CineBlog

Cinequest wraps

Cinequest, San Jose's film festival celebrating maverick filmmakers, ended Sunday, March 9th with a gala including a screening of the film "Take" and a party at San Jose nightclub Motif. The festival had over 80,000 attendees this year, a new record. Thirty-seven of the features were US or world premiers and over 100 first-time filmmakers from 34 countries had their work showcased.

At the gala, the audience and jury award winners were announced and Public Relations Director Jens Hussey was honored. After nine festivals, he is stepping down to pursue a career in psychology. Hussey was presented with a gold watch inscribed "Maverick Legacy" and made a heartfelt speech thanking the many people he has worked with over the years to make Cinequest a success. "It's been a lot of blood, sweat, and tears," he said, "but also a lot, a lot of fun."

Cinequest does more than just the film festival. During the rest of the year, watch for their Camp Cinequest, a five-day summer camp for middle-schoolers interested in film making; Cinema San Pedro, which features films shown outdoors in the middle of San Pedro Square, a screenwriting competition, and other events -- not to mention cinequestonline.org, the distribution website for maverick films. You can buy CDs or watch downloads of a broad sampling of films on the website.

Konyec

I'm putting Konyec down as a drama but in reality, it's a subtitled little soufflé. Charming.

Emil and Hedl, an elder couple advanced in years and struggling with an inadequate pension, are not limiting their options to simply giving up and dying. Why not engage in armed robbery to make ends meet! Since they are a couple with a civil panache and gentle demeanor, they soon enjoy supportive notoriety from the population - including their victims. As a side benefit, their Jesse James ways also brings illumination to the plight of the elder and underfunded pensioners. Society takes note and possible changes are in the offing.

Being chased through the film but some street smart cops, Emil and Hedl show more cleverness in escaping and, ultimately, in disappearing. The film almost makes one want to cheer their criminal rebellion. Filming was nicely done.

Note: there is a graphic sex scene/nudity that makes no sense - extremely gratuitous. The director easily could have accomplish the thought and idea without disrobing the well endowed estrogen carrier. That aside, Konyec was a pleasurable romp. yes, good film can come out of the Eastern Block.

With Subtitles

Director Gdbor Rohonyl

Butterflies (Pirret)

“Butterflies” is a pleasant little fantasy where a five year old makes a wish upon a shooting star and the wish comes true. Suddenly, charming urchin Sara discovers she can fly. Mom is the harried caretaker who listens to her little girl with a modicum of attention. Initially disbelieving, mom soon discovers Sara’s gift and she’s rushing off to the local medical facility to understand if it’s normal for children to levitate. The local lead doctor, in a Disney’s 101 Dalmations/Cruella sort of caricature, gets excited about a possible Nobel Prize, and the laughable staff go through their inept shtick. Sara, meanwhile enjoys her new reality transcending everyone's else’s. It seems Sara flies when she reaches for a dream, turns toward a goal, something that gives her butterflies in the tummy. Sara shows some natural child-like compassion when she reaches out to a terminally sick child in the same facility. Unable to discover and exploit the location of Sara’s "butterflies", or their trigger mechanism, the medical staff give up on their dream of fame and fortune. Little Sara floats home with mom in tow. It may not be a major cinematic event, still, “Butterflies” left a smile on my face. With subtitles.

Director: Kjell-Ake Andersson

Next play is March 8 at Cinema 12

SUPERHEROES

Superheroes is the poignant tale of a war veteran who struggles with the aftermath of the experiencing Iraq. Ben (Dash Mihok) has extensive psychological damage and is in therapy. He meets a young neophyte filmmaker, Nick (Spencer Treat Clark), at one of the sessions who would like to document his story. Mihok and Clark hold screen attention easily. The writing is smart, the presentation is melancholy. Ben’s journey is emotional, his journey touches the heart. The production is compelling and telling. Simply, war is hell. The project was nicely put together.

Director Alan Brown

DISFIGURED: A MOVIE ABOUT WOMEN AND WEIGHT

“Disfigured” is the story of two women, each suffering from eating disorders; one bulimic, the other overeating. They are unlikely duo. Lydia is part of a Fat Acceptance/Activist group. Bulimic Darcy wants to join the group believing she fat. She is summarily tossed out the door. Lydia is more accepting of people and tries forming a walking group. Darcy lends a hand and as the friendship grows, Lydia, concerned with her own appearance, asks Darcy to give her bulimic lessons. The writing is witty, the exchanges engaging. Actors Deidra Edwards and Staci Lawrence are wonderful as the Mutt and Jeff body types. Tall and lanky, and shorter and rounder, they are fun to watch. Society has made the topic of body dimension a sensitive issue. Acceptance is a solution not soon discovered. “Disfigured” is a good film and worth being in one’s collection.

