Ten to See at MSPIFF 2010

Hmm...what to see, what to see...

Do you go for...the hip new movies that are likely to be audience favorites but are being released here soon anyway (The Square, The Secret of the Kells)? The Minnesota-made films and documentaries that will likely have appearances by local producers and directors? The "sleeper" hits that you can find and tell everyone else about afterward? Or simply the films that you know are getting just this one screening in the Twin Cities before never being heard from again (Blind Loves and Heart of Fire last year, tragically)? Don't ask me - I'm as overwhelmed with choices as the next film nerd.

But of course you are asking me, so here are ten films that I hope to see during the next two weeks of the 28th Annual Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF). For other recommendations heed the wise words of Kathie, Joe, Erik, and Jim. Reviews of all of the first week's films will also run in tomorrow or Friday's Star Tribune. I'll list the screening dates here, but you'll have to click through for times and tickets.

MSPIFF 2010 - New AND Improved

Conventional wisdom would hold that something cannot be both new and improved, but the 28th edition of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) has the potential to actually qualify for both descriptions. The films are new (well, maybe not all of them - several have already screened in the Twin Cities), and the organization of the festival appears to be much improved.

One of the elements of any good film festival is making an actual schedule of films available for people who are planning to attend. This may sound like the most obvious thing since The Hurt Locker's Oscar sweep, but when it comes to MSPIFF a schedule is rarely a given - at least not until a day or three before the two week-long festival starts.

To take nothing away from Minnesota Film Arts' excellent organization of the festival over the last couple of years, this year's edition appears to be a quantum leap ahead of any other in terms of user-friendliness. For one thing, the vast majority of the films - and their screening times! - was listed on the festival website more than two weeks before the festival's opening night, this Thursday, April 15. This fact in its own right was cause for raucous celebration among festival loyalists, but that wasn't all.

Secondly, the website itself was reconfigured (although, tragically, not completely redesigned) to allow for a full assortment of sorting options never before available. You can now look through the 150+ film titles by topic, country, and even language. Incredible!

Moreover, the festival ticketing structure was reconfigured with the addition of discounted punch packs and also discounted matinee tickets - $6 for all shows before 6:00 PM. This way you don't have to pay $100+ for a pass but you can still save money if you see a half-dozen films.

Having acknowledged all of these improvements, there is still one thing that could use improvement: the Drupal-based website is just not up to par when compared to other major festivals of this size (e.g., Chicago, Seattle). If we're going to be encouraged to create user accounts, they ought to at least serve a purpose. Perhaps movie-goers can vote for the films online instead of using the pesky ballots in the hallway. Or, in my dream world, maybe website users could actually save movies to their profile and receive email reminders of when their preferred films are screening. This may be a luxury (though I believe Chicago offers that), but in any case I'm still hoping for a better website platform in the future.

I'll hold most of my complaints about the festival because it's already upon us (however, if you're interested you can read my thoughts in a festival preview in today's Star Tribune). I'm still definitely looking forward to this year's festival and all of the now-standard perks that come along with it being held at St. Anthony Main: free parking, nice sidewalk cafes, mostly organized line management.

The only problem remaining is that I have only a fraction of the free time I normally set aside for movies during this two-week period. I'm a little disappointed I won't be able to take full advantage of these new festival improvements this year, but everyone else who plans on going every day or even every other day ought to be very pleased.

MFA February Lineup @ St. Anthony Main

I'm happy to report that the dream of Minnesota Film Arts filling the limited release foreign/documentary film gap in the Twin Cities appears is being realized down on the cobblestone riverfront of St. Anthony Main. MFA is now operating from offices near the theater and they have a very promising lineup for the next month (I'm actually behind on this post; La Danse screened for the last week). Not that there was anything wrong with the St. Anthony Main theater prior to this move, but let's just say that now there is a compelling reason to go there outside of MSPIFF (the 28th celebration of which kicks off April 15). Here is the schedule for the next four weeks:

Oak St. Cinema: Out Like a Lamb

Well that was pretty anticlimactic. From a firework to a fire to a flame to a fizzle, the storied Oak St. Cinema will unofficially be closing down this month, in case you haven't heard. The news came out a couple weeks ago in a release from Minnesota Film Arts (the nonprofit that owns and operates the theater), as well as an accompanying article in the Star Tribune. But as it happens I found out about the closing over a month ago when, tasked with reviewing an upcoming weekend series at the Oak for the Strib, I stopped by MFA's office above the theater to pick up a screener of Citizen Havel. I was shocked to see that the moving process was already underway, but I kept my word that I wouldn't spill the beans about MFA's impending relocation to St. Anthony Main. 

It wasn't a huge secret and nobody would have believed me anyway considering the rumors that have swirled around this situation for the last decade (including my own premature obituary almost two years ago), but I kept mum anyway even if I wanted to urge readers of the Strib to check out that series at what might be their last-ever chance to visit the Oak. But the news remained hidden, and who knows, deep down maybe I didn't even believe it was actually going to happen.

