The Myth of an American Sleepover

Do you recall your days of youth when the most important thing in the world was your popularity, your crush on that unknowing boy or girl that you imagined you would be with forever, your first kiss, summer fun, and which parties you got invited to. THE MYTH OF AN AMERICAN SLEEPOVER, will have you recalling your youthful memories of your teenage summers.

Some of my favorite memories as a young girl are of the sleepovers I had with my girlfriends, staying up and talking all night, playing games such as "light as a feather", watching movies, eating popcorn and ice cream. Summers however added another additional element to these regular sleepovers. For many it was the time to have some sort of experience or event to mark the time. This film looks at that need for youth to have experiences, and to learn about what it is that they really want in life. It helps them to define a clearer concise picture of their goals whether it is in love, or in their future pursuits. It is a time to experiment and grow, and this film showcases the search, innocent experimentation, and self realizations that not everything has to happen or will happen immediately.

THE MYTH OF AN AMERICAN SLEEPOVER, is an innocent look at several young teens and the allure of summer romance before the school year starts. The scenarios although all different in their search are similar in the their desire to love and be loved. As youth we all long for these experiences, often not knowing why we are doing what it is we do to get it. We do however learn about ourselves through these events helping us to become the people we are today.

For a light and youthful taste of summer at 4:45pm on Sunday October 3rd at the Plaza

Gabi on the Roof in July

GABI ON THE ROOF IN JULY is a refreshing look at young adults, wanting freedom, and fun, without all the responsibility. A young college girl, Gabi, visits her older brother who is trying to get his art career going in Brooklyn. Gabi's free spirit turns out to be another piece for her brother Sam to worry about as he struggles at getting his life together while making ends meet.

Gabi's character in the film is free spirited, and in many ways just young. There is no concept of maturity although, she feels she is mature and pretends to engage in adult acts. She really is just a child, and is looking for support and guidance from her older brother. Gabi's has had a hard time dealing with the separation of her and Sam's parents, and accepting her father's new partner. Gabi is hoping to get support from her brother however she ends up seeing him act out the same way as their father.

The story looks at Gabi's relationship with Sam as she explores art herself in her unique way. Sam's art work which pieces together society, and social decay is beginning to take off. The uniqueness of Sam's art with regards to behavior mimics the decay of Gabi and Sam and the ability to make clear wise choices. The characters desire for something fresh, fun and new is there, however the lack of commitment or dedication are not present. Gabi is a great girl, and as I mentioned she acts exceptionally free, and this freedom is a way for her to learn about herself, although some of how she learns is not conventional. She really is looking for someone to understand her and be there for as a male role model, and Sam needs to step up to the plate to replace that father figure.

Gabi and Sam both do and say things that will leave you thinking societal decay with respect to young people. However being not so old myself (depending on your perspective) the decay is from within due to deeper issues that need to be resolved. I personally would never be as free as the characters in this film, and I am sure there are many others out there that are similar to me in thinking, and behavior, however that is why we enjoy the arts, and do not necessarily create them. We can see fresh new ideas and concepts through a different light which often come from much experimentation, and experiences in life, that some of us will never experience due to our own boundaries, and limitations.

For a fresh fun look at artistic youth through an independent lens check out GABI ON THE ROOF IN JULY on Saturday October 2nd at 4:45 at Eau Claire or on Sunday October 3rd at 9:00pm at Eau Claire.

New Low

In the mood for an American Indie flick, well NEW LOW may be just the light comedic drama you have been looking for.

Adam Bowers gives us a look into an all too common story that many, many women can relate too. For all those men out there, perhaps this comedic look into the search for relationships may actually give you that sense of commitment that normally leaves you running for the door.

In the film Wendell is in search of a relationship, for what we are not sure of but I am assuming it is to fill his time. He is twenty some, and has no plans for the future, no hobbies, and no interests. Vicki who we meet in the film lets Wendell know about his lack of appeal to women however she herself is willing to overlook it. Wendell however, although willing to get involved in a relationship is not willing to overlook some of the odd and unconventional pieces of Vicki's life.

The story I'm sure you have seen in your lives, or the lives of friends, where one person in the couple is looking for something better, better than they really can get. Not to say we should not strive for the stars, however often we lose a really good thing because we are not happy with the great stuff before us. We are human, and easily blinded by the next more prettier, shinier thing, even if we can not afford it, or it is beyond our means. This film is an entertaining reminder to go home and tell the people in your life how much you love and care for them, and that you would never trade them in for anything.

You still have time before the festival wraps up, so get out and catch NEW LOW on Sunday October 3rd at 6:45 pm at Eau Claire.

The Happy Poet: A very happy movie indeed

It seems that these days there is no shortage of lo-fi, independent, mumblecore-esque films making the film festival circuit, and admittedly, The Happy Poet is another addition to the canon, albeit a rather welcome one. The story follows Bill, a jobless poetry major (played to perfection by Paul Gordon who also wrote and directed the project), who purchases a hot dog stand and converts it into an "all-organic almost-all-vegetarian" food caravan. Bill is a charming character who truly exemplifies the movie through his ironic, monotonous charm. The Poet is a simple and humble little film filled with good natured, light hearted, indie fun. It contains all the qualifications of a quirky independent comedy: just the right amount of awkward silence, and some (not too much) awkward romance, and enough giggles to keep you smiling. At times the movie will even surprise you with some loud laughs. The dry humour is executed with deadpan delivery and a certain quiet wit, and is often quite hilarious.

But where this movie truly stands apart from it's contemporaries is in it's sincerity. Through and through it is sincere, even throughout the duration of the long shots of awkward emotional insecurity, or boredom, it is true to itself, and that is what makes it such a joy to behold. The Happy Poet is not a "feel good" movie per say, but it is inspiring, funny, and dare I say it, cute. But the kind of cute that we all secretly like, not that fluffy kind. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of substance to this movie. It takes a playful jab at consumerism, idealism, and even the state of independent film itself, but the beauty in this movie is that it can be applied to almost anything, and it works on it's own as a warm, kind, piece of art. This year's lineup is very diverse, and as always, features some very ominous content. Amidst the dark, the gruelling, and the grotesque, The Happy Poet is a sweet little break. Light, charming, and fun.

You can catch The Happy Poet at the Eau Claire Market Cineplex Odeon on both Friday, September 24th at 9:15 PM and Sunday, September 26th at 2:30 PM

Tickets are available through the festival website (www.calgaryfilm.com) and can also be purchased at the festival headquarters, also found within the Eau Claire Market Mall.

The Exploding Girl (no it's not my autographical piece!)

Day 9 of this year's Calgary International Film Festival has come to a close, and what a crazy day it was! I woke up this morning eager to set out to watch a carefully chosen list of 4 films. Weeeell, I somehow managed to mix up which theater I was starting off my day at, and ended up missing the American Indie flick, White on Rice.

Instead, I ended up at the encore screening of Gigantic, and then set off to the Globe for a screening of the Korean gangster movie Breathless. The night finished off with a screening of the Exploding Girl, the perfect closer to an otherwise hectic day.

The film follows a quirky and lovable college student named Ivy, as she heads home to spend spring break with her mom. The course of her plans take a slight change, when she gets an awkward call from her friend Al asking if he can crash on her couch. The two have known each other since eighth or ninth grade, so of course Ivy agrees. Over the course of the time they spend together, Ivy's boyfriend becomes more and more distant, while her and Al struggle to come to terms with blossoming feelings they have for one another.



The Exploding Girl remains sincere and genuine throughout the course of its 79 minutes and this is largely attributed to the talent of the lovely Zoey Kazan in the role of Ivy, and the adorable Mark Rendall as Al. The two had fantastic onscreen chemistry, and together were able to perfectly capture the essence of two friends realizing they may love each other in a way they never imagined.

The Exploding Girl was not only a fantastically written story of two people testing the waters outside the "friends zone," it was also a cinematographic marvel. Filmed in a series of long unbroken takes, director Bradley Rust Gray was able to capture the hustle and bustle of the city and subtly intermingle it with the progression of Ivy's inner turmoil throughout the film.

If you missed the screening of this warm and fantastically shot American Indie film last night, don't fret! There is an encore screening of the Exploding Girl playing this afternoon at 4:30pm at the Globe.

A Special Event If You're Interested In Filmmaking

Take a seat, tomorrow morning, at the Cantos Music Room (Second Floor, 134 11 Avenue S.E.) if you are planning on making or have a film you're looking to exploit. CIFF has brought together a fantastic line-up of industry experts to give you great insight as you embark upon your first or next filmmaking journey.

These two back-to-back sessions are worth their weight in gold and yet the price of admission is just $5. per program. It's rare to be able to attend a pair of industry panel sessions of this calibre without being a delegate at a costly trade show, so, if you're free tomorrow morning, be sure to attend. It would also be fascinating for anyone wanting deeper insight into the creative process of Directing, Producing and Distributing independent films.

