Saturday Discussion

What a great discussion we had yesterday for the Bollywood film series! Amy Laly, a local documentary filmmaker and Bollywood expert led an excellent and in-depth discussion on the films in the series, as well as the Bollywood film industry in general. About 60 people gathered in the Grand's lower lobby and took part in the discussion.

I'd like to thank Amy for her help with the film series, as well as offering her time and expertise to lead our discussion. The series runs through Thursday next week, so you still have time to see the remaining films!

My Bollywood Education

I have been fascinated by Indian cinema, nicknamed "Bollywood", for several years now. The lavish song and dance scenes have always seemed so incredible to me, with a visual and audio over-stimulation of sorts that would leave me open mouthed and amazed. Some time ago, I decided to schedule a Bollywood series, where we would play a week of Indian films at the Grand. Well, here we are, ready to start our first ever Bollywood film series, with our first show tomorrow. It wasn't easy getting to this point, but it has certainly been a learning experience in many ways.

Bollywood films are not distributed in the same way that other films are in the US. I had to go through a totally different system to get these films. Luckily, I made friends with some great people in the local Indian community who have introduced me to the right people, and we now have four films which are either shown only in India, or exclusively in specialty theaters focusing on Indian cinema. So really, the Grand is peeking into a totally new world of film exhibition right now, and I'm so glad we have this rare opportunity.

Yesterday I went with a friend to pick up our films, one of which had just arrived. Films normally come in metal film cans, wound up on reels. Our Bollywood films from overseas were shipped in cardboard boxes, reinforced with what's either burlap or hemp, and wound onto nothing. It's been interesting to wind them up onto big reels and get them ready to lay out onto the big platters so we can screen them. I guess all those editing classes with the flatbed editing machines is paying off! What I keep shaking my head at is how big two of these movies are. I'm taking a break from building up "Rang De Basanti" right now and it's a whopping 18 reels!! (Most films are 5 or 6). And looking at the frames as I go, the images are amazing!! Beautiful colors and scenes await to be threaded through our projectors. I can't wait to screen this film!

I look forward to Rang De Basanti in particular, as a way to better educate myself on Indian history. The film revolves around the Indian struggle for independence from England, and the new set of problems they inherit when one system is replaced by another.

If you have time this weekend and next week, I really urge everyone to check at least a few of these films out. Like I said before, this is a rare and amazing opportunity for Tacoma to see some films that are pretty much otherwise unavailable. Check the showtimes at www.grandcinema.com.

see you there -

Ozon's Masterpiece

Francois Ozon's new film "Time to Leave" (Le Temps qui reste) is, as I posted earlier today, the most beautiful film of the festival. When I first read about the film, it was described as a departure for Ozon. And I do agree that "Time to Leave" is very different than, say "8 Femme", but he has clearly left his mark on this new film, traces of which can be seen in his 2003 "Swimming Pool". An introspective look, with one or two fully developed characters who are realizing themselves in the short time we know them. But they are characters that we already know, in a way. (Isn't any well conceived story like this?)

In "Time to Leave", we meet a 31 year old man who finds out he has months to live. And we are with him as he comes to terms with this. He lives his few remaining months more fully than it seems he knew was possible, and not in some "Let's go to DisneyLand" kind of way either. This is rather a quiet meditation on death, but much more importantly, on what it means to be alive, how precious each moment is, and that even a few months can be realized as a lifetime. As with any work of true Art, the truth is sought, and found in this film.

My grandmother died last week, and I know I wouldn't have appreciated Ozon's film as fully otherwise, for in a profound way, the film has helped me accept the loss of someone I wish I could have known on a deeper level. The film is an amazing work of art on its own, but for anyone who has felt loss, be it the loss of another, of one's health, of lost time or opportunities, "Time to Leave" is a masterpiece, which will help. A lot.

Time to Leave

Oh my. I just saw the most beautiful film of the festival. "Time to Leave" by Francois Ozon is one of the most profoundly beautiful and deeply felt films I have ever seen. This film is still sinking in. I am almost in a state of shock. And I'm going into another screening, so I have to make this short. I'll write more later. Oh my.

Brothers of the Head

British film from Director Keith Fulton

This is a fake documentary about conjoined twins who become punk rock stars. Joined at the chest, the two are unique and very different: one is sensitive, and plays guitar, while the other is abrasive and is the punk rock voice of the two.

The film avoids being too funny, and delves into the tragedy of the two boys, and while it is a fake documentary, it is still able to evoke feeling from the audience because at times it seems very (almost too much so) real. The story is clearly a tragedy, and a dark and sometimes creepy one at that. This isn't the kind of film I would recommend you go see; it is the kind of film I dare you to go see. If that doesn't explain it, no amount of words or explanations ever will.

Malas Temporadas

Malas Temporadas (Bad Times) from Spain is indeed well named. Three different lives are intertwined through circumstance, as well as from how miserable they are. I kept wondering who had it worse - as though it were a sick contest of sorts. I guess I had to do something to keep my spirits up. Their hard times don't so much come from bad occurrences, as from each character's inability to deal with the problems of their past.

The one story thread which had the most potential was that of the prisoner, newly released into the world, who begins tutoring chess for the 14 year old boy who has recently refused to leave his room. They are both prisoners in a way, but the boy has the choice to leave, where the chess tutor is still living in his cell, despite having been released.

The cinematography is appropriate for the film: bleak, desaturated colors, making everything feel like a gloomy overcast afternoon. The film ends with a hint of hope, but I felt too little and an hour too late for me to really care anymore.

Why do we watch movies? I was wondering just after the show. Many reasons: inspiration, escape, to learn, to have fun, even just an excuse for a date; but to watch the misery of others, and simply leave it at that, seems to not be a reason for watching a film. I could see what the filmmakers were trying for, but the film ends up just being depressing, flat, and gloomy.