Well it did, with really no fanfare at all, and in this transitional period before the "new" MFA reemerges at St. Anthony, I've realized I have the odd distinction of having written the last-ever published review of a film series at a theater that was the bedrock of the film community in the Twin Cities for decades. The seasonally shown Swedish film Ronia, the Robber's Daughter is playing through next week, but by all accounts there will never be a curated series at the Oak like the one I previewed earlier this month.

"When the Walls Came Tumbling Down"...at the Oak St.

Minnesota Film Arts is presenting a timely and curiously curated film series this weekend at the never-say-die Oak St. Cinema. You can find my capsule previews of the films in tomorrow's Star Tribune here. The full title of the series, "When the Walls Came Tumbling Down - Berlin and Prague, 1989 Remembered", isn't quite as comphrensive or inclusive as you might be led to think, but at least two of the films, Goodbye, Lenin and Citizen Havel, are definite should-sees during this rare opportunity.

Besides, the Oak doesn't have anything else on the calendar after this, so if it's the end of the theater's run (highly unlikely based on recent history, though the ironic title of this series is worrisome), or if it's just the end of the fall season (I expect MFA will be busy planning MSPIFF by January), you should get in while you still can.

Recap: 27th Annual Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival

The curtains came down on the 27th MSPIFF last night, and though I didn't attend any of the closing night festivities, I really enjoyed this year's festival for the most part. My decision not to get a $225 Gold Pass was well founded as I only ended up seeing 15 films on site, and my careful selections of films resulted in no regrets.

As I did with last year's recap, I'll list some highlights and lowlights of the last two weeks:

LOWLIGHTS:

• The official MSPIFF website. From the day it popped up in March to today, it's been extremely user un-friendly and updates have been slow in coming. If you're going to make a point to tell people to go to the website multiple times before every screening, and if it's where you're making last-minute updates known, it should frankly be much more convenient to navigate.
• Not volunteering and paying $9 for every movie. That added up quickly, and painfully.
• A/V issues with a few of the films, particularly Three Monkeys and A Walk to Beautiful. And seeing Tokyo Sonata on video instead of 35mm.
  
• A surly staffer at St. Anthony Main one night.
• The primitive balloting system. I say just move this whole process online. I know it's tradition to have throngs blocking the way in and out of every theater, but what's the point of this "careful" voting if we never see the results, and why not make one ballot for the whole festival and allow people to do it all at once? Moreover, why not create more awards, even if in name only (i.e., Best Documentary Feature, Audience Award, etc., etc.)? Even the "Best Narrative Feature" is limited to a few films, and the results unknown.
  
• No secret screening. Last year it was The Wackness and it was sold out (or close to it). There wasn't really a similar movie like The Wackness that might have worked this year, but even the promise of a secret captures people's attention.
• Speaking of missing movies, where were all the comedies? This was one of the most bleak and depressing lineups in years! So goes the state of the world, I guess.
  

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Free parking at the St. Anthony Ramp. This is just an amazing perk. That ramp (or the building owner, even if it's the same as the theater) could have made thousands and thousands of dollars over the last few weeks. But they did not. Thank you.
• Reviewing seven of the films for the Star Tribune. They weren't all choices I would have made during the festival, but I'm glad I got to see them if for no other reason than to immediately cross them off the schedule and make my planning easier.
• Film Goat gatherings. On consecutive Fridays, Kathie Smith and I met at Pracna to compare thoughts, recommendations, and complaints with others who stopped by before or after screenings. The first Friday was particularly nice sitting outside on the patio, and we even had a visit from Louis Lapat, director of Win or Lose (my review still on the way). Hopefully we're starting some kind of tradition that extends outside of the festival.
• Finally, the films, which I'll list below in categories of preference. These are both films that I reviewed beforehand and also that I saw at the festival:
  

Highly recommended:
Three Monkeys (brief thoughts)
The Necessities of Life (my review)
Tyson
Food, Inc. (brief thoughts)
The Song of Sparrows (brief thoughts)
Jerichow (brief thoughts)
Tokyo Sonata (brief thoughts)
A Walk to Beautiful
Blind Loves (brief thoughts)

Recommended:
Moon (brief thoughts)
Lion's Den (brief thoughts)
Heart of Fire
Wounded Knee (my review)
Liberation Day (Munyurangabo) (brief thoughts)
Song from the Southern Seas (my review)
Mutum (my review)

Eh, mostly decent:
Jerusalema (my review)
Shakespeare and Victor Hugo's Intimacies (my review)
Rumba (brief thoughts)
Letters to the President (brief thoughts)
Il Divo

Whoops:
The Infinite Border
Horn of Plenty (my review)

The "Best of the Fest" continues this week at the Oak Street, though that title is both untrue (since a number of the titles didn't even play at MSPIFF) and inaccurate (since it should be called the "best" films we could keep our hands on, regardless of quality). Get a real voting system in place and this extended week would be a lot more enticing. I don't plan on seeing any of them, but if you somehow didn't see anything at MSPIFF, here's your chance to at least see something other than, oh, I don't know, X-Men Origins: Wolverine or Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. (Best of Fest schedule)

But to end on a high note, congrats to Al Milgrom and Ryan Oestreich for a successful festival with a number of great films. Will the festival happen again next year? I'm tired of the neverending speculation, doubts, and assurances, so I'll just say: I really hope so.

MSPIFF Weekend #2 Roundup

After seeing some good to great movies at MSPIFF last weekend, I hit Il Divo and Heart of Fire (review likely forthcoming) on Monday and A Walk to Beautiful on Thursday. I had a tough time following Il Divo due to either confusion or exhaustion (or both), but I still appreciated it and on balance I've yet to see anything resembling a "bad" film at this festival.

I know it seems like I'm being overly generous with praise, but I'm not surprised that I've enjoyed most of these movies because I've been selective in only seeing the most promising ones (highly recommended international award winners). Sure, it may take away from the adventure of just randomly picking movies, but if I'm paying for all of these I'm going to do my best to make sure it's worth it. As it's happened, then, a number of them really have been among the best films that I've seen in 2009 thus far.


Letters to the President (B+)
Iran (2009); Directed by Petr Lom

In one way, the most surprising thing about this documentary was the fact that it was made at all. Filmmaker Petr Lom somehow gained behind-the-scenes access to the nerve center of Iran’s public relations department (and yes, they have a busy one), ironic because of the number of times when someone is told to not speak to the cameras. Taking the popular practice of sending letters to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Lom ultimately focuses on the differing political attitudes between the rural and urban populations of Iran. What he finds is perhaps not surprising for Americans, but it nonetheless casts serious doubt on Ahmadinejad’s genuine desire to be a man of the people. His khaki jacket in place of a suit appears to be for show only, and a few interviews (in particular with two incredible mural painters) really drive home the message that true democracy is not alive nor well in Iran. Letters to the President is a good primer for those wanting a look at the situation ahead of the country’s presidential election this summer. It does not play again at MSPIFF but should probably get some limited distribution in 2009.


The Song of Sparrows (A)
Iran (2008); Directed by Majid Majidi

I followed up Letters to the President with the richly layered film that Iran submitted to last year’s Oscars. (With every submission I see I become more convinced 2008 was an amazing year for foreign films.) The Song of Sparrows, from acclaimed director Majid Majidi (Children of Heaven), is the kind of movie that lures you in with lighthearted comedy and sympathetic characters, making its necessary tragedies both unexpected and emotionally turbulent (the sold-out theater audience let loose with anguished cries more than once). As the film’s main character, an ostrich farmer turned motorbike cabbie, Reza Naji delivers a perfectly nuanced performance. A second screening was added because a reported 150 people were turned away from this showing on Friday; watch for a more thought-out review before The Song of Sparrows arrives in Minneapolis on May 29th.


Three Monkeys (A)
Turkey (2008); Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

A brooding, exceptionally crafted thriller, Three Monkeys was another highly acclaimed addition in this year’s festival. Following a year in the life of a Turkish family mixed up in some very bad things, it builds an almost unbearable amount of tension in the last 20 minutes. Delicately shot in a washed-out sepia tone, it simply doesn’t allow you to look away from the screen; any and every detail is important (not surprisingly, Ceylan won the Best Director award at Cannes 2008). I haven’t Ceylan’s Distant or Climates, but the latter is now playing for free through May 3 on the The Auteurs website, where Three Monkeys also premiered for a 24 hour period yesterday. If you missed it and you’re not seeing Moon, get your tickets now for it’s second showing TONIGHT at 7:15 PM.



Jerichow (A-)
Germany (2008); Directed by Christian Petzold

I was on the fence about Jerichow until about five minutes before its showtime, but when I realized it was by the director of Yella (which I regrettably missed last year) and starred Benno Fürmann (The Princess and the Warrior), it was an easy decision. Wow, was that worth it. It's the impossibly simple story of three deceptively complex characters (the suspense comes easily as we learn about their backstories at the same time they do) who just want a little something more in their lives. If not for a convenient plot device in the last few minutes, Jerichow would have been nearly perfect, but even that flaw doesn't significantly take away from it. I don't know why it's so hard for American directors to make suspense thrillers like this. Get rid of the manipulative music and memorable quotes; all that's needed are believable characters making questionable - but not unreasonable - decisions. Jerichow doesn't play again at MSPIFF but it will receive limited distribution later this spring/summer.


