© 2004 by Lara Tomlin (buy the t-shirt)
Festival Schedule
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Special Events
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Prior Festivals
Three Rivers Film Festival
Nov. 5 – 18, 2004
Film Descriptions (or, see films listed by country of origin)
Skip down to B - C - D - G - H - J - L - M - N - P - R - S - T - U - V - W - Y
After Midnight
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Recalling both Buster Keaton and Francois Truffaut, this enchanting film about love, life, architecture and the
movies takes place in a magical museum (Mole Antonelliana) located in the enchanting city of Turin, Italy. Martino
is the night watchman – a devoted guardian of the vast domain, which houses the world-renowned Museum of Cinema.
After midnight the reclusive custodian watches classics of the silver screen. One day, the pretty girl who works
at the nearby fast food joint runs from the police and straight into Martino’s world, taking refuge in his museum.
Ironically, this valentine to old movies was shot with an HD digital camera by this independent filmmaker –
with sensational results. Subtitled. Winner of the Caligari Film Award and the Don Quixote Award at the 2004 Berlin
International Film Festival. (Directed by Davide Ferrario; Italy; 2004; 89 min) Harris Theater: Sat, Nov 6 - 3:00; Mon, Nov 8 - 7:15, Tue, Nov 9 - 8:00 |
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
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"A poignant lyricism runs through Balzac that transforms this story
about love and culture into a cinematic poem." – Hollywood Reporter. In early 1970s China, during the Cultural Revolution, two teen boys considered "bourgeois intellectuals" are sent to the small village of Sichuan to be re-educated via contact with the population. Even their violin comes under suspicion – at least until they convince the local purists that a Mozart sonata is a political mountain song ("Mozart is Thinking of Chairman Mao"). One day they discover a fellow student has a stash of forbidden European literature. They begin to read the novels of Flaubert, Gogol, and Balzac to the seamstress, who is transformed by the stories. This elegant film features exquisite cinematography and a soundtrack with Mozart, Beethoven and Chinese classical music. Subtitled. (Directed by Dai Sijie; France/China; 2002; 110 min) Regent Sq Theater: Tue, Nov 16 - 9:15; Wed, Nov 17 - 8:00 |
Bang Rajan
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"Easily the equal of Braveheart, Troy, and King Arthur, but with a
rough-hewn recklessness that carries the sulfurated scent of physical
danger." – Village Voice In 1765, during the legendary struggle between the Burmese and Siamese empires in what is now Thailand, the Burmese forces advanced on the Siamese capital. More than 100,000 Burmese troops entered Siam from the West and arrived at the city unhindered. The other column of 100,000, invading from the North, found themselves delayed for a full five months. Against impossible odds, a small village of ordinary men and women with extraordinary courage withheld the advances of the Burmese juggernaut. Trading their ploughs for swords, they fought for their homes, their dignity and their lives. Through eight bloody clashes, and with no aid from the capital, the farmers battled for their freedom. This is the story of these courageous villagers. (Directed by Thanit Jitnukul; Thailand; 2004; 120 min) Harris Theater: Sun, Nov 7 - 4:30; Tue, Nov 9 - 5:30 |
Bazaar Bizarre
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Crime novelist James Ellroy (LA Confidential) is executive producer of this provocative new film about Bob
Berdella – a serial killer – guaranteed to make you squirm. Between 1985 and 1988, Berdella
sexually tortured and murdered six young men, dismembered them in a bathtub and put their bagged remains
out on the curb for trash pickup. He was the owner of "Bob’s Bizarre Bazaar in Kansas City," a novelty shop
that sold lava lamps, beads and incense. Berdella documented the unspeakable horrors in a detailed torture
journal with photographs. This fascinating film, with a just a touch of humor, is more of an experimental
re-telling of the grizzly tale than documentary. It even has musical numbers! (Directed by Benjamin Meade;
USA; 2004; 90 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sat, Nov 13 - 4:15; Sun, Nov 14 - 2:00 Benjamin Meade is scheduled to appear at both screenings. |
The Big Animal
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Scripted by the late Krzysztof Kieslowski (The Decalogue, Red, White, Blue) and shot in shimmering black-and-white by cinematographer Pawel Edelman
(The Pianist) this is a lovely, small film that exposes greed and pettiness while celebrating the most beautiful
human themes: love, friendship and tolerance. When the circus leaves town, a couple unwittingly adopts a camel
into their family. The couple quickly forms a close bond with the nameless camel. At first the townspeople are
enthralled with the giant animal as a welcome distraction. But as the bond between the couple and their camel
grows stronger, the town-people suddenly begin to ostracize them. Kieslowski wrote the screenplay in the 1970s, at
the height of political oppression and social upheaval. Kieslowki's friend safeguarded the script of The Big Animal
and after his death, returned it to his widow. (Directed by Jerzy Stuhr; Poland; 2000; 72 min) Regent Sq Theater: Thu, Nov 11 - 7:15; Sat, Nov 13 - 6:45 |
