Saturday, June 27, 2015
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL Three films where brave women make courageous change No Land's Song, Trials of Spring and Burden of Peacr
The Human Rights Film Festival 2015 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center has been spotlighting both art as a tool in consciousness raising and the role of women in confronting or changing oppressive governments or laws.
No Land's Song documented the role of an Iranian woman, Sara Majafi , in changing the Religious government's banning of women's voices from being soloists in public concerts (official government approved)
One more screening Thursday june 18 IFC NYC
In Trials of Spring Gini Reticker looks at what happened after the burst of hope that we all shared those first few months in Egypt. As she did in her Oscar nominated documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell (essential viewing) she focuses on women as a filter to what goes on , We ride a roller coaster of events and surge with the excitement, fear and energy of a young arab woman and pulls no punches Here is the trailer ;
and here is the very engaging post screening Q&A at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater which has includes a HUGE surprise
and here is the very informative Q&A at the IFC during the HRWFF NYC .. and yes the film maker and his dutch NGO head in Guatemala have movie star good looks !
there is one more screening thurs 6/18 Film Society of Lincoln Center
No Land's Song documented the role of an Iranian woman, Sara Majafi , in changing the Religious government's banning of women's voices from being soloists in public concerts (official government approved)
One more screening Thursday june 18 IFC NYC
In Trials of Spring Gini Reticker looks at what happened after the burst of hope that we all shared those first few months in Egypt. As she did in her Oscar nominated documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell (essential viewing) she focuses on women as a filter to what goes on , We ride a roller coaster of events and surge with the excitement, fear and energy of a young arab woman and pulls no punches Here is the trailer ;
and here is the very engaging post screening Q&A at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater which has includes a HUGE surprise
and here is the suggested action:
http://www.peaceisloud.org/about/ #Peaceisloud
The Burden of Peace directed by Joey Boink May be the biggest surprise for me because I knew little ot the civil war that took place in Guatemala and the over 200,000 Mayan indigenous people tortured and murdered by a military dictatorship. The film documents the role that Claudia Paz y Paz, Guatemala's first female Attorney General in bringing to trial the highest heads of government and getting a guilty verdict despite the media and the powerful elite attacking her, her staff and her family. It also documents the role a liberation theology Bishop not unlike El Salvador's Romano played until murdered, Modest and relentless if with a smile it is a remarkable story that shows you can change history even when your victory is snatched back .
here is the trailer
and here is the very informative Q&A at the IFC during the HRWFF NYC .. and yes the film maker and his dutch NGO head in Guatemala have movie star good looks !
Monday, June 15, 2015
No Land's Song a documentary about letting women's voices be heard again in Persian music despite the ban by the Religious State @ Human Rights Watch Fest NYC
No Land's Song a documentary about letting women's voices be heard again in Persian music despite the ban by the Religious State
Ayat Najafi' No Land's Song had its US premiere at the the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater during the Human Rights Watch FIlm Festival 2015 .. Sara Najafi', an Iranian composer wanted to make a concert featuring women soloists .This is banned by the religious run government, The documentary traces her three year fight with all its up and downs including recruiting women outside of Iran to sing it is a remarkable story of consistency and persistence.and of building community. and With the victory of the 1979 revolution a religious state has been in control of Iran. They banned women soloist form singing despite centuries of participation in Persian music . Iranian composer Sara Najafi wanted to put on a concert where women soloists would perform. She persisted in her commitment despite negative response for religious clerics and government officials .. She found a well known french "Chanson" singer Elise Caron , the actress and composer Jeanne Cherhar and a]Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi and french male musicians to agreed to come to Iran and do a public performance. Sara enlisted her brother then living in berlin to document the project. Art triumphs political and religious women's voices are again heard live on stage in a public performance in Tehran Here is the post screening Q&A
Ayat Najafi' No Land's Song had its US premiere at the the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater during the Human Rights Watch FIlm Festival 2015 .. Sara Najafi', an Iranian composer wanted to make a concert featuring women soloists .This is banned by the religious run government, The documentary traces her three year fight with all its up and downs including recruiting women outside of Iran to sing it is a remarkable story of consistency and persistence.and of building community. and With the victory of the 1979 revolution a religious state has been in control of Iran. They banned women soloist form singing despite centuries of participation in Persian music . Iranian composer Sara Najafi wanted to put on a concert where women soloists would perform. She persisted in her commitment despite negative response for religious clerics and government officials .. She found a well known french "Chanson" singer Elise Caron , the actress and composer Jeanne Cherhar and a]Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi and french male musicians to agreed to come to Iran and do a public performance. Sara enlisted her brother then living in berlin to document the project. Art triumphs political and religious women's voices are again heard live on stage in a public performance in Tehran Here is the post screening Q&A
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
the Nine Best Movies Playing in NYC right now .. .. in order
1: Love and Mercy
The Brian Wilson story is told in a deviation from the norm of music bio films . the Director chooses to not be chronological and by mixing the young Brian (Paul Dano) with the Brain of today (John Cusack) clears away a lot of the clutter ,.. Paul Giamatti plays the the psychologist who both saved and controlled Wilson life and Elizabeth Banks plays the car saleswoman who put end to the 24/7 controlled environment, All the actors are interestingly cast and delivery from minor to major roles Wilson, no matter what his mental health issues were, was a musical genius .The most intensely gripping moments are when in the middle of recording, Wilson gets auditory hallucinations. The extended scene in the studio complete with the the wrecking crew including Carol Kaye is the anchor of the film. Not our typical rock star bio pick .. but much more insightful into the sufer driven band the script by the Director/ writer is pitch perfect.
