OFFscreen: independent, classic and foreign films at the University of Virginia

Ashes of American Flags: tonight

2009-05-01T13:15:00.008-04:00

Tonight is the night!

Make sure to bring your friends (and yourself) to the screening of Wilco documentary "Ashes of American Flags" tonight, featuring introduction by producer and Fugazi drummer Brendand Canty. The show is at Newcomb Hall theater at 7 PM. Tickets will be sold at the door and will cost $5. Take a break from finals or whatever you have going on to enjoy this film.

And after...Invisible Hand is playing at the Tea Bazaar.

Swine Flu

2009-04-30T11:41:00.005-04:00

Between drug wars and swine flu there has been a lot of negative press for Mexico recently. An industry which has not slowed down, however, is Mexico's excellent film production. One standout that recently played at Sundance and Tribeca is Carlos Cuaron's debut feature, "Rudo y Cursi." Even discounting my serious interest in any film with a passing reference to soccer, this looks like a lively comedy that will add to Mexico's important cinematic output. The creation of Cha Cha, a new production companies with powerful directors Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo del Toro is an indication that Mexican film is growing even stronger.

Trailer for "Rudo y Cursi"

Wilco Documentary

2009-04-28T14:22:00.002-04:00

Hey folks,

Just wanted to remind everyone about the Wilco Documentary coming up this Friday. Tickets for this bonus screening will cost $5 and be available at the door.

French Film Friday

2009-04-02T13:19:00.005-04:00

The French department will be showing the new film by award-winning Quebecois director Philippe Falardeau called "Ce n'est pas moi, je le jure! " ("It's not me I swear!") this Friday (tomorrow) in the Wilson auditorium - room 402 at 5 PM. (Map) The film will be subtitled in English and will be presented by the director himself!

Based on a successful French novel of the same name, "Ce n'est pas moi je le jure!" tells the story of a pre-pubescent Quebecois boy acting out in a number of imaginative and destructive ways. It played at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival and won a crystal bear as one of the best feature films by a new director.

Venez nombreux!!

Offical Site (in French)
Review from Variety.

Trailer after the jump

Special Bonus Screening: Wilco Documentary

2009-04-20T17:48:00.007-04:00

"If this show ends up being one of the greatest rock and roll concerts of all time, I'm afraid its going to have an asterisk next to it. Because I'm on steroids..."
-Jeff Tweedy

You may have thought OFFscreen was finished with "Inland Empire," but we have been working behind the scenes to bring a new Wilco concert documentary, "Ashes of American Flags" to Charlottesville next Friday, May 1st. Local fans who remember Wilco's October 2007 performance at the Pavillion will have the chance to get a more intimate view of this legendary band in action.

More than a concert video, "Ashes of American Flags" combines HD video from performances with elements a road movie and personal interviews with all band members, as they travel the highways from Tulsa Oklahoma, to a final, raucous performance at the familiar 9:30 club in Washington D.C.

The film will be introduced by producer Brendan Canty. If the name sounds familiar, that is because Mr. Canty was the drummer for D.C. greats Fugazi. We hope that you will kick off your weekend right and come out for this extra-special presentation. "Ashes of American Flags" will give you a front row seat to one of the best live acts going.

Note that this film is screening at a special time: Friday, May 1 at 7 PM at the Newcomb Hall Theater (map).

Review from Pop Matters
Official site

Trailer after the jump

"Inland Empire" Preview

2009-04-16T10:37:00.004-04:00

"A Woman in trouble"

Director David Lynch to Canal Plus (the French studio that made "Inland Empire" financially possible): "I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V."

A famous actress working on a script that may have been cursed. A jealous husband and a Don Juan lead actor. Coming (we think) for the first time to a big screen in Charlottesville is David Lynch's monumental, semi-narrative meditation on the psyche and the act of recording, "Inland Empire."