Tokyo Sonata (A-)
Japan/Netherlands/China (2008); Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes last year, Kiyoshi Kurosawa's meditative drama about an unhappy family reminded me of American Beauty set in Tokyo. They're moody, unfulfilled, and don't particularly like or trust each other. Taken in context it's a pretty powerful illustration of what may be happening in many cities as the unemployment numbers rise, but even without the topical urgency it provides a fascinating look at contemporary Japanese culture. A fair amount of patience is required on the part of the viewer, but I found it worth the wait as Tokyo Sonata boasts my favorite ending scene of any movie so far this year. It also does not play again at MSPIFF, but is definitely recommended on its return to Minneapolis on May 15.

Yep, it was a high-quality weekend at MSPIFF, and the four on my list for this week (Moon, Tyson, Oblivion, The Infinite Border) look pretty promising. I cannot take this festival for granted.

MSPIFF: What to See in Week 2

The 27th Annual MSPIFF rolls into its second week today. I've been pleased with the six films I've seen so far, and with two nights off to do other things ("Caroline, or Change" at the Guthrie and Sin Nombre at the Uptown), I'm ready to jump back into it for seven straight nights, beginning tonight.

Film Goats: Last Friday we had a good dozen people show up to share thoughts on the festival at Pracna, and we're going to go for it again tomorrow, this time at 9:00 PM at Pracna instead of 5:30 PM. I'm going to be coming out of The Song of Sparrows and will head straight over - come one, come all. Unfortunately you might miss us if you're going to one of the 9:00 or 10:00 PM screenings, but this way we'll be in the sweet spot if you're coming or going.

Now on to my recommendations for Week 2...

(Food, Inc., Three Monkeys, Tokyo Sonata, and Moon)

Again, many of these are playing more than once, so refer to the schedule if you can't make it on the day listed. Also, click on the "tickets" link and buy in advance so you can save a dollar, and remember that I haven't seen some of these but I'm recommending them on a hunch.


THURSDAY, 4/23 (tickets):

Rudo y Cursi (6:30 PM)
- Soccer comedy starring Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal. It's played to mixed reviews since Sundance but it can't be all that bad. Director Carlos Cuaron (brother of Alfonso) will be present.

A Walk to Beautiful (7:15 PM)
- Documentary about the plight of women in Ethiopia suffering from fistulas. This is cosponsored by my employer, and will be followed by a discussion with the director.

The Secret of the Grain (9:15 PM)
- Drama about food and family, over 150 minutes long and sure to make you hungry. Kathie highly recommends it, but warns that it may be shown from a DVD.


FRIDAY, 4/24 (tickets):

Letters to the President (5:10 PM)
- Documentary about the struggle for democracy in Iran.

The Song of Sparrows (7:15 PM)
- Lighthearted drama about an ostrich farmer in Iran; the country's Oscar submission last year.

Food, Inc. (7:30 PM)
- Documentary about the industrialization and corporate takeover of the food and agricultural industries. Read my recommendation/preview here. (3.5/4 stars)

Jerusalema (9:45 PM)
- Stylish gangster pic based on the true story of Lucky Kunene, a.k.a. the South African "Robin Hood". Read my capsule review from Vita.mn here. (2.5/4 stars)

Shakespeare and Victor Hugo's Intimacies (10:10 PM)
- Documentary about a mysterious artist/serial killer in Mexico City. Read my capsule review from Vita.mn here. (3/4 stars)


SATURDAY, 4/25 (tickets):

The Necessities of Life (4:00 PM)
- Moving drama about an Inuit hunter recovering from TB in 1950's Quebec City. Read my capsule review from Vita.mn here. (4/4 stars)

Wounded Knee (2:35 PM)
- Documentary about 1973 standoff at Wounded Knee, SD, between federal agents and members of the American Indian Movement. Read my capsule review from Vita.mn here. (3.5/4 stars)

Salt of This Sea (3:30 PM)
- Drama about a young Palestinian woman from Brooklyn who goes back to visit her homeland. Actress invited to this showing.

Three Monkeys (7:10 PM)
- Drama about a struggling Turkish family; the country's Oscar submission last year. This film will also be available for viewing online.

Jerichow (9:20 PM)
- Contemporary German thriller described by words like "pulp" and "noir". Could be solid.


SUNDAY, 4/26 (tickets):

Lemon Tree (2:35 PM)
- Mature drama about Arab-Israeli relations starring Hiam Abbass (The Visitor).

Pride of Lions (3:00 PM)
- Documentary about war-torn Sierra Leone. Minnesota filmmaking team will be present.

Seraphine (4:45 PM)
- Biopic about the French painter Seraphine Louis. Winner of 7 Cesar Awards (French Oscars).

Tokyo Sonata (7:55 PM)
- Japanese drama apparently hiding undertones of horror and suspense, this 2008 Jury Prize winner at Cannes has been highly regarded by critics and bloggers.