2: Clouds of Sils Maria
3: the seven five
4: Mad Max
5: Iris
6: Dior and I
9: I believe in Unicorns
The Brian Wilson story is told in a deviation from the norm of music bio films . the Director chooses to not be chronological and by mixing the young Brian (Paul Dano) with the Brain of today (John Cusack) clears away a lot of the clutter ,.. Paul Giamatti plays the the psychologist who both saved and controlled Wilson life and Elizabeth Banks plays the car saleswoman who put end to the 24/7 controlled environment, All the actors are interestingly cast and delivery from minor to major roles Wilson, no matter what his mental health issues were, was a musical genius .The most intensely gripping moments are when in the middle of recording, Wilson gets auditory hallucinations. The extended scene in the studio complete with the the wrecking crew including Carol Kaye is the anchor of the film. Not our typical rock star bio pick .. but much more insightful into the sufer driven band the script by the Director/ writer is pitch perfect.
2: Clouds of Sils Maria
4: Mad Max
5: Iris
6: Dior and I
7: the Testament of Youth
8: Saint Laurent
Yes, more Yves Saint Laurent. After L’Amour Fou, and the Pierre Bergé “authorized” Yves Saint Laurent” by Jalil Lespert, we now have the most scrumptious and decadent narrative bio film of all three: Saint Laurent, directed by bad boy Bonello and featured at the 2014 New York Film Festival.
As expected, the clothes are beautiful to look at with the attitude and style of a French Vogue perfume ad. Free of Berge’s hand, we meet Saint Laurent at the height of his success and discover the man all rich women wanted to wear created everything for his very first and only real model—his mother. Genius that he was, he also was a petulant mama's boy. Under the watchful eye of Berge, he fell into drug stupor and dangerous promiscuity.
Perfect French high art, it plays with “novella” salaciousness, name dropping like a Fran Lebowitz story. While it is based on actual events, it heightens them in the way a Girodias (Olympia Press) novel would have. Sex, fashion, money, drugs—the international traffic of beautiful, loyal models—hustlers and tacky business people are all in full frontal. Needless to say, I loved it.
The real surprise is just how well Louis Garrel plays Jacques De Bascher—Saint Laurent’s lover as well as the great love of Karl Lagerfeld—bringing alive the sexual tension and desire that kept both Lagerfeld and Saint Laurent vying for his affection by trying to outdo the other in gifting him.
9: I believe in Unicorns
Rare in the world of teenage coming of age and the discovery of sexual desire have we seen a film that explores from a young woman's point of view this Spring's Awakening "of the body Yes in european fim but rarely in the US undie fim world . Leah Meyerhoff has written and directed her first feature and it has such a sweet authenticity, She explores jhow an adolescnt woman discovers sexual desire. This is the world of Leah Dunham and boys have their place , but so do friends and school.
Both Natalia Dyer and Peter Vack bring to life the desire that is rippling in their bodies. Rare is such insight from a young woman's point of view so beautufully captured in a film by a young feamale director.
I actually found it as insight full as the the much acclaimed ( "Diary of a Teenage Girl" .Mark Myerhoff , based on this her first feature , as well as her festivel favorite short "Twitch " and her muic videos for Tripple Cream and Joan as Police Woman (google them) as a fim maker to watch,
10 : SPY
Yes Melissa McCarthy is fat, crude and hilarious. It is also clear that there is a very intelligent woman behind this in-your-face-fat-girl. Her willingness to not be held back from her comedic instincts by her physical self reminds me of the late Imogene Coca ( Google Your Show of Shows (w/Sid Caesar) for a lesson in comedy history) Written and directed by Paul Feig who knows exactly how to push to the max Ms. McCarthy's talent without falling into a sinkhole of stereotype. He has his character use her physical bulk to make a statement and allows the audience to see the erotic desire and self respect rare when presenting a non-physically conforming lead female character,.