Up first at 10 am is "The Art of Filmmaking", with an 80-minute run time. The focus of this discussion is on direction, with topics ranging from point-of-view to finding your voice and expressing ideas through cinema. The Panellists will talk about vision, expressiveness, style and how to put your own unique look on film. The panel is moderated by Filmmaker David Christensen, Executive Producer of the NFB, North West Centre, with featured guest Directors from the Mavericks Competition: Chris Chong (Karaoke), Damien Chazelle (Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench) and Nicolas Perada (Juntos).

Then, at 11:30 am, "Financing and Selling Your Film in the Digital Age" will look at the challenges faced by independent producers who are increasingly looking to non-traditional sources and partners to finance their films in these tough economic times. The session will also focus on changes to the traditional model of film distribution and how filmmakers can build audience within the new models such as Video on Demand, day & date distribution and online communities. Moderated by Calgary based Film Producer Shirley Vercruysse (Burns Films Ltd.) the panelists are: Tom Alexander (Mongrel Media), Robin Smith (KinoSmith Films), Aida LiPera (Visit Films and CIFF Mavericks Juror) and Slava Rubin (Indiegogo.com). This session will run 60-minutes and should be interesting, considering the range of traditional to emerging means of film marketing channels these guests utilize in their businesses.

That's Saturday October 3rd at Cantos. Here's a map:

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music on Film)

Tonight: Mississippi Damned

"Mississippi Damned" is a powerful family drama set in the American South. It has already won awards at film festivals as varied as the American Black Film Festival, the Outfest Film Festival, and the Newfest Film Festival. And now, CIFF proudly presents the movie's Canadian premiere.

The first half of the movie takes place in 1986; the second half in 1998. We meet various members of an extended family, and the cycles of abuse, poverty, and violence that keep them trapped where they are. There are moments of kindness scattered throughout the movie; there would have to be, otherwise it would be too bleak. Watching "Mississippi Damned", I was reminded of one of my favorite Leonard Cohen quotes: "There is a crack in everything / That's how the light gets in."

There are a few recognizable faces in the movie; at least, they're recognizable if your TV habits are similar to mine. Among the great cast: Malcolm David Kelley (Walt on "Lost"), DB Woodside (from "24", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Once & Again", others), Tessa Thompson ("Veronica Mars"), and the great Michael Hyatt (who played the monstrous mother Brianna Barksdale on "The Wire").

For more information, visit the movie's website.

"Mississippi Damned" screens Friday night at 7 pm, at Eau Claire; it has an encore screening on Sunday at 4:30 pm at The Plaza.

Handsome Harry

When Mel Rygus and I split up the movies in the American Indie series, I basically gave her first choice. I didn't really read up on any of the movies that were left for me, so "Handsome Harry" ended up being a really nice surprise.

"Handsome Harry" himself (played by Jamey Sheridan) is an electrician and former sailor. A former Navy buddy, Tom Kelly (Steve Buscemi), is dying, and calls Harry to help seek forgiveness for an event that occurred 30 years earlier. The movie follows Harry's journey as he reconnects with the other sailors involved in the event, and ultimately the victim himself (Campbell Scott).

The movie touches on themes of forgiveness, masculinity, and how dealing (or not dealing) with events in our past can affect who we become years later. The themes, and the jazzy soundtrack, make "Handsome Harry" feel like a movie Clint Eastwood could have made - and I mean that as a compliment. It's a worthy addition to the terrific American Indie series at this year's festival.

There are still some titles in the American Indie series to screen over the festival's final weekend - check them out!

The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle

The awkwardly titled "The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle" opens with such a perfectly executed gag that I was willing to follow the movie anywhere for the rest of its runtime.

As the opening credits roll, we see a bottle (message included) tossed into water; a montage follows the bottle on its epic journey. It ends up in the waters off Seattle, where it is retrieved by a computer guy named Dory (Marshall Allman). Dory is struggling with his own faith -- could the bottle be a message from a higher power? I won't spoil the punchline, but the answer to the question is, "Unlikely."

The rest of the movie follows Dory into a job as a janitor, and into some shenanigans with testing new food products. Playfully directed by David Russo (who also wrote the script), the movie takes some bizarre, surreal turns and remains entertaining throughout.

"... Dizzle" is another fine entry in this year's American Indie series; there are still a number of movies in this series to screen before the fest ends. Check the festival website for remaining American Indie movies.

