REVIEW: OUTSOURCED
Posted by Cynthia Corral
OUTSOURCED
One of the great new ideas Cinequest had this year was using social media to have people vote on their favorite past Cinequest film. The winning film was given an encore screening at the festival. The winner this year was OUTSOURCED, indeed one of my favorite films and I am thrilled that audiences had a new chance to see it.
Plot: Todd Anderson is the head of a Seattle call center whose entire operation has been fired and outsourced to India. Todd is sent to India to train the new employees.
I love the movie because in the beginning you see India through Todd’s eyes; you see stereotypes, crazy cab drivers, cows in office buildings, horrendous art… but it is not long before you are seeing America through India’s eyes, and laughing harder at your own self and country and customs than you were laughing at India. The movie shows you the beauty in “tacky” and teaches you that you are indeed a “schmuk”. Nothing I could say in a simple entry like this would get across the beauty and humor and lessons that are in this film.
I hope the OUTSOURCED screening was well attended, and that Cinequest continues this idea of bringing back favorite films. I had voted for ANDREW JENKS, ROOM 335 because it was just as great of a film as OUTSOURCED, yet unavailable on DVD. If you did not make the OUTSOURCED screening this time, you are in luck because it IS available on DVD at both Netflix and Amazon. I strongly recommend you get your hands on this delightful film whether by renting or buying (I recommend buying!), you will be happy you did.
REVIEW: MOTHER (AND CQ20 CLOSING NIGHT)
Posted by Cynthia Corral
MOTHER (MADEO)
CINEQUEST 20, while still showing Encore Films today, ended last night with their best Closing Night ever.
The California Theatre was packed with tired yet excited festival goers, regretfully saying goodbye to another year. We were treated to music from the organist, then the singer from BUMMER SUMMER, and an amazing set by Panthelion. Awards were announced and a full list can be found on the Cinequest website. FISH PASTA won for best SanDisk film. A final Maverick Spirit Award was given to Kathy Wolfe, founder of Wolfe Video, the oldest and largest distributor of gay and lesbian films. And finally the lights went down for the closing film.
This final film of the festival was MOTHER (MADEO), a new film directed by Joon-ho Bong from THE HOST. If you have not yet seen THE HOST (like a few of my self-professed “film fan” friends admitted) you must immediately open up the Netflix site and put it in your queue. It is simply one of the very best monster films ever made. MOTHER is not quite at the same level, but it was still terrific.
The very protective mother of a mentally challenged adult man is crushed when her son is accused of a brutal murder. The police believe they have an open and shut case, especially after the boy willingly signs a confession. But the mother refuses to believe her son is guilty and becomes very involved in conducting her own police investigation.
There are many twists and turns in this beautiful film. There is some extreme violence as well as acres of gorgeous scenery. And most important there is some tremendous acting. I am unfortunately not able to decipher who is who from the character list, so I don’t know the name of the actress who played the mother however she turns in an Oscar level performance. The son is equally talented. The only downside is that at 128 minutes long the film seemed about 20 minutes TOO long. The last several scenes could have easily been cut.
Jason Wiener, Paul Robinson at SoFa Billiards around 2am. Photo by Tassoula Kokkoris from Cinebanter.
But maybe the audience was just anxious for the party! This year the Closing Party was held at South First Billiards, and this super large venue could barely hold all the excited party goers. Stella Artois beer and vodka & cranberry drinks flowed freely as a DJ played in the background. Guests danced, played pool, and sat and discussed the festival. My own party was finally kicked out at 2:15am and we all went home to crash and prepare for Encore Day.
Perhaps next year the Closing Ceremonies could start at 7pm. This seems reasonable for a Saturday night, and would allow us out and ready for the party before 11pm. But aside from wishing we had more time to celebrate together it was still an awesome time and we are all missing Cinequest already.
Next year: Cinequest 21
Tags: closing night, closing party, joon-ho bong, mother, south first billiards, the host.
REVIEW: SHORTS PROGRAM 3, DOCUNATION
Posted by Cynthia Corral
CLANDESTINE from SHORTS 3: DOCUNATION
SHORTS PROGRAM 3: DocuNation is usually one of my favorite groups of shorts at Cinequest. There were only five films in the program this year and I did love three of them, but I really hated two of them.