Bright Leaves
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"A sampling of gentle insight and poetic retrospection." – Village Voice While examining the culture of smoking, Bright Leaves takes a journey across the social, economic, and psychological tobacco terrain of North Carolina by a native, Ross McElwee (Sherman’s March) whose great-grandfather created the famous brand of tobacco known as "Bull Durham." But instead of a tirade against the industry, McElwee prefers to approach his subject with more subtlety. For example, we learn that Gary Cooper played a tarheel tobacco magnate in a 1950 melodrama called Bright Leaf. A movie-crazed cousin believes Cooper’s character was based on their great-grandfather. While investigating that theory, the director also asks larger, more disturbing questions about the tobacco industry’s blood legacy. (Directed by Ross McElwee; USA; 2003; 107 min) Regent Sq Theater: Sat, Nov 13 - 8:30; Mon, Nov 15 - 9:00 Ross McElwee is scheduled to appear Nov 13. |
Callas Forever
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Director Franco Zeffirelli collaborated with soprano Maria Callas in her prime – their 1957 stage production of
La Traviata is the stuff of operatic legend – and here he conveys the intimacy, admiration, and exasperation of their
long-standing friendship. Fanny Ardant plays the middle-aged singer in 1976, living as a recluse in Paris and still
smarting from her rejection by Aristotle Onassis and her disastrous farewell recital. Jeremy Irons is a hoot as the
Zeffirelli surrogate, a gay impresario who used to manage Callas and is now urging her to star in a film version of
Carmen (with the vocal to be dubbed from an old recording). Ardant embodies the diva's dazzling blend of glamour,
hauteur, and vulnerability, and with the help of a campy script, Zeffirelli captures the artistic imperative that
drives them both. (Directed by Franco Zeffirelli; USA/Italy/France; 2003; 103 min) Harris Theater: Sat, Nov 6 - 9:30; Mon, Nov 8 - 9:15 |
Caterina in the Big City
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A cross between a charming old Audrey Hepburn film and a very modern Lindsay Lohan movie, this coming-of-age story
revolves around a 15-year-old provincial girl, whose family moves to Rome. She finds that her new private school is
a microcosm of the cultural and political divisions of Italian society. Her class is split between revolutionary no-
globals and rich kids who parrot their parents’ conservative ideas. Caterina isn’t sure where she fits in and to top
it off, her parents’ marriage is falling apart. But things start to look up when she meets a boy from Australia.
Subtitled. (Directed by Paolo Virzì; Italy; 2004; 106 min) Harris Theater: Sat, Nov 13 - 6:45; Mon, Nov 15 - 8:00 |
Chain
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Somewhere, Wal-Mart opens a new store every four days. In his new film, artist Jem Cohen explores the effects of
commercial development on human beings. He believes that as regional character disappears and corporate culture
homogenizes our surroundings, it’s increasingly hard to tell where you are. In Chain, theme parks, hotels and malls
are joined into a monolithic "superlandscape" that connects the lives of two women. One is an executive studying the
theme park industry. The other is a young drifter, living and working illegally on the fringes of a shopping mall.
Cohen may be known for his REM music videos and rock docs about Elliot Smith and Fugazi, but this narrative-documentary
moves to a bolder beat. It was shot in 16mm over the course of six years. (Directed by Jem Cohen; USA; 2004; 99 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Mon, Nov 15 - 7:15; Wed, Nov 17 - 9:30 |
Chill Factor, episode 1
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Starring Bingo O'Malley (Creepshow) Maryanne Nagel (Welcome to Collinwood) and introducing Jason Hoehnen. It's 1936, a dark and stormy
night in poor and lonely farm country. A woman calls the old town doctor out to make a house call on her ailing son. The boy is suffering with a
strange malady, an illness that can't really exist... or can it? Maybe the patient is just... crazy. And what of the mother? Widowed a year earlier
and left alone to care for her son, has she become unhinged? There've been a number of disappearances and strange happenings in the local orchards
lately. What will the old doc find when he examines the case? Tune in and find out. (Directed by Tom Savini; USA; 2004; 30 min)
Melwood Screening Rm: Sat, Nov 6 - 9:00 Tom Savini is scheduled to appear. Free event. |
Les Choristes
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Set in the 1940s,
the story follows Monsieur Mathieu, a mild-mannered teacher who is
sent to a boarding school with a student body made up largely of delinquents
and orphans. His charges are rambunctious, outspoken, and daring.
The school’s humorless headmaster believes in ruling with an iron
fist, but Mathieu has other ideas. A closet composer, Mathieu decides
to try to rein in his students through music, and soon has the boys
auditioning for spots in his choir. Christophe Barratier (producer
of Winged Migration and Microcosmos) makes his directorial
debut with Les Choristes and, if audiences at this year’s Toronto
Film Festival are any indication, this heartfelt movie will be a huge
international hit. He deftly re-imagines some stock characters (the
bully, the lost little one) and presents them in a new, engaging ways.