I do have to pick one nit with this movie: its title. The proper definition of "immaculate conception" does not relate to how Jesus was born, but rather that his mother Mary was born without original sin. But that's a common misconception. Ahem.

Made in China

This afternoon I had the pleasure of catching the American Indie flick Made in China. Walking into the theater I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but when the lights went up, I left the theater with my sides sore from laughing and a goofy grin on my face. The film revolves around a novelty inventor named Johnson who dreams of worldwide success. What is a novelty inventor exactly? Well, these men and women have been responsible for such gems as: the Slinkey, the rubber chicken, Sea Monkeys, the classic snake in a can... the list goes on and on. Johnson dreams of joining the ranks of these novelty invention greats who came before him - but first he has to move out of his mother's basement in small-town Texas.

Frustrated with his life, Johnson decides to embark on a trip to China - the world's mecca for manufacturing and mass production. Chaos and hilarity ensue as the naive yet eager Johnson navigates through the streets of Shanghai attempting to generate interest and find a backer for his "needful and novelty hygiene product." (I don't want to give away the identity of his invention - the scene in the movie where his idea is revealed is absolutely hilarious!)

The film is beautifully executed and Jackson Kuehn shines in the role of Johnson, but for me the true star of the movie was the backdrop the movie took place in. Fittingly enough, Made in China was in fact made in China, and some of my favorite scenes involved Johnson stumbling through the side streets of Shanghai, or joining in an outdoor Tai Chi class with some locals. Overall, Made in China is a visually breathtaking and compelling story of self discovery that succeeds without oozing cheese and cliche.

If you missed the screening today, you still have a chance to catch this hidden gem next week. An encore screening of Made in China is being shown on Sunday October 4th at Eau Claire Market at 3:15pm.

Breaking Upwards

A Jewish couple in New York considers ending their relationship -- yes, we're in Woody Allen territory here. In "Breaking Upwards", Zoe and Daryl (played by real-life couple Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein) have grown a little comfortable with each other - bored, even - after four years together. They decide to have a few "days off" each week, and each tries to figure out if what they want can be found with the other.

Smartly written, acted, and directed, "Breaking Upwards" is definitely the kind of movie that shows you don't need a budget to make an entertaining, fully realized movie. (It helps, as many filmmakers have previously discovered, to have the great Andrea Martin in a supporting role.) "Breaking Upwards" was written by Peter Duchan and Lister-Jones and Wein, and directed by Wein, and all are talents to watch.

"Breaking Upwards" is part of CIFF's American Indie series, and it's shaping up to be a terrific fest for American Indie movies. (I especially liked "Mississippi Damned", coming up later in the week.) Check the CIFF website for upcoming movies in the series.

St. Nick (No, Not the Jolly Old Elf)

St. Nick is a tale of a brother aged 11 and his sister aged 9, who have run away from home and venture off into the unknown armed only with a rucksack and an old violin case. Along the way, the children come across an abandoned house and decide to halt their journey for the winter and settle down. Together they make the house their own by incorporating a sense of creativity and resourcefulness only children possess, and for a brief period are able to forget the harsh realities of their situation and just be kids.

The film itself is light on dialogue, which serves to enhance the feeling that this story is far more adult than the average childhood runaway adventure. Although the film never explicitly explains what events occurred to lead the children to run away from home, subtle hints of sadness and nostalgia are weaved in throughout the sibling banter. In one scene, the brother remarks about their dog Max, "he forgot about you, that's the way the world works."

Although I was completely absorbed in the story unfolding onscreen, the aspect of the film which captured my attention utmost was the cinematography. Set in Texas, St. Nick is filled with breathtaking shot after breathtaking shot. Scenes as simple as a vast open field with the sun peaking over the horizon, or a slow pan of a warped and rotting wood floor, are brimming with purpose and linger in the viewer's mind in a hauntingly poetic fashion.

You can catch St. Nick at Eau Claire Market on Tuesday Sept 29th at 9:30pm. An encore presentation of the film will be screened again at Eau Claire on Sunday October 4th at 9:15pm.

The Last Lullaby

When I first think of the assassin and mobster movie genres, I admit my mind immediately drifts to one of two images. The first, a suave tuxedo wearing, martini-sipping spy saving the world by day and breaking hearts by night. The second, a group of hefty Italian men hunched around a poker table in a quiet bistro engulfed in a cloud of cigar smoke where stakes are far higher than the pile of plastic chips and a handful of bills. Keeping these classic movie stereotypes in mind, I sat down to watch The Last Lullaby unsure what to expect.

Well let me tell you fellow film junkies, The Last Lullaby's protagonist Price, a hitman struggling to come to terms with his recent retirement from "the bizz" prescribes to none of the above characteristics - and it couldn't have been more refreshing. The Last Lullaby is a perplexing film, a juxtaposition of beautifully framed shots (the film was shot in its entirety in and around Shrevport, Louisiana) and the chaos of gunfire and bloodshed. I remained revited to the screen for all of the film's 93 minutes - and ladies, this is coming from a girl who can say she's seen Pride and Prejudice at least 50 times. Guys, don't let that last sentence scare you, trust me there's still plenty of action - including a car chase and a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Needless to say, all of the actors in the film were spectacular - but I strongly suspect that Tom Sizemore's portrayal of Price and Sasha Alexander as the dazzling Sarah he is called out of retirement to kill, are two performances that will certainly linger in my mind for a long time to come.

I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to learn that The Last Lullaby was Jeffrey Goodman's first full-length feature, for from what I've seen from watching this surefire sleeper hit, (yes, pun intended) we certainly haven't seen the last of Goodman.

The Last Lullaby is playing at the Globe on Sunday Sept 27th at 7:15pm. An encore presentation of the film will be shown at Eau Claire Market on Sept 29th at 7pm.

Beeswax

One of the great pleasures of American independent movies involves an attempt to answer the following question: when you strip away all the studio artifice of Hollywood movies, what are you left with? If you've got a good script, interesting actors, and a keen eye for direction... well, isn't that all you need?

Andrew Bujalski specializes in this type of movie. "Beeswax" is his third feature (after "Funny Ha Ha" and "Mutual Appreciation"), and it shows a sophistication that belies its low-budget origins. "Beeswax" stars twin sisters Tilly and Maggie Hatcher as twin sisters Lauren and Jeannie. Wheelchair-bound Jeannie runs an Austin boutique / thrift store with Amanda (Anne Dodge), and is struggling with that partnership; Lauren is considering a trip to Africa to teach English. The central conflict (such as it is) in "Beeswax" involves Jeannie's attempts to secure her future with the boutique; will she require Lauren's help to find a solution?

"Beeswax" is a movie of small moments, astutely observed. It's funny, too. The cast of little-known actors is uniformly good; I was particularly fond of Alex Karpovsky as Jeannie's law student (ex-)boyfriend Merrill.

"Beeswax" played at the Globe on Friday night, but has an encore screening on Sunday afternoon at 12:30, at Eau Claire.

Man's Best Friend: My Dog Tulip

Looking for a great way to start the festival? The wonderful film "My Dog Tulip" is it!

For the second time this year, Christopher Plummer provides the voice for a dog owner in an animated movie. Unlike his character in "Up", however, he's not the villain here. "My Dog Tulip" is based on the book by J.R. Ackerley, which tells the story of Ackerley's relationship with his dog, an Alsatian named Tulip. Plummer narrates this first-person recollection of a lonely middle-aged man who has finally found his ideal companion. It's not maudlin in the least - much of the movie involves Ackerley's obsession with Tulip's bowel movements, and assorted attempts to breed her - but full of dry wit and quintessential British stiff-upper-lippishness.

We are certainly in a golden age of animation right now - and not just at the level of big-budget studios like Pixar. Also worthy of checking out at this year's CIFF (next weekend!) is the beautiful clay-mation movie "Mary and Max". "My Dog Tulip" is the first hand-drawn animated feature to be made entirely without paper. Director Paul Fierlinger is the movie's sole animator (his wife Sandra painted the backgrounds), using a Wacom tablet and the 2D animation software Mirage, by Bauhaus. But "My Dog Tulip" doesn't look like cutting edge technology - its rough, jagged, occasionally impressionistic images make it feel much more personal, like the story itself.

And there is inventiveness in the storytelling as well as the technique. The character Ackerley often uses interesting methods to tell his anecdotes. We tend to anthropomorphize our pets - watch how he does it with other things around him, too.

In addition to Plummer, watch for characters voiced by Lynn Redgrave and the unmistakable, divine Isabella Rossellini.

"My Dog Tulip" screens at Eau Claire on Friday Sept 25 at 7:30 pm. Producer Norman Twain will be in attendance, and he will no doubt be able to provide insight into the film's creation.

For more information, check out the movie's official website.