24TH ANNUAL WASHINGTON, DC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Filmfest DC April 15 – 25, 2010 for people who love movies… filmfestdc.org * 202.234.film 2 Welcome to Filmfest DC! The Washington, DC International Film Festival Ticket Information General Admission is $10.00. Free events are on Special Admissions are noted. a first-come, first- serve basis; no Tickets are available through reservations accepted and tickets are Tickets.com by calling (800) 955- not required. 5566, from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Monday- Sunday), and online at Director’s Pass: Ten-ticket package www.tickets.com. No Tickets.com valued at $100.00 will be discount- sales the day of the show. ed to $80.00. Tickets are also available through Weekday Pass: Four-ticket package the Filmfest DC website valued at $40.00 will be discounted (www.filmfestdc.org). Tickets also to $30.00. This pass grants the hold- available at the Goethe-Institut,
Photo: Chad Evans Wyatt Chad Evans Photo: er admission to screenings Monday Tony Gittens, Festival Director, and Shirin Ghareeb, 812 7th St., NW. Go to through Thursday. Deputy Director filmfestdc.org for hours. Both passes are available through Tickets may also be purchased at Welcome to Filmfest DC … Tickets.com BY PHONE AND the theatre on the day of the show for people who love movies! ONLINE ONLY (not applicable for one hour before the first screening Opening and Closing Nights or There is nothing like a great movie, and the of the day. Cash or Check sales Special Events). 24th edition of Filmfest DC promises to only at the theatres. deliver an exceptional entertainment experi- ence. Prepare to be amused, provoked, and inspired by extraordinary new films from some of the world’s most talented and Theatre Locations innovative filmmakers. Festival screenings will take place at the following convenient venues: Avalon Theatre Other Locations As always, I would like to thank the many 5612 Connecticut Ave., NW dedicated people who have shared their time Take Metro Red line to Friendship Embassy of Canada and talents with Filmfest DC. The University 501 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Heights. Street parking available. of the District of Columbia is our major spon- Take Metro Green or Yellow Lines to sor. Filmfest DC greatly appreciates the gener- Goethe-Institut Washington Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter. ous contributions of all our sponsors, patrons, 812 7th St., NW Embassy of France numerous volunteers, local businesses, and Take Metro Red, Yellow, or Green lines 4101 Reservoir Rd., NW diplomatic community. Their support has to Gallery Place/Chinatown. been the key to the festival’s success and is Street parking available. evidence that the festival makes an important Landmark's E Street Cinema Mazza Gallerie 555 11th St., NW contribution to our city’s vitality. 5300 Wisconsin Ave., NW Take Metro Red, Orange, or Blue lines Take Metro Red line to Friendship As the festival flourishes, we are more aware to Metro Center. Theatre entrance on E Heights. than ever of the important role it plays in our Street between 10th and 11th Streets. city’s cultural life. We greatly value the oppor- Three hours of reduced-rate parking National Gallery of Art tunity to create this platform from which the available in adjacent garage with East Building Auditorium world’s filmmakers—established masters and validation Monday through Friday after 4th St. & Constitution Ave., NW new talent—can tell their stories with passion, 6 pm and any time on weekends. Take Metro Green or Yellow lines to humor, and integrity. Filmfest DC is an adven- Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Archives/Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter. ture, and we invite you to join us. 701 7th St., NW Take Metro Green, Red, or Yellow lines to Gallery Place/ Chinatown. Three Information hours of free parking with validation filmfesdc.org Tony Gittens, Director available at Gallery Place Parking on Washington, DC International Film Festival 6th Street between G and H Streets. 202-234-FILM 3 Opening Night Hipsters Valery Todorovsky Russia, 2008, 115 minutes, color Hipsters is a lush rebel-with-a-cause musical chock full of intricately choreographed, toe- tapping numbers and plenty of none-too-subtle social commentary. The plot takes many unex- pected twists and turns as it celebrates the uneasy Cold War romance between East and West. Director Todorovsky splashes the screen with vivid color and energy in a giddy and broad ode to the timeless themes of love and freedom.
Communist youth Mels (Anton Shagin) is primed to rebel. When he first lays eyes on Polly (Oksana Akinshina) in drab 1950s Moscow, her bright-red lipstick, poodle skirt, and flamboyant hipster friends shatter his dutiful, straight-laced outlook. Mels finds himself drawn into Polly’s kaleidoscopic world, a fun-house-mirror version of the West where flashy candy-colored outfits, jazz music, and nights spent swing dancing in smoky, swanky clubs are a form of resistance to the oppressiveness of Soviet society. Soon, Mels is buying a saxophone on the black market and letting his hair grow into a proud pompadour. IN RUSSIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Thursday April 15, 7:00 PM, AMC Mazza Gallerie, followed by gala reception, $40.00 Closing Night Fatih Akin Soul Kitchen Germany, 2009, 99 minutes, color Turkish-German director Fatih Akin’s hectic comedy follows Greek brothers Zinos and Illias, who operate a restaurant in a converted warehouse in a rundown area of Hamburg. Soul Kitchen combines good food, a thumping soundtrack of great soul music, friendship, sex, and some very funny scenes. Zinos Kazantzakis (Adam Bousdoukos) runs Soul Kitchen, a vast warehouse diner where the food might be spectacularly bad, but it’s edible. The sour-faced tax collector shows up, and, in a bid to save the restaurant, Zinos hires the city’s biggest rock-star chef. The chef whips up wonders from the most humble ingredients, shocking the regulars and seducing a whole new clien- tele. And once he slips some Peruvian tree-bark aphrodisiac into the dessert, everything changes. This is a departure from Akin’s previous works, the award-winning Head-On and The Edge of Heaven (Filmfest DC 2008), which dealt with much more serious themes, but it indicates that this talented young director is capable of bringing depth and insight to films of markedly differing styles. Above all, Soul Kitchen is casually cool and loads of fun to watch. It is tremendously entertaining and won a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
IN GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Sponsored by: Sunday April 25, 4:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place, followed by a party at Bar Louie, $20.00 4 Filmfest DC Highlights: Bel Cinema! The New Romanian Wave New Italian Cinema For the past twenty years, since the Revolution that overthrew dictator Ceausescu, Romania has been running away from communism. With but a few exceptions, the new Romanian cinema looks back in anger, irony, humor, and sometimes detach- ment. Even when it mirrors the present, there are still remnants and wounds of the communist era. It’s not surprising that this swing between the past and the present can be disconcerting to international viewers, who find themselves unsure of the time dimension they are actually
Filmfest DC 2010 witnessing. There were, for instance, critics convinced that 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is a contemporary story and that Whether neorealist, meditative, or Police, Adjective was a sample of the life in the communist “Felliniesque,” Italian film is a category era, when, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. One can’t help but almost as big as cinema itself. The eight notice that the recent history and its side effects are creeping, movies in this year’s overview include a even at subconscious levels, into the present of Romanian documentary, family tales both sad and Cinema. sweet, and a drama inspired by classic opera. And, yes, there’s one about the In Filmfest DC’s New Romanian Wave series, Tales from the Mafia. Golden Age and Silent Wedding recall the past and exploit its comic potential and stories of extreme Veteran director Pupi Avati travels to endurance in a hostile environment. The other 1954 Bologna for Friends at the three films in this series (Medal of Honor, The Margherita Café, in which the 18th-year- Other Irene, and The Happiest Girl in the World) have a firm grip on old “Kid” attempts to infiltrate the glam- the present but pay tribute to the past, portraying a society in transi- orous demimonde of a neighborhood tion that struggles to progress despite the presence of mental inertia, hangout. The film’s eccentric characters thick bureaucracy, and the seduction of consumerism.—Mihai Chirilov are almost as colorful as the ones in La Pivelléna, whose central players work for one of Italy’s small traveling circuses. Justice Matters Both I Am Love and Puccini and the Girl are tales of passion set at the dawn of the The tradition of using film to expand aware- 20th century. The former shows the dis- ness of social justice issues runs long and ruptive and ultimately tragic effects of deep. When an individual or a group has been love on characters who might seem to treated unfairly, filmmakers use their craft to have everything they need. The latter is a make us aware and, hence, call us into action. graceful, even musical account of the ill- It is within this practice that Filmfest DC conceived events between Puccini and launches the Justice Matters section of its his maid. program. What better city to highlight this tradition than our nation’s capital, the vortex More gently, the poignant Quiet Chaos of ongoing debate on how best to further democracy and equitable treatment for all. observes a man’s obsessive attempt to envelop his young daughter after her The six features in this inaugural selection include narratives and documentaries from mother’s shockingly sudden death. And around the globe. What the filmmakers have in common is a mastery of their art the delectable Mid-August Lunch shares coupled with a commitment to illuminating social wrongs and revealing the potential a meal with an elderly woman who’s that always exists for good-willed people to make a difference. All of these films are forced to enjoy some other ladies’ entertaining and engaging. None are dogmatic or polemic. All are mature in company. acknowledging that simple conclusions are not adequate for complex issues. Some draw from history (Dawson, Island 10, Saviors in the Night, The Balibo Conspiracy), Based on actual events, The Sicilian Girl while others are contemporary (The Sun Behind the Clouds, Women Without Men). introduces us to a teenage girl who dared Many are inspirational and remind us that we can overcome adversity (Soundtrack denounce the mob that claimed her for a Revolution). The Justice Matters films also remind us that oppressors are strong father and brother. Even closer to and equally determined and that taking steps toward social justice is never easy, actuality is Videocracy, a look at Silvio simple, or quick. Berlusconi’s political and tel- evision empires that suggests We want to thank the CrossCurrent Foundation, for their support in helping to make that nothing in Italy is more this series possible. Felliniesque than real life. Tony Gittens —Mark Jenkins Festival Director Filmfest DC Highlights: 5 Deepening the Impact of Social Justice Films Capital Focus Award This year, Filmfest DC has initiated a The program includes a series of off- pilot program to explore ways the site programs and presentations for festival experience can be extended students and community groups. Our beyond the theater. Many independ- website includes additional resources. ent filmmakers passionately focus on telling a story where the need for This project is conceived and The Capital Focus Award is a juried social justice and change are directed by Linda Blackaby, competition of selected films deserving apparent. In recognition of their Senior Programming Consultant. of increased recognition. Films in com- commitment to articulate important petition were selected by the Festival’s Filmfest DC 2010 issues to the broadest possible public, We would like to thank the Wyncote Programming Committee and the win- we have selected the films Soundtrack Foundation for their assistance with ner will be determined by a jury of for a Revolution and Sun Behind the making Deepening the accomplished film professionals. Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom to Impact of Social Justice Wyncote participate in a special initiative to Films possible. Foundation Films selected for this year’s deepen their impact in our area. competition are: ❉ Autumn Adagio (Japan) ❉ Cooking with Stella (Canada) Justice Matters Award ❉ Farewell (France) ❉ The House of Branching Love The following films are selected for this year’s competition: (Finland) ❉ The Balibo Conspiracy (Australia) ❉ I Am Love (Italy) ❉ ❉ Dawson, Island 10 (Chile/Brazil/Venezuela) Tales from the Golden Age (Romania) ❉ Saviors in the Night (Germany/France) ❉ Zero (Poland) ❉ Soundtrack for a Revolution (USA) ❉ The Sun Behind the Clouds: The Awards Jury is comprised of: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom (India/UK) Susan Barocas, Competition Coordinator ❉ Women Without Men (Germany/Austria/France) Alberto Casciero, Dean, Learning The award jury consists of: Resources Division, UDC Manjula Kumar, Smithsonian Felix Angel Institution General Coordinator, Curator Inter-American Development Arnie Lutzker, Entertainment Attorney Bank Andrew Mencher, Programming Director, Avalon Theatre Pat Aufderheide Peggy Parsons, Curator, Department of Director, Center for Film Programs, National Gallery of Art Social Media American University SIGNIS Award Andy Shallal Artist, Owner, Busboys and Poets The SIGNIS jury will present an award to the film judged by its Award Sponsor jury to best illuminate and celebrate what it means to be human in a diverse and challenging world. Circle Audience Award Sponsored Founded by Ted and Jim Pedas, Washington’s Circle Theatres set by Please go to filmfestdc.org the standard for innovative quality film programming. Filmfest DC will present an award to the feature film voted the most popular by for the latest information on our our audience. Ballots will be available after each screening. guest filmmakers in atten- The winners of all awards will be announced on Closing Night. dance and other festival updates. Filmfest DC 2010 6 I guessing untilthefinalscene.