This remake of the 1945 Jean Dréville film La Cage aux Rossignols
is a fabulously touching movie. Subtitled. (Directed by Christophe
Barratier; France/Switzerland/Germany; 2004; 95 min) Regent Sq Theater: Sat, Nov 6 - 7:00; Mon, Nov 8 - 9:15 |
The Clay Bird
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Set against the backdrop of the turbulent 1960s, leading up to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan, The Clay Bird
tells the story of a family torn apart by religion and war. Anu, a shy young boy from rural East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
is sent away by his father, an orthodox Muslim, to an Islamic school. Far from his family and the warmth of his region's
Hindu festivities, Anu struggles to adapt to the school's harsh monastic life. As the political divisions in the country
intensify, an increasing split develops between moderate and extremist forces within the school. Touching upon themes of
religious tolerance, cultural diversity, and the complexity of Islam, The Clay Bird offers a rare perspective in a crisis-ridden
world. Subtitled. (Directed by Tareque Masud; Bangladesh/France; 2002; 98 min) Regent Sq Theater: Sat, Nov 6 - 5:00; Mon, Nov 8 - 7:15 |
Cowards Bend the Knee
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"A lovingly self-loathing peek at myself, but only as I would have enough courage to look – through a cracked glass made
foggy by hairspray." – Guy Maddin Called a masterpiece by the Village Voice, Canadian director Guy Maddin (The Saddest Music in the World), known for his absurdist sensibility, is at it again. If fiction is sometimes barely disguised autobiography, his latest film is its mirror, though twisted, image: a tough hockey player named Guy Maddin (Darcy Fehr) is made lily-livered by mother and daughter femme fatales, and resurrects his father as the team's radio broadcaster. Set in a shadowy hockey arena and a Dr. Mabuse-like beauty salon-slash-medical clinic lined with two-way mirrors, the plot drips with Grecian Formula, as sordid family secrets spawn unintentional murder most foul. Through montages Maddin fixates on groping and clenching expressionistic hands, bathing them in ethereal light. It conjures the sublime naughtiness of an antique hand-cranked skin flick. Originally presented as a gallery installation at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January 2003, viewers watched the movie through ten peepholes lining a wall, each one revealing a different six-minute chapter of the film. (Directed Guy Maddin; Canada; 2003; 60 min) SouthSide Works Cinema: Fri, Nov 5 - 8:00 (special event ticket required); Fri, Nov 5 - 10:00 Guy Maddin is scheduled to appear at both screenings. |
Dear Frankie
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Emily Mortimer stars in this beautiful film about wounded souls trying to protect one another from the inevitable pain that
life provides. Nine-year-old Frankie and his single mum Lizzie have been on the move ever since Frankie can remember, most
recently arriving in a seaside Scottish town. Wanting to protect her deaf son from the truth that they ran away, Lizzie has
invented a story that his father is away at sea. Every few weeks, she writes Frankie a make-believe letter from his father,
telling of his adventures in exotic lands. "The movie is filled with small moments of tenderness, insight and considerable
wisdom." – Hollywood Reporter (Directed by Shona Auerbach; UK; 2004; 102 min) Harris Theater: Sat, Nov 13 - 9:00; Sun, Nov 14 - 2:00 |
Distant
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"A sublime treat…purely cinematic expression." – Toronto Star Winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2003, this beautiful film chronicles the loneliness, longing, and isolation in the lives of people who are consumed by their own problems. The story centers around an Istanbul photographer and his relatives, and the cast is comprised of the directors relatives and friends, all nonprofessional actors, who turn in amazingly refined performances. Nuri Bilge Ceylan uses his significant cinematic talents to great effect with long, meditative shots that emphasize a mood of alienation. Wintry Istanbul becomes its own character, as its foreboding weather and stark industrial areas create a physical distance among the characters. Imbued with pathos, this film provides a complex character study that speaks to the need for human connection. Subtitled. (Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan; Turkey; 2003; 105 min) Harris Theater: Sat, Nov 13 - 4:30; Sun, Nov 14 - 4:00 |
Don't Call Me Crazy on the 4th of July
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Pittsburgh legend Bob Lansberry walked around downtown streets for more
than 25 years wearing a sandwich board sign asking a variety of
revolving messages. The most famous ones demonstrated a fierce
intelligence as well as immutable paranoia such as, "Where's my mail?"
and "Does silent radio control your mind?" His worries about government
control, ironically, eventually drew the attention of the FBI and the
Secret Service. Director Pell not only pays homage to one of
Pittsburgh's most lovable eccentrics, but also raises relevant questions
about a government that oversteps its authority. Don't Call Me Crazy on the 4th of July debuted at the Gene Siskel Film Center in
Chicago. (Directed by Richard
Pell; USA; 2004; 29 min) Harris Theater: Wed, Nov 10 - 5:30, Thu, Nov 11 - 8:00 |
Duaneland
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For the first time, the artistic process of one of the world's foremost artists, McKeesport native Duane Michals, is captured
on film. Michals is known for his narrative, sequential photography as well as his commercial work, including the cover art
for The Police's Synchronicity album, Life magazine covers, and fashion spreads for Vogue magazine. Mostly self-taught,
he’s revered throughout the world of art photography. For this documentary Michals was asked to talk about his memories, his
history, his work, his life and philosophy. He enthusiastically agreed. The first interview was recorded in May 2003 and the focus
soon centered on a new book, The House I Once Called Home, a work that Michals calls a photographic memoir. The film highlights
yet another of the dynamic, creative, and successful talents who was born and nurtured in the Pittsburgh region. (Directed by
Stephen Seliy and Joe Seamans; USA; 2004; 64min) Regent Sq Theater: Thu, Nov 18 - 7:00 (special event ticket required); Thu, Nov 18 - 9:15 Joe Seamans and Duane Michals are scheduled to appear. Michals' photographs and calligraphy are on exhibit from October 29 through December 17 at Melwood Galleries. |
Goodbye, Dragon Inn
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A kind of Taiwanese Last Picture Show, this is the story of a decaying, deserted movie theater. Elegantly filmed and funnier
than you would expect when the characters include a physically disabled ticket-taker with an unrequited crush on the theater’s
chain-smoking projectionist. Director Ming-liang (What Time is it There?) has created a metaphor for the movie-going experience,
and a gentle criticism of American audiences. He pokes fun at rude movie-goers, especially loud snackers, seat changers, and people
who insist on putting their feet up on the seat in front of them. With very little dialogue, the film explores all the space that a
movie house provides: viewing space, working space, screen space, personal space. Wonderful observations. Subtitled. (Directed by
Tsai Ming-liang; Taiwan; 2004; 82 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sat, Nov 6 - 4:00; Sun, Nov 7 - 5:30 |
Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst |
"Mom, dad, I'm with a combat unit that's armed with automatic weapons." So began a nightmare for one of America's wealthiest newspaper
families in 1974. Kidnap victim Patty Hearst had somehow been transformed into Tania, a full-fledged member of "revolutionary" group
the Symbionese Liberation Army. The infamous episode capped an era of domestic terrorism from the extreme left, and ushered in what
has become the now familiar media frenzy over celebrities and crime. The war in Vietnam was fitfully winding down, Nixon was faced with
Watergate, and campuses were increasingly lukewarm hotbeds of revolutionary rhetoric and takeovers. This elegant, constantly
fascinating documentary immerses the viewer in those amazing years. Tapping into a huge stockpile of images and sounds (television,
photos, surveillance footage, newspaper clippings, communiqués, interviews including SLAers Russell Little and Michael Bortin), Guerrilla
brings this surreal American story to life. (Directed by Robert Stone; USA; 2003; 90 min) Harris Theater: Wed, Nov 10 - 5:30, Thu, Nov 11 - 8:00 |
Hungry For Monsters: A Tale from a New Age Witch Hunt
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Presented by Film Kitchen. This feature-length documentary explores a sensational court case
from the early 1990s, in which the teenage daughter of a Pittsburgh-area family was convinced, wrongly, that she had repressed memories of abuse
at the hands of her father and other adults. (Directed by George Csicsery; USA; 2003; 69 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Tue, Nov 9 - 7:00 George Csicsery is scheduled to appear. |
Jandek on Corwood
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"The longest-running, weirdest, loneliest enigma in popular music is a guy from Texas who calls himself Jandek." So begins a Boston
Phoenix story by Douglas Wolk. From the bluesy, atonal music and introspective lyrics, to the artist’s steadfast seclusion and sheer
longevity, everything about this man intrigues. Twenty-five years, 34 albums, and not a single live show or public appearance (until 10-17-04!). Even the
simple detail of the man's real name is a mystery. Jandek released his first album, Ready for the House, in 1978 on his own record label,
"Corwood Industries" (he is, of course, the only artist on this label). Bolstered by a single review published two years later, Jandek set about
releasing one album per year over the next quarter century. His unique brand of cacophonous rock and suicide-note blues is perfectly
echoed in this haunting film about a very unusual artist. (Directed by Chad Freidrichs; USA; 2004; 89min) Melwood Screening Rm: Thu, Nov 11 - 9:15; Fri, Nov 12 - 7:15 |
A Letter To True
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Filmmaker/photographer Bruce Weber is a professed animal lover, and his newest film centers on his own dogs, a family of gorgeous golden retrievers,
including "True." A Letter To True is a stunning look at the affection, loyalty, and unconditional love displayed by these animals – which the
filmmaker sees as a metaphor for peace and hope in the world. In a highly personal commentary, Weber interweaves his personal obsessions: music of
the '50s and '60s, home movies of Dirk Bogarde in Provence; conversations with Elizabeth Taylor (another great dog lover), recollections of friendships
past, and speculation about how our lives have been changed by the events of 9/11. Tying these various strands together with a poet’s logic, A Letter
To True is a little like staying up late with Bruce Weber, listening to great music and peeking into the mind of a world-class connoisseur. With narration
by Julie Christie and Marianne Faithfull. -Karen Cooper, Film Forum (Directed by Bruce Weber; USA; 2004; 78 min) Regent Sq Theater: Sat, Nov 6 - 3:00; Sun, Nov 7 - 7:30 |
Lightning in a Bottle
|
In early 2003, dozens of famed blues musicians came together to celebrate the 100th anniversary, a once-in-a-lifetime, "Salute To The
Blues" benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall. This momentous event, captured on film by Pittsburgh native Antoine Fuqua (Training
Day), features performances by legends such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray and their musical heirs, from John Fogerty and
Bonnie Raitt, to India.Arie. With Martin Scorsese as executive producer, the love for the music and the artists is palpable, their
subjects presented as people as well as musicians enjoying their craft. Mostly in concert but also in dressing rooms and in rehearsal,
the talent is staggering. Caught clear, sharp and spotlight-bluish, hands and faces shine with emotion. Though emphasis is on
performance, the brief historical footage and the off-stage banter prove fascinating. (Directed by Antoine
Fuqua; USA; 2004; 106 min) Harris Theater: Sat, Nov 6 - 5:00; Sun, Nov 7 - 7:00 |
Monsieur N.
