Film Descriptions
opens Fri Sep 5 at Harris Theater
Baghead
"Sophisticated radar trained on the undercurrents of contemporary relationships." – NYTimes
This hit from the film festival circuit is all about the "mumblecore" – a cinematic movement with Cassavetes roots and indie film school bravado.
Mark and Jay Duplass, who directed cult fave The Puffy Chair, are back with this hilarious new comedy delivered with its own brand of shaky camera,
abrupt edits, and intelligent (and largely) improvised dialogue. The horror story begins when four struggling young actors decide to hole up in a rustic,
secluded cabin and write a script that will give them the dream parts they've always wanted. As they drink, "mumble," and toss around ideas, the friendships
become blurry and cabin fever sets in. One night they realize they’re not alone in the woods. This amazingly tongue-in-cheek send-up of indie flicks is also
an insightful bit of character drama. The Brothers showed their short film "Scrabble" in the 2004 Three Rivers Film Festival. (Mark and Jay Duplass; USA;
2008; 84 min)
Join us for the monthly Downtown Picture Show reception and discussion, following the Wed Sep 10 screening. Sponsored by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Currently at Regent Square Theater
Up The Yangtze
"
" –
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"An astonishing documentary of culture clash and the erasure of history amid China's economic miracle." – NYTimes
The Yangtze River and all that surrounds it is undergoing an astonishing transformation wrought by the largest hydroelectric project in history. In this remarkable journey, Chinese-Canadian director Yung Chang returns to the gorgeous, now-disappearing landscape of his grandfather's youth to trace the surreal life of a "farewell cruise" that traverses the gargantuan waterway. With a humanist gaze and wry wit Chang captures the microcosmic society on the luxury liner. This beautiful film illustrates the wrenching changes facing not only an increasingly globalized China, but the world at large. In English and Mandarin. (Yung Chang; China/Canada; 2008; 93 min)
Thru Sep 10 at Regent Square Theater
My Winnipeg
“A haunting phantasmagoria of a film – comic, singular, surreal. A film to give yourself to, with pleasure.” – LA Times
Watch a trailer.
Named Best Canadian Film at the 2007 Toronto Film Fest, this is a re-imagined version of childhood from indie director Maddin (The Saddest Music in the World) as well as a goodbye letter to his hometown. In a brilliant bit of casting, B-movie icon Ann Savage (Detour) plays his domineering mother. Both wacky and profoundly touching, this “docu-fantasia” (as Maddin prefers to call it) inventively blends local and personal history with surrealist images and metaphorical myths. He addresses the city’s large number of sleepwalkers, the loss of their NHL team, and a tragic racetrack accident involving horses frozen in a logjam, all laced with startling emotional honesty. (Guy Maddin; Canada; 2008; 80 min)
Sep 5 – 7 at Melwood Screening Room
Dancing in Amdo – Pittsburgh premiere
On the heels of the Beijing Olympic Games, Pittsburgher Carl Cimini presents his feature-length documentary Dancing in Amdo, an extensive,
heartfelt exploration of the Tibet/China crisis. Cimini and his crew take us inside China for an unprecedented look at the current state of Tibetans
living within China and those living in exile in India. In an interview from his residence in exile in Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama offers his view
on the future of Tibet, its culture and its people. Officials of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Buddhist monks, teachers, and artists describe the
challenge to save their culture from extinction. Also, in never-before seen interviews, officials from the Peoples Republic of China offer their perspective
on the volatile situation. (Carl Cimini; China/Tibet/USA; 2008; 106 min)
Cimini will have a reception on Friday, September 5 before he presents his film; a Q+A will follow. Advance tickets for this Friday night screening are available online.
Carl Cimini worked on Dancing in Amdo for eight years as producer/writer/director. This native son is a self-taught filmmaker who has worked as
both a hairdresser and a steelworker. This beautiful documentary (his fourth film) pays homage to Tibetan culture, but is also an amazing example of
accomplished, independent filmmaking. His website is: wobblimind.com
Sun, Sep 7, 8pm at Regent Square Theater
Dr. Strangelove
This classic is a ruthless satire of the US war machine. Remarkably undated, this irreverent comedy remains one of the best anti-war films ever made. (Stanley Kubrick; UK; 1964; 93 min)
Part 1 of 4 in the "Nuclear Sundays" series on Sunday nights in September. Co-sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility and City Paper.
Discussion following the screening will be led by Rob Rogers, editorial cartoonist for the Post-Gazette.
Sep 9 at Melwood Screening Room
Film Kitchen 10th anniversary
This showcase of regional film and video art is presented on the second Tuesday of every month. This month: work by Sam Boese and Carl Cimini.
Co-sponsored by City Paper, 91.3 WYEP-FM, Tandoor Indian Grill, Rolling Rock, and DH Creative.
Thu, Sep 11, 8pm at Regent Square Theater
Red Heroine with Devil Music Ensemble
The Devil Music Ensemble will perform their original score for Red Heroine, one of the earliest silent martial arts films ever made. This DME score pulls from the traditions of Chinese classical and folk music, as well as soundtracks from classic kung fu cinema, and is the only modern score made expressly for this film!
Watch a trailer, with Devil Music Ensemble soundtrack.
Red Heroine is the only surviving episode of the 13-part movie serial about a Chinese knight-errant. Like Sir Lancelot, Chinese "knights-errant" roamed the territory protecting people from oppressive regimes. This lively tale follows the rise of a woman warrior with the genre’s characteristic blend of pulp and mystical derring-do. The film begins when a band of outlaws raids a village, kidnaps a maiden, and causes the death of her grandmother. The young woman is rescued by a mysterious hermit called "White Monkey," who teaches her his special skills. She re-emerges years later as a full-fledged warrior, ready to deploy her magic powers and avenge her grandmother's death. This is a rare chance to see a surviving example of a "wuxia" (sword and sorcery) film from 1920’s Shanghai – most were destroyed after the Communist Revolution – accompanied by a thrilling live score by Boston’s Devil Music Ensemble. Subtitled. (Wen Yimin; China; 1929; 94 min)
The Devil Music Ensemble is an innovative musical trio who've established a huge fan base and critical acclaim in the field of silent film accompaniment. Using a variety of instruments, their musical style ranges from chamber to jazz to post modern to rock.
Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at Pittsburgh Filmmakers' theaters and the front desk at 477 Melwood Avenue (during hours of operation), or online at ticketweb.
opens Fri, Sep 12 at Regent Square Theater
Gonzo: the Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
"A mesmerizing look at the mythic quality and anarchic spirit of the irreverent and rabble-rousing journalist." – USA Today
After several documentaries and biographies, and two book-to-film adaptations, you almost pity anyone who attempts another take on gonzo
journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Yet Alex Gibney, the Oscar-winning director of Taxi to the Dark Side and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,
dives in and gives us the most unflinching and complete version to date of a man who at one time was the most popular writer in America. Focused on the
years of Thompson’s rock-star zenith, roughly 1965 to 1975, Gonzo reintroduces us to an incredible era, from hippies and bikers to Vegas excess and the
'72 presidential campaign, supported by rare clips and Thompson’s own words. Johnny Depp, who financed Thompson's explosive funeral in 2005, serves as
narrator and reads from his work. (Alex Gibney; USA; 2008; 118 min)
Sep 12 thru Oct 26 at Harris Theater and Regent Square Theater
Three Rivers Film Festival presents Global Lens
Ten films over eight weeks. The Global Lens Film Series is an annual, touring film program of narrative feature films from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Each film is selected for its authentic voice, strong cinematics and unique cultural perspective. Watch a trailer for the series.
Opera Jawa (Indonesia) ........ Harris – Sep 12, 13, 14
Startling in his originality and ambition, this interpretation of “The Abduction of Sita” is a musical requiem for the victims of violence & natural disaster. Cinematography of the lush Javan forests and beaches is topped only by the choreography in this tale of a vengeful potter who takes action against the suitor of his unfaithful wife. (Garin Nugroho; 2006; 120 min)
Kept & Dreamless (Argentina) ........ Harris – Sep 13 & 14
During Argentina’s economic crisis of the 1990s, a young girl who becomes a caregiver for her mother with the help of an extended family of eccentric
neighbors becomes wise beyond her years. (Vera Fogwill and Martín Desalv; 2005; 94 min)
The Bet Collector (Philippines) ........ Harris – Sep 15, 16 & 17
A family matriarch makes ends meet by running a convenience store out of her home. But customers are scarce, and without help from her husband or
pregnant daughter, she is forced to supplement the family income by collecting bets for an illegal numbers game. This stark, realistic narrative is a
captivating portrait of a haunted, once-proud woman and her fragile life in Manila. (Jeffrey Jeturian; 2006; 98 min)
Luxury Car (China) ........ Harris – Sep 18; Regent Square – Sep 20
Retaining dignity has been a struggle for millions who have left rural China, and thousands of parents have lost contact with their children. In
this emotionally taut narrative, karaoke bar escort Li Yan Hong tries to hide her job and relationship with her boss from her long estranged father,
who has traveled from his small village. (Wang Chao; 2006; 88 min)
The Fish Fall in Love (Iran) ........ Harris – Sep 25; Regent Square – Sep 27
Locals flock to Atieh’s thriving restaurant on the southern coast of Iran for her extravagant dishes. When a former lover appears after a 20-year
absence with the intention of closing the restaurant, she prepares his favorite dishes, one after the other, in a desperate effort to convince him
otherwise. (Ali Raffi; 2006; 96 min)
Playing in October — All for Free (Croatia) ... Bunny Chow (South Africa) ... The Kite (Lebanon) ... Let the Wind Blow
(India) ... The Custodian (Argentina).
Sun, Sep 14, 8pm at Regent Square Theater
Barefoot Gen
In this animated feature, Gen and his family are living in Hiroshima near the end of WWII. Gen’s father has come to believe that the war is
unwinnable, earning the wrath and discrimination from their neighbors. These concerns soon pale, however, as the American military begins its final
assault. (Mori Masaki; Japan; 1983; 83 min)
Part 2 of 4 in the "Nuclear Sundays" series on Sunday nights in September. Co-sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility and City Paper.
Discussion following the screening will be led by Dr. Ronni Alexander, Professor, Kobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies.
Thu, Sep 18 at Melwood Screening Room
Frida
This biography of artist Frida Kahlo, who channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tempestuous marriage into her work, stars
Salma Hayek and was directed by the woman who inventively brought The Lion King to the stage. (Julie Taymor; USA; 2002; 123 min).
The film will be introduced by CMU art professor Andrew Johnson.
Part one of three monthly, woman-directed films co-presented by PittArts.
Sep 19–21 at Melwood Screening Room
Spike & Mike’s Sick & Twisted Animation 2008
It's baaack! Spike and Mike's has had a loyal following of gross-out fans since 1990, and this year's 26 new films follow the fest's tried-and-true debauchery. The 2008 collection of is filled with so much that is so wrong… standouts include Mike Geiger's Cuddle Sticks, which features the most disgusting popsicle imaginable. There are fresh appearances from old favorites Dr. Tran and the Happy Tree Friends among others, and there are also a whole new crop of characters ready to make you vomit through your nose, including one particularly raunchy film featuring a yellow tweety bird and a horse's gigantic private parts. Due to adult content no one under 18 admitted. (Approx. 100 min)
Sep 19–25 at Harris Theater
Kenny
"Funny enough to give scatology a good name." – Variety
This quirky comedy was a huge hit and major prizewinner Down Under. It tells the story of Kenny Smyth, a lovable middle-aged guy who makes his
living installing "port-aloos" at public events. Under-appreciated, he enthusiastically shares his knowledge of sanitation with all those he meets.
Kenny juggles family, co-workers (his faithful "splashdown" crew), and sewage with charm, humor and dignity. Flush with big laughs, it's the original,
uncut, unrated Australian version, in English but with English subtitles. (Clayton Jacobson; Australia; 2006; 103 min)
Sat, Sep 20, 2pm at Regent Square Theater
The Wizard of Oz
We’re off to see the wizard, scarecrow, the tin man, the cowardly lion, Dorothy and Toto, too. This beloved Technicolor classic is even more charming on the Big Screen. (Victor Fleming; USA; 1939; 123 min). One show only.
Sun, Sep 21, 8pm at Regent Square Theater
Thirteen Days
The 1962 Cuban missile crisis was the closest we've come to a nuclear world war. Here, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Air Force Gen. Curtis LeMay are
portrayed as rabid hawks itching for a fight. It’s up to presidential adviser Kenny O’Donnell (Kevin Costner) and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara
(Dylan Baker) to face down the top brass. (Roger Donaldson; USA; 2000; 140 min)
Part 3 of 4 in the "Nuclear Sundays" series on Sunday nights in September. Co-sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility and City Paper.
The screening will be introduced by Dr. Barbara Shore, professor emerita, Univ of Pittsburgh.
Sep 25 at Regent Square Theater
Neighborhood Narratives – PREMIERE
Celebrating our diverse city through new, short films made by artists with a special connection to the neghborhoods on which they focus. Many
more details at the project website. Nelson Chipman and Jeremy Braverman – Regent Square; Ray Werner – Strip District; John Rice – South Side; Matthew J. Fridg and Jenn Golling – Homestead; Justin Crimone – Downtown; Jason Georgiades – Bloomfield; Sam Turich and Gab Reznek – Lawrenceville; Justin Francart – Oakland; Timothy Hall and Marc Nieson – Hill District. Total program: approx. 100 min. Total program: approx. 100 min.
This project supported in part by Pittsburgh 250 Community Connections and The Sprout Fund.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Pgh Filmmakers theaters and the front desk at 477 Melwood Ave
(during hours of operation).
Opens Sep 26 at Regent Square Theater
Frozen River
"Its bracing drama and the intensity of its acting restore your spirits." – Kenneth Turan, LA Times
Critics can't stop raving about Melissa Leo's (Homicide: Life on the Streets) Oscar-worthy performance in this Sundance prizewinner.
Shot in the sub-zero temps of upstate New York, this indie feature tells the compelling story of Ray (Leo), a middle-aged mother of two teenagers,
who's lured into the illegal world of immigrant smuggling. Broke after her husband leaves town with the down payment for their new trailer, she
reluctantly teams up with a young mom she has met from the nearby Indian reservation. Soon the two are making runs across the frozen St. Lawrence
River carrying illegal Asians in the trunk of Ray's Dodge Spirit. A remarkable debut feature film from director Hunt. (Courtney Hunt; USA; 2008; 97 min)
Sep 26 – Oct 2 at Harris Theater
In Search of a Midnight Kiss
"Uncommonly bright ... gives me renewed hope for the future of so-called independent cinema." – Andrew Sarris, NY Observer
This bittersweet romantic-comedy does for Los Angeles what Woody Allen did for New York in Manhattan. Beautifully shot in New Wave-ish black-and-white,
it's a wonderful lo-fi journey though love, sex and modern relationships. And in the process it captures an unexpectedly intimate side of the sprawling West
Coast city. We follow a whimsical plot where a lonely and broke 29-year-old posts a personal ad on Craigslist. He meets a surly blonde determined to find the
right guy to be with at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Together, they chase the promise of a fresh start. (Alex Holdridge; USA; 2008; 90 min)
Sun, Sep 28, 8pm at Regent Square Theater
Gojira
See this cautionary landmark sci-fi classic the way it was meant to be seen: in the complete uncut, undubbed Japanese version, on the big screen.
It opens with a Japanese steamer sinking in flames. Then scientists discover a giant radioactive footprint … uh oh! (Ishirô Honda; Japan; 1954; 98 min)
Part 4 of 4 in the "Nuclear Sundays" series on Sunday nights in September. Co-sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility and City Paper.
Discussion following the screening will be led by Gary Huck, Political Cartoonist for the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE).
Oct 3–4 at Melwood Screening Room
Ann Arbor Film Festival touring show
Free screenings, presented as part of RADical Days.
These short films from the 2008 Ann Arbor Film Festival were selected for a travelling tour by the AAFF curators. The Ann Arbor Film Festival is internationally
recognized as a premiere showcase for creative, inspiring, and influential films of all types: avant-garde and experimental, story-based narratives, documentaries, and
animation. As the longest-running film festival of its kind in North America, the AAFF is steeped in a rich tradition of ground-breaking cinema.
Oct 17–18 at Melwood Screening Room
Bruce Conner short films
Free screenings, presented with Carnegie Museum of Art’s exhibition Life on Mars, the 2008 Carnegie International.
It is difficult to measure the profound impact of the late Bruce Conner's films (1933-2008) upon postwar American cinema and popular culture. Perhaps most influential
was his unique approach to montage and the almost uncanny editorial acumen that guided his work from his very first film. For their remarkable use of music to structure
their energetic bricolage, early Conner films such as those we are screening are frequently pointed to as important precursors to the modern music video.
Conner first made his name as a pioneer of assemblage art, crafting ethereal and ominous sculptures using raw materials gathered from San Francisco scrap heaps. Rejecting the
commodity drive of the art market, he abruptly ceased his assemblage work just as he began to achieve real recognition as an artist – turning instead to cinema and
a mode of found footage filmmaking directly informed by his sculptural practice.
"Cosmic Ray" (1962, 4.5 min). Channeling the "black magic" of Ray Charles' music, Conner used occult symbols and mysterious images to create this nocturnal and
raucous masterpiece.
"Crossroads" (1976, 36 min). Conner followed his fascination with the atomic bomb to an absolutely brilliant furthest extreme, "expanding" 27 different shots of the
1946 Bikini Atoll a-bomb test footage into a mesmerizing two-part epic that juxtaposes the enhanced “realism” of Patrick Gleeson’s sound track in the first half against
the hallucinatory trance music of Terry Riley that closes the film.
"A Movie" (1957, 12 min). The ultimate found footage film, A MOVIE summarizes—and critiques— the history of modern cinema in just twelve minutes.
"Permian Strata" (1969, 4 min). Conner's mordant gem discovers wonderfully strange and subversive subtexts at work within an obscure 1940s Biblical film.
"Report" (1963-67, 13 min). Haunted by JFK's assassination, Conner obsessively filmed television coverage of the killing, funeral and miscellaneous contemporary
programming, repurposing the footage into both a sorrowful portrait of a lost hero – note Conner's use of blank "leader" – and a blistering critique of
postwar consumerism.