— lovers mightalsobedouble-crosserskeepsviewers both theirproblems,butthepossibilitythatnew and Abeldeviseanelaboratestingthatmightsolve themselves thetargetsofbig-timecriminals?Kay an affair. Will romanceflourishwhentheyfind young son.Thetwomeetbychance,andsoonbegin keeps gettinghimintrouble,andAbelcaresforhis stands byherfather, afencewhosegamblinghabit model citizens,buttheyhavetheirvirtues:Kay a loan-shark’s enforcer. KayandAbelaren’t exactly the film’s protagoniststurnouttobeacarthiefand the goodguysfrombadones—especiallybecause I — commitment neverreallygoaway. ing testamenttotherealitythat questionsofmoral tense, authentichistoricalsaga into aliving,breath- huge castoffineperformers,the filmtransformsa enhanced byAlexandreDesplat’s movingscoreanda pressure. Spectacularlyreproducingtheera,and murder ofahigh-rankinggeneraltheyrampupthe French policetoquelltheinsurgents,butafter the populace.Atfirst,Germansrelyon ments whilelifeproceedsasnormalfortherestof reluctantly takescontrolofaragtaggroupyoung, common causewiththeJewsbeingroundedupand who survivedhisownpeople’scolor genocide,finds minutes, It’s Paris,1941.ExiledArmenianpoetManouchian, 139 2009, France, Robert Guediguian The Army ofCrime April18,Sunday 7:30 PM,Avalon Theatre April17,Saturday 9:15 PM,Avalon Theatre E white & black and color minutes, 86 2009, Spain, Patxi Amezcua 25 Carats Thursday April 22, 8:45 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place April22,8:45PM,Regal CinemasGallery Thursday Tuesday Place April20,8:45PM,Regal CinemasGallery SUBTITLES N N GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH Melbourne Alliance FrenchMelbourne Film Festival F S RENCH AND PANISH , G ERMAN C TLNWITH ATALAN , AND A MNA WITH RMENIAN Mark Jenkins it’s hardtotell crooked cops, hookers, and the thieves, scurrying. Amid Barcelona went picturesque characters in underworld rock andallthe kicked overa if somebodyjust thriller beginsas ensemble-cast This brisk Co-Presented with accomplish- heroic people to ordinary activities lead clandestine dangerous the group’s their lives, the riskof fighters. At resistance foreign-born E NGLISH 70 minutes, color minutes, 70 I — devastating wallopofunexpectedpathos. of course,adorableandfunnybutitalsoachievesa published bymangaartistYoshiie Gouda, wide. Adaptedfroma20-pagegraphicshortstory Walking, andNobodyKnows lent filmmakers;hisrecentmovies Kore-eda isoneoftoday’s mostconsistentlyexcel- for ayoungvideostoreclerkinstead.Hirokazu Nozomi hideshernewfoundlifefromhimandfalls any kindofloveorevenloyaltyforhermaster, explore theworld.Interestingly, insteadoffeeling a heart.’Nozomisneaksoutoftheapartmentto magic wishorcinematicgimmick;shesimply‘found she inexplicablycomestolife,notbecauseofsome (Itsuji Itao).Within thefirstminutesofmovie, aged man middle- harmless essentially sleazy but to aboring, companion doll the love Nozomi, ance as perform- color minutes, South KoreaniconBaeDu-nagivesafantastic 126 2009, Japan, Hirokazu Kore-eda Air Doll Wednesday April21, Place 6:30PM,Regal CinemasGallery April19,Monday Place 6:30PM,Regal CinemasGallery I musical form. with lyricalgracethatmatches the seasonand Rei’s) real skillatthepiano. Kazuhiro), whichdemonstrates SisterMaria’s (and nun andahandsomeballetteacher (Nishijima compelling isthemusicalinteraction betweenthe faith andhelpherfindspiritualpeace.Especially Encounters withthreedifferentmenwilltesther gained intheyearsshehasdevotedtochurch. services. Itseemsasifshehaslostmuch ishing thechurchorganthatshedistractedlyplaysat demands oftheday:washingricefordinnerandpol- watch asshelistlesslyattendstothemundane Japan resembleNewEnglandinSeptember, we menopause. Underbrilliantfallfoliagethatmakes Rei), whoisquestioningherlifeassheapproaches cian Shibakusa (singer andmusi- Sister Maria Catholic nun Earth, wefollow Who IsBeatingthe short, prize-winning following her debut feature, In directorInoue’s 2009, Japan, Tsuki Inoue Autumn Adagio Tuesday April20,6:30PM,Landmark'sEStreet Cinema April19,Monday 6:30PM,Landmark'sEStreet Cinema N N ■ Teresa Nieman,twitchfilm.net J J ■ PNS WITH APANESE PNS WITH APANESE ■ The Woman ■ CAPITAL FOCUSAWARD —Dave Nuttycombe E E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH are criticalhitsworld- Autumn Adagio After Life,Still Air Doll ■ is shot ■ ■ is, ■ I everything seemspossible. of place.Inthisworldopenwatersandvastskies, his sonintotraditionalwaysanditsluminoussense either. Thefilm’s essenceisthefather’s initiationof exactly adocumentary, butit’s notreallyadrama, house, andcrocodilesswimjustbelow. on stiltsoverthewater;egretsstrollthough flowers, andbirds.Theyliveonasmallshackbuilt dad. Jorgehasalottoshowhim:snorkeling,fishing, in Rome,but5-year-old Natanhascometovisithis and theyhadason,Natan.Mothersonnowlive a fishermanwithhisfather. HemetanItaliantourist dent ofMayans,Jorgelivestheresimply, workingas white planet’s& second-largestbarriercoralreef.Adescen- black and Quintana Roo,onclearbluewatersthatcontainthe color minutes, This enchantingfather-and-son idyllwasshotin 73 2009, Mexico, Pedro González-Rubio Alamar Saturday April24,Saturday 10:00 PM, Landmark'sEStreet Cinema April19,Monday 9:15 PM,Landmark'sEStreet Cinema I cinema.—Eddie Cockrell one, thisisaninterestingevening ofsizzling Banderas andPenelopeCruz.In morewaysthan already promptedcomparisons toearlyAntonio Brazilian filmfestivalin2009, Horizon awardatLosAngeles’ inauguralHollywood performance fromGianecchinithatearnedhimthe with techno,samba,andbossanovafeaturinga they don’t intendtoseeeach otheragain.Drenched did because can becan- plex. They edly com- unexpect- and more lovemaking sionate than pas- deeper thing far into some- stand turns bit betteracquainted,whatbeganasaone-night consequences. AsRobertoandPaulabecomequitea they immediatelygrabeachother, heedlessofany (Paola Oliveira).Grabbinganearbyhotelroom, Roberto (ReynaldoGianecchini)andbeautifulPaula attraction isnearlyinstantaneousbetweenhandsome color minutes, In acrowdedRiodeJaneironightclub,themutual 88 2008, Brazil, Gustavo NietoRoa Between theSheets April24,Saturday 5:15 PM,Landmark'sEStreet Cinema April23,6:30PM,Landmark'sEStreetFriday Cinema N N S P AIHAND PANISH RUUS WITH ORTUGUESE I AINWITH TALIAN E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH —Mark Jenkins E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH Between theSheets Alamar is not has Justice Matters Global Rhythms 7 The Balibo Conspiracy Beyond Ipanema Robert Connolly Guto Barra Australia, 2009, 111 minutes, color Brazil/USA, 2009, 80 minutes, color Based on the true Beyond Ipanema is a events, The Balibo film about the cycle Conspiracy skillfully of discovery of uses archival footage Brazilian music in and various film the world. Why stocks to recreate the does Bossa Nova chaotic and contro- still lure DJs 50 versial days leading years after it was up to Indonesia’s created? What 1975 invasion of makes the Tropicália East Timor. Anthony movement resonate LaPaglia plays the so deeply with real-life Roger East, names like Beck Filmfest DC 2010 an Australian jour- and Devendra nalist recruited by Banhart? How could the young Timorese Samba take over a public school in Harlem in 2009? Foreign Minister, Beyond Ipanema explores these and many other ques- Jose Ramos-Horta tions about the Brazilian music experience outside of (Oscar Isaac), to Brazil through interviews with David Byrne, oversee Timor’s Devendra Banhart, M.I.A., Os Mutantes, Seu Jorge, fledgling news Thievery Corporation, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto agency. East turns Gil, and many others. Artists, producers, DJs, and the job down until critics analyze how the crosspollination of musical he learns that five styles, augmented with sampling and globalization, Australian TV journalists have disappeared while covering the story. East begins following the trail of the have helped Brazil secure a unique position in global “Balibo Five,” as they’ve come to be known, and the film tracks both East and the missing reporters as each culture.—SXSW Film Festival moves deeper and deeper into the tropical jungle and into the unfolding political mystery. Based on the book IN PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Cover Up by Jill Jolliffe, The Balibo Conspiracy has been banned in Indonesia. The actual Ramos-Horta was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.—Dave Nuttycombe Thursday April 22, 9:00 PM, Goethe-Institut Tuesday April 20, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Saturday April 24, 7:30 PM, Goethe-Institut Wednesday April 21, 8:45 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Co-Presented with
Global Rhythms ■ ■ ■ ■ CAPITAL FOCUS AWARD ■ ■ ■ ■ Charlie Haden: Cooking with Stella Rambling Boy Dilip Mehta Canada, 2009, Reto Caduff 104 minutes, color Switzerland, 2009, Director Dilip Mehta’s 87 minutes, color sly film takes us inside and black & white both the privileged Soft-spoken yet world of Canadian focused in the diplomats in New distinctly unassuming Delhi and the more vein of his Midwestern tenuous existence of upbringing, bassist and the poor Indians who composer Charlie work for them. Stella Haden’s long-overdue (the charming Seema documentary biogra- Biswas), the Canadian phy plays like a High Commission’s particularly warm and longtime housekeeper intimate musical composition. And that’s by necessi- and chef, is initially ty, because there’s a lot of material to cover: framed delighted when by sessions from his eponymous 2008 roots record, assigned to new the film details Haden’s early musical interest and arrivals Maya and collaborations with Ornette Coleman and John Michael and their Coltrane through his innovative Liberation Music baby. But she is Orchestra and Quartet West period. Along for the shocked to realize that ride are such still-very-much-alive musical legends Maya (Lisa Ray) is the and stalwart collaborators as Keith Jarrett, Pat working diplomat and Metheny, Carla Bley, Bruce Hornsby, Ravi Coltrane, husband Michael (Don McKellar) will stay at home. Michael is also a chef and asks Stella to teach him her and Ernie Watts. “Charlie,” someone says, “is a kitchen secrets. He never realizes how many more secrets she is hiding. Through clever kickbacks and small- unique being who plays bass with all his heart.” He’s scale pilfery, Stella manages to spread the Western wealth around. When the honest Tannu (Shriya Saran) is also that rare breed of person in any discipline: an hired as a nanny, Stella’s various schemes are jeopardized and she must devise new ways to maintain the status artist who has balanced a full and supportive family quo.—Dave Nuttycombe life with a prodigious musical output, all achieved in Co-Presented with IN ENGLISH AND HINDI WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES perfect harmony.—Eddie Cockrell the Embassy of Friday, April 23, 9:00 PM, Goethe-Institut Wednesday April 21, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Saturday April 24, 9:15 PM, Goethe-Institut Thursday April 22, 6:30 PM, Embassy of Canada. Followed by a wine & cheese reception, ADVANCE SALES ONLY. Justice Matters 8 The Day Will Come Dawson, Island 10 Susanne Schneider Miguel Littin France/Germany, 2009, 104 minutes, color Chile/Brazil/Venezuela, 2009, 117 minutes, color “It would be nice to go back in time and start over,” and black & white says Alice (Katharine Schüttler), a mysterious young After the 1973 overthrow of Chilean President woman who seems to be on a mission. Driving Salvador Allende, the members of his cabinet were through the beautiful Alsace-Lorraine countryside, sent to Dawson Island, a naval base in frigid she purposefully crashes Patagonia. They her car into a tree close were imprisoned in a to a winery, where she makeshift concentra- is taken in by the cou- tion camp and ple who run it. The assigned numbers. wife (Iris Berben) is a Number 10 was local activist, which is El Paso Sergio Bilar, whose causing her some grief, Zdenek Tyc memoirs are the as are her two teenage Filmfest DC 2010 basis for this power- children. And then Czech Republic, 2009, 100 minutes, color ful docudrama. there are the financial After her husband’s death, Romany Vera Horvathova Chile’s submission problems she and her discovers that she presents a problem for most of for the 2009 foreign- husband (Jacques society. After years of not paying rent, she moves film Oscar®, Dawson, Island 10 was actually shot on Frantz) argue about. into a small welfare flat where, despite the rough Dawson Island and includes archival footage of the But Alice and her reti- conditions, she tries to give her seven children anti-Allende coup. The movie documents abuse of cent resentment prove everything they need. She doesn’t understand why the prisoners and shows the military’s ludicrous to be an even more social workers are trying to take her kids away, legal attempts at Orwellian language control, but it also unsettling influence on jargon confuses her, and she refuses to feel guilty reveals that the inmates developed bonds with their the already brittle fami- about being Romany. Fortunately, she isn’t alone, captors, and used their skills in such fields as medi- ly dynamics. The Day but in order for her new “gadji” friends to help her, cine and architecture to help everyone on the island. Will Come ponders they must first earn her trust and enter her world. When the camp closed in 1974, some of the prison- issues of self-interest over community responsibility Director Zdenek Tyc once again returns to a ers were released—only to be targeted later. One of and youth versus age, but writer-director Susanne Romany story inspired by true events in which them, Orlando Letelier, was assassinated in Schneider ultimately wants to know whether you can people don’t speak of love but live it. Washington in 1976.—Mark Jenkins ever escape the past.—Dave Nuttycombe —Karlovy Vary International Film Festival IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN FRENCH AND GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN CZECH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Friday April 16, 8:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Friday April 23, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Saturday April 17, 5:00 PM, Avalon Theatre Saturday April 17, 9:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Saturday April 24, 7:00 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Monday April 19, 8:45 PM, Avalon Theatre
Bel Cinema! THE NEW ROMANIAN WAVE Friends at the The Happiest Girl in Margherita Café the World Pupi Avati Radu Jude Italy, 2009, Romania/ 90 minutes, color Netherlands, and black & white 2009, The regulars at 100 minutes, Bologna’s color Margherita Café are, to use the technical Delia is the term, “losers.” But happiest girl in they’re an entertain- the world. She Elvis’ Last Song ing lot and likely to has just won a Vassilis Raisis be as cherished by luxury car after taking part in a Greece, 2009, 100 minutes, color viewers as they are by the film’s protagonist, an 18-year-old dubbed beverage pro- Markos’s life takes a radical turn in a coffee shop “The Kid.” Set in 1954, the latest warm-hearted motional contest. All she has to do is star in a TV when he picks up an essay entitled “Melancholia in fable from Filmfest DC regular Pupi Avati was commercial while driving the car and reciting a testi- Rock ’n’ Roll” left behind by Electra, a student of “inspired by real characters.” There’s the tailor who monial line to perfection. The price is apparently music history. Markos pursues Electra and, when specializes in swindling priests and nuns, the would- small, but the happy winner proves to be a bad they meet, it is music that brings them together. be singer who’s written a tune about the café, and actress, her parents want to sell the car, and conflict Markos’ friends dismiss her as “emo.” Electra dis- the lusty Sicilian who’s obsessed with ladies’ under- breaks out between the production team and the misses Markos’ friends as superficial. The argument wear—and wants a pair of X-ray glasses. They’re all advertisers. From heaven, Delia descends to minia- as to how seriously or lightly one should take life thoroughly corrupt, yet oddly innocent. The Kid ture distress as she must choose between adolescent, soon becomes an issue between the lovers, creating a works to ingratiate himself with these men while frivolous fun and adult practicality. Director Jude’s gap that grows larger by the day. Eventually, it is contending with an eccentric grandfather and a debut aims high beyond the immediate targets (the music that will give rise to their final clash. Elvis’ hopeless crush on a pretty librarian. With episodes conflict between generations, empty consumerism, Last Song took home both the Audience Award and linked by gentle humor and amiable outlook, Friends and the heart–mind dichotomy). His film is a Best Digital Film Award at the Thessaloniki at the Margherita Café is as comfy as an evening at a bittersweet fable about former communist countries International Film Festival. favorite haunt.—Mark Jenkins entering, head-on, into the carnivorous rush of liberalism.—Mihai Chirilov —Thessaloniki International Film Festival IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN ROMANIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN GREEK WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Tuesday April 20, 6:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Friday April 23, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Wednesday April 21, 8:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Wednesday April 21, 6:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Saturday April 24, 7:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Thursday April 22, 8:45 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Saturday April 24, 4:30 PM, Avalon Theatre ■ ■ CAPITAL FOCUS AWARD ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Harry Brown 9 Farewell Daniel Barber Christian Carion England, 2009, France, 2009, 113 minutes, color 103 minutes, color Christian Carion’s previous film, the Oscar®-nominated Joyeux Noel, took the director into French, English, On the shabby side of and German archives to research the story of the “Christmas Truce” during WWI. For Farewell, Carion London, a run-down added a trip inside Russia’s block of council estate private past for the story of flats has become the how an unassuming French unchallenged play- engineer (Pierre Froment) ground of a group of helped bring on perestroika violent thugs and drug and end the Cold War. Set dealers. Graffiti covers and filmed largely in the front doors and the Moscow during the tense elderly residents must days of the Reagan admin- stay inside or become istration, Farewell follows victims of random disaffected KGB officer abuse. Recent widower Filmfest DC 2010 Sergei Gregoriev (Emir and former Royal Kusturica), who decides he Marine Harry Brown can make a better world for (Michael Caine) and his his son by destroying the fellow pensioner Len corrupt Soviet system. In (David Bradley) spend an environment where their days playing chess there is a “babushka behind in the local pub and every curtain” and people worrying about the state “lie in lies,” the viewer is of the world. When Len decides to take matters into never entirely sure who is his own hands, the results are particularly tragic. playing who, and for what After the police fail to provide justice, Harry decides reason. And even though to use his military training to take on the gangs. the events are long past, Although plagued by emphysema, the unlikely vigi- when Gregoriev turns over lante manages to stay one step ahead of both the plans for Air Force One, the Space Shuttle, and much more, the goosebumps appear.—Dave Nuttycombe criminals and the police who are investigating his IN FRENCH, ENGLISH, AND RUSSIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES commando-style actions.—Dave Nuttycombe Friday April 16, 9:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Friday April 23, 9:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Saturday April 17, 9:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Saturday April 24, 9:15 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place
Heliopolis Holding on to Jah Ahmad Roger Landon Hall Abdalla USA, 2009, 98 minutes, color and black & white Egypt, There’s lots of 2009, reggae music in 96 minutes, this compelling color documentary, whose intervie- A wistful wees include account of such reggae loss woven performers as with the Sugar Minott, hope of possibility, this Egyptian ensemble piece is Here and There U Roy, and even set in a lost place: Cairo’s Heliopolis neighbor- Culture’s hood, once the city’s European quarter. In a series of Darko Lungulov Joseph Hill. overlapping stories, writer-director Ahmad Abdalla Serbia/USA/Germany, 2009, 85 minutes, color Yet the film’s main subject is not the music, but its introduces an abundance of contrasting characters: “Here” is the less glamorous streets of New York inspiration: Rastafarianism. This evocative history There’s a grad student whose research into the area’s City, and “there” is battle-scarred Belgrade, Serbia. opens with the arrivals of Columbus and slaves from history leads him to an elderly shut-in who doesn’t And to director Lungulov’s camera, the two can Ghana and shows how back-to-Africa crusader want the neighbors to know she’s Jewish, a hotel often look the same. The issue of where one’s home Marcus Garvey, Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, desk clerk whose desire to live in France is so power- truly is lies at the heart of this story about down-on- and the Book of Revelation—plus a little sacramen- ful that it prompts an animated reverie of Paris, a his-luck musician Robert (David Thornton) and tal herb—shaped the music’s outlook and aspirations. Christian doctor whose relatives want him to join enterprising immigrant Blanko (Branislav From mento and ska to rocksteady and finally reg- them in Canada, an engaged couple who are looking Trifunovic). After Robert hires Blanko to move his gae, Jamaica’s sound sprouted in such slums as for real estate and large appliances but find only few worldly possessions, Blanko offers $3,000 if Kingston’s Trench Town, the home of Bob Marley, unbearable traffic, and a young policeman whose Robert will go to Belgrade and bring back Blanko’s Peter Tosh, and many more musical pioneers. Its post is successfully infiltrated by a stray puppy. girlfriend under the guise of a hasty “marriage.” global success owes something to having a rhythm Instead of drama, the film concentrates on a strong With few reasons to refuse, Robert winds up living that, as reggae historian Roger Steffens says here, “is sense of character—human and geographic. with Blanko’s mother, Olga (Mirjana Karanovic), half the beat of a healthy human heart at rest.” But it’s —Mark Jenkins a world away. Here and There intercuts the adven- also because reggae’s quest for peace and justice IN ARABIC, FRENCH, AND ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH tures of Robert and Blanko, each trying to make touches hearts worldwide.—Mark Jenkins SUBTITLES sense of brand-new worlds, and features a cameo and IN ENGLISH AND JAMAICAN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH music by Cyndi Lauper.—Dave Nuttycombe Friday April 23, 6:30 PM, Avalon Theatre SUBTITLES IN SERBO-CROATIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Saturday April 24, 6:45 PM, Avalon Theatre Monday April 19, 8:15 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Co-presented with Saturday April 17, 9:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Tuesday April 20, 8:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place American University Sunday April 18, 5:00 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema ■ ■ ■ CAPITAL FOCUS AWARD ■ ■ ■ ■ 10 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CAPITAL FOCUS AWARD ■ ■ ■ ■ The House of Bel Cinema! Branching Love I Am Love Mika Kaurismäki Luca Guadagnino Finland, 2009, 102 minutes, color Italy, 2009, This thoroughly madcap dark comedy follows a 119 minutes, color divorcing middle- Tilda Swinton delivers aged couple forced another in a memo- to remain together rable string of fiercely until they can sell independent-minded their house. performances as Although husband Emma, the transplant- Juhani (Hannu- ed Russian wife of a Pekka Bjorkman) newly anointed Italian prepares a new list textile magnate (Pippo
Filmfest DC 2010 of “house rules” to Delbono). Emma make life bearable, he immediately violates the “no throws a birthday din- guests” rule by bringing home a woman he met at a ner for her wealthy club. This prompts wife Tuula (Elina Knihtila) to patriarch father-in-law find her own new boyfriend to flaunt. Aided and at their lavish estate in abetted by the pair’s meddling best friends, the esca- Milan, and that party lation of accusations, recriminations, and general sets the stage for all poor judgment pile up as the house becomes more that is to follow. crowded. Further complicating everything are the When the patriarch various unseen connections everyone shares. Juhani announces his succes- hires a pretend girlfriend from his brother, who is sion plan to his family, working for Tuula’s estranged mother, who runs a personal and business prostitution ring, who is being investigated by a lives intertwine with unexpected results. Slowly but inexorably, a series of apparently small, almost innocuous, policewoman, who is a patient of Juhani. On and on transgressions begins to unsettle the veneer of manners and etiquette, including Emma’s attraction to the pas- it goes until each person discovers a truth about sionate chef friend (Edoardo Gabbriellini) of her headstrong son. This is a film in which tradition and themselves.—Dave Nuttycombe modernity collide.—Toronto International Film Festival IN FINNISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN ITALIAN, ENGLISH, AND RUSSIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Thursday April 22, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Sunday April 18, 5:00 PM, Avalon Theatre Saturday April 24, 7:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Monday April 19, 6:30 PM, Avalon Theatre
Global Rhythms I Killed My Mother I, Don Giovanni Xavier Dolan Carlos Saura Canada 2009, Spain/Italy, 2009, 120 minutes, color 100 minutes, A delicacy for opera color and devotees, the latest musi- black & white cal film from veteran No mothers Spanish director Carlos are murdered Saura (Blood Wedding, during the Carmen) goes backstage course of this in 18th-century Vienna semi-autobio- as “Don Giovanni” is graphical fami- written and rehearsed. ly smackdown, Mozart and Salieri both but teenage protagonist Hubert does sometimes tell feature in the story, but people that his mom is deceased. Played by 21-year- the central character is a old writer-director Xavier Dolan, Hubert is a gay lesser known figure: high school student whose relationship with mama Lorenzo da Ponte, the (Quebec cinema veteran Anne Dorval) is as over- opera’s librettist. I, Don the-top as a Lady Gaga concert. He hates her, yet he Giovanni lightly fiction- loves her. Hubert wants to move out, but demon- alizes this period in the strates his displeasure when she decides to send him life of da Ponte, a to boarding school by writing an essay with the same Catholic priest and liber- title as the film. Meanwhile, boyfriend Antonin’s tine who spent his later mother is the coolest in the world, or at least years in New York. Montreal. Dolan folds dream sequences, wish-fulfill- Director and co-writer ment fantasies, and home video testimonies into his Saura proposes that da study of a relationship that’s unbearable yet irrevoca- Ponte based his interpre- ble. Canada’s candidate for 2009’s foreign-film tation of Don Juan largely on his own amours, which were among the reasons the writer was banished from Oscar®, I Killed my Mother overflows with both style his native Venice. Taking inspiration from opera productions, the director jumbles fact and fantasy and alter- and emotion.—Mark Jenkins nates between actual locations and painted backdrops. From misty canals to steamy boudoirs, the film’s IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES appearance is sumptuous. And the music’s pretty good, too.—Mark Jenkins Wednesday April 21, 6:30 PM, Embassy of Canada, Advance Sales Only IN ITALIAN AND GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Thursday April 22, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Monday April 19, 9:00 PM, Avalon Theatre Embassy of Saturday April 24, 4:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Co-Presented with: Bel Cinema! Learning from Light: 11 La Pivellina The Vision of I. M. Pei Tizza Covi/Rainer Frimmel Bo Landin/Sterling Van Wagenen Italy/Austria, USA/Qatar, 2009, 84 minutes, color 2009, 101 minutes, For what might be his last major project, Qatar’s color Museum of Islamic Art, In an impover- Chinese-American architect Irène ished trailer I. M. Pei decided to learn park on the out- “the essence” of an architec- Alain Cavalier skirts of Rome, tural style he didn’t really France, 2009, 85 minutes, color a small band of know. The 92-year-old social outcasts designer studied buildings Holy Places eke out an exis- throughout Alain Cavalier tence in the the Islamic dreary Italian France, 2007, 30 minutes, color world, from Filmfest DC 2010 French auteur Alain Cavalier’s moving love poem to winter. Circus Tunisian his wife—the actress Irène Tunc who died in car performers Patty (Patrizia Gerardi) and Walter fortresses to crash years earlier—is composed with a lightweight (Walter Saabel) wait patiently for the summer to masterpieces video camera and his own voiceover commentary come, until one day Patty finds a small two-year-old of Moorish that is by turns private, compelling, poignant, comi- girl standing alone in the rain in a suburban park. Spain. Pei cal, and completely inspired. Cavalier’s genius lies in Patty kindly brings little Asia (Asia Crippa) home to finally creating diaries, and this is one of his best—filled dry her off. As she undresses la pivellina (the little modeled the with notes and observations that range from the lyri- one), Patty discovers a note saying the foundling will museum on a simple, elegant Cairo mosque that cally transcendent to the wittily down-to-earth. be picked up in due course by her troubled mother. exemplifies his ideals of “form, space, light, and Cavalier travels from Irène’s hometown of Lyon to Filmmaking duo Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel, movement.” The filmmakers followed Pei for three places they shared together, redolent with memories. insert an angelic child into a drab community and years, with stops in New York and Paris as well as As with all of Cavalier’s films, Irène contains the visu- fervently capture the results. The chemistry is Doha, where the beautifully detailed structure rises al surprises and eccentric touches that have become instantaneous as sunny Asia lights up the performers’ on an artificial island in the harbor. A treat for archi- this director’s hallmark. idle winter. There are moments of genuine joy, until tecture devotees, this film doesn’t simply show the a letter from Asia’s mother arrives. process of building. It also allows Pei to explain his Irène is followed by the short Holy Places, a wistful —Toronto International Film Festival design’s concept. The aptly cross-cultural score is by reverie on European water closets. IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project.—Mark Jenkins Sunday April 25, 4:30 PM, National Gallery of Art, Sunday April 18, 7:15 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Thursday April 22, 6:30 PM, Goethe-Institut East Building Auditorium, FREE Monday April 19, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Friday April 23, 6:30 PM, Goethe-Institut Looking for Eric Lourdes Ken Loach Jessica Hausner United Kingdom/France/Italy/Belgium/Spain, Austria/France/Germany, 2009, 96 minutes, color 2009, 116 minutes, color This smartly contempla- tive film was shot on loca- tion at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in the beautiful foothills of Letters to Father Jacob the Pyrenees Mountains. Klaus Härö Wheelchair-bound Christine (the talented Sylvie Finland, 2009, 74 minutes, color Lauded Palme d’Or winning director Ken Loach Testud) has joined a group of pilgrims seeking solace A gentle parable of redemption, this Finnish drama crafts a whimsical dramedy that skillfully walks the and hopefully much more from the renowned is about a minister and the paroled murderess who tricky line between the comedic and the serious. Eric Roman Catholic site. Although she portrays a can’t see what he’s done for her. Expecting to serve a Bishop is a wreck. One of his panic attacks has just woman who cannot move her body below the neck, life sentence, sullen Leila is unexpectedly released spurred a car crash that landed him in the hospital. Testud manages to fully convey the many emotions and offered a position at Jacob’s remote parsonage. His job at the post office sucks. His second wife her journey encompasses. She is half-heartedly The cleric gets lots of mail requesting prayers and walked out on him, saddling him with two teenagers looked after by a younger attendant who would guidance. Leila’s job is to read the missives to Jacob, from hell. He’s estranged from his first wife and rather be partying with the handsome male guides, who sometimes responds with one of the Bible vers- their daughter. Even the efforts of his well-meaning one of whom Christine has clear, though improba- es he knows by heart. Aside from the local postman, work buddies can’t pull Eric from his slump. In fact, ble, interest in. Christine’s questions are met with who’s terrified of Leila, Jacob and his scribe don’t get the only thing holding him back from the edge standard religious pieties rather than compassion by much company. Indeed, the minister is losing touch seems to be his devotion to the Manchester United stern Sister Cecile (Elina Löwensohn), who may be with reality, which forces Leila to accept responsibil- football team. One night, after inhaling a healthy hiding her own reason for being at Lourdes. When ity after years of not caring about anything. Finland’s measure of marijuana, the ghost of former Christine seems to experience something miracu- nominee for the 2009 foreign-film Oscar®, this inti- Manchester United star Eric Cantona materializes to lous, the film poses more questions about the mys- mate tale is set during a luminous Nordic summer offer advice. Coached by his idol, Bishop sets out to tery that is our existence.—Dave Nuttycombe and swathed in classical piano music.—Mark Jenkins put his life on track. IN FRENCH, ENGLISH, GERMAN, AND ITALIAN WITH IN FINNISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES —Palm Springs International Film Festival ENGLISH SUBTITLES Friday April 16, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Wednesday April 21, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Sunday April 18, 5:00 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Saturday April 24, 9:15 PM, Avalon Theatre Thursday April 22, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place 12 Filmfest DC 2010 Festival Schedule
The Over the Hill Band 9:30 PM Here and There Landmark’s E St. Cinema Monday April 19 6:30 PM Air Doll 9:30 PM The White Stripes Landmark’s E St. Cinema Under Great White Northern Lights 6:30 PM Autumn Adagio Regal Gallery Place Regal Gallery Place 6:30 PM I Am Love Sunday April 18 Avalon Theatre 2:30 PM Pandora’s Box 6:30 PM La Pivellina
Filmfest DC 2010 Landmark’s E St. Cinema Regal Gallery Place 3:00 PM The Secret of Kells 6:30 PM No One Knows About Avalon Theatre Persian Cats Landmark’s 3:00 PM Two in the Wave E St. Cinema Landmark’s E St. Cinema 4:00 PM Louise-Michel Embassy of France Thursday April 15 Saturday April 17 5:00 PM Here and There Opening Night 1:00 PM The Secret of Kells Landmark’s E St. Cinema Avalon Theatre 7:00 PM Hipsters 5:00 PM I Am Love AMC Mazza Gallerie 5:00 PM El Paso Avalon Theatre Avalon Theatre 5:00 PM Letters to Father Jacob Hipsters 6:30 PM Silent Wedding Landmark’s E St. Cinema Regal Gallery Place 5:00 PM The Other Irene 7:00 PM Mid-August Lunch Regal Gallery Place Landmark’s E St. Cinema 5:00 PM Skeletons 7:00 PM Moloch Tropical Regal Gallery Place Regal Gallery Place 5:00 PM Will You Marry Us? White Wedding 7:00 PM Shameless Avalon Theatre Avalon Theatre 6:45 PM No One Knows About 6:30 PM The Sicilian Girl 7:00 PM Will You Marry Us? Persian Cats Avalon Theatre Avalon Theatre Landmark’s E St. Cinema 8:15 PM Holding on to Jah Friday April 16 7:00 PM Zero 7:00 PM Moloch Tropical Regal Gallery Place 6:30 PM Letters to Father Jacob Landmark’s E St. Cinema Regal Gallery Place 8:30 PM The Other Irene Landmark’s E St. Cinema 8:30 PM Short Cuts 7:15 PM La Pivellina Regal Gallery Place 6:30 PM Mid-August Lunch Goethe-Institut Regal Gallery Place 8:45 PM El Paso Landmark’s E St. Cinema 8:45 PM Tales from the Golden Age 7:30 PM 25 Carats Avalon Theatre 6:30 PM The Over the Hill Band Landmark’s E St. Cinema Avalon Theatre 9:00 PM I, Don Giovanni Avalon Theatre 9:00 PM Farewell 7:30 PM The Over The Hill Band Avalon Theatre 6:30 PM Shorts Cuts Regal Gallery Place Avalon Theatre 9:00 PM The Tango Singer Goethe-Institut 9:15 PM 25 Carats 7:30 PM Scheherazade, Landmark’s E St. Cinema 6:30 PM Silent Wedding Avalon Theatre Tell Me a Story Regal Gallery Place 9:30 PM Dawson, Island 10 Landmark’s E St. Cinema 9:15 PM Between the Sheets Landmark’s E St. 6:30 PM Skeletons Avalon Theatre Cinema Regal Gallery Place 6:30 PM The Swimsuit Issue Tuesday April 20 Avalon Theatre 6:30 PM Air Doll 8:15 PM Tales from the Golden Age Landmark’s E St. Landmark’s E St. Cinema Silent Cinema Wedding 8:15 PM Zero 6:30 PM The Balibo Conspiracy Landmark’s E St. Cinema Regal Gallery Place 8:30 PM Dawson, Island 10 6:30 PM Friends at the Avalon Theatre Margherita Café 8:45 PM Shameless Avalon Theatre Avalon Theatre 6:30 PM Louise-Michel 8:45 PM The White Stripes Avalon Theatre Under Great White 6:30 PM North Northern Lights Landmark’s E St. Cinema Regal Gallery Place 6:30 PM White Wedding 9:00 PM Farewell Regal Gallery Place Regal Gallery Place 8:15 PM The Message 9:00 PM Videocracy Landmark’s E St. Cinema Goethe-Institut 8:30 PM 6:30 PM Wednesday21 April 8:30 PM 8:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 8:45 PM 8:30 PM 8:30 PM Made inHungaria Margherita Café Margherita Story a Me Tell Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Song Last Elvis’ Regal GalleryPlace Wedding White Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Singer Tango The Girl Avalonthe Theatre and Puccini Regal GalleryPlace Lourdes Embassy ofCanada Mother My Killed I Avalon Theatre the at Friends Stella Landmark’s ESt.Cinema with Cooking Regal GalleryPlace Adagio Autumn Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Scheherazade, Crime Regal GalleryPlace of Army The AvalonGirl Theatre Sicilian The Avalon Theatre Chaos Quiet Jah Regal GalleryPlace to on Holding Women Without Men 10:00 AM Thursday22 April 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 8:45 PM 8:45 PM 8:45 PM 8:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 PM 8:45 PM 8:30 PM 8:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM Filmfest DC 2010 DC Filmfest Avalon Theatre Puccini and the Girl Avalonthe Theatre and Puccini Regal GalleryPlace Box Pandora’s Goethe-Institut Ipanema Beyond Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Journeys Wind The Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Song Last Elvis’ Crime Regal GalleryPlace of Army The Issue Avalon Theatre Swimsuit The Men Regal GalleryPlace Without Women Night Avalon Theatre the in Saviors Avalon Theatre Chaos Quiet Regal GalleryPlace Lourdes Goethe-Institut Light: from Learning Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Mother My Killed I Landmark’s ESt.Cinema of House The Stella Embassy ofCanada with Cooking Seniors for Cinema Night Avalon Theatre the in Saviors Regal GalleryPlace Conspiracy Balibo The Avalon Theatre Videocracy Landmark’s ESt.Cinema North The Vision of I. M. Pei M. I. of Vision The Love Branching Festival Schedule * 6:30 PM Friday23 April 2:30 PM 24 Saturday April 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM 8:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:45 PM 5:15 PM 4:45 PM 4:30 PM 4:30 PM 9:15 PM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM for Freedom for Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle Struggle Tibet’s Clouds: World the in Regal GalleryPlace Brown Harry Goethe-Institut Haden: Charlie Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Honor of Medal Regal GalleryPlace for Soundtrack Avalon Theatre Dancer Last Mao’s Goethe-Institut Light: From Learning Avalon Theatre Heliopolis Regal GalleryPlace Girl Happiest The Come Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Will Day The Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Alamar Goethe-Institut Ipanema Beyond Regal GalleryPlace the Behind Sun The Avalon Theatre Hungaria in Made Regal GalleryPlace Girl Happiest The Come Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Will Day The Avalon Theatre Heliopolis Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Alamar Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Honor of Medal Avalon Theatre Giovanni Don I, Avalon Theatre the at Friends National Galleryof Art Landscapes and People Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Journeys Wind The Men Regal GalleryPlace Without Women Avalon Theatre Reykjavik-Rotterdam Avalon Theatre Hungaria in Made Rambling Boy Rambling Revolution a Pei M. I. of Vision The World the in Margherita Café Margherita Catalonia* of All programs are subject to change. to subject are programs All 4:00 PM Sunday25 April 4:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:00 PM 9:15 PM 9:15 PM 9:15 PM 9:15 PM 9:00 PM * Eventsmarkedwithanasterisk 7:30 PM The Message are free. 202-234-FILM Soul Kitchen Soul Irene Regal GalleryPlace Night Closing Landmark’s ESt.Cinema Message The Sheets Landmark’s ESt.Cinema the Between Regal GalleryPlace Reykjavik-Rotterdam AvalonEric Theatre For Looking Regal GalleryPlace Brown Harry Goethe-Institut Haden: Charlie Avalon Theatre Dancer Last Mao’s Landmark’s ESt.Cinema of House The National Galleryof Art Rambling Boy Rambling Love Branching filmfesdc.org * Dawson, Island10 Info :
Filmfest DC 2010 13 Filmfest DC 2010 14 Saturday April24,Saturday 7:00 PM,Avalon Theatre April23,9:00PM,AvalonFriday Theatre I – KarlovyVary FilmFestival International ance andhumorous,nostalgicreferences tothefilm’s picture-perfect‘60s settingmakeforanenjoyableride. to makemusicandfallinlove,” Mikiproclaims—amodestenoughgoal,thoughKimmel’s preppyperform- friends inapark,totherivalry that brewsbetweenMikiandthegangleaderwhotookhisplace. “Ijustwant ing intohischildhood singing skillsafterbump- Lewis-inspired pianoand shows offhisJerryLee (Tamas SzaboKimmel) which 18-year-old Miki musical number, in quotient, fromthefirst delivers ahighfeel-good its nativeHungaryand pleasing filmwasahitin romance. Thecrowd- swinging musical about rock’n’rollinthis Communist-era peers teenybopper teacheshis Brylcreemed Hungarian longed stayintheU.S.,a comedy. Afterapro- ping musicalromantic Curtain inthistoe-tap- era goesbehindtheIron as themusicof’60s color minutes, Get readytorock’n’roll 109 2009, Hungary, Gergely Fonyó Made inHungaria Tuesday April20,6:30PM,Avalon Theatre April18,Sunday 4:00PM,EmbassyofFrance, followed byawine&cheese reception,$20.00 I like inventiveness.—SundanceFilmFestival closure. Thisquixoticrevengecomedyispropelledbyrebellioushumorandacartoon- crime, LouiseandMichelworktheirwayupthecorporatefoodchainbehindfactory a person,soheresortstousingterminallyillpatientsdohisdirtywork.Partnersin park, whooffersnocredentialsbuthasaformidableguncollection.Michelcan’t evenshoot adog,muchless Louise: hireahitmantokillthecompany’s owner. EnterMichel,aparanoidsecuritymanagerattrailer N N H F EC WITH RENCH NAINWITH UNGARIAN E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH E NGLISH S UBTITLES Global Rhythms 94 minutes, color minutes, 94 goal, suggestedby toward acommon compensation money to pooltheirpaltry be seen.Theydecide agement nowhereto machinery andman- factory empty, its shocked tofindthe the nextday, they’re When theyshowup company’s stability. assure themoftheir given newsmocksto cial toyfactoryare workers ofaprovin- tough, thefemale Although timesare 2008, France, de Kervern Delépine/Gustave Benoît Michel Louise- Co-Presented with 117 minutes, color color minutes, 117 Saturday April24,Saturday 9:00PM,Avalon Theatre April23,6:30PM,AvalonFriday Theatre I issue.—Toronto FilmFestival International time whenartisticfreedomwasahuman-rights fictional film.Italsoremindsusofanot-so-distant the mostviscerallypotentdanceevercapturedina the UnitedStates. standoff attheconsulatethatmadeheadlinesacross Li refusedtoreturnChina,leadingadramatic regime togoAmerica.Whenhisexchangeended, one ofthefirstexchangestudentsallowedbyMao’s cultural delegationtoCommunistChina,Libecame logical training.DiscoveredbythefirstAmerican committed toastrangenewlifeofartisticandideo- Ballet Academyandwas ed byMadameMao’s 11-year-old Liwasselect- the CulturalRevolution, Province. Inthemidstof ents inChina’s Shandong ers andimpoverishedpar- Li livedwithhissixbroth- Li Cunxin.Bornin1961, the inspiringtruestoryof Miss Daisy;BlackRobe)is Bruce Beresford(Driving Brought tothescreenby 2009, Australia, Bruce Beresford Mao’s LastDancer Saturday April24,Saturday 4:45PM,Landmark'sE Street Cinema April23,8:30PM,Landmark'sEStreetFriday Cinema I FilmFestival —Palm SpringsInternational exactly whattheyseem. tinction, itbecomesapparentthat thingsarenot he beginstounravelthemystery ofthisgreatdis- his lifewiththegloryofnew honor. However, as and expatson,Ionattemptsto draw thembackinto neighbors bestowonhim.Estrangedfromhiswife his belateddistinctionandthenewrespect remember anyspecificactofheroism,Ionrelishes actions duringWWII.Despitehisinabilityto awarded aMedalofHonorforunspecified“heroic” (Victor Rebengiuc), isa75-year-old manwhois ism. Ion nism tocapital- from commu- Romania’s shift encapsulates touching film immensely ironic and Festival, this loniki Film year’s Thessa- Awards Best Screenplay Best Actor,and color Award,Jury minutes, 106 Winner ofthe 2009, Romania, C Medal ofHonor N N ǎ E R lin PeterNetzer GIHAND NGLISH MNA WITH OMANIAN at this THE NEWROMANIANWAVE Global Rhythms M NAI WITH ANDARIN Mao’s LastDancer E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH features someof The Message 15 Kuo-fu Chen, Qunshu Gao China, 2009, 120 minutes, color Set in 1942 amid the Japanese inva- sion of China, this lavish spy thriller keeps us guessing and rethinking what we know until Bel Cinema! the very end. After Moloch Tropical the resistance Mid-August Lunch Raoul Peck manages a series of Gianni Di Gregorio France/Haiti, 2009, 107 minutes, color assassinations of Haiti has a castle high atop a mountain outside Port- members of the Italy, 2008, 75 minutes, color au-Prince. It is a remnant of colonial power and Japanese-controlled Winner of audience awards and other accolades at
debauchery hiding in the mists. It is from this height Filmfest DC 2010 puppet govern- festivals from Bratislava and Bologna, Mid-August that the president rules. Styling himself an imperial ment, the head of Lunch is a mellow gem of a film, and represents a monarch, he rattles paranoid around the enormous the Counterintelligence Office gathers a group of modest triumph for Di Gregorio, who co-wrote castle. Obsessed equally with what the television tells suspects in a remote castle in hopes of uncovering Matteo Garrone’s Gomorrah. Sixtyish Gianni (writer- him and the comely shape of his new maid, he the mole, code-named “Phantom.” In the darkly lit director Gianni Di Gregorio) and his 93-year-old enforces rules with an erratic terror common to confines of this lush prison, cruel Colonel Takeda mother Valeria are looking forward to celebrating many despots. Even without reference to Haiti’s (Huang Xiaoming) attempts to unmask the spy, Italy’s summer holiday Ferragosto in the flat they recent history, Moloch Tropical stands as a major work pitting each suspect against the other. His devious share in Rome’s Trastevere district. But before you that synthesizes political analysis, symbolic art, and a mental and physical methods start a cat-and-mouse can say “put out another plate,” Gianni’s conniving particularly Caribbean approach to tragedy. In addi- game with the cornered Phantom. Through stylized landlord persuades the genial good son into caring tion to directing landmark works of diasporic African images, we see the increasingly desperate messages for his own mother Marina and Aunt Maria for two cinema (Lumumba: La Mort du prophète, Sometimes in the Phantom tries to relay to the resistance leader, nights. When his doctor chum foists his mother on April), Raoul Peck also once served as Haiti’s minis- known only as “Magnum.” The action plays out like him so he can take a lucrative night shift, Gianni ter of culture. French president Nicholas Sarkozy a particularly suspenseful Agatha Christie mystery by finds himself with a full house. “We do this gladly, recently appointed Mr. Peck president of La Femis, way of 24, against the backdrop of actual historic but up to a point,” Valeria explains sensibly, and the French film school. events.—Dave Nuttycombe from this tension springs sublime, humanistic comedy.—Eddie Cockrell —Toronto International Film Festival IN MANDARIN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Tuesday April 20, 8:15 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Friday April 16, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Saturday April 17, 7:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Saturday April 24, 10:00 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Saturday April 17, 7:00 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Sunday April 18, 7:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Global Rhythms THE NEW ROMANIAN WAVE No One Knows About The Other Irene Persian Cats Andrei Gruzsniczki Bahman Ghobadi Romania, 2009, 90 minutes, color Iran, 2009, The Other Irene is an odd event in the current land- 102 minutes, color scape of Romanian cinema. Although paying tribute to the aesthetics of the Romanian New Wave, direc- Winner of the Cannes tor Gruzsniczki also embraces thriller genre conven- Film Festival’s Un tions, delivering a Certain Regard Special distilled suspenseful Jury Prize, No One North tale based on a Knows About Persian Cats strange real story. was co-scripted by Rune Denstad Langlo Norway, 2009, 78 minutes, color Irina convinces her Iranian-American husband that she Depressed that the love of his life is now with his journalist Roxana needs to go to Egypt former best friend, Jomar (Anders Baasmo Saberi, who was impris- to work. Three Christiansen) spends his days watching disaster doc- oned in Iran last year. A months later, she umentaries on the National Geographic Channel CBGBs T-shirt, a Joy comes back as a total and half-heartedly running a shabby ski park. When Division poster, lyrics stranger only to leave he accidentally (perhaps) burns down the lodge he that protest “there’s no room in your cage for me”— again and to finally was living in, he decides to head north, across the these could be artifacts of any indie-rock scene. But come home for frozen countryside, to his ex-wife and son. The jour- “this is Tehran,” as rapper Hichkas (Persian for good—as a corpse in ney begins via snowmobile through a silent, forbid- “nobody”) chants in director Bahman Ghobadi’s fas- a coffin. With devel- ding landscape that is as much a character as the few cinating tour of the city’s underground music scene. oping tension, The people Jomar encounters on his quest; the beautiful- The Kurdish-Iranian filmmaker (Turtles Can Fly, Lost Other Irene shows us a man becoming increasingly ly stark arctic emptiness mirrors Jomar’s outlook. in Iraq) mixes documentary footage into a lightly fic- obsessed with trying to solve the mystery of his When the snowmobile breaks down, Jomar switches tionalized tale of two Iranian alt-rockers seeking to wife’s death and subsequently becoming frustrated to skis, and through snow blindness and wrong turns emigrate to Europe. Their quest propels them into with the runaround he receives at consulates and encounters other hardy, quirky souls attempting to the black market for visas, passports, liquor, and ministries. Defying bureaucratic obstacles, the man find meaning in the harsh environment. Jomar’s bootleg DVDs; it also introduces them to clandes- finds himself alone in a Kafkian equation in which advice to a young man lost at home while his parents tine rock, jazz, blues, and heavy metal musicians. the major unknown might be how well we know the are away seems apt: “Things are a bit difficult some- Playing unauthorized music in Iran can spark comic person who is closest to us.—Mihai Chirilov absurdities but also sobering perils.—Mark Jenkins times. That’s the way it always is.”—Dave Nuttycombe IN ROMANIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN FARSI AND ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN NORWEGIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Sunday April 18, 5:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Sunday April 18, 6:45 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Tuesday April 20, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Monday April 19, 8:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Monday April 19, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Wednesday April 21, 8:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Filmfest DC 2010 16 Sunday April18,Sunday 7:30 PM,Avalon Theatre April16,Friday 6:30PM,Avalon Theatre color minutes, 93 2009, Belgium, Geoffrey Enthoven The Over theHillBand renowned “cinémagician” GeorgesMéliès. a delightfulfuturisticvisioninspired bythe ambience ofthebeach,and (1934), wherecitydwellersembark forthetranquil Preceded bytwoshorterworks, musical worldtocreateanewsynthesis. tion fromCatalonia’s composersandreshapestheir of the1920s.Thenewmusicalscoredrawsinspira- native artists,musicians,writers,andculturalicons Barcelona providethesettingformanywell-known The livelystreets,cafés,andneighborhoodsof Program directedbyRonaldSadoff. University’s SteinhardtSchoolFilmScoring Eom, andInyoungPark—studentsfromNewYork Constantopedos, ShrutiKumar, DosiaMcKay, Mira Song. ThecomposersareSergiCasanelles,Elias Spain, 1926, 80 minutes, black & white & black minutes, 80 1926, Spain, of Catalonia People andLandscapes East Building Auditorium, April24, ofArt Saturday 2:30PM,NationalGallery Global Rhythms FREE The ElectricHotel Playa yCostaBrava and Ju-Ping Max Midroit two pianosby performed on Anderson and ed byGillian ment conduct- cal accompani- ture livemusi- from Spainfea- silent-era films Three beautiful Global Rhythms (1908), Thursday April22,9:00PM,Avalon Theatre Thursday Wednesday April21, 6:30PM,Avalon Theatre I —Mark Jenkins landscape that’s beautifulenoughtobeastageset. travel byboatandtrain,moving gracefullythrougha lovely vistasandmuchglidingmotion; thecharacters fisherman andpoachers.Theimages includemany nightclub wherethecomposer likes todrinkwith villa withmoremodestplaces,includingarustic Massaciuccoli, thefilmcontrastsPuccini’s ornate little dialoguebutplentyofmusicandsetonLake church, andrestrictedtoherroom.Recountedwith ion atthelocal denied commun- the household, is drivenfrom theless, themaid Doria. Never- he’s dalliedwith no evidencethat known, there’s izing iswell Puccini’s woman- Doria. Although Golden West,” hiswifebecomesjealousofthemaid, While thecomposeriswriting“TheGirlof composer’s privilegedlifecouldbecomecomplicated. entire operaticcanon.Likethatofhischaracters,the the mostfamousandoft-performedworksin color The composerGiacomoPuccini’s operasaresomeof minutes, 77 2009, Italy, Paolo Benvenuti/PaolaBaroni Puccini andtheGirl N I AINWITH TALIAN E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH Bel Cinema! I Hill Band.”—MarkJenkins entered themas“TheOverthe in whichtheproducerhas upcoming televisiontalentshow showbiz ishighlightedbyan into thegroove.Theirreturnto dren’s churchchoirdirector, gets beau, andevenLutgard,achil- solicitous, Clairefindsanew Magda’s husbandbecomesmore their livesbothgetsexier. inner Beyoncé,theirmusicand once theylearntostruttheir three womenareskeptical,but funk andhip-hopmaterial.The music withhisownraunchy wants toupdatethethreesome’s failed musicianandproducer, complication: Claire’s son,a uptight Lutgard.Butthere’s a ing theplanmorequicklythan agree, easygoingMagdaembrac- years ago.Theothertwosingers Love,” herpopvocaltrioof50 will reunite“TheSistersof idea: Thealmost-septuagenarian death, Clairehasanintriguing After herhusband’s sudden N F EIHWITH LEMISH E Co-Presented with GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH and asenseofdeliverance. Murat, herteenagegrandsontobringpeace When noneofthemcanrelatetoher, itfallsto that theirmotherissufferingfromAlzheimer’s. Pandora’s Box.Nusret’s childreneventuallydiscover mosities, fears,andfalserelationshipslikeevilsfrom process offindingNusretunleasheslong-keptani- their homesinIstanbultofindher. Thejourneyand Black Seatown,herestrangedchildrentravelfrom French actressTsilla Chelton,disappearsinasmall color minutes, When anoldwoman,Nusret,playedbyveteran 112 2008, Turkey, Yesim Ustaoglu Pandora’s Box I — International FilmFestival. Film andBestActressawardsattheSanSebastian Thursday April22,6:30 PM,Avalon Theatre Thursday Tuesday April20,8:30 PM,Avalon Theatre I thus profoundlyaffecting. ers—Quiet Chaos Wainwright, Radiohead(“Pyramid Song”),andoth- lovely score—itselfpunctuated by songsfromRufus unforeseen directions.Caressed byPaoloBuonvino’s happenings, pushingPietro’s lifeinentirelynewand spread outintoanarrayofstrangelyserendipitous ships (includingRomanPolanskiinapivotalcameo) school. Soon,emergingpatternsandnewrelation- takes updailyresidenceintheparkacrossfromher sive aboutlettingClaudiaoutofhissight,Pietro This determinationmanifestsitselfoddly:apprehen- his 10-year-old daughter, Claudia(BluYoshimi). lack ofgriefyetresolvestobetheperfectfather Pietro (NanniMoretti)isbewilderedbyhisapparent color Suddenly findinghimselfawidower, filmexecutive minutes, 113 2008, Italy, Antonello Grimaldi Quiet Chaos Place April22,9:00PM,Regal CinemasGallery Thursday April18,Sunday 2:30PM,Landmark'sEStreet Cinema N N New York Turkish FilmFestival I T TALIAN RIHWITH URKISH , F RENCH E is richwithcharmandinsight , GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH Bel Cinema! AND E GIHWITH NGLISH —Eddie Cockrell Pandora’s Box E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH won Best Justice Matters 17 Saviors in the Night
Ludi Boeken Germany/France, 2009, 100 minutes, color During WWI, German-Jewish peasant Siegmund “Menne” Spiegel (Armin Rohde) won an Iron Cross
for bravery on the Western Front. “Twenty-five Filmfest DC 2010 years later,” he narrates wearily, “my homeland was trying to kill me.” Based on the incredible true story of Menne and his now 97-year-old wife, Marga Reykjavik-Rotterdam (Veronica Ferres), Saviors in the Night is the tense, Oskar Jonasson often harrowing story of how Menne’s wartime Iceland, 2009, 88 minutes, color friend Heinrich Aschoff (Martin Horn), his wife Maria (Margarita Broich), and later, their gung-ho This tight thriller is soon to be remade as a vehicle for Mark Walhberg under the direction of the current star Nazi sympathizing daughter Anni (Lia Baltasar Kormakur, a favorite son of Filmfest DC by virtue of such vivid directorial efforts as 101 Reykjavik Hoensbroech, in the film’s most galvanizing per- and The Sea. Kormakur plays Kristofer, an ex-con working as a security guard to support wife Iris and their formance) hid Marga and their young daughter from two sons. Things look bleak because their landlord wants his back rent—or their apartment. Reluctantly, the Nazis for 27 months during WWII at their Kristofer agrees to help Iris’ brother smuggle booze through a shipping freighter. Kristofer must deal with Westphalian farm in northwestern Germany. Stay the captain who, rightly so, doesn’t trust him, the local police who know he’s back on board, and a psycho- through the end credits to see the real Marga and pathic Dutch criminal. Back home, his wife’s previous boyfriend seems too willing to take care of Iris when Maria on set.—Eddie Cockrell he’s gone. Winner of five Edda awards (Iceland’s version of the Oscars®), Reyjavik-Rotterdam most probably spells breakout for a filmmaker already embraced and appreciated by festival audiences.—Eddie Cockrell IN GERMAN, FRENCH, AND ENGLISH WITH SUBTITLES IN ICELANDIC, DUTCH, AND ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Wednesday April 21, 9:00 PM, Avalon Theatre Friday April 23, 9:00 PM, Avalon Theatre Thursday April 22, 6:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Saturday April 24, 9:15 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Co-Presented with Filmfest DC for Kids Scheherezade, Tell Me a Story The Secret of Kells Tomm Moore/Nora Twomey Yousry Nasrallah Ireland/France/Belgium, 2009, 75 minutes, color Egypt, 2009, 136 minutes, color The Oscar®- Seven months into her second marriage in contem- nominated porary Cairo, smart and sexy Sun TV presenter young people’s Hebba Younes is grappling with a crisis: husband film The Secret Karim, deputy editor of Kells is set of a popular newspa- against the per, is under some Norse eighth pressure from high- century and Shameless er-ups to persuade concerns the his wife to soften her creation of Jan Hrebejk bare-knuckled that foremost Czech Republic, 2009, 88 minutes, color approach to govern- illuminated Oskar has his roles perfectly balanced: beloved hus- ment officials to manuscript, band, attentive father, and favorite television weath- pave the way for his the Book of erman. However, one Saturday morning he wakes up promotion. Kells. Twelve-year-old Brendan (Evan McGuire) is to the realization that his wife’s nose is just too big. “Honey,” she says, caught between the orders of his uncle, the Abbot How could he have lived with her for so long? He “the deal was not to (Brendan Gleeson), and Brother Aidan (Mick Lally), decides to take up with a young lover and eventually interfere with each keeper of a mysterious “book.” The Abbot forbids leaves his family for her. His awareness that he must other’s work. Wasn’t it?” Pledging to focus more on Brendan from leaving the village; he must help build find true love at all costs drives him from one “women’s issues,” Hebba finds herself embroiled in its walls “to save civilization.” But Aiden insists extreme to the next and also into the arms of aging fresh cultural scandal when the three women she Brendan “will learn more in the woods from rocks singer Nora. Clouds begin to gather above the man interviews tell heartbreakingly outrageous stories of and trees than any other place,” and enlists him in who was always ready with a smile for his TV audi- male oppression. Director Yousry Nasrallah’s most completing the drawings that will “change darkness ence as he forecasts even the worst possible weather. inspired strategy is to treat this hot-button issue as into light.” The inventively hypnotic visuals draw, Shameless was inspired by the book, “Short Stories unabashed melodrama, choreographing his cast with literally, from the original manuscript and feature About Marriage and Sex,” by Michal Viewegh who, intricate precision and reveling in the twin lusts of effects not usually seen in modern computer-gener- with a degree of hyperbole, describes the film as an flesh and ambition. Bold, brave, and beautiful, the ated animation. The secret of The Secret of Kells is “unromantic comedy.” controversial Scheherezade, Tell Me a Story is subver- that its breathtaking animation is well served by its —Karlovy Vary International Film Festival sive filmmaking of the highest order.—Eddie Cockrell heartfelt story.—Dave Nuttycombe IN CZECH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN ARABIC WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Co-Presented with Saturday April 17, 1:00 PM, Avalon Theatre, $5.00 Friday April 16, 8:45 PM, Avalon Theatre Sunday April 18, 7:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Sunday April 18, 3:00 PM, Avalon Theatre, $5.00 Tuesday April 20, 8:45 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Saturday April 17, 7:00 PM, Avalon Theatre 18 Short Cuts Total running time: 110 minutes Jade Sundown Pigeon Impossible Daniel Elliott Gregory Rentis Lucas Martell United Kingdom, 2009, Greece/USA, 2009, 15 minutes, USA, 2009, 6 minutes, video 16 minutes, 35mm video This rollickingly funny, DC-set Jade, caught in a dilemma of her own Through innocent yet cruel play, a animated short sees junior CIA agent making, struggles to choose the right 13-year-old boy comes to realize his Walter Beckett do battle with the title path. It becomes apparent to her, grandfather’s fragile condition. however, that she may have no choice bird over a doughnut, which leads to Seeds of the Fall a nuclear strike on Russia. Rare for a at all. Winner of the Silver Bear film of any length, this short gets its Patrik Eklund Award at the Berlin International As the Rain Was Falling Mall geography right—mostly. Sweden, 2009, 18 minutes, 35mm Film Festival. Charlotte Joulia Rolf and Eva are presented with an France, 2009, 9 minutes, 35mm opportunity to spice up their hum- A thunderstorm bursts and a woman drum marriage. This is a new comedy takes refuge under a hall where a man ® Filmfest DC 2010 from the director of the Oscar - already shelters. They share a nominated Instead of Abracadbra moment—until the rain stops. (FFDC 2009). Friday April 16, 6:30 PM, Goethe-Institut Saturday April 17, 8:30 PM, Goethe-Institut The Six Dollar Fifty Man Mark Albiston/ Louis Sutherland New Zealand, Caviar 7.57 AM-PM 2009, 15 minutes, 35mm Razvan Savescu Simon Lelouch Set in 1970’s New Zealand, The Six Romania, 2009, 20 minutes, video France, 2009, 11 minutes, 35mm Dollar Fifty Man follows Andy, a gutsy Single-dad Robert’s livelihood is day- Imagine a common scene in the Paris 8-year-old boy who is forced to break tripping to Bucharest to sell exotic metro: a musician begins playing in out of his make-believe superhero caviar to wealthy customers. This hopes of collecting a few Euros. world to deal with playground time he’s brought along his little However, this isn’t just your typical bullies. Winner of Special Mention at daughter, whose desire to buy a amateur performance. Cannes in 2009 and the Jury Prize at puppy may interfere with his plans. Sundance.
Bel Cinema! Skeletons The Sicilian Girl Nick Whitfield Marco Amenta United Kingdom, 2010, 95 minutes, color Italy, 2009, 115 minutes, color Calling Skeletons a surrealistic dark comedy barely Based on the true captures the many charms of writer/director Nick story of a young Whitfield’s debut feature. Itinerant exorcists Bennett girl growing up and Davis (Andrew Buckley and Ed Gaughan) are a in a Mafia family, modern-day Laurel and Hardy marching glumly The Sicilian Girl THE NEW ROMANIAN WAVE across the shines an intrigu- Derbyshire ing light on what Silent Wedding countryside. Ignoring the is, even in the ƫ ǎ ǎ Mediterranean, a Hora iu M l ele natural beauty shadowy world. Romania, 2008, 87 minutes, color in favor of After she witness- In a bucolic village in the 1950s, a colorful wedding petty argu- es her father is silently taking place while the country enters ments on triv- gunned down in national mourning over Stalin’s death. Silent Wedding ial subjects, the the street, Rita is inspired by a real-life event from the communist pair continue (Veronica past and proves pure gold for Horaƫiu Mǎlǎele, one bickering once D’Agostino) vows of the most popular actors and directors in Romania. they arrive at revenge. She also The story is infused with contrasts. Black comedy their jobs, begins a diary and starts carefully observing the slips into tragedy, magic realism clashes with politi- where they secret activities of the local crime lords. That she’s in cal pragmatism, and there is the participation of a psychically love with Vito (Francesco Casisa), who is himself who’s who in old and new Romanian cinema. The remove skeletons from literal closets. When Davis getting deeper into the underworld, is only one most memorable scene, the one evoking the title, starts using the tools to revisit his unsettled past, the more complication in her increasingly confusing life. must be seen to be believed. Silent Wedding was an intimidating boss, known only as “the Colonel” It is Rita’s fierce loyalty to her family that finally audience favorite at the New York Romanian (Harry Potter’s Jason Isaacs), threatens dire conse- brings her to the police, seeking justice after her Festival and a hit in Romania and France. quences. An assignment to locate a vanished hus- brother is murdered. But after turning over her —Mihai Chirilov band, however, introduces an unconventional rural diaries, Rita must confront disturbing truths about IN ROMANIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES woman and her mysterious daughter—who might be her father and brother and discover the difference hiding secrets even from the ghost chasers. Friday April 16, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place between revenge and justice.—Dave Nuttycombe Cinematographer Zac Nicholson underscores the Saturday April 17, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES off-kilter reality with intriguing visuals. —Dave Nuttycombe Monday April 19, 6:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Friday April 16, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Tuesday April 20, 8:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Co-Presented with Sunday April 18, 5:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place The Swimsuit Issue 19 The Deepening the Impact of Social Justice Films Project Måns Herngren Justice Matters Sweden, 2009, 100 minutes, color Encroaching middle-age proves troublesome for a group of former jocks, who still bask in the fading Soundtrack for a Revolution memory of almost win- Bill Guttentag/Dan Sturman ning a bronze medal in USA, 2009, 82 minutes, color “floorball” (hockey without ice) in 1985. For Executive produced team leader Frederik, by Danny Glover, unemployment and his Soundtrack for a ex-wife’s job transfer to Revolution tells the London aren’t helping. story of the Stuck with looking after American Civil his teenage daughter Rights movement Sara while his wife