Director Glenn Gers

Commit

COMMIT is an intriguing tale of two people who find one another on the internet, each looking for someone special. Well, rather, each was looking for someone willing to do something extremely special. The structure of the film was quite simple. Presented in three, uncut 30-minute segments, the film is most all dialogue. There’s little or no action. Simple conversation. The tale is told in text and presentation. The writing was superb, the exchanges sharp and witty. The acting really was great. Nicole Blaine and Forest Erickson gave engaging and touchable performances. One serious problem haunting the film is believability. There are such great, intelligent, witty exchanges between Blaine and Erickson, such solid chemistry, discussions that suggest so much to live for, that it is near impossible to believe they are contemplating their own mortality. “Commit” is solid faire. Look for a DVD or an internet presentation. This film will last.

Director Mickey Blaine

Eden Court

The misfortunate Schroeder laments turning the big 3-0. Wow. 30 years old. Should be no big deal, except the lament began when he was injured and he lost the opportunity to play profession baseball. His dreams of sports was destroyed. These days he manages the grass on infield for the local semi-pro team. His frustration burns deep inside.

Without talking to anyone, he makes plans to leave his prom-queen high-school sweethear /wife..."she deserves better." Schroeader wants to try a new start in Australia. Trouble is, where every one goes, they take themselves as well. His frustrations and personal problems would tag along. Still, he plans a trip in a van suspect of mechanical integrity.

His wife is the ultimate cheerleader, willing to wane life away in a trailer court, happy, as long as her husband loves her. Through some good writing, Shcroeder final comes to understand his personal success is his family, is the love of his wife, is the success of his own mind.

Eden Court is a touching film, a film of pleasing melancholy. Director Paul Leuer has put together a gentle view of those who aren't the one in a million, but represents the majority...those who plug away, doing the day to day necessities, forming the foundation of society. Thomas Lennon and Kimberly Williams-Paisley were wonderful. They had nice chemistry together. This is a good movie.

wfc 3/08

Disfigured Interview

"Disfigured" is a movie that takes on one of the most sensitive issues in our culture: weight. It tells the story of the friendship between Lydia (Deidra Edwards), a fat woman, and Darcy (Staci Lawrence), a recovering anorexic. Their relationship is tested when Lydia becomes involved with Bob, a sweet guy determined to lose his excess weight, and Lydia asks for "anorexia lessons." Writer-director Glenn Gers, Lawrence, and Edwards took time from their screening schedule at Cinequest and sat down for a conversation.

[Note: This is an extended version of a piece which ran in The Milpitas Post and other papers]

48-Hour Film Project Filmapalooza

Every year, the 48-Hour Film Project Filmapalooza is one of my favorite parts of Cinequest. This year, we were treated to nearly eight hours of short films in a series of four screenings. The project is straightforward: teams of filmmakers gather in cities around the world (last year's project took place in over 50 cities worldwide). They are randomly assigned a genre, a prop, a line of dialog, and a character (both name and profession). Then the clock starts - within 48 hours, they must return with a completed short film. The winning film of each city is sent to Filmapalooza, where the overall winner is chosen.

This year's batch of films had some wonderful inclusions. San Jose's regional winner, "The Spy Who Spied Me," was an over-the-top mockery of the spy genre. Philadelphia's "Science: The Musical" (yes, some brave folks choose to do a musical when they draw the musical/western option) included zombie Abe Lincoln and was charming in its insanity. Nashville's educational film parody "Electricity: Unplugging the Myth" offered a new take on just what is going on behind our electrical sockets. St. Louis' "Franz Kafka: The Happiest Man In Happy Town" told the true story behind Kafka's masterpiece. Louisville's "Phenomenal Me" offered an unusual sort of superhero working hard to save the day. Utrecht's quietly menacing "Souvenir" was a top-notch take on its required elements. The sweet "Monkton Family Christmas" from Miami showed how sometimes white lies are necessary to save Christmas. The winner of the Second Life machinima competition, "Zombie Attack," gave us a twist on the zombie genre and was made entirely in the popular computer game Second Life. Tel Aviv's "TimeCatcher," a moving story about a young man who can see exactly how long all living things have left before they die, cleaned up the awards, winning Best Film, Best Directing, Best Script, and Best Editing. The quiet, somewhat surreal "Room 303" from Amsterdam won Best Cinematography. All in all, a great collection. I'm already looking forward to next year's Filmapalooza, which will include shorts from Mumbai and Singapore.

Official Site: www.48hourfilm.com

Autism: The Musical

Remaining screenings: March 8, 6:30pm (Cam 12); March 8, 5:15pm (Rep)

The title alone is an attention-grabber. The content is even more arresting: a group of autistic kids working together under the guidance of parents and teachers to put on a musical play. There are bumps and snags along the way, but the kids and their supportive adults are determined. We meet the kids, see a little of their daily lives with their parents, and watch as they learn to act, dance, and sing together while working on writing the play as a group. This film will warm your heart even as it makes you ache for the difficulties these kids and their families face in a society that doesn't understand or (as one astute parent points out) value autistic children. By turns funny and touching, "Autism: The Musical" offers an inside look at what autistic children are capable of.

Official Site: www.autismthemusical.com

The End

Screenings: March 7, 9:15pm (Cam 12); March 8, 4:30pm (Cam 12); March 9, 12:01pm (Rep)

This is a peculiar film. Part existential crisis, part lighthearted horror movie, it defies a description which does justice to its story without spoiling the surprises scattered through the second half of the film. What I can tell you is this: the story revolves around high school English teacher Joseph, who sixteen years ago saved a young girl because he could see what no one else could. Now he is having visions again -- but they are far more difficult to understand. As his friend, police detective Clara, struggles to solve a series of mysterious kidnappings, Joseph's curiosity drives him to understand his visions, no matter what the cost.

Karl Rove, I Love You

Screenings: March 8, 5pm (Cam 12), March 9, 2:45pm (Cam 12)

"Karl Rove, I Love You" is two things: a shallow overview of Karl Rove's perfidity and a hilariously surreal look at what might happen to a peace-loving, democratic actor who gets a little too into his role as Bush's top adviser. Everyone in this film, from director Phil Leirness to star Dan Butler, plays themselves, and it's shot in hand-held, up-close-and-personal documentary style. It starts out so thoroughly plausible that it's tricky to remember it's not actually a straight up documentary.

It all begins in early 2004 with Leirness' idea to make a documentary about Butler, "the unknown supporting actor." Leirness has to work hard to win Butler over, but eventually manages it -- only to be swept up as Butler becomes obsessed with bringing the truth about Karl Rove to the uneducated public. Butler's vehicle: a play. He works on it with friends, doing scads of research and even writing to Rove undercover. Soon, though, he's so deeply into the role that he finds himself falling in love with the very man he despises. Clever and irreverent, this is a must-see for political satire fans looking for a new take on the genre.

Cinequest: A Guide to San Jose's Maverick Film Festival

Whatever your angle, if you're interested in independent film Cinequest is well worth checking out. Below are brief guides for some of the many sorts of folks who might enjoy attending. Be sure to check the Films and Events listings at www.cinequest.org to confirm times, check out new additions, and buy tickets.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:
* Unless you buy the Elite Pass, which gets you into the express line, be sure to show up early for films. This reviewer usually plans to show up at least 30 minutes ahead of time, pass in hand.
* There are plenty of places to eat downtown, though many of them are a bit pricey. Remember to schedule time to eat if you're planning to see a lot of movies in a row, even if you just stick a granola bar in your pocket. Water is also important -- most venues will allow bottles of water with sports tops.
* The events and forums can sell out, so unless you want to depend on rush tickets, get your tickets as far in advance as you can.
* Parking is usually scarce and pricey during Cinequest, so if at all possible, take public transit. There are park-and-ride lots at man light rail stations, and light rail you drop you off right in the heart of the festival. Save money, time, and the environment!
* Unless you're attending screenings and events all at the same building, wear comfy shoes for walking. It's farther from the Camera 12 Cinemas to the California Theater than you probably think!
* Not sure what to see or what to avoid? Check out www.ealasaid.com/cineblog for reviews. New ones are posted frequently.

The Call of Cthulhu

Screenings: March 4, 4:45pm (Cam12); March 8, 12:30pm (Cam12)

The HP Lovecraft Historical Society brings us an unusual adaptation of one of the author's most popular stories, "The Call of Cthulhu." This tale of widespread cult activity, ancient god-aliens from beyond the stars, and horror rising from the depths of the ocean is brought to life in the form of a silent film. While modern technology brings a smoothness and a grayscale palette to the film that will ring false to any fan of silent films, the makeup, costuming, set design, and even depth of focus give the piece the feel of a film from the silent era. Although it has a very short runtime, it stays true to the story, with its nested flashbacks, peculiar events, and disjointed narrative style. This is a must-see for those interested in experimental film, Lovecraft, or silent movies.

Official Site: www.cthulhulives.org/cocmovie

Eden Court - Opening Night Film

Screening: Opening Night only, February 27, 7pm (Cal).

Schroeder Duncan (Thomas Lennon, "Reno 911!") is turning 30 and has realized he is not living the life he dreamed of when he was a young ballplayer with a hundred-mile-an-hour fastball. He married his high school sweetheart, but they live in a trailer park, she always wants to talk about having babies, and he mows the grass at the local ballpark instead of playing there. Shroeder drags himself into action, preparing his van for a cross-country drive and planning to buy land in Australia and move there to start over.

"Eden Court" is a close-up look at Shroeder's life and the lives of his friends and neighbors, all of whom are not exactly living the American Dream. Good performances, writing filled with both with and pathos, and sharp cinematography all make this a solid film. Its hopeful, optimistic theme makes it the perfect kick off to this year's Cinequest.

At the IMDb: www.imdb.com/title/tt0475259/