) Predictable, but still charming small film with some fine performances.
A King in New York (***1/2) Better than I have been led to believe by some writers I have read. Uneven for sure but there are some bright spots that shine through.
Sunnyside (***1/2) Uneven Chaplin short that has some good scenes in the beginning mixed in some mediocre. He does take a nice jab at the self-righteous, like the hotel owner the Tramp works for who has a sign above his bed that reads “Love thy Neighbor,” yet he treats his employee (Charlie) like worthless trash.
Arrowsmith (***) This John Ford film has dated badly. The script has chopped up the Sinclair Lewis novel to a point of being incomprehensible. Add to this some bad accents, racism and the fact that Ronald Coleman was too old for the role of the young doctor and you have too many missed opportunities.
Hour of the Gun (****} Great score by Jerry Goldsmith and some fine performances from James Garner and Jason Robards make this film more hard edge than director John Sturges first take on the Earp’s and the Clantons.
Ladies They Talk About (**1/2) Dated pre-code but worth seeing for Barbara Stanwyck’s tough gal persona.
John—
Let’s just say that the motivation was at least partially inspired by having two free passes in our possession that enables to see as many movies as we can. If we were paying for these films it would obviously be another matter entirely. Certainly one must have the right state of mind, but so far all has worked out perfectly as planned. Thanks as always my friend! John, congrats on the upcoming photo exhibition! I would very much appreciate if you could alert me when they are displayed, Also, if you are planning to do anything on Facebook with these photos. I know QUARTET is predictable, but I still thought it charming and loved the locale and performances. Nice to hear that super-positive reaction to THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES which was very fine indeed! Ryan Gosling’s turn was electrifying too. SUNNYSIDE is fine, but agreed that it’s not among Chaplin’s best. I think I like the pre-coder LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT even more than you, but fair enough. I’s say you are pretty much dead-on with ARROWSMITH and HOUR OF THE GUN as far as I’m concerned (great Goldsmith score indeed) and have always thought A KING IN NEW YORK is better than most give it credit for. Saw it at FF months ago and audiences seemed to be in stitches as I recall. Thanks as always my friend. have a great week, and good luck with the exhibition!
Sam, I’ll join the chorus of ‘I don’t know how you do it’! It sounds as if you and Lucille have already seen a lot of interesting films and I’ll look forward to reading your festival wrap-up. Hoping you and everyone at Wonders have a good week.
I’ve made it to the cinema twice myself this week. First off, I saw ‘Love is All You Need’, Susanne Bier’s new bitter-sweet romantic comedy starring Pierce Brosnan, which is partly in Danish, partly in English and mostly set in Italy – I really enjoyed this, though Paul did not agree, as he felt some of the subject matter was a bit too dark.
The other film I saw at the cinema was ‘Le Jour Se Lève’ (Marcel Carné, 1939) at Ipswich Film Society – a repeat viewing for me, and it was great to see it on the big screen, though it was a very worn print. It was also great to see Jean Gabin on the big screen and in such a characteristic role, as a working man with the world against him.
At home I saw a couple of Westerns – the first was ‘Rachel and the Stranger’ (1948), an interesting romantic drama with Loretta Young, William Holden and Robert Mitchum, who sings in this and has a good folk voice.
The other was John Ford’s American civil war film ‘The Horse Soldiers’ (1959) starring John Wayne and William Holden, which I thought was very strong, with sweeping Technicolor shots of the war-torn landscape, can’t understand why it isn’t better regarded.
I also saw a silent German film, ‘The Ship of Lost Men’ (1929), directed by Maurice Tourneur, with an early role for Marlene Dietrich – this has some great moody photography, full of shadows, although I did find it very slow at times and thought Dietrich was mainly wasted.
Judy—
Thanks for the appreciative acknowledgement. Your own marathon performances in Ipswich, London and at home are stand alone achievements if I may say so. Yes we are anticipation several more very fine films, and will be keeping our eyes on Sunday’s awards round-up. I do like Susanne Bier, and unlike Paul don’t really mind the darker context of her work- though I completely understand his position- and I have ben looking forward to this particular film. As far as LE JOUR SE LEVE, I consider it a stone-cold masterpiece of the cinema, though I know there is really not a good print of it to be found anywhere sad to say. Still great that you were able to take in that Ipswich Film Society screening! Yep, Gabin is extraordinary for sure, and nice framing there! HORSE SOLDIERS is definitely a beautiful film to look at (I like it well enough) but true, it isn’t a particularly well-regarded Ford vehicle. I have not seen RACHEL and SHIP, though the latter at least definitely has me intrigued. Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always!
Hi Sam,
It sounds like you are having a wonderful week of movie nirvana. I usually stay away from major film festivals, except for retrospective for my favorite directors or works, since, as you said, it is energy-consuming and leaves me exhausted. So I admire your and Lucile’s exceptional energy and concentration! And it seems you are exploring many movies from various corners of world. I am really looking forward to reading your review.