Blind Loves (10:15 PM)
- Documentary exploring the love between blind couples and families. Saw this on Sunday night and loved it. (4/4 stars)

Heart of Fire (8:45 PM)
- Drama about child soldiers in Eritrea. Saw this on Monday night and loved it. (4/4 stars)


MONDAY, 4/27 (tickets):

Moon (7:00 PM)
- Sci-fi thriller starring Sam Rockwell, played to mixed reviews at Sundance. Director Duncan Jones to be present.

Rough Aunties (6:30 PM)
- Grand Jury Prize winner at Sundance, an uplifting documentary about women caring for mistreated children in South Africa.


TUESDAY, 4/28 (tickets):

Tyson (6:45 PM)
- Documentary I pondered last May finally arrives after solid reviews at Sundance. Director James Toback to be present.

Shultes (7:30 PM)
- Russian drama/thriller about a lonely pickpocket. Could be absolutely gripping or absolutely boring.


WEDNESDAY, 4/29 (tickets):

The Infinite Border (9:30 PM)
- Documentary about Central Americans crossing over Mexico's border. An essential supplement to Sin Nombre, now playing at the Uptown.

Oblivion (7:15 PM)
- Documentary about street life in Lima, Peru.

Mutum (9:45 PM)
- Compassionate drama about a young boy growing up in rural Brazil. Read my capsule review from Vita.mn here. (3/4 stars)


THURSDAY, 4/30 (tickets): CLOSING NIGHT

The Brothers Bloom (7:00 PM)
- Con man comedy starring Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz and Mark Ruffalo. I'd like to see this but the ticket price is almost prohibitively steep considering this movie is being released in just a few weeks anyway. However, remember that you get free admission into the free-food-if-get-there-early Closing Night party at Seven Sushi if you have a ticket stub from any closing night film.


And with that, MSPIFF #27 will end, but lots of other options exist if you're not into the festival scene: new releases like State of Play, The Soloist, Sugar and Sin Nombre; Hunger at the Walker (last chance this weekend); the previously unreleased Crossing Over at the Parkway; and the continuation of the Hitchcock series with Rope at the Riverview.

On the Horizon: Food, Inc.

Did you know there are only 13 slaughterhouses in the United States, down from thousands that operated several decades ago? Meat consumption hasn't decreased at that rate, so what gives - and what does that mean about the meat we're all eating? Hmm...

Food, Inc. attempts to answer such questions by pulling the veil back on America's food industry to expose food corporations as monopolies that control our mind, body, and soul (at least that's what I gathered when the word "evil" flashed on the screen). It's not a "do you know where your food comes from?" scolding, but a "here's why it matters" explanation.

Equal parts Fast Food Nation, The Corporation, Super Size Me, and Enron: The Smartest Guys In the Room, Robert Kenner's Food, Inc. is perhaps most similar to a certain Oscar-winning, action-stirring documentary starring Al Gore. Think of it as An Inconvenient Food, healthy living recommendations before the end credits included.

(Disclaimer: I'll make no effort to hide the fact that I'm automatically in the tank for everything Participant Productions churns out. Founded by eBay magnate Jeff Skoll just about five years ago, Participant produces films with the implicit purpose to inspire social change (check out their TakePart blog in the "Do" section of my sidebar). Recent films include The Soloist, The Visitor, Standard Operating Procedure, and Charlie Wilson's War, but looking back a few years you'll find Fast Food Nation, An Inconvenient Truth, Murderball, North Country, Syriana, Chicago 10, The Kite Runner, Darfur Now, American Gun, and Good Night, and Good Luck.)

Make sense why I'm a big fan? Then check out the trailer for Food, Inc., or watch the first three minutes here:

Food, Inc. will be shown at MSPIFF this Friday, 4/24, and Sunday, 4/26. Because Minneapolis goes ga-ga for all things "green" and because the film is co-produced by Minneapolis-based (Bill Pohlad) River Road Entertainment, I will go ahead and guarantee a sellout for both shows. Get your tickets now.

Watch this space for my full review of Food, Inc. prior to its Minneapolis opening on June 19. In the meantime, visit TakePart's website for all kinds of good stuff related to the film, including a preview screening schedule and a laundry list of action items.

MSPIFF Weekend Roundup

The first few days of MSPIFF delivered in promising fashion; a few great movies down, a lot more to come this week and next. Since moving back to MN it's my first year attending as a paying customer instead of a volunteer, so I'm having to be a little more selective...or at least that's what I tell myself, though I'll spend close to $200 before this is over with.

Friday night's Film Goat gathering was a great way to kick-start the festival, so thanks to all those who showed up, including local media notables and also Louis Lapat, director of Win or Lose (which I will be reviewing soon). The Pracna patio was packed and the lines were out the door on what felt like a warm summer evening. I think we're on again for this coming Friday night, but as I'm hoping to see Letters to the President at 5:10 PM, I've got to talk to Kathie about maybe doing this one post instead of pre. More details to come on Thursday, when I'll make my recommendations for Week 2.

In the meantime, here's a quick rundown on the four that I saw over the weekend (none of which were on Friday; I made sure to see Hunger at the Walker before it's gone).


Munyurangabo (Liberation Day) (A-)
Rwanda (2007); Directed by Lee Isaac Chung

Somewhere in the second half of this movie I thought, "Man, this really feels familiar." A young teen in a war-torn African country who is seeking to avenge his father's death? Ah yes, it was the Chadian film Dry Season, reviewed in this space as part of MSPIFF last year. It's terrible that these stories are so prevalent in African cinema, but they reflect the reality of many of the continent's cultures struggling to recover from atrocities like the Rwandan genocide, and if nothing else they should serve as urgent reminders to those still involved with similar acts these days. Interestingly, Munyurangabo was not made by a Rwandan but by an American (who I found out later on Saturday is an acquaintance of my sister), and for his debut feature, Lee Isaac Chung appears to have been a deserving 2008 Independent Spirit Award nominee for the Someone to Watch award (that went to Ramin Bahrani - it's bizarre to think he was so unknown just a year ago). I'm considering a full review of Munyurangabo so I haven't said much here, but needless to say, I recommend catching it its second showing, Thursday, 4/30 at 5:45 PM. (Tickets)


Rumba (B)
Belgium/France (2008); Directed by Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, & Bruno Romy

The only film from the weekend that didn't live up to my expectations was this tragi-comedy about a pair of schoolteachers/moonlighting Latin dancers. A few set pieces are terrific and the stars/co-directors Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon are perfectly wacky in their roles. But too many of the silent scenes dragged on for 10, 15, even 30 seconds too long, and the comedic momentum really never carried me from one gag to the next. It seemed as if they were short on jokes so they just stretched out each one they had as long as possible. Don't let this deter you from seeing it, however, if you appreciate physical comedy in the style of Mr. Bean. Rumba is light, harmless fun, but even at 77 minutes it seems a bit thin. One of the few comedies at MSPIFF, it will have its second showing Monday, 4/20, at 9:00 PM. (Tickets)


Blind Loves (A-)
Slovakia (2008); Directed by Juraj Lehotsky

One of the most utterly absorbing documentaries I've seen in recent years, Blind Loves is a fascinating profile of blind Slovakians and their experiences with love, life, and family. It won the C.I.C.A.E. Award at Cannes last year, and though I don't know what that means, let's assume it just means "excellent work". Describing this film is a challenge for a few reasons, but suffice to say it was not what I expected and it I'm glad for that. There is no narration or explanation; just observation, made incredibly engrossing because it's done with a steady camera, not the shaky hand-held video utilized in most documentaries. Were some scenes thus staged? Possibly, probably, but these four vignettes aren't meant to be records of events so much as they're meant to be character studies. I think Blind Loves deserves a full review, so watch this space, and in the meantime make sure to see it at its second showing, Sunday, 4/26, at 10:15 PM. That's pretty late, but it's only 77 minutes long and I'm not sure if this will have a wider release, so best see it while you can. (Tickets)


Lion's Den (A-)
Argentina (2008); Directed by Pablo Trapero

Argentina's Oscar submission from last year is a taut and emotionally charged drama boasting an incredible performance by Martina Gusman, who, shockingly, has only one other screen credit to her name. Gusman plays Julia, a twenty-something woman sent to prison on a murder charge following a bloody fight at the the apartment she shared with two men. She's pregnant by one of them, a fact not made clear until we realize that she has been placed in a cell block with other women and, disturbingly, their young children (unless mine eyes deceive me, it's evident Gusman was actually pregnant and had a child during production). It's a horrifying sight to see toddlers using prison cell doors as a jungle gym, but eventually it becomes a new normal both for them and for us. To that end, one of my two complaints is that I felt like a voyeur peering in at the situation, instead of a character actually experiencing it. Nonetheless it was still tense throughout, even through an ending that I didn't particularly care for. Lion's Den does not play again at the festival, but due to the positive reactions to both screenings over the weekend, try to see if it's chosen as one of the "Best of the Fest" held over to the first week of May.

MSPIFF: What to See in Week 1

If you still haven't worn out your highlighter and given yourself a headache in trying to figure out what you're going to see at MSPIFF over the next few days, save yourself some trouble and consider my recommendations below. Also, don't forget to join Kathie Smith and I at our inaugural Film Goat get-together tonight at Pracna at 5:30 PM. I've got curly black hair; Kathie says she'll be wearing a blue T-wolves cap. Maybe we'll be sitting outside in the nice weather...

(The Necessities of Life, Il Divo, & Lion's Den)

Many of these are playing more than once, so refer to the schedule if you can't make it on the day listed. Also, click on the "tickets" link and buy in advance so you can save a dollar.

Please note that I've only see the ones I've reviewed...

Friday, 4/17 (tickets):

Win or Lose: A Summer Camp Story
- Director Louis Lapat asked me to review this prior to its screening but I couldn't do it in time. Louis has agreed to provide a screener; watch for a review in the coming weeks. Louis will be at the screening.

Is Anybody There?
- Charming dramedy starring Michael Caine. Opens in Minneapolis on May 1, if you can't make it.

Surveillance
- Indie thriller directed by David Lynch's daughter. That alone should make it somewhat interesting.

Just Another Love Story
- Indie thriller from Denmark. Sounds like you could be forgiven for getting this confused with Surveillance.

Horn of Plenty (2/4 stars)
- This Cuban film didn't do much for me, but it's the only real comedy of the group. Read my capsule review here.


Saturday, 4/18 (tickets):

The Necessities of Life (4/4 stars)
- Moving drama about an Inuit hunter recovering from TB in 1950's Quebec City. Read my capsule review here.

Liberation Day
- Drama about reconciliation in post-genocide Rwanda. Sign me up.

Pachamama
- Drama about about a boy biking across Peru.

Song From the Southern Seas (3.5/4 stars)
- Bizarre dramedy about a Russian couple living in Kazakhstan. Read my capsule review here.

Il Divo
- Drama with overtones of The Godfather about an aging Italian mob boss. Originally I thought this was a doc about the opera boy band/singing group. I'll see this on one Monday night.

Rumba
- European, near-silent comedy about quirky Belgians who like to dance.

The King of Ping Pong
- Napoleon Dynamite-ish dramedy from Sweden. Can't count anything out from that country after Let the Right One In.

Lion's Den
- Argentine thriller that I wasn't sure about until three local sources all gave it A's and/or four stars. Not sure how I'm going to see this one but will hopefully squeeze it in late Sunday night.


Sunday, 4/19 (tickets):

Trust Us, This Is All Made Up
- Documentary about the Second City improv group in Chicago. Director present.

Living In Emergency: Doctors Without Borders
- Documentary about doctors working abroad, presumable living in emergency.

Fados
- Performance film illustrating Portuguese culture through music and dance. Also plays next Thursday, 4/23, at the Walker - free admission.

The One Man Village
- Docudrama about a Lebanese man committed to living in his war-torn village after everyone else leaves.

Letters to the President
- Documentary about Iran.

Blind Loves
- Documentary exploring the love between blind couples and families.

American Violet
- Drama based on a true story of an African-American woman mistakenly arrested on drug charges.


Monday, 4/20 (tickets):

Heart of Fire
- Drama about child soldiers in Eritrea.


Tuesday, 4/21 (tickets):

The Secret of the Grain
- Drama about food and family, over 150 minutes long and sure to make you hungry.

Shakespeare and Victor Hugo's Intimacies (3/4 stars)
- Documentary about a mysterious artist/serial killer in Mexico City. Read my capsule review here.

Somers Town
- Dramedy about two teens forging an unlikely friendship in London, from the director of This Is England.


Wednesday, 4/22 (tickets):

The Infinite Border
- Documentary about Guatemalans crossing into Mexico. Probably a nice supplement to Sin Nombre, opening this week.

The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World
- Documentary about, you know.

Los Bastardos
- Thriller following a day in the lives of two L.A. day laborers who take a messy job.

Tricks
- Charming Polish comedy about a kid dreaming of a better life, this also played at BBFF last month.

That's it for the first week of MSPIFF! If you for some reason don't want to see any of these, check out new releases like State of Play and Sin Nombre, or Hunger at the Walker (where I'll be tonight), or classics like Cinema Paradiso at the Parkway and Rear Window at the Riverview.

It's Feeding Time, Twin Cities

I know I'm doing a lot of local plugs in the last month, but it's only because there's so much going on 'round here (my apologies to readers outside of the Twin Cities). Just in the next few days you can continue to see Hunger in its exclusive engagement at the Walker Art Center (notable because concessions are prohibited in theater...get it?), North by Northwest at the Heights (if you got in before it sold out!), and of course any of the 140+ movies playing at MSPIFF, beginning Friday evening.

There are a few updates and an invitation I'd like to share specifically about MSPIFF...

Film Goats Grazing Hour: Join Kathie Smith and me for an informal happy hour/gathering this Friday night, April 17, from 5:30 PM-7:00 PM at Pracna on Main, which I didn't realize until this moment is the oldest restaurant in Minneapolis. It's also, depending on where you sit, about 15 feet from the ticket counter at St. Anthony Main, where many of us will be waiting in line over the next two weeks.

Join us for food, drink, and/or just conversation. We hope to do this again during the festival but will try to get a feel of what people's preferences are for times. Anyone reading this is invited and encouraged to bring friends. No RSVP necessary and it doesn't even matter if, like me, you don't happen to be seeing one of the MSPIFF movies on Friday night. Kathie and I are excited about the festival and we'd really like to connect with some of our readers or other bloggers or people who are neither but happen to be sitting next to us on Friday.

And kudos to Kathie for the name of our little group. We, the Film Goats, are hungry for all things film, and we're going to do a lot of indiscriminate grazing over the next two weeks. Join us!


Opening Night: Last week it was announced that the Sundance darling 500 Days of Summer will open the festival tomorrow night. Starring rising star Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Stop-Loss, Brick, The Lookout) and tinkerbell Zooey Deschanel (Yes Man), it proves to be a watchable if not altogether original romantic comedy. A couple of the supporting actors are supposed to be present at the screening. It looks like I might miss it this week, but this will be a must-see for me when it opens later this summer.


Tickets: $15, plus options for entrance to the Opening Night Gala following the movie (note that this screening is at Block E, not St. Anthony Main)




Closing Night: Another American independent film will close the festival - The Brothers Bloom, written and directed by Rian Johnson. I'm skeptical that it will be as original as his last film, Brick, but it's supposed to be a rousing comedy and features a nice cast - Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, and Mark Ruffalo. This will also be followed by a Closing Night Party at Seven Sushi. There will even be free food, but I can tell you from last year that it goes quickly, so don't dawdle in the theater after the credits roll!


Tickets (coming soon): $15, plus options for entrance to the Closing Night Party ((note that this screening is also at Block E, not St. Anthony Main)




Finally, here is a link to the full MSPIFF catalog. It's a big 'ol pdf file but it's your best option since you probably won't get your hands on a hard copy until you show up this weekend.

See you on Friday!

27th Annual MSPIFF Schedule & Trailer Now Available

After weeks of private stewing and public grumbling on other local blogs about the lack of information available on the 27th Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF), I can now stop whining and start planning. As always, MSPIFF is happening despite the annual doubts that it wouldn't. Click here for the schedule.

Granted, the titles and brief synopses of the movies have slowly trickled onto the website since mid-March, and I've also known about a number of the titles because I've been writing a few reviews of them for the Strib. But to acquire the interest of the general public it's a bit of a close call to get this out so late again this year, especially when the festival starts in just nine days. I'll admit, however, that releasing the schedule so late hasn't seemed to affect audience turnout in years past.

And, while the schedule is important for getting people to show up, the quality and diversity of films is even more so. Glancing through the titles and countries it appears that this year is again heavily loaded with European (especially Icelandic?) films, but it's still an interesting bunch. Let's take a look at some highlights:

Opening Night: World's Greatest Dad (note that this isn't actually on the schedule, but it's based on something I read on, you know, the internet, so chances are it's true).

UPDATE: The new opening night film will be the Sundance darling romantic comedy, 500 Days of Summer.

Other highlights: There are a number of movies that will likely be opening nationwide later this year. Here are a few to keep an eye on:

Tokyo Sonata
Trust Us, This Is All Made Up
The Country Teacher
Rumba
Rudo y Cursi
Food, Inc.
Lemon Tree
Seraphine
Song of the Sparrows
Three Monkeys
Rough Aunties
The Necessities of Life
Moon
Tyson
Il Divo

Directors are also going to be present at a handful of these - never an opportunity to pass up if you can help it.

Global Lens 2009 Films: I reviewed a couple of Global Lens 2008 films last year as the played at the Walker Art Center. This year they're going to be folded into MSPIFF, and you can preview the whole "class" here. I recommend Mutum and Song From the Southern Seas, and on recommendation from Kathie Smith I'm planning to see Sleepwalking Land.

Other Randoms: I really want a page of indexed films like you can find in the hard copy of the program each year. But since that isn't out yet, all I can do is glance over the schedule and photos online and make guesses on what I haven't already seen that might interest me:

Munyruangabo
Salt of This Sea
Marcello Marcello
Los Bastardos
Shultes
The Mermaid
Oblivion
One Man Village
Heart of Fire
The Chaser
Secrets of the Grain
Jerichow
King of Ping Pong
American Violet
Breaking Upwards
The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World
The Infinite Border
Blind Loves
A Walk to Beautiful
Personal Che
Living in Emergencies: Stories of Doctors Without Borders
Letters to the President

Wow. That's plenty, isn't it? Nice job by MFA chief Al Milgrom and MSPIFF programmer Ryan Oestreich in getting this many potentially great movies lined up. It will be tough to top the quality of last year's festival (my recap), but I think there could be some nice surprises in this list.

And finally, no MSPIFF would be complete without the popular trailer that plays before each screening. Thanks to Euan Kerr, I've found what appears to be a completed version of this year's trailer, created by Mojo Solo/Jesse Roesler. It's not embeddable, but you can click here to see it.

More to come on the festival in the next week...