|
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to the island of St. Helena where he died a few years later. Or did he? Using
a combination of historical record and creative speculation, director Antonine de Caunes has created a fascinating mystery surrounding the
emperor’s exile. With impeccable performances and wonderful period detail, this costume drama has it all: courtly intrigue, legacy-lusting
generals, thwarted raids, chess-like maneuverings, bodice-ripping and bee-keeping – all confined to the environs of a small farmhouse in
the South Atlantic. Subtitled. (Directed by Antoine de Caunes; France; 2003; 127min) Regent Sq Theater: Thu, Nov 11 - 9:00; Sat, Nov 13 - 2:00 |
Moog
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This is the story of a true American maverick. Bob Moog has been inventing and building electronic musical instruments for nearly half a
century. So many musicians have such an emotional attachment to the electronics inside a Moog Synthesizer, that the man has reached cult
hero status. Still active in his rural North Carolina, Moog continues to shape musical culture today. This delightful documentary not only
introduces us to the "mad-scientist" himself (all fly-away white hair, eccentric mannerisms, and a head full of stories) but also to an
eclectic mix of performers: Stereolab, Meat Beat Manifesto, Tortoise, and more. Vintage films borrowed from dusty private collections round
out this celebratory film. (Directed by Hans Fjellestad; USA; 2004; 72 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sun, Nov 7 - 3:30; Mon, Nov 8 - 7:15; Wed, Nov 10 - 7:15 |
Moolaadé
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From legendary, 81-year-old, Senegalese director Ousmane Sembene, this compelling film is the winner of the Un Certain Regard award at
this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The action is set in a small African village where four young girls come to a local woman, asking for
protection from ritual "purification," or female circumcision. The woman is known for refusing to let her daughter be mutilated. She grants
them protection, or "moolaadé," over the protests of her husband, but with the support of his first and third wives. Eventually there is a
standoff between the women and the village men. Presented as a parable, Moolaadé is a work of unpretentious simplicity and eloquence. From
the gargantuan anthills to the vibrant tapestry of village life, every shot has a strong visual point of center from which the
film’s spiritual essence spills. At a time when ritual mutilation is under attack in Africa, when Islamic leaders have tried to explain it
is not required by religious law but is a local custom, Moolaadé is a strong, true and important film. (Directed by Ousmane
Sembene; Senegal; 2004; 124min) SouthSide Works Cinema: Fri, Nov 5 - 7:30 (special event ticket required); Fri, Nov 5 - 10:00 Brenda Berrian, of the Africana Studies Dept at UPitt, is scheduled to appear. |
Notre Musique
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From cinema legend Jean-Luc Godard (Alphaville, Breathless) comes his most affecting, ambitious and focused movie in years. He ponders the contradictions of human
nature as well as the role of war in modern civilization. Philosophical, but not didactic, this beautiful film unfolds like a dream in three
parts. Purgatory is present-day Sarajevo, under reconstruction. Hell is a brilliant trip through armed conflicts of the 20th century (drawn
from archival footage and feature films) and Paradise is a surreal, serene beach in Rolle, guarded by US Marines. As intellectually playful
as Godard’s greatest works, yet suffused with an affection for humanity, Notre Musique is "beautiful and elegant" – A. O. Scott, NY
Times. Subtitled. (Directed by Jean-Luc Godard; France; 2004; 80 min) Regent Sq Theater: Fri, Nov 12 - 9:30; Sat, Nov 13 - 4:45 |
Postmen in the Mountains
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This gorgeous and poignant drama concerns an aging postman who is unable to maintain his grueling route. The story begins as a 24-year-old
is preparing to take over the postal duties of his father in remote Hunan. When the loyal family dog can't be coaxed into guiding the young
man through his first three-day trek alone, the father goes along too, to see that the torch is properly passed. But with this passing of the
torch comes deep emotions. The heartwarming drama, set against a gorgeous Chinese landscape, asks us to re-evaluate our Fed-Ex, e-mail, text
message lifestyles. Subtitled. (Directed by Huo Jianqi; China; 1998; 90 min) Regent Sq Theater: Tue, Nov 9 - 7:15; Wed, Nov 10 - 9:15 |
Reconstruction
|
Winner of the Camera d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, Danish
director Christoffer Boe's debut feature is a romantic adventure and a
moody, stylish meditation on personal identity that catapults its
youthful protagonist into an alternate universe and dares us to feel for
him. Set amid graceful, austere Copenhagen – its luxury hotels and
quiet restaurants, its classical squares and fluorescent subway stations
– Reconstruction is an enigmatic urban romance with a gilded,
fashion-magazine look and a literary soul. Alex is riding the subway
with his girlfriend (Maria Bonnevie) when his eyes lock with those of a
beautiful stranger, Aimee (also played by Bonnevie). Impulsively, he
vaults off the train to follow her into the night. He becomes obsessed,
but is she real or imagined? Or have they somehow already met in another
dimension? Subtitled. (Directed by Christoffer Boe; Denmark; 2003; 90 min) Regent Sq Theater: Wed, Nov 10 - 7:15; Fri, Nov 12 - 7:15 |
Resisting Paradise |
"Barbara Hammer may be the Stanley Kubrick of documentary filmmakers.
She has ruined me for all others." – J. Hiller, Tribeca Film Festival.
Resisting Paradise grew out of a residency in the south of France, which
coincided with the beginning of the war in Kosovo. Originally in Cassis
to film the light that so inspired painters like Matisse and Bonnard,
Hammer decided to investigate the role that these artists and others in
Cassis played during World War II. She found it "impossible to continue
my modernist pursuit of beauty without ideology or critical
observation." In this beautiful, lyrical essay, Hammer (Nitrate Kisses) asks how can art
exist during a time of political crisis. The stories of resistance from
the wife, son and daughter of Henri Matisse are highlights in this
compelling film, noted for its painterly beauty and complex editing
strategy. (Directed by Barbara Hammer; USA; 2003; 80 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Thu, Nov 11 - 7:15; Fri, Nov 12 - 9:15 |
Robbing Peter
|
Just when it seemed the Quentin Tarantino effect – from Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction days – had disappeared, along comes Robbing
Peter, an inspired reconsideration of loop-the-loop story structure. First-time writer/director Mario F. de la Vega’s salute to irony, crime comedy,
multi-gun standoffs, and deadpan dialogue is filled with well-drawn characters and all the plot twists don't undercut the subtle meditation on man's
relationship to crime. Presented in three parts, titled Desesperacion, Furia, and Ignorancia, it concerns an out-of-work engineer who agrees to
escort an illegal shipment (the contents are never revealed) across the border from Mexico to the United States. In English and Spanish with
subtitles. (Directed by Mario F. de la Vega; Mexico/USA; 2004; 95 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sun, Nov 14 - 4:15; Tue, Nov 16 - 7:15 |
Saints and Sinners
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This timely film about love and commitment looks at the struggle gay couples face who are also deeply committed to their church. When we meet Edward
DeBonis and Vincent Maniscalco they have decided, after living together for seven years, to get married. But both are devoted to Catholic tradition
and so they begin the search for a Catholic Church that will agree to perform the ceremony. Edward and Vincent pursue their dream – flowers, fancy
cake, bachelors’ party and all – despite the expected rejection from the church’s hierarchy. As this touching and humorous film demonstrates, the
struggle for equal rights is not just about legal benefits, but the need for acceptance and affirmation. (Directed by Abigail
Honor and Yan Vizinberg; USA; 2004; 72 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sun, Nov 7 - 7:30; Wed, Nov 10 - 9:00 |
Sex Is Comedy
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Jeanne (Anne Parillaud of La Femme Nikita) is a director struggling with a difficult sex scene between two actors who can't stand each other.
Aided by her loyal assistant Leo (Ashley Wanninger), Jeanne is hell-bent on getting the scene right without compromise. Inspired by Breillat's
own experiences (particularly those in last year’s Fat Girl), this film about filmmaking explores the comedy of social manipulations, sex and
power that takes place within the confines of a movie set. Subtitled. (Directed by Catherine
Breillat; France; 2003; 92 min) Harris Theater: Sun, Nov 14 - 6:00; Tue, Nov 16 - 5:30 |
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SHORTS PROGRAMS Sponsored in part by Kodak. This year's finalists will be shown during multiple screenings. On Friday, Nov 12 the prize winners will be announced during the screening, followed by a reception. Which films will show on which days will be announced shortly. The following films are finalists: A As In Alpha Gain (DENISE KAUFMANN), The Auction (CARLO SANSONETTI), Automation (TODD ALBRIGHT), Fool Throttle (TODD HEMKER), Good Morning, Children (JESSE MCLEAN), A Good Strong Roof (TONY GAULT), Iraqi Freedom (U.S. MARINE CORPS), It Could Happen To You (ELIZABETH HENRY), Kinetic Sandwich (ERIC DYER), Las Super Amigas (DOMINGO GONZALEZ), Léo (NICOLAS ROY), Lunch (MATTHEW EHLERS), My Brother Nathaniel (SIMEON HUTNER), Night Shift (ERIC FLEISCHAUER), Oedipus (JASON WISHNOW), One Day While Cooking Cauliflower (JEFFREY MORELLI), Out of the Ether (KERRY LAITALA), A Phone Call From Planet Earth (OLIVIA CIUMMO), Pink and Pong (ALINA BLIUMIS), Scrabble (JAY DUPLASS), Space Thing (TIM BUSKO), Thief of Baghdad (DIANE NERWEN), Toilet Training (TARA MATEIK), Transit (KERRY WELDON), El Tren Del Bruja (KOLDO SERRA). Harris Theater: Fri, Nov 12 - 7:30 (award winners - see lineup) Melwood Screening Rm: Tue, Nov 16 - 9:15 (program I - see lineup); Wed, Nov 17 - 7:15 (program II - see lineup) |
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Small Voices
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Based on true events, Small Voices is the story of a young teacher who moves to the provincial town of Malawig, with not much more than a dream.
Melinda arrives to find a land of coconut and rice fields, and a people barren of hope. Poverty has made the townspeople passive, resigned to a
bitter fate, while others fight in the mountains staking their lives for some kind of change. Hope is essential, Melinda insists, and dreams can
be made real. Against the skepticism of the town, she and the children of Malawig join a humble singing contest. Their small voices ring out against
darkness, against poverty, death and despair. Their song awakens in everyone a small flame of hope, a daring to dream, and a willingness to fight
for it. A truly inspirational film. Subtitled. (Directed by Gil Portes; Philippines; 2003; 109 min) Harris Theater: Wed, Nov 10 - 8:00; Thu, Nov 11 - 5:30 |
Speak
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Produced by Pittsburgh Filmmakers alumnus Matt Myers, and starring Elizabeth Perkins, Steve Zahn and Kristen Stewart. Speak premiered
at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Jessica Sharzer makes her feature debut with this film, based on
the young-adult novel by Laurie Halse Anderson. Stewart stars as high school freshman Melinda, who has lost her ability to speak. Ever since
a traumatic event that occurred at a party over the summer, she has chosen to remain silent. She's abandoned by her friends, while her mother Joyce
(Perkins) is too wrapped up in her own problems to notice. By recalling the details of the past situation, it becomes clear that a date rape occurred.