through its powerful Filmfest DC 2010 moves up the corporate music: freedom ladder, Frederik finds it songs sung on picket as difficult to reconnect lines, in mass meet- with Sara as it is to ings, in paddy wag- move forward with his ons, and in jail cells life. But, after making a by black and white video that shows the buddies performing drunken Americans all over swimming routines in women’s bathing suits, the country. Frederik decides that the group can recapture its Featuring perform- glory by forming an all-male synchronized swim- ances by John ming team—and competing at the World Cup. The Legend, Joss Stone, challenge of learning new skills and confronting old Wyclef Jean, The attitudes is complicated when Sara becomes the Roots, Ritchie team’s coach. The Swimsuit Issue follows nicely in the Havens, and others, tradition of such films as The Full Monty. plus riveting archival —Dave Nuttycombe footage and interviews with Civil Rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Julian Bond, and Ambassador Andrew Young, Soundtrack for a Revolution celebrates the IN SWEDISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES vitality of the music of the era. The infectious energy of the songs swept people up—as they do again Friday April 16, 6:30 PM, Avalon Theatre here—and empowered them to keep fighting.— Brooklyn Academy of Music Thursday April 22, 8:30 PM, Avalon Theatre Friday April 23, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Followed by a panel discussion with co-director/writer/producer Dan Sturman and other guests. Global Rhythms The Sun Behind the Clouds: The Tango Singer Diego Martinez Vignatti Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom Argentina/Belgium/France/Netherlands, 2009, Ritu Sarin/Tenzing Sonam 106 minutes, color India/United Kingdom, 2009, Rising tango talent Helena Ferri (Eugenia Ramirez) 79 minutes, color is abruptly rejected by her lover and spirals into The Sun Behind the Clouds despair as she begins updates the struggle for Tibetan to resemble the emo- independence, focusing on the tionally tortured March 2008 demonstration characters in the against Chinese rule, the largest songs she inhabits since the 1959 takeover of that with considerable nation. The Dalai Lama is given fervor. But what if the opportunity to explicate his she took off and “middle way,” a compromise started all over position he has been unsuccess- again? What if she ful, so far, in getting the Chinese just left behind the to accept. The film is notable for sorrow and stepped its focus on an extraordinary year into a new life in a in Tibet’s history and on new country? Tibetans themselves—historians, Escaping from Buenos Aires to France, Helena writers, and activists all eloquent, begins to slowly recover. Following through on the impassioned, and living in exile. promise of his second film, the tonally similar 2007 The film is essential viewing for drama Tides, director Diego Martinez Vignatti has anyone who cares about the fate once again made landscape a character. And in real- of the mountain region and the life tango dancer and wife Ramirez Miori, Vignatti legacy of the Dalai Lama. has found an eloquent human vessel to portray loss —Film Forum and recovery. “Tango was always part of my life,” the director told one interviewer. “The only way you can IN ENGLISH, TIBETAN, AND catch the tango feeling in cinema is to try to be a MANDARIN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES poet.”—Eddie Cockrell Saturday April 24, 7:00 PM, Regal IN SPANISH AND FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Cinemas Gallery Place Monday April 19, 9:00 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Followed by a discussion with co-director/producer Ritu Sarin and co-director/writer/cinematographer Tenzing Sonam. Wednesday April 21, 6:30 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Filmfest DC 2010 20 121 minutes, color minutes, 121 Saturday April17,Saturday 8:45PM,Landmark'sEStreet Cinema April16,Friday 8:15 PM,Landmark'sEStreet Cinema I Clyde-like coupleastheyconpeopleoutoftheiremptybottles. police officerdecideshemustdeviseawaytosilentlykillpig.ThefinalinstallmentfollowsBonnie-and- forbidden tomakeanystopsonhislongvoyage.Demonstratingtherelationshipbetweenpoliticsandfood,a hindered thepartypaperfromgettingpublishedoneday. We nextfollowaconscientioustruckdriverwhois an officialstatevisit.Taking usastepclosertogovernmentheadquartersisstoryabouttheeventsthat frenetic preparationsfor documents atown’s hension, thefirstepisode with underlyingappre- history. Mixinghilarity en age”ofRomania’s referred toasthe“gold- Ceausescu, ironically od ofrulebyNicolae ends torecreatetheperi- well-known urbanleg- episodes, thefilmadapts Divided intofive absurdity itwrought. affectionate lookatthe Golden Age regime, Romania’s communist energy bad-mouthing Instead ofwasting 2009, Romania, Cristian Mungiu/IoanaUricaru/HannoHofer/ConstantinPopescu Tales fromtheGolden Age Videocracy Wednesday April21, 8:30PM,Avalon Theatre April16,Friday 9:00PM,Goethe-Institut I president someday. Van DammeandRickyMartin.Maybehe’llbe wannabe celebritywhoseactcombines Jean-Claude serving timeforextortion.Also featuredisa paparazzi agentwhobecamea popular heroafter with unapologeticallypro-fascist sympathies,anda introduces oneofBerlusconi’s pals,aTVexecutive style of“We AretheWorld.” DirectorErikGandini sing “ThankGodSilvioexists”inthepop-chorale campaign adinwhichflocksofattractivewomen mentary assemblesclipsfromItalianTV, includinga put Berlusconi’s careerincontext,thischeekydocu- N N R I AINAND TALIAN MNA WITH OMANIAN Tales fromthe takes an E GIHWITH NGLISH Bel Cinema! E —Mark Jenkins GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH ■ 80 minutes, color color minutes, 80 Finland, 2009, 2009, Finland, built apoliticalone.To show-biz empireashe palace, expandinghis shows tothepresidential vaulted fromsmuttyquiz and realityTV. Berlusconi got richonsex,scandal, where SilvioBerlusconi what happenedinItaly, MTV, too.That’s sortof CBS, Fox,HBO—and also thepresidentof of theUnitedStateswas Imagine thatthepresident Sweden/Denmark/UK/ Erik Gandini ■ E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH ■ ■ THE NEWROMANIANWAVE CAPITAL FOCUSAWARD black & white and color color and white & black Saturday April17,Saturday Place 9:30PM,Regal CinemasGallery $15.00. +Party Film attheGibsonShowroom, tickets party soldinadvance followed byanafter April16,Friday Place,$10.00 8:45 PM,Regal CinemasGallery I charm Stripesfansandwinthe bandsomenewones. includes someintrospectivemoments. Definitelynotaconventionalrock-concertflick,thisplayful filmwill neighbor tothenorth—whose flag justhappenstosuittheStripes’red-and-whitecolorscheme—also pipers. Thistributetoour dionists, fiddlers,andbag- Stripes playersasaccor- covers aswellsuchnon- blues, country, andfolk but featuresplentyof of “SevenNationArmy,” es withastompingversion center. Themovieclimax- an Inuitseniorcitizens’ boats, bowlingalleys,and shows” insuchlocationsas the groupperforms“side- tion toregularconcerts, remote Nunavut.Inaddi- and territory, including that visitseveryprovince duo onatourofCanada shows theWhiteStripes This livelydocumentary minutes, 93 2009, USA, Emmett Malloy Lights The UnderGreat White Stripes White Northern N E GIHAND NGLISH —Toronto FilmFestival International I ■ UTTTWITH NUKTITUT ■ ■ ■ E GIHSUBTITLES NGLISH Global Rhythms —Mark Jenkins black & white & black France, 2009, 91 minutes, color and and color minutes, 91 2009, France, Emmanuel Laurent Two inthe Wave Sunday April18,Sunday 3:00PM,Landmark'sEStreet Cinema I to speak.—DaveNuttycombe Fortunately, asthisfilmproves,theirworkcontinues student protests,thetwoangrilydiverge. 1968 asbeingpoliticallyirrelevantinthefaceof magic. AftershuttingdowntheCannesfestivalin passionately explainhisphilosophy, istoreaffirmthe watch Godardonsetdirecting,andhearTruffaut the screenarenowcommonplace,buttoactually many oftheinnovationsthesedirectorsbroughtto tinues toinfluencemoviemakersworldwide.So camp” andlaunched Festival, when Truffaut’s stunningtriumphatthe1959CannesFilm ous excerptsfromclassicfilms.Thetalebeginswith vintage newspapers,magazines,photos,andgener- Wave movementaswellanamazingcollectionof main charactersinvolvedwiththeFrenchNew told througharchivalinterviewswithmostofthe N F EC WITH RENCH The 400Blows E NGLISH La NouvelleVague S Sponsored by: UBTITLES “exploded intheenemy —which con- Godard is Luc and Jean- Truffaut François between bitter feud, and later friendship, intense The White Wedding Will You Marry Us? 21 Jann Turner Micha Lewinsky South Africa, 2009, Switzerland, 2009, 98 minutes, color 90 minutes, color When this uproarious This charming romantic road comedy begins, the comedy was Switzerland’s central characters are top-grossing film of the young, prosperous, and year. In a Swiss village in love. So what could go straight out of a chocolate wrong as Elvis travels ad, Rahel Hubli (Marie from Johannesburg to Leuenberger) works as a Cape Town to wed civil registrar performing Ayanda? Well, just about marriages. Although her everything. A missed own marriage isn’t going bus, bad directions, a well, she continues to offer mutinous granny, an imperious wedding planner, a advice to the dozens of couple of disabled cars, and a stop at an Afrikaaners- couples that she pro- Filmfest DC 2010 only pub are just some of the complications. Elvis is nounces husband and wife. accompanied by best friend Tumi, a notorious wom- Rahel misses the local anizer whose attempt at throwing a bachelor party is singing success she had another of the adventure’s missteps. Then Tumi and with former partner Ben Elvis pick up Rose, a hitchhiking Briton who came Hofer (Dominique Jann), to Africa to forget the fiancée who cheated on her now a certified pop star (that plan doesn’t work, either). Fueled by upbeat under pressure to produce Afropop, this is a journey into a modern South a new record. Suddenly, Africa whose principal conflicts involve romance and Ben shows up wanting transportation. That may be a fantasy, but White Rahel to marry him—to his Wedding makes it a charming one.—Mark Jenkins flighty actress girlfriend. The script is full of running jokes, colorful supports, and jabs at provincial Swiss IN ENGLISH, ZULU, XHOSA, AND AFRIKAANS WITH mores. As keenly written as it is slyly performed, Will You Marry Us?, which earned Leuenberger the Best ENGLISH SUBTITLES Actress prize at the 2009 Montreal festival, is an unheralded and revelatory delight.—Eddie Cockrell Tuesday April 20, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place IN GERMAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Wednesday April 21, 8:15 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Saturday April 17, 7:00 PM, Avalon Theatre Co-Presented with Sunday April 18, 5:00 PM, Avalon Theatre Co-Presented with American University
Justice Matters ■ ■ ■ ■ CAPITAL FOCUS AWARD ■ ■ ■ ■ The Wind Journeys Ciro Guerra Colombia/Netherlands/Argentina/Germany, 2009, 117 minutes, color A musician and his would-be disciple traverse northern Colombia in this picturesque saga that is as much a sonic expedi- tion as a geographic one. Having just buried his Zero wife, despondent Ignacio sets out to return his Women Without Men Pawel Borowski instrument—a distinctive Shirin Neshat Poland, 2009, 110 minutes, color horned accordion—to his Austria/France/Germany, 2009, 95 minutes, color Writer-director Pawel Borowski’s remarkably teacher. Following Ignacio, without the older man’s assured debut feature takes place over one very long Internationally acclaimed visual artist Shirin Neshat consent, is an eager youngster who wants to learn to day in a busy Polish city. His camera follows people is known for her stark, potent photo and video por- play music. The two become closer as they cross as they bump into each other—sometimes literally— traits of how women in Islam experience the world. deserts, lakes, and mountains en route to the on their daily rounds, and the story likewise caroms Given a canvas as vast as a feature film, she expands Caribbean coast. They encounter multiple duels, from one person to the next. The fun is discovering her vision while simultaneously bringing it home to some fought with fists or knives and others with where each new character will take us, and learning the history that shaped her. Roving from the gilded music—the equivalent of American jazzmen’s “cut- the hidden connections and dark secrets between rooms of the rich to the streets where a prostitute ting contests.” Writer-director Ciro Guerra guides a seemingly random business executives, artists, doctors, plies her trade, Women Without Men weaves together tour of Colombia’s musical heritage that includes cabbies, porn stars, secretaries, husbands, wives, the stories of five women: Mahdokht, struggling Iberian accordion, African drums, and Indian flute, lovers, and other “regular” folks. Zero explores the with the shameful loss of her virginity; Munis, a as well as the national song, the Vallenato. many unexpected ways these connections play out: middle-aged woman still under the control of her Beautifully composed widescreen images capture the how that nice person in the café might be a monster brother; the prostitute Zarin; the virgin Faezeh; and vast landscapes, which are as diverse as the music the at home, or that angry cashier may have more in Farrokhlaqa, a high-society matron whose husband film passionately celebrates. —Mark Jenkins common with us than we ever stop to consider. The is as stifling as the airless rooms that confine her. IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES circle of life that Borowski explores is definitely not Each woman seeks freedom in surprising and some- the happy fantasy that Disney presents, but is ulti- Thursday April 22, 8:45 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema times shocking ways. mately truer and more satisfying.—Dave Nuttycombe Friday April 23, 9:15 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema —Toronto International Film Festival IN POLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES IN FARSI WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES Friday April 16, 8:15 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema Co-Presented with Thursday April 22, 6:30 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Saturday April 17, 7:00 PM, Landmark's E Street Cinema American University Friday April 23, 9:00 PM, Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Filmfest DC 2010 22 Jonathan Lifland Michon Boston Ken Rosenberg Robert Sacheli Zipper Viloski Aisha Davis Jared Traver Bertha Hall Rich Seidel Jill Larvo Donne Malloy- Coordinating Assistant Coordinating Molly Hubbs and Director Technical Jared Traver Festival Deputy Shirin Ghareeb Director Festival Tony Gittens Festival Staff Screenscope President, Marilyn Weiner Robert Sacheli Consultant Film Alan Rubin Films, Circle President, Ted Pedas Cultural Director, Jennifer CoverPayne LLP KPMG Partner, John M.Mendonca LLP Lutzker & Lutzker Arnold P. Lutzker Crosshill President, Stephen X.Graham Washington, Director, Tony Gittens Bonnie Cohen Learning Director, Alberto Casciero Attorney-at-Law Max N.Berry, Chair Directors Board of Filmfest DC Programmer Director Inc. Greater of Alliance Inc. Group, Financial Film International DC Division, Resources Washington Festival the of University District of Columbia of District Edie Moore Murray Kandace Laass Connie Poole Print Traffic and Traffic Print Chris Geair Capital Focus Award Focus Capital Susan Barocas Impact the Deepening Michon Boston Closing and Opening Aisha Davis Relations Public Connie Poole Managers Theater Yap, Dr. BahramZandi Marelise Voss, Wuiping Teed, ZipperViloski, Snyder, Christopher Rosenberg, Bruce Malloy-Murray, Ken Moore, Donné Mcleod, Dr. Edie Jonathan Lifland,Bill Bertha Hall,JillLarvo, Davis, PaulHaas, Don Bush, Andrew TommieJr., Adams Volunteer Assistant Brittany Luse Coordinator Volunteer Holly RodgersWescott Coordinator Events Marcia Carlson Transportation Guest Don Chan Hospitality Assistant Jennifer Turner Coordinator Theater Constance Blackwell Guest and Hospitality Setyowati Clark Technical Coordinator Technical Coordinator Films Justice Social of Producer Gala Night Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator Travel Coordinator Theater Assistant Coordinator Bahram Zandi Brittany Luse Susan Barocas Wuiping Yap Thanks Linda Blackaby Film Local and Shorts Jared Traver Shirin Ghareeb Programmer Senior Tony Gittens Programmers Assistant Research Sun Hashmi Photographer Chad EvansWyatt Runner Print John Hall Seniors for Cinema Leah Vonderheide Gala Night Opening Richard Seidel Website Programmer Programmer Website Tran Tuan Festival Website graphic ampersand Mary Pettigrew Editor Jill Tunick Writers Filmnote Dave Nuttycombe Mark Jenkins Eddie Cockrell Festival Catalog Art of Gallery National Peggy Parsons Institution Smithsonian Manjula Kumar France of Embassy Antoine Sebire Advisors Programming Programming Senior Programs and Designer and design Consultant Deepening the Impact the Deepening of Social Justice Films Justice Social of Project Director Project Constance Don Bush Blackwell Bill McLeod Paul Haas Romanian Cultural Romanian Oana Rada Romania of Embassy Janina Cismaru Institute Cultural Italian Michele Biacalone Rita Venturelli France of Embassy Antoine Sebire Roland Celette to . Special Thanks Films Monument Mark Traver, Director Dan Corrigan,Producer Trailers Camera Security Jumper Line Embassy of Switzerland of Embassy Michele Colburn Goethe-Institut Sylvia Blume the of Embassy Vilma Anyzova and Information Japan Misako Ito Spain of Embassy Curro Tardio Brazil of Embassy Alexandre Vidal Porto Emilio Mariangela Bittencourt- Cultural Mexican Alejandra DeLaPaz Institute Washington Republic Czech Center Cultural Institute Linda Blackaby Marcia Carlson Christopher Teed and Dave Nuttycombe Setyowati Clark John Hall Photos: Photos: Marelise Voss Peggy Parsons Manjula Kumar Mark Jenkins Don Chan Not Pictured International York New Regan Spurlock Road Silk Erju Ackman Communication Qorvis Stan Collendar the for Center Director, Maksoud Ambassador Clovis Entertainment Regal Elvis Waterman Jonathan Douglas, Ted Cooper, Advertising Allied Sarah Taylor Chad Evans Wyatt Evans Chad Group Children's Film Festival Film Children's South, Global American University American Jennifer Turner Andrew Davis Jill Tunick Tuan Tran Tuan Chad EvansWyatt Alberto Casciero Tommie Adams Mary Pettigrew Holly Wescott Molly Hubbs Bruce Snyder Vonderheide Sun Hashmi Chris Geair Leah Print Sources 2010 Index 23 25 Carats...... 6 Features The Happiest Girl Louise-Michel Reykjavik-Rotterdam The White Stripes Under Air Doll...... 6 in the World Funny Balloons Icelandic Film Center Great White Northern Alamar ...... 6 25 Carats T: +33 1 40 13 05 84 T: +354 562 3580 Lights Films Boutique, Germany The Army of Crime ...... 6 Imagina International Sales T: +49 30 695 378 50 [email protected] [email protected] Three Foot Giant T: +93 47 61 551 [email protected] Funny-balloons.com Icelandicfilmcentre.is T: 323 460 6845 Autumn Adagio...... 6 [email protected] filmsboutique.com [email protected] The Balibo Conspiracy...... 7 Imagina.tv Lourdes Saviors in the Night threefootgiant.com Harry Brown Palisades Tartan Films Menemsha Films Between the Sheets...... 6 Air Doll IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films T: 212 265 2323 T: 310 452 1775 White Wedding Beyond Ipanema...... 7 Palisades Tartan Films T: 212 367 9435 [email protected] Menemshafilms.com The Little Film Company Charlie Haden: Rambling Boy ...... 7 T: 212 265 2323 [email protected] Palisadestartan.com Scheherazade, Tell Me T: 818 762 6999 Cooking with Stella...... 7 [email protected] samuelgoldwynfilms.com [email protected] Dawson, Island 10...... 8 Palisadestartan.com Made in Hungaria a Story Thelittlefilmcompany.com Heliopolis Hungaricom Ltd., Budapest Pyramide Internationale The Day Will Come...... 8 Alamar Ahmad Abdalla T: +36 1 365 1750 T: +33 1 42 96 02 20 Will You Marry Us? El Paso ...... 8 [email protected] Film Movement [email protected] pyramidefilms.com Langfilm Elvis' Last Song ...... 8 T: 866 YES FILM Ahmadabdalla.net Hungaricom.hu T: +41 044 865 66 27 [email protected] The Secret of Kells [email protected] Farewell ...... 9 Here and There Mao’s Last Dancer Gkids filmmovement.com Langfilm.ch Friends at the Margherita Café ...... 8 Filmfest DC 2010 Kino Kamera IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films [email protected] The Army of Crime T: 212 213 2930 T: 212 367 9435 Gkids.com The Wind Journeys The Happiest Girl in the World...... 8 Kino Films [email protected] [email protected] Film Movement Harry Brown ...... 9 T: 212 629 6880 Kinokamera.com samuelgoldwynfilms.com Shameless T: 866 YES FILM Heliopolis ...... 9 [email protected] Menemsha Films [email protected] Here and There...... 9 kino.com Hipsters Medal of Honor T: 310 452 1775 filmmovement.com Krasnaya Strela-Red Arrow Films Boutique, Germany Menemshafilms.com Hipsters...... 3 Autumn Adagio Company T: +49 30 695 378 50 Women Without Men Holding on to Jah ...... 9 The Sicilian Girl Dongyu Club & Inc T: +74 95 504 22 23 [email protected] Cactus Three The House of Branching Love...... 10 filmsboutique.com Music Box Films [email protected] [email protected] T: 212 905 2340 I Am Love ...... 10 Dongyu.co.jp T: 312 492 9364 [email protected] Holding on to Jah Mid-August Lunch [email protected] Cactusthree.com I, Don Giovanni...... 10 The Balibo Conspiracy [email protected] Zeitgeist Films Musicboxfilms.com I Killed My Mother...... 10 T: 212 274 1989 Zero ContentFilm, UK Holdingontojah.com Irene...... 11 T: +44 20 7851 6500 [email protected] Silent Wedding Opus Film [email protected] The House of Zeitgeistfilms.com BAC Films, Paris T: +48 42 634 55 49 La Pivellina ...... 11 Contentfilm.com Branching Love bacfilms.com [email protected] Learning from Light: Moloch Tropical WIDE Management Opusfilm.com The Vision of I.M. Pei...... 11 Between the Sheets T: +33 1 53 95 04 64 Velvet Film Skeletons Centauro Filmes [email protected] T: +33 1 71 18 10 81 Forward Films Letters to Father Jacob...... 11 Centauro.com Widemanagement.com [email protected] Forwardfilms.co.uk Shorts Looking for Eric...... 11 Lesfilmsvelvet.com Soul Kitchen Louise-Michel ...... 14 Beyond Ipanema I Am Love 7:57 AM-PM Figa Films Magnolia Pictures No One Knows About IFC Films Lourdes ...... 11 Persian Cats T: 917 542 6200 27.12 Productions T: 323 258 5241 T: 212 924 6701 T:+33 (0)6 08 71 17 48 Made in Hungaria...... 14 [email protected] [email protected] IFC Films [email protected] Mao’s Last Dancer...... 14 ifcfilms.com [email protected] Figafilms.com Magpictures.com T: 917 542 6200 2712productions.com Medal of Honor ...... 14 [email protected] Soundtrack for a Charlie Haden: I, Don Giovanni ifcfilms.com As the Rain was Falling The Message ...... 15 Rambling Boy Roissy Films Revolution Mid-August Lunch ...... 15 North Area23a Avalon Pixiu Films T: +33 0 53 53 50 50 T: +33 1 40 16 11 12 Moloch Tropical...... 15 T: +41 44 500 24 68 [email protected] Norwegian Film Institute T: 310 399 7937 Area23a.com [email protected] No One Knows About [email protected] roissyfilms.com T: +47 22 47 45 00 Avalonfilms.fr Pixiufilms.com [email protected] Persian Cats ...... 15 I Killed My Mother The Sun Behind the Nfi.no/english Clouds: Tibet's Struggle Caviar North ...... 15 Cooking with Stella Regent Releasing HiFilm, Romania Hamilton-Mehta Productions T: 310 806 4288 The Other Irene for Freedom The Other Irene ...... 15 T: +40 21 252 48 67 The Over the Hill Band ...... 16 T: 416 516 0899 [email protected] Fundatia Arte Vizuale White Crane Productions [email protected] Hamiltonmehta.com Regentreleasing.com T: +40 21 310 78 31 T: +91 981 826 5611 Hifilm.ro Pandora’s Box...... 16 [email protected] [email protected] People and Landscapes Dawson, Island 10 Irene Fav.ro/en whitecranefilms.com Jade MC Films Pyramide Internationale of Catalonia ...... 16 The Over the Hill Band The Swimsuit Issue Daniel Elliott T: +56 2 335 5467 T: +33 1 42 96 02 20 [email protected] Puccini and the Girl...... 16 Mcfilms.cl pyramidefilms.com NeoClassics, USA Swedish Film Institute danielelliot.com Quiet Chaos...... 16 T: +46 08 665 11 36 T: 604 899 0150 Reykjavik-Rotterdam...... 17 The Day Will Come La Pivellina [email protected] [email protected] Pigeon Impossible Les Films du Losange Films Distribution neoclassicsfilms.com Sfi.se/english lucas@pigeonimpossible. com Saviors in the Night ...... 17 Filmsdulosange.fr T: +33 1 53 10 33 99 Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story...... 17 Pandora’s Box Tales from the Pigeonimpossible.com [email protected] The Secret of Kells ...... 17 El Paso Filmsdistribution.com The Match Factory Golden Age Seeds of the Fall Menemsha Films T: +49 221 539 7090 IFC Films Swedish Film Institute Shameless ...... 17 T: 310 452 1775 Learning from Light: [email protected] T: 917 542 6200 T: +46 08 665 11 36 Short Cuts ...... 18 Menemshafilms.com The Vision of I.M. Pei Matchfactory.de [email protected] [email protected] The Sicilian Girl...... 18 Slickrock Films Inc., UT ifcfilms.com Sfi.se/english Elvis' Last Song T: 435 654 2588 People and Landscapes Silent Wedding ...... 18 Vassilis Raisis [email protected] of Catalonia The Tango Singer Six Dollar Fifty Man Skeletons...... 18 T: +30 210 671 3709 Slickrockfilms.com Filmoteca de Catalunya Celluloid Dreams New Zealand Film Soundtrack for a Revolution...... 19 [email protected] T: +93 316 27 80 T: +33 1 49 70 03 70 Commission Letters to Father Jacob The Sun Behind the Clouds: Farewell [email protected] [email protected] T: +64 4 382 7680 Finnish Film Foundation gencat.cat/cultura celluloid-dreams.com [email protected] Tibet's Struggle for Freedom ...... 19 NeoClassics, USA T: +358 9 622 03 00 The Swimsuit Issue...... 19 T: 604 899 0150 Two in the Wave nzfilm.co.nz [email protected] Puccini and the Girl Tales from the Golden Age ...... 20 [email protected] Ses.fi/en Adriana Chiesa Enterprises Kino Films Sundown neoclassicsfilms.com T: +39 06 808 60 52 T: 212 629 6880 Gregory Rentis The Tango Singer ...... 19 Looking for Eric info@adrianachiesaenterprises. [email protected] [email protected] Two in the Wave...... 20 Friends at the IFC Films Margherita Café com kino.com Videocracy...... 20 T: 917 542 6200 Adrianachiesaenterprises.com Rai Trade [email protected] Videocracy The White Stripes Under Great T: +39 06 372 34 92 ifcfilms.com Quiet Chaos Kino Films White Northern Lights...... 20 Raitrade.it IFC Films T: 212 629 6880 White Wedding...... 21 T: 917 542 6200 [email protected] Will You Marry Us?...... 21 [email protected] kino.com ifcfilms.com The Wind Journeys ...... 21 Women Without Men ...... 21 Zero ...... 21 Thank You, Sponsors! Major Sponsors
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