As for me, I immersed myself in Tarkovsky DVD box set, watched several early Shochiku films and put up the new post on Hiroshi Shimizu’s silent magnum opus, SEVEN SEAS.
http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2013/04/seven-seas-1931-1932.html
Another short review will be up in a few days.
Keep on enjoying new movies!
MI
MI—
It has been quite a week indeed, and it’s a shot of adrenaline for NYC at a time when theatrical releases are mediocre at best. That’s not to say that Tribeca doesn’t offer up some less-than-stellar films (heck tonight I saw two of the worst films of the festival, one a horror film called DARK TOUCH) but the atmosphere is electric, and it’s always challenging trying to pack in an already torrid schedule. If the Festival yields five or six exceptional films, then you are a big winner, and so far I’ve seen three that qualify, and afew others that were quite entertaining. And of course the price is right needless to say. So far I’d say the one area of the world that has come through is the middle-east. And I still have to see the Saudi Arabian WADJDA. By the way my friend, I will be seeing a Japanese film called ODAYAKA on Saturday afternoon. It’s a tsunami/earthquake film directed by Nobuteru Uchida. I am very very interested in your new post on SEVEN SEAS and will bne adding my two cents! Sounds fantastic, as does the planned follow up! Thanks as always my friend! Have a great week!
Hey Sam,
Best wishes on the Tribeca film festival and hope you’re able to get to all the films you want to see. I’m jealous! Haha. Well we had a great vacation to South Carolina and our visit to Charleston was wonderful. We all had a blast and got sunburns. Ha! Now we’re back in Kalamazoo and it’s snowing! Crazy.This winter doesn’t want to end here.
Well I’m just trying to get back in the swing of things and wanted to say hello. On Friday night my wife and I will be watching To the Wonder! Very excited for this and I’ll be sure to share my opinions next week. Have a great rest of your week!
Jon—
Just got in after seeing two more. The Saudi Arabian WADJDA is one of the great films of the festival, and I’ll be glowingly appraising it in my round-up! I have five lived up for tomorrow, four for Saturday and a few on Sunday to be determined. I’m happy you all had a great time in South Carolina! And yes that is bizarre going from sunburn to snow! I know you guys have endured the worst and longest winter in memory! Thanks as always for stopping in my friend, and I look forward to hearing your take on TO THE WONDER!
Wow Sam, great work with Tribeca, hope you can see “Prince Avalanche”. Well, hello everyone!
I just wanted to say that I just uploaded the second part of the BAFICI coverage, it was a bit delayed because I had internet problems in Argentina, and then I had to take the plane and then I had to sleep for 10 hours, ha!
Anyway, besides those movies I also saw:
– Outrage (2010, Takeshi Kitano) I saw this because I was going to see its sequel at BAFICI, but it slipped away, but I finally catch up with the gangster comeback from the cult japanese director Takeshi Kitano. This one is difficult to talk about since it’s a mixed movie, it has some great moments of carnage and death, those moments are the best handed, but everything else that joins them is a bit thin and maybe at times over-plotted or over-complicated. Nevertheless, the message that the director is trying to get across comes out clean and clear at the same time. The acting here is over the top but oh-so-delicious, I can’t help but applaud every yell, moment and look given in this film, it’s a delicious film and one of the few unguilty pleasures that I’ve had in a gangster film, a genre I’m not tood fond of.
– Te creis la más linda… (2008, Che Sandoval) **** Seen moments before going to see the spin-off made by the same director that premiered in Buenos Aires at BAFICI. This is a movie that is evidently chilean, with its speech, characteristics and characters that appear. It follows a structure of self pity and at the same time a Dantesque travel through the worst of the nights of Chile, some of the people found here can be found when you visit the country so this is more of a cautionary tale than anything. The rambling camera of my friend Felipe Bello follows the feeling that the main character is always drunk, wrong and inebriat, something that impedes him to be what he really is, impedes him to see the reality and makes him paranoic all the time. An incredible character study.
Hope you have a good week Sam!
Thanks very much for stopping in Jaimie, as I know you’ve had quite an exhaustive week! You certainly put your heart and soul into that festival and it shows in those two mighty recaps! Thanks to for the excellent recaps on the Kitano and the Sandoval. You need to take a long rest now, but I suspect you’ll be back on track in no time! Thanks again for the passion and devotion!
Sam, been quiet here of late on the movie front. But loved reading about your experience at Tribeca so far. Look forward to hearing more.
Thanks, Sam for all that you do. Hope you had an awesome week!
Thanks so very much for that Jeffrey! The Tribeca Festival still resonates with Lucille and I, and I am hopeful some of the best features will land distribution. I am confident in fact that a number of them will, and actually have. Your support has been miraculous my friend!