It started off with PERFECT WORLD, which set me off right away. Several students in an alternative school in England are asked about their version of a perfect world, and so the entire film is shots of them saying “In a perfect world…” or “A perfect world would be…” The students themselves have some disabilities such as learning problems and ADHD, so this would seem to be a great idea and it is, but it’s been DONE BEFORE. And better. It’s not an original idea, and in this case, there were no inspiring, charming, thought provoking or insightful answers from the children. I found it to be tedious and frustratingly boring.
NOTES ON THE OTHER I loved, and many others in the audience did as well. It switches between the story of Ernest Hemingway seeing an injured man on the street in Pamplona, to the story of the injured man and his still living son, and then to a group of men in Key West, Florida, who meet every year to choose the new authentic Hemingway “look-alike”. I enjoyed hearing bits about Hemingway’s life, but what struck me the most was the film about the son who still lives in Pamplona and runs the family business. Every year during the running of the bulls he shuts up the business, opens a hole in the door, and sits behind it photographing the race. The film documents him sitting behind that hole with his camera, and when the bulls and men begin running past the viewer is instantly put into the middle of this exciting event. I have never felt so close to the running of the bulls before, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
CLANDESTINE is a narrative about the filmmaker’s father who is a shortwave hobbyist, but intertwined with a documentary about the encrypted messages used by spies, and the history of what happened to some of these spies. It’s a 30 minute film and I found it to be fascinating and well told. I like when documentaries teach us something, and this doc was quite interesting.
UNDERTOW EYES was a strain for me to get through. It is about a couple named Vera and Gabriel who are around 80 years old now, and they narrate the life they have lived together since meeting when Vera was age 15. It is a beautiful film with colorful images of Vera and Gabriel now, mixed with photos and film of their lives since they were children. The problem here is there is no real conflict in this story. A few parts were interesting, but for the most part I wish some conflict had been introduced to make the story more fascinating than that of any of our parents or grandparents. Vera and Gabriel met, got married, had many children, not a lot of money, and now they are old and happy together. The End.
HOW GREEN WAS OUR VALLEY is the story of a small village in Iran whose tenants are warned that an incoming flood from the new hydroelectric dam is about to destroy their village. The villagers refuse to leave because they do not believe their saint, whose bones are buried in a temple in the village, will let harm come to them. Of course this saint has no control over civilization’s progress in this case and they are indeed flooded. They are now faced with finding a new home, but more importantly, moving the bones of their saint. It is heartbreaking to watch and was a powerful ending to the entire shorts program.
REVIEW: GABI ON THE ROOF IN JULY
Posted by Cynthia Corral
GABI ON THE ROOF IN JULY
GABI ON THE ROOF IN JULY is one of the more interesting films of Cinequest this year, and the filmmakers Lawrence Michael Levine and Sophie Takal are two of the most personable and loved of the festival this year. I am not sure it is one of the best films though.
The movie and its characters draw you in from the start. Gabi, a student of “post-fluxist feminist art”, comes to live with her older brother Sam, and there is a cast of characters that I certainly remember knowing when I was in my early 20s. Sophie Takal is strikingly beautiful and it doesn’t hurt that her character loves to be naked through most of the film. This may explain why my male friends think this film is the best ever.
I didn’t find it the best ever. There was a good story and I liked the progression and how it ended. But the characters turn out to be mostly unlikeable. Gabi especially moves from very immature behavior to possibly crazy. Sam behaves badly with his girlfriend. And all females in this film are shown as extremely possessive and insecure. I suppose I most liked irresponsible Garrett and silent Charles, in comparison to the other unlikeable characters.
That said, overall I think it’s a good film with some problems. We were warned about profanity and nudity before the film started, and while neither bothers me, I do have a problem with swearing for the sake of swearing. It was overused a bit in the beginning. The actors did a great job and were very comfortable in their roles; I think the biggest surprise to me was what a great presence Lawrence had on screen. But there needed to be someone to root for. I think Gabi was actually more likable as emotional issues were finally becoming clear, but for the first half she was just a very annoying child. I do think overall there was more good than bad.
Yes, you should probably see this film if it is replayed on Sunday. You may or may not enjoy it very much, and I doubt you would hate it. The actors are talented and beautiful; in fact one of my notes reads: “EXACTLY where is this place where everyone is beautiful and naked??” It IS a good story. Just don’t expect a 5 star film.
Of course, naked Sophie Takal never hurts.
Tags: Gabi on the Roof in July, Lawrence Michael Levine, sophie takal, world premiere.