HERE IS A LIST OF EXCELLENT DOCUMENTARY VIDEOS YOU CAN WATCH AT HOME FOR FREE
HERE IS A LIST OF EXCELLENT DOCUMENTARY VIDEOS YOU CAN WATCH AT HOME FOR FREE they are not to be used for commercial use. Your viewing and my posting is allowed under the FAIR USE Federal Statue ..viewing and posting is for educational purposes only. I have seen all of these documentaries... good for summer watching .. almost all of them have won or were nominated for either the Oscar or a SPIRIT award or screened at Sundance . enjoy .. and yes this in my birthday present to each and everyone of you just in case I missed it past present or future... simply copy the link paste it into your browser and watch
*THE INTERNET"S OWN BOY https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-internets-own-boy/
CITIZENFOUR: https://thoughtmaybe.com/citizenfour/
SEX LIES AND JUIAN ASSANGE https://thoughtmaybe.com/sex-lies-and-julian-assange/
THE YES MEN https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-yes-men/
*THE CORPORATION https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-corporation/
WE STEAL SECRETS the story of wiki -leaks
http://documentarylovers.com/film/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks/
THE UNITED STATES OF SECRETShttps://thoughtmaybe.com/the-united-states-of-secrets/
*ENRON THE SMARTEST GUYS IN rOOM (Alex Gibney)
https://thoughtmaybe.com/enron-the-smartest-guys-in-the-room/
*the Cove (legal killing of Dolphins) _ http://documentarylovers.com/film/the-cove/
Food Matters http://documentarylovers.com/film/food-matters/
* GOOGLE AND THE WORLD BRAIN https://thoughtmaybe.com/google-and-the-world-brain/
Secrets in Plain *ight is http://documentarylovers.com/film/secrets-plain-sight/
*The ATOMIC CAFE http://documentarylovers.com/film/the-atomic-cafe/
SUMMER OF RAVE http://documentarylovers.com/film/summer-of-rave/
*BLACK POWER MIXTAPE http://documentarylovers.com/film/black-power-mixtape/
*JESUS CAMP http://documentarylovers.com/film/jesus-camp/
*INTO THE GREAT SILENCEhttp://documentarylovers.com/film/into-great-silence/
BY BYE BLUE SKY http://documentarylovers.com/film/doc-bye-bye-blue-sky/
*THE LOVING STORY http://documentarylovers.com/film/the-loving-story/
*WHOW KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR https://thoughtmaybe.com/who-killed-the-electric-car/
*THEUNKOWN KNOWN http://documentarylovers.com/film/the-unknown-known/
*WE ARE LEGION : STORY OF HACKTIVISTS
http://documentarylovers.com/film/we-are-legion-story-of-hacktivists/
*INSIDE JOB http://documentarylovers.com/film/inside-job/
CODES OF GENDER https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-codes-of-gender/
DAMNATION https://thoughtmaybe.com/damnation/
*UP THE YANGZE https://thoughtmaybe.com/up-the-yangtze/
QUIET RAGE THE STANFORD PRISION EXPIERENCE
https://thoughtmaybe.com/quiet-rage-the-stanford-prison-experiment/
GOING CLEAR (INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY DIR ALEX GIBNEY)
https://thoughtmaybe.com/going-clear/
THE SHOCK DOCTRINE (Naomi Klein)https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-shock-doctrine/
*TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE (Alex Gibny) https://thoughtmaybe.com/taxi-to-the-dark-side/
*THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-weather-underground/
*UNDERGROUND (actual interview with Weather underground)
https://thoughtmaybe.com/underground/
TOXIC HOT SEAT https://thoughtmaybe.com/toxic-hot-seat/
REEL BAD ARABS https://thoughtmaybe.com/reel-bad-arabs/
THE AGE OF ALUMINUM https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-age-of-aluminium/
CITIZENFOUR: https://thoughtmaybe.com/citizenfour/
SEX LIES AND JUIAN ASSANGE https://thoughtmaybe.com/sex-lies-and-julian-assange/
THE YES MEN https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-yes-men/
*THE CORPORATION https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-corporation/
WE STEAL SECRETS the story of wiki -leaks
http://documentarylovers.com/film/we-steal-secrets-the-story-of-wikileaks/
THE UNITED STATES OF SECRETShttps://thoughtmaybe.com/the-united-states-of-secrets/
*ENRON THE SMARTEST GUYS IN rOOM (Alex Gibney)
https://thoughtmaybe.com/enron-the-smartest-guys-in-the-room/
*the Cove (legal killing of Dolphins) _ http://documentarylovers.com/film/the-cove/
Food Matters http://documentarylovers.com/film/food-matters/
* GOOGLE AND THE WORLD BRAIN https://thoughtmaybe.com/google-and-the-world-brain/
Secrets in Plain *ight is http://documentarylovers.com/film/secrets-plain-sight/
*The ATOMIC CAFE http://documentarylovers.com/film/the-atomic-cafe/
SUMMER OF RAVE http://documentarylovers.com/film/summer-of-rave/
*BLACK POWER MIXTAPE http://documentarylovers.com/film/black-power-mixtape/
*JESUS CAMP http://documentarylovers.com/film/jesus-camp/
*INTO THE GREAT SILENCEhttp://documentarylovers.com/film/into-great-silence/
BY BYE BLUE SKY http://documentarylovers.com/film/doc-bye-bye-blue-sky/
*THE LOVING STORY http://documentarylovers.com/film/the-loving-story/
*WHOW KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR https://thoughtmaybe.com/who-killed-the-electric-car/
*THEUNKOWN KNOWN http://documentarylovers.com/film/the-unknown-known/
*WE ARE LEGION : STORY OF HACKTIVISTS
http://documentarylovers.com/film/we-are-legion-story-of-hacktivists/
*INSIDE JOB http://documentarylovers.com/film/inside-job/
CODES OF GENDER https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-codes-of-gender/
DAMNATION https://thoughtmaybe.com/damnation/
*UP THE YANGZE https://thoughtmaybe.com/up-the-yangtze/
QUIET RAGE THE STANFORD PRISION EXPIERENCE
https://thoughtmaybe.com/quiet-rage-the-stanford-prison-experiment/
GOING CLEAR (INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY DIR ALEX GIBNEY)
https://thoughtmaybe.com/going-clear/
THE SHOCK DOCTRINE (Naomi Klein)https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-shock-doctrine/
*TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE (Alex Gibny) https://thoughtmaybe.com/taxi-to-the-dark-side/
*THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-weather-underground/
*UNDERGROUND (actual interview with Weather underground)
https://thoughtmaybe.com/underground/
TOXIC HOT SEAT https://thoughtmaybe.com/toxic-hot-seat/
REEL BAD ARABS https://thoughtmaybe.com/reel-bad-arabs/
THE AGE OF ALUMINUM https://thoughtmaybe.com/the-age-of-aluminium/
Julie Taymor ... Genius ... New Film A Midsummer Night’s Dream in an intimate chath June 15 Linoln
This is exciting .. Julie Taymor ... Genius ... New Film Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in an intimate chat ... first come first seated free .. small theater 5PM .. enough said Julie Taymor
Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Julie Taymor is an Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning director, writer, and producer whose visionary work has also extended to the stage with The Magic Flute and the Broadway smash-hit The Lion King. Taymor’s big-screen credits include Titus, Frida, Across the Universe, and The Tempest. Her latest project blends the worlds of cinema and theater, presenting a multi-camera film that captures a 2014 live performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Theatre for a New Audience’s Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn. Starring David Harewood (Homeland, Blood Diamond), Kathryn Hunter (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Tina Benko (The Avengers), and Max Casella (Blue Jasmine), Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened to rave reviews at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival and will hit select theaters June
22.
Taymor’s production of Shakespeare’s most phantasmagorical play is visually breathtaking, funny, sexy, and darkly poetic. Ealing Studios, Londinium Films, in association with Theatre for a New Audience and producers Lynn Hendee (Ender’s Game, The Tempest) and Ben Latham-Jones (Nina, The D-Train) have joined forces with Taymor to create this exclusive filmed production. Featuring cinematography by Academy Award nominee Rodrigo Prieto (The Wolf of Wall Street, Argo) and music by Academy Award–winning composer Elliot Goldenthal (Frida, Heat), this immersive, inventive cinematic experience allows audiences from around the world to witness this critically lauded, sold-out show. Taymor will share her experiences about bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the big screen.
Monday, June 15, 5:00pm
Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Julie Taymor is an Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning director, writer, and producer whose visionary work has also extended to the stage with The Magic Flute and the Broadway smash-hit The Lion King. Taymor’s big-screen credits include Titus, Frida, Across the Universe, and The Tempest. Her latest project blends the worlds of cinema and theater, presenting a multi-camera film that captures a 2014 live performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Theatre for a New Audience’s Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn. Starring David Harewood (Homeland, Blood Diamond), Kathryn Hunter (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Tina Benko (The Avengers), and Max Casella (Blue Jasmine), Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened to rave reviews at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival and will hit select theaters June
Taymor’s production of Shakespeare’s most phantasