A film clip from “The Thing That Kills Me the Most” a short by Jay Giampietro that for the second time this year features me as the central virtual character in a short film that has been chosen for an area festival. However this time it is incredibly for the 57TH ANNUAL NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL which is one of the nation’s most prestigious film fests and the grandaddy of them all. My family and the brilliantly integrated voice of Dennis Polifroni are omni-president in the film shot in my home from footage over 15 years ago.
by Sam Juliano
I don’t remember when the Monday Morning Diary last fell squarely on my birthday but I would assume it had to be seven years ago. In any case this particular instance is unlike any of the others as I turn 65, that age so often associated with retirement and leisure. Alas neither of those reticent terms are applicable to my own situation as I remain gainfully employed in the same school system I have been part of for 35 years and remain cognizant and active on the arts front in all regards. I want to thank all of you who extended your kind words and concern for Lucille on last week’s diary. It appears that November will be the month for this procedure, one where she will be fully awake for.
Though I am of course enormously proud the prevailing emotion right now is one of stunned disbelief. A short film titled “The Thing That Kills Me the Most” featuring me a second time this year as the central character and my family and close friends in support (and filmed entirely in my Fairview home) has been selected to screen twice in the ultra-prestigious 57TH ANNUAL NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL, the granddaddy of all US film festivals, where it will be shown in the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center which is a stone’s throw from the Metropolitan Opera house and Avery Fisher Hall. The short’s director is again the incomparably brilliant Jay Giampietro, who utilized footage from around fifteen years ago to craft an impressionist chronicle of the madness surrounding domestic gatherings. To put things in perspective this is the famed festival where Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” will be debuting and to boot in the same celebrated theater. It is just so unreal, it hasn’t yet sunk in for me. I will post a follow-up when ticket announcements are made for the NYFF in a short time. After the short “Best Picture” was chosen for the Brooklyn Academy of Music Festival (BAM), I was so thrilled and proud. But now that this second film has made the ultimate area and East Coast festival I can only thank our lucky stars and the fabulously gifted Jay Giampietro! As to the “exasperated fellow guest” he is a dear friend, and I will release his name hopefully on the next post!
The Thing That Kills Me the Most
Jay Giampietro, USA, 2019, 5m
World Premiere
Faces, voices, light: language itself is rendered abstract in this impressionistic fugue about fraught interpersonal dynamics at a weekly social engagement, narrated in retrospect by an exasperated fellow guest.
Lucille and I saw five films in theaters this past week:
The British-Indian director Gurinder Chadha helmed the effervescent soccer drama “Bend It Like Beckham” in 2002, but this year her Bruce Springsteen-inspired coming of age drama “Blinded by the Light” featuring a fabulous young lead actor named Viveik Kaira chronicles a real-life story of a teenager who achieves his creative calling through the Boss’ songs which help him to overcome racial and economic plight in late 70’s England with his often maligned Pakistani family. He also finds first love. Great use of song lyric titles and wonderfully sincere and uplifting. Perhaps as high as 4.5 of 5, though sadly the film has tanked at the box office. Lucille, Sammy, Jeremy and I saw this in Teaneck Monday night.
Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles **** 1/2 (Saturday) Quad Cinemas
Honeyland **** 1/2 (Saturday) Quad Cinemas
Blinded by the Light **** 1/2 (Monday) Secaucus multiplex
Good Boys ** (Tuesday) Secaucus multiplex
Adam *** (Sunday afternoon) IFC Film Center
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Writers/Founders
Congrats, Sam! How very exciting for you all.
Hm. Are the kids in it? If so, what do they think of the footage of them 15 years ago?
Thank you so very much my great friend! Four of the five kids can be seen in it (Jeremy was born maybe a year after the footage was taken) and even Lucille’s mom Marg can be seen eating from a plate near the beginning. Not only does this short bring back priceless memories in a familial sense, but as you say the kids are marveling at footage they had forgotten even existed. For that to make NYFF is mind-boggling.
Happy Birthday and a huge congratulations to you Sammy! The NYFF is really the top of the wrung! So incredible. Best wishes to your wife, family and friends.
Many thanks Ricky! Yes I’ve long-known the particular significance of this oldest of all US film festivals, and the entire family is quite thrilled.
Sam Juliano, darling of the film festival circuit. A hearty congratulations.
Happy birthday, Tuesday Weld (Lord Love a Duck, Pretty Poison, Play It As It Lays, Who’ll Stop the Rain, Once Upon a Time in America).
What intrigues me most about OUATIH is Tarantino’s meticulous re-creation of the sights and sounds of 1969 L.A. Plus Margot Robbie in miniskirts and go-go boots. And DiCaprio, who was so expertly comic in The Wolf of Wall Street. And the always reliable Pitt. And, and, and. Stop dithering, mark s., and get thee to a cinema.
Have a great week.
Mark my friend, thank you for that over-the-top praise. We certainly are having a ton of fun! That’s a fabulous Happy Birthday greeting to Tuesday Weld who was most memorable in all those films you mention, particularly PRETTY POISON. I agree with you on what is most pronounced in the Tarantino film (sights and sounds) and ha, enjoyed that special treat featuring the alluring Ms. Robbie. I do think we have never seen DiCaprio and Pitt as superbly as here or at least with both among their finest work. Glad we seem to be in accord on the film.
Have a great upcoming week my friend!
Surely the ultimate honor being chosen for the most the most prestigious film festival in the US east of the Mississippi. Congratulations to you and your entire family and to Mr. Giampietro for this amazing honor. I hope to get the opportunity to see the film in the near future. I’d like to extend best wishes to you both for a successful upcoming school year. Sam you are quite the trouper!
Thank you so much my very good friend for your invaluable support and kindness. I am not sure of the geographical assessment you give there but for sure NYFF is a major event and certainly the NYC area’s premiere festival, even edging ahead of Tribeca where I report on annually. I can guarantee you will see it soon indeed. Yes another school year is on the horizon. Just days away.
Wow, the New York Film Festival. Next stop Cannes! Congratulations and Happy Birthday!
Hahahaha Duane! Yeah I mean it is pretty astonishing that this film made NYFF, which is a venue nearly impossible to crack. But it gives us as locals a particular to attend in the same Lincoln Center complex Lucille and I frequented during our season-ticket opera days. Thank you so much as always for your treasured friendship, kind words and birthday greetings!