5Q: CAMPBELL GRAHAM / ANYONE YOU WANT
Posted by CQ Central
CAMPBELL GRAHAM
1Q: Tell us a little about the origins of ANYONE YOU WANT, from concept to financing.
ANYONE YOU WANT is a romance about a young businessman in Sydney who befriends a troubled homeless girl and is drawn into her secret fantasy world. I wrote it in a month and it was financed by me, my two brothers and my ex-girlfriend!
2Q: ANYONE YOU WANT is having its World Premiere at Cinequest on March 3rd. How have you been enjoying the festival so far, and do you plan to bring the film to any other festivals?
3Q: What was your best and/or worst experience while making ANYONE YOU WANT?
Tags: 5Q, ANYONE YOU WANT, GRAHAM CAMPBELL, world premiere.
REVIEW: STARRING MAJA (PRINSESSA)
Posted by Cynthia Corral
STARRING MAJA
STARRING MAJA (PRINSESSA) is a lovely Swedish film about an overweight, unattractive and clumsy young woman who wants to be an actress. Most of the movie is spent watching her deal with harassment and being used as an object by others for their own purposes, but there is a quite satisfying ending that I found delightful. I loved the film.
Initially I was not sure I wanted to see this film as friends of mine had said it was difficult to watch. Indeed it is difficult to see the emotions Maja cannot help but reveal as she realizes the bit part in a TV show she was offered is actually for “fat, grotesque, ugly girl”. The audience also feels the betrayal that Maja feels as she realizes her only friend was using her as almost everyone else in her life has done.
The film revolves not just around Maja, but also Erika, a failed documentarian turned wedding photographer. She meets Maja at a wedding and decides to make a documentary about her. Beautiful Erika believes she sees something of herself in Maja because she has also not been able to achieve her dreams and is deeply in debt. However there is something somewhat disingenuous about such a gorgeous woman telling fat, unattractive Maja that she is truly beautiful and can be anything she wants to be.
Maja also has a school friend, a boy who has recently realized he is gay but has not come out to anyone but Maja. These two forge the only true friendship that Maja has, and they end up a great (platonic) couple.
The ending is tied up happily and not too falsely. Maja does not turn into a beautiful princess at the end, neither does she win the captain of the football team or become a movie starlet. But she discovers who she is and along with her friend Alex they make it clear that they are going to take on the world on their own terms. It is a hilarious, delightful ending that I just adored.
March 2nd was the final showing of STARRING MAJA but there may be a chance to see it on Sunday when Cinequest replays some of the audience favorites. Keep a look out for it.
Tags: COMEDY, DRAMA, PRINSESSA, REVIEW, STARRING MAJA, SWEDEN.
REVIEW: THE EXPLODING GIRL
Posted by Cynthia Corral
THE EXPLODING GIRL
THE EXPLODING GIRL is a quiet, sweet film about a young girl trying to deal with a waning love-life and her own epilepsy. However the slowness and lack of anything really happening left most of the audience cold.
Young Ivy is home on summer break and a few times we see her dealing with the idea of her epilepsy, but we rarely see her actually physically dealing with it. She also has a boyfriend who we only encounter through phone conversations such as this:
“Hey, sorry I haven’t called in awhile.”
“Oh, it’s okay.”
“So I was just checking in.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. Well, see ya.”
Meanwhile childhood friend Al has come to crash at her house for a bit, and their friendship slowly and sweetly begins to turn into something else. But nothing substantial really happens with this relationship and the film ends just as something might be starting. The 79 minutes of film time could have been condensed into 15 and then continued with an actual story. When the credits finally did roll, this audience couldn’t get out of the theater fast enough.
REVIEW: BURIED PRAYERS
Posted by Cynthia Corral
BURIED PRAYERS
BURIED PRAYERS is an emotional documentary about the search for buried items from holocaust victims sent to the gas chambers. In 1943 one of the worst death camps was Maidanek in Warsaw, where before the victims were sent into the camp they were held in these open fields right outside. After interviewing many survivors of the camp the filmmakers started hearing multiple stories of some of the Jews having buried their jewelry and valuables right in the field. They were well aware they would never exit Maidanek alive, but in a final act of defiance they refused to let the Germans get hold of their possessions so they buried them in the field. The film is about Maidanek itself, the stories of many witnesses from Maidanek, and finally the search for the items.
The pluses of this documentary are the witness accounts and the information about Maidanek itself. There are heartbreaking stories from the survivors who were mostly teenagers in 1943 and lost their entire families – their parents, siblings, everyone. Most had never spoken of what had happened in Maidanek until this documentary, and they were extremely touching and tales that needed to be told.
The minus is the amount spent on discussions about searching for the items, as opposed to the time spent actually looking and showing us what was found. It feels a bit dragged out as we are told over and over what a good idea it is to search these fields. The actual archaeological dig is not shown until the final minutes of the film.
The documentary is not as depressing as I expected it to be, so don’t let the idea of a dark, depressing tale push you away from this film (as I almost did). It IS a very emotional documentary, but there was something uplifting about the fact that the items hidden were actually found all this time later, that the stories of the people who died there were going to be told. The documentary is a rough cut and not completely edited yet, and of course there will be much more to be told later as they complete the dig (2 days work uncovered 80 items but left 99% of the field still to be uncovered).
It is an imperfect documentary, but a story that needs to be told. Don’t be afraid to see it, you will definitely learn something and see an incredible strength of human spirit.
REVIEW: PARABLE
Posted by Cynthia Corral
PARABLE
PARABLE is an incredible film which obviously had a great deal of thought put into it and in return gives the viewer a lot to think about. Should you go see it? Well.
Directed by Jon Jost, whose films are referred to as “tone poems”, PARABLE is a symbolic commentary on the Bush administration and was made before GWB left office. There is not much dialog and it can be very confusing if you are not taking it for what it is – a symbolic commentary. There are scenes with a man in a chair silently trying to unjumble a knotted rope. Scenes with a man in a red shirt who is tied by a rope to a woman in a blue dress. And there are some very violent scenes strewn throughout. The first five minutes of the film are so slow I think they are just meant to weed out any non-serious partakers. This film forces the viewer to pay attention and to think, so much so that it will be difficult for the average festivalgoer to sit still for it.
In fact, there were over 100 people in the audience when it started. At the 45 minute mark half the audience had left. By the time the Q&A began there were 17 people left to ask questions, but ask they did. Those 17 left were thrilled that they had stayed through the whole film and felt rewarded for having done so. The Q&A with actor Stephen Taylor was one of the best I have attended as everyone left was so excited about what they had just seen. In return, Taylor knew the director well (Jost was out of the country with another film) and was able to explain and talk about a great deal more than he had anticipated.
The truth is, this is an amazing film, but it is for a much smaller segment of the film festival audience. You must be prepared to think hard and to decipher the symbolism if you are going to watch this film, but go into the theater with that mindset you will be greatly rewarded.
Tags: DRAMA, GWB, JON JOST, PARABLE, STEPHEN TAYLOR, SYMBOLISM.
REVIEW: NO TOMORROW
Posted by Cynthia Corral
NO TOMORROW
NO TOMORROW is a thought provoking documentary that covers a lot of ground and argues a lot of different ideas. Its only weakness is that it perhaps presents a few too many ideas and does not have the correct case to prove their arguments.
AGING OUT is a documentary brought by the same filmmakers to Cinequest in 2004. It was about three teenagers who are aging out of the foster care system and the trials and tribulations they were then facing. The film focused on the resilience of each teen and chose to look positively on their future prospects.
But soon after that film was completed one of the teens, Risa Bejarano, was brutally murdered. The killer was caught, prosecuted and found guilty. This is where NO TOMORROW comes in. For the penalty phase of the trial the prosecution wanted to (and did) show the jury AGING OUT as a way of humanizing Risa and pushing the jury toward a death penalty decision. The filmmakers were not happy about having their film used to give death to an 18 year old when their original purpose was to bring something positive into the world. And so the documentary brings its arguments.
The problem I have with the film is that it brings so many arguments to the table. The value of the death penalty itself is a main topic, but we are also presented with the idea of whether Juan Chavez (the killer) would have received the death penalty if a) AGING OUT had not been shown to the jury or b) Juan Chavez had had his own documentary to show the jury.
There is a weakness in this particular argument because the crimes he committed were so senseless and violent, and Chavez himself so proud and unrepentant of his crimes, that I don’t think it mattered who he killed or what his own circumstances were. I have issues with the death penalty myself, but in this particular case it is hard to summon up any sympathy for Chavez whatsoever, so the arguments about documentaries and cost of imprisonment have no real punch. Chavez is not a sympathetic character in any way, no matter how many childhood photos the filmmakers show us. »More
Tags: aging out, DOCUMENTARY, no tomorrow, world premiere.