Yet no one has offered her support in order to deal with the psychological consequences. Eventually her art teacher Mr. Freeman (Zahn) reaches
out, helping her develop ways to express herself. (Directed by Jessica Sharzer; USA; 2004; 92 min) SouthSide Works Cinema: Fri, Nov 5 - 7:45 (special event ticket required); Fri, Nov 5 - 10:00 Matt Myers is scheduled to appear. |
Sunrise NEW PRINT!
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Hailed by Cahiers du Cinema critics as the greatest film of all time, Sunrise is pure movie magic. For his "song of two humans," director F. W. Murnau
(Nosferatu) created the perfect synthesis of American and German silent cinema. The story is simple: the idyllic marriage of George O’Brien and Janet
Gaynor is threatened when he falls so hard for a cigarette-smoking flapper from the city that he considers murdering his wife. But the expressionistic
style of filmmaking (using very few inter-titles) still conjures reverential pronouncements by cineastes world-wide. From the seduction scene in the misty,
moonlit marshes, to the carnival-like trip to the city, to the hair-raising storm on the lake, this is a work of photographic pyrotechnics – winning the
very first Oscar for cinematography. (Directed by F. W. Murnau; USA; 1927; 110 min) Regent Sq Theater: Sun, Nov 14 - 8:00 (special event ticket required) With live piano accompaniment by Philip Carli. |
Tarnation
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"A masterpiece." – NY Post A surprise hit at the Cannes Film Festival – despite costing just $218 to make – this stunning autobiography is a testament to the healing power of self-expression. A Texas kid whose mother was in shock therapy, Jonathan Caouette, now 31, was abused in foster care and saw his mother's condition worsen as a result of her "treatment." He began filming himself and his family at age 11, creating movie fantasies as an escape. For Tarnation, he spliced his footage together with songs, phone messages, photographs, Hollywood movie clips, pop culture icons and dress-up reenactments to create a poignant and raw self-portrait. And using a home computer with basic editing software, he did it all for a tiny fraction of a Hollywood movie's cost. Recalling the underground films of the '60s with its psychedelic imagery, this is an amazing story of transcendence. Great soundtrack, too. Produced by Gus Van Sant. (Directed by Jonathan Caouette; USA; 2004; 90 min) Harris Theater: Tue, Nov 16 - 7:30; Wed, Nov 17 - 5:30 |
Travellers and Magicians
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Khyentse Norbu's follow-up to his audience favorite, The Cup, is the
first feature film ever shot in the tiny kingdom of Bhutan. One of
Himalayan Buddhism's most revered lamas, Khyentse weaves a parallel
fable-like tale of men who seek to escape their mundane lives. The story
revolves around a young government official named Dondup who dreams of
escaping to America while stuck in a ravishingly beautiful but isolated
village. When the chance arrives, he immediately heads for town and an
awaiting visa, but things don't go quite as planned. Missing the bus, he
hitchhikes with an elderly apple seller, a sage young monk, and an old
man travelling with his beautiful daughter. Along the way, the
perceptive yet mischievous monk tells Dondup a story of another young
man who sought a land far away. It is a magical mixture of rustic road
movie and mystical fable, a potpourri of desire and its consequences,
set in a breathtaking landscape. Subtitled. (Directed by Khyentse
Norbu; Bhutan; 2004; 108 min) Regent Sq Theater: Sun, Nov 7 - 3:00; Tue, Nov 9 - 9:15 |
Two Men Went To War |
A hilarious tale based on a true story. Sergeant Peter King of the Army
Dental Corps, too old to fight, and Private Leslie Cuthbertson, a
trainee, are thrown together by their passionate desire to see active
duty. Armed with just two revolvers and a dozen grenades, King persuades
Cuthbertson to join him on a mission to go to occupied France. They even
write a letter to Winston Churchill explaining their intention to invade
France and fight the Germans. In this hilarious and heroic story the
pair bumble their way through a series of misadventures, including
explosions, narrow escapes, interrogations and court marshals. "God
bless the lunatics," say a British major played by Derek Jacobi,
"without them this war could be really quite serious." (Directed by John
Henderson; UK; 2002; 105min) Harris Theater: Sun, Nov 14 - 2:45; Tue, Nov 16 - 7:15 |
Unknown Soldier
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Winner of the largest film festival prize in the US earlier this year ($50000 from the Los Angeles Film Fest), Unknown Soldier is the first feature from
self-taught filmmaker Ferenc Toth. A bleak but powerful, tender and uplifting portrait of a teenager named Ellison (or L to his friends) whose life goes into a
downward spiral after the unexpected death of his father. In this low-budget yet sharply edited film, stunningly shot on location in Harlem, Toth displays a
sense of composition indicative of a born filmmaker. His eye for detail extents to his depiction of the lead character's plight by creating a visceral intensity
which captures L's constant battle as he tries to adjust to the harsh realities of life on the streets. (Directed by Ferenc
Toth; USA; 2004; 78min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sat, Nov 13 - 8:30; Mon, Nov 15 - 9:15 |
Untold Scandal
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Sumptuous and erotic, this exquisite film is more than just a retelling of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. This version of entangled aristocrats is transported to
feudal Korea, where the young virgins are easy to conquer. Bored and frustrated by her husband’s behavior Lady Cho sets up ta more challenging wager: if
handsome lothario Cho-won can seduce the widow Lady Chung (nicknamed "the gate of chastity") he gets to bed his married cousin – who is Lady Cho herself!