Lynch controversially used a midrange DV camera during filming. The finished product retains the raw look of early digital, but the size and cheapness of the cameras allowed the director new creative opportunities. Critics fell into the predictable camps of "What is this?" and "This guy is a genius...I think." OFFscreen invites you to enter the labyrinth for yourself and enjoy Lynch's most recent film.

This showing will conclude our Spring 2009 series, so come out to enjoy "Inland Empire" as it was meant to be seen. As Lynch himself said in a brief NYT interview, "There’s nothing like the big screen. The cinema is really built for the big screen and big sound, so that a person can go into another world and have an experience. As an example, there’s Stanley Kubrick’s “2001:A Space Odyssey” — this would be kind of a pathetic joke on a little screen." Don't be a pathetic joke.

"Inland Empire" will be playing at the Newcomb Theater on Sunday, April 19. Due to its running time of 180 minutes, there will be only one showing at 7 PM.

Thanks for a great season. Trailer and interview after the jump.

2009-04-16T10:36:00.001-04:00

Woah mobile posting!

"Stardust Memories" Preview

2009-04-09T12:23:00.009-04:00

"What do you think was the significance of the Rolls-Royce?"
"I think it represented his car"

Maybe this joke explains the hit-or-miss critical reception to Woody Allen's 1980 masterpiece "Stardust Memories." Often drawing comparisons with Fellinni's "8 1/2," Allen's film not only targets critics, but, as NYT critic Janet Maslin, writes, ''Stardust Memories'' is inhabited by grotesques, sycophants, every kind of fool, and when the film takes aim at any of them it easily hits its mark." This may include you, if you are honest with yourself. Be prepared to be put off and awed over the course of the same 90 minutes. Roger Ebert famously said of this film, "It is the first Woody Allen film in which impotence has become the situation rather than the problem. This is a movie about a guy who has given up." Perhaps this is what makes the film transcendent and modern. It is unafraid to face such abysses...with humor.

"I would trade an Oscar for one more second of life."

Obviously not to be missed, "Stardust Memories" will be shown in glorious black and white at the Newcomb Hall Theater. One night only: Sunday, April 12 at 7 and 9:30 PM. Tickets are $3.

nice clip after the jump

Stardust Memories Clip (not a trailer)

Vinegar Hill Schedule

2009-04-08T11:04:00.003-04:00

Hey Everybody,

Just want everyone to know that the good people that run the Vinegar Hill/Visulite theater are giving Charlottesville the lineup for Cannes 2008 in April 2009.

Last week had "Waltz with Bashir."
This week is "The Class" - a great film and only in town tonight and tomorrow.
Next week is "Che pt. 1"
and the week of April 17 is "Gomorrah" !!!!

Make sure to check for times and do not miss these memorable films.

Trailers after the jump

"The Class"

"Che pt. 1"

"Gomorrah"

Monday movies

2009-03-30T09:03:00.004-04:00

Hey all,

First, I don't care what the haters say, but "Funky Forest" was the most fun I have had at the movies in a long time and killed the speakers in Newcomb. Thanks to all who came out, and I hope you were able to enjoy the absurdity. I know I did.

Here are a couple of films to think about this week.

"Goodbye Solo"

The third feature from up and coming/already there director Ramin - the dude that did Chop Shop - Bahrani, "Goodbye Solo," tells a story of hope via a Senegalese immigrant taxi driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Bahrani seems to have inherited the neo-realist mantle with his use of non-professional actors and the strong emphasis on place in his films. Subtle and well-crafted, this film has gotten rave reviews, like this one by A.O. Scott.

"Tokyo Sonata"

This film is not exactly new (premiered at Cannes in 2008), but Michelle told me about it last night and it seems really interesting. Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa is well-known for his thrillers and horror movies and finally tackles the most frightening subject of all: family. Perhaps now even more relevant now than when it was released, "Tokyo Sonata" tells the story of a man who has been laid off at his corporate position who continues to put on his suit and leave the house every day. His family, pushed to the breaking point, begins their own breakdown. Reminiscent of some of the themes of OFFscreen alum "Momma's Man," Kurosawa's film forces us to reconsider what really matters, especially in our current times. Review from The New Yorker.

Great-looking trailers after the jump

Get Ready

2009-03-26T13:20:00.001-04:00

Funky Forest: The First Contact - Preview

2009-03-26T11:15:00.004-04:00

OFFscreen moves back into international waters this weekend with "Funky Forest: The First Contact." Directed by a Japanese trio including Katsuhito Ishii of "Taste of Tea fame this 2005 feature defies one-paragraph summary from bloggers and critics. The film is based around the frame of a sketch-comedy show and features singing, dancing, animation, and dreams. Visually inventive, unafraid of risk, and with moments of real genius, "Funky: Forest: The First Contact" is a welcome journey into absurdity.

The New York Post claims that something is lost in translation, but we at OFFscreen invite you to lose yourself in this hyperactive treat. Check out this review from some people who get it in "The Brooklyn Rail."

"Funky Forest: The First Contact" will play for one night only at the Newcomb Hall theater at the University of Virginia, on Sunday, March 29. Please note that due to its 150 minute running time, the film will be shown only at 7 PM. Tickets are $3.

If you can't decide whether or not to come, please watch the clip after the jump featuring actress Rinko Kikuchi - oddly the only living Japanese actress to have been nominated for an Academy Award (thanks Wikipedia). I trust you will make the right decision.

OFFtopic: music

2009-03-26T10:49:00.004-04:00

I went to the Wavves' show in Harrisonburg last night. Nathan Williams might be the spokesperson/fantasy for the inertia of our recession-ed out moment. "When I get back from tour, I'm still gonna go back to my parents pool house, and like, smoke weed because I don't really feel like moving out and paying rent." It was a fun show even if he was a little drunk, can't really sing, and can't really play guitar. Check out "So Bored" and "No Hope Kids" - highlights of the show and his recently released album.

Also I can't stop watching this music video for "When I Grow Up" a single off of the new album by Fever Ray, the solo project from the female half of The Knife, Karin Dreijer Andersson. It is directed by Martin de Thurah.

SXSW film

2009-03-19T17:52:00.006-04:00

With the Austin festival coming to a close, I thought a brief recap is in order.
Here is a random selection of some of the films that sounded interesting from the festival.

"Make-Out With Violence"
Easily the best-titled film of 2009,this Deagols brothers feature debut takes a look at love...and Zombies.

"Say My Name"
Hip-Hop's female voices get heard in a big way in this documentary by Nirit Peled. Features one of my favorite emcees of either gender, the legendary Jean Grae.

"Best Worst Movie"
Our generation's "Plan 9?" Look no further than "Troll 2." Filmed by an Italian director in Utah and featuring a lead acting by a dentist from Alabama, this film never had a chance. The documentary is curated by the now-grown child star of the horrible/wonderful original.

Of course this is just a sample. The festival's emphasis on film has been growing and continues to improve. check out the complete listings here.
Great trailers after the jump...

"Make-Out With Violence"

"Say My Name"

"Best Worst Movie"

Virtual JFK and Herzog docs

2009-03-12T11:27:00.009-04:00

Welcome back OFFscreen-ers.

Charlottesville film is back, or more accurately, I am back in Charlottesville to enjoy its films, and I am happy to report on some interesting films being screened in the coming days.

First, this Sunday before OFFscreen's exclusive presentation of "Red Bucket Presents..." is a presentation by Media Studies professor Laura Heins. She will be screening two documentaries from Herzog's middle period: “Wodaabe – Herdsmen of the Sun” (1989) and “Lessons in Darkness” (1992). Each is less than an hour long and there will be a discussion.

The screening will take place at 3:30 PM in the basement of Ruffner Hall (The main building of the education school across the Emmet Street bridge from Newcomb) in room G004C. map (number 44).

Also coming soon to Charlottesville is a documentary that asks the thought-provoking question, What if JFk had lived? The film, "Virtual JFK is director Koji Masutani's first feature. The film combines recently unearthed documentary footage with insights from Brown University professor James G. Blight providing a new way to think about the past. The film's central question is how Kennedy would have handled America's role in the Vietnam War. It was selected for entry in the London International Documentary Festival.

Virtual JFK will be playing on the big screen at Vinegar Hill theater in Charlottesville on March 21 and 22 at 2 PM

Review at indieWIRE

And of course this Sunday OFFscreen presents some of the most promising innovators in film today. "Red Bucket Films Presents..." will be shown for one night only at 7 and 9:30 PM on Sunday, March 15 in the Newcomb Hall theater.

Trailers after the jump

Lessons in Darkness

Virtual JFK

A little break

2009-02-25T11:09:00.003-05:00

Dear readers,

UVA's Spring Break is next week so there will be no films shown and probably no blog updates. However, I encourage everyone to begin looking forward to our next screening, which will take place on March 15: "Red Bucket Presents..." This is a collection of shorts, or "buttons" specially made by the Red Bucket Film Collective for OFFscreen. I will post a more thorough preview as the show approaches.

Now for some hype:

FEARLESS and not quite of this century???

A collaboration with KATE SPADE???

Darlings of CANNES???

Oscar Thoughts?

2009-02-23T13:54:00.007-05:00

I managed to catch some of the Oscars last night and was glad that Slumdog did so well. I was a little surprised about the lack of love for VA film festival alum The Wrestler, but I was happiest to see Man on Wire win for best documentary feature. This was probably my favorite film that got nominated, although I did not see any of the shorts, which is a shame.

If you haven't seen Man on Wire yet, it is the amazing true story of Phillipe Petit's tightrope walk across the World Trade center towers. If you watched him on the Oscars, you could see what a fantastic character he is. The film actually played locally last Friday at Piedmont Valley Community college, and I am sorry for not posting that. Trailer after the jump. Any thoughts on the awards?

Last Weekend

2009-02-23T11:26:00.005-05:00

It was a great weekend for film fans in Charlottesville. I was lucky enough to catch three of the films being shown in town: My Name is Albert Ayler, La Question Humaine, and Reves de Poussiere at OFFscreen on Sunday evening. All three were very interesting, but my favorite had to be La Question Humaine, directed by Nicolas Klotz and released in France in 2007. The film was adapted from a novel of the same title by Francois Emmaneulle and tells the story of a psychologist (played by the famous French actor Mathieu Amalric) employed in the human resource department of a large Franco-German chemical company. He is assigned to analyze the company's CEO after a series of strange complaints. His investigation takes him through a series of encounters, at work, at raves, and at home that eventually lead him to commit some unfortunate acts. By the end of the film, the viewer must question the mental health of this main character, who has by this point uncovered some frightening facts about the company's questionable links to the Nazi party. The final scenes are incredibly powerful and philosophically rich meditations on language and memory. Highly recommended.

For French speakers here is an interview with the director Klotz and lead actor Amalric. You can see the trailer in the preview post from last Thursday. Also, the onion's AV club has a nice review here.

Internacional

2009-02-19T17:48:00.003-05:00

Hey readers.

I installed google analytics on the blog, and while we won't be blowing anyone away with our hit count (around 10 per day, with a high of 21), you might find it interesting that we have had visitors from:

New York
Los Angeles
Berlin
Mexico City
Athens
London
Milan
Zagreb
Madrid
Glasgow

I also have to shout out our local support coming from
Charlottesville!
Waynesboro
Lynchburg
Richmond

Keep on checking us out!

article of interest?

2009-02-19T10:33:00.003-05:00

http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/79/hipster.html

Also just for kicks, but not really.

http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=12185178001

a real-live donk video after the jump

Weekend cinema in Charlottesville

2009-02-18T15:30:00.002-05:00

There are a number of films to look forward to this weekend in the Charlottesville area. First is the annual Festival du Film Francophone at the University of Virginia. Made possible by a grant from the Tournées Film Festival, the French department at the University plans on screening 5 films from Thursday through Sunday. The festival focuses on contemporary French cinema, and concludes with OFFscreen's own presentation of Dreams of Dust on Sunday evening.

Schedule:
DANS PARIS (2006)
INSIDE PARIS
Th. 19 Feb., 6:30pm, Wilson 402 Auditorium (map)
Dir: Christophe Honore, 93 min.

FRANTZ FANON: SA VIE, SON COMBAT, SON TRAVAIL (2004)
FRANTZ FANON: HIS LIFE, HIS STRUGGLE, HIS WORK
Fri. 20 Feb., 6:00pm, Wilson 402 Auditorium (map)
Dir: Cheikh Djemai, 140 min.

LA QUESTION HUMAINE (2007)
HEARTBEAT DETECTOR
Sat. 21 Feb., 4:30pm, Clark 107 (map)
Dir: Nicolas Klotz, 144 min.

LA FAUTE A FIDEL (2006)
BLAME IT ON FIDEL
Sat. 21 Feb., 7:45pm, Clark 107 (map)
Dir: Julie Gavras, 99 min.

REVES DE POUSSIERE (2006)
DREAMS OF DUST
Sun. 22 Feb., 7:00pm and 9:30pm, Newcomb Theater
Dir: Laurent Salgues, 86 min.

All showings are sub-titled in English.
All showings are FREE except for REVES DE POUSSIERE, which is $3 (in partnership with OFFScreen). Additionally, each film will be introduced by a member of the French department at UVA and will include a discussion at the conclusion of each film.
For a summary of each film check the festival's website, linked above. Trailers of the films can be found after the jump.

Switching gears, there will be a film screening at The Bridge Progressive Arts Institute on Thursday evening. The film, My Name is Albert Ayler, is a Swedish documentary on legendary tenor saxaphonist Albert Ayler. This is a man who jumped on stage at a Coltrane show, started wailing on his sax, and so impressed the legend, that Coltrane asked to have Ayler play at is funeral. Ayler's mantra: "If people don't like it now, they will." Rumor has it that there will be an OFFscreen contingent attending this show, so come join us for this fascinating story of a man who could go through anything because of his belief in his art.

MY NAME IS ALBERT AYLER
Thursday, February 19 at 7 PM at the Bridge Progressive Arts institute. (map)
Admission is $5

Dans Paris

Frantz Fanon: Sa Vie, Son Combat, Son Travail
No trailer available.

La Question Humaine

La Faute a Fidel

Bonus: Some Albert Ayler tracks at Last.fm

Dreams of Dust official preview coming soon!

Azazel Jacobs preview

2009-02-12T11:07:00.005-05:00

Double feature weekend at OFFscreen! This Sunday, we are bringing two films by director Azazel Jacobs:The GoodTimesKid (2005) and Momma's Man (2008). This writer and director may not be familiar to readers, but Azazel Jacobs has an interesting pedigree. He is the son of legendary avant-garde filmmaker Ken Jacobs and even had a small acting role in one of OFFscreen's best-attended films of the last couple of years, Wristcutters: A Love Story.

Short on dialogue, but long on basically everything else The GoodTimesKid is OFFscreen's first romantic comedy of the season. It follows a pair of guys named Rodolfo and a girlfriend named Diaz through various existential situations. The legend around this film was that it was shot on some studio grade 35 millimeter stolen from a big Hollywood set. It was named a New York Times critics pick, and many reviewers have compared it to Godard's more romantic films and to the work of classic silent film actors Chaplin and Keaton.

The second film for this week is Jacob's latest feature, Momma's Man. It has been picked for both the Rotterdam and Sundance film festivals, and has some pretty huge one liners from the major critics. Manohla Dargis proclaims, "This is independent film defined!" Not to be outdone, Peter Travers pipes in with "An extraordinary movie in every way!" (Exclamation points mine) I actually thought the best part of the Dargis review was this little dig at the Apatow comedy factory: "But growing up Apatow style just means learning to divide your attention between your joystick and the little lady who loves you just the way you are, flab and all. Real life is harder, as is real art." Momma's Man features Jacobs' real-life artist parents in a touching portrait of a son who is forced to confront adulthood. Jacobs' character portrait is a complex case of regression

This will be an excellent weekend of films. Azazel Jacobs is an up-and-coming director whose work has been building a strong momentum. This double feature is a great opportunity to get to know a young director who we will definitely be hearing from in the future. If you can find an old copy of last week's Declaration, make sure to check out Taylor's interview with the director. Copies should be available at the screening, but for the moment their online archives are down. In the future you should be able to find this content here. He also has a great interview (not sure how long this link will work ) with Sam Lisceno, the art director of Red Bucket Films, whose work will be shown next weekend at OFFscreen.

The GoodTimesKid and Momma's Man will show at the Newcomb Theater for one night only Sunday, February 15 at 7 and 9:30 PM

As usual, previews after the jump.

The GoodTimesKid

Momma's Man

Azazel Jacobs Interview

And just for fun, I saw this on PBS over winter break and just re-discovered it. My favorite concert film ever.

Thoughts on "Shadow of the House"

2009-02-12T10:28:00.003-05:00

Last Monday the UVA studio art department held a screening of Shadow of the House: Photographer Abelardo Morell. I attended the screening and subsequent talk by the filmmaker, Allie Humenuk and the artists, Mr. Morell. The documentary was an in-depth look at both Mr. Morell's life and his artistic process, and showing the artist at work making his giant camera obscura photographs. It was interesting to see a filmmaker so closely involved with her subject; Ms. Humenek had been working on the documentary for seven years and was really able to capture Morell's family dynamic as well as his art. Continue after the jump for some of Morell's photographs if you have not already seen them.

Selected photographs by Abelardo Morell

Water Lilies Preview

2009-02-05T19:58:00.007-05:00

I hope you have been feeling the buzz around the buildup for this Sunday's film, Water Lilies (Naissance des Pieuvres). This debut film of French writer and director Céline Sciamma premiered under the category un certain regard at Cannes in 2007, and has since been released commercially both in France and the UK.

The film centers around a group of 15 year old girls living in a suburb of Paris. As summer progresses, we follow the sexual experiences of Marie and Floriane, partners on the same synchronized swimming team. What critics have noticed is how this film talks authentically about adolescence, not from the outsider perspective of an adult, but rather on its own terms. Sciamma accords her subject a rare level of respect and objectivity. We hope to see you Sunday evening for what should be a provocative film.

Water Lilies will show at the Newcomb Theater for one night only Sunday, February 8 at 7 and 9:30 PM

Preview and more critical reaction after the jump

Water Lilies trailer

The song credits can be found in the last post.

Official English-language website

Reviews:
Manohla Dargis from The New York Times

Andrew O’Hehir at Salon.com - reviewed alongside OFFscreen Alum Tuya's Marriage!

Lisa Nesselson in Variety

Video interview with director Céline Sciamma.

Another interview from Cineuropa

wandering around You Tube

2009-02-02T20:23:00.002-05:00

Look for the Water Lilies (Naissance des Pieuvres) flyers downtown and on grounds soon. Also for those of you who can't get the song from the trailer out of your head, it is called "Trahison" (treason) by the French electro artist Vitalic. It is online here. I have it on repeat.

Vitalic Myspace (wait a couple of seconds for your eyes to adjust.)

I was reading some French film sites today and came across the work of Mexican/Spanish/American director Amat Escalante. His two most recent films have featured at the Cannes festival, and his newest, Los Bastardos got a French release this week. The film is set in L.A., but ironically will probably not hit theaters here in the states. Look after the jump for some frightening trailers.

Los Bastardos

Sangre