Breathtakingly filmed with meticulous attention to details, Scandal is a feast for the senses. Subtitled. (Directed by Je-yong Lee; Korea; 2004; 124 min) Harris Theater: Mon, Nov 15 - 5:30; Wed, Nov 17 - 7:30 |
Vodka Lemon
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In the snowy badlands of post Soviet Armenia, village life is nearing subsistence level. The Russians have long departed and almost all of the young men
have left to find work. "Maintaining a wry pH balance between Kaurismaki and Paradjanov, this comedy about a mountain village, its boondocks cemetery,
its single bus, and two sexagenarians finding love in the ruins is a blessed wonder." – J. Hoberman, Village Voice. This audience favorite at the Toronto,
Seattle and Venice Film Festivals celebrates its quirky characters at the same time it mourns their plight. Subtitled. (Directed by Hiner
Saleem; Armenia/France/Italy; 2003; 88 min) Regent Sq Theater: Sat, Nov 6 - 9:00; Sun, Nov 7 - 5:30 |
War
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Filmed in nearby Warren County, this experimental feature – four years in the making – debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Using a
hand-cranked silent camera, the young filmmaker reminds us that sometimes more can be said with minimal resources than with all the high-tech effects money can buy.
The result is a dreamlike sensory immersion into a netherworld – the where and when are not specific. War explores the internal struggles for three isolated
characters amid the rural ruins of a disappearing America. The film’s narrative thread evokes the inner dramas of a farmer, a preacher (who says, "this is the
world after the end of the world") a junkman, and a young boy living in a gray landscape. A "striking debut feature." – Variety. (Directed by Jake
Mahaffy; USA; 2004; 84 min) Harris Theater: Sat, Nov 6 - 7:00; Sun, Nov 7 - 2:00 Jake Mahaffy is scheduled to appear Nov 6 & 7. |
Watermarks
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In response to the notorious "Aryan Paragraph," forbidding Austrian sports clubs from accepting Jews, Hakoah Vienna was founded in 1909. It rapidly grew into one
of Europe's biggest athletic clubs, while achieving astonishing success in many diverse sports. In the 1930s Hakoah's best-known triumphs came from its women
swimmers, who dominated national competitions in Austria. In 1938, the Nazis shut down the legendary club. Sixty-five years later, director Yaron Zilberman met
the champion women swimmers in their homes around the world, and arranged a reunion at their old pool in Vienna, a journey evoking memories of their youth and
strengthening lifelong bonds. Told by the women, now in their 80s, Watermarks is the saga of seven outstanding athletes who still swim daily as they age with
grace. Above all, it is a celebration of life. (Directed by Yaron Zilberman; Israel; 2004; 80min) Regent Sq Theater: Sun, Nov 14 - 5:00; Mon, Nov 15 - 7:15 |
When Tyrants Kiss
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Filmed in and around Pittsburgh, Tyrants is a labor of love by students,
staff and faculty of Carnegie Mellon University. This stylish whodunit
follows Sam Harris, a down-on-his-luck con artist, wherever he turns.
It's set in Pittsburgh, circa 1937, when payola, union-bashing, and
graft were the rules of the political game. Harris tries to solve the
mysterious murder of his police officer brother, and in the process
uncovers one of the most venomous government conspiracies in American
history. This sinister tale of intrigue and seduction – complete with
controversy – stars lots of local talent, including Dana Wright, Alex
Cendese, Melanie Julian, Dan R. Pagath and Christopher Dippel. (Directed
by Michael Scotto; USA; 2004; 94 min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sat, Nov 6 - 6:00; Mon, Nov 8 - 9:00 Producer Danny Josephs is scheduled to appear. |
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
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This is the true story of a street musician and his remarkable relationship with a flock of wild green-and-red parrots. Mark Bittner, essentially a homeless
man in San Francisco, falls in with the flock as he searches for meaning in his life, unaware that the wild parrots will bring him everything he needs. The film
celebrates urban wildness, bohemian and avian, and links the parrots’ antics to human behavior. Although he is no scientist and this is not a "nature film," Mark
becomes something of an expert himself as he consults local birders, and as he feeds, names, studies, and protects the cherry-headed conures – escaped pets who
have begun to breed in the wilds of the city. "It is a rare documentary that has romance, comedy, and a surprise ending that makes you feel as if you could fly…"
– San Jose Mercury News. (Directed by Judy Irving; USA; 2004; 83min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sat, Nov 13 - 6:30 |
Year of the Bull
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Taurean Charles, an exceptionally talented young athlete from a poor section of Miami, believes football is his ticket to a better life. Year of the Bull,
from first-time director Todd Lubin, follows
both the perennial high school champs, the Miami Northwestern Bulls, and their captain Taurean Charles, through a football season. We witness real high school
football mania: the state-wide media hype that invades a star athlete’s life, the school’s voracious appetite for state championships, abusive coaches, young men
playing through serious injuries – and the recruiting frenzy from colleges across the nation. It's no surprise that as the season progresses and the Bulls continue
to win, Taurean loses interest in preparing for his SATs. This compelling story is more than a football movie. While it raises important questions about the culture
of sports-over-education in this country, it is primarily a portrait of a young black man faced with choices, as well as the family and the community
(including former Pittsburgh Steeler Tim Lester) that supports him. You will not soon forget Taurean Charles. (Directed by Todd Lubin; USA; 2003; 90min) Melwood Screening Rm: Sat, Nov 13 - 2:00; Sun, Nov 14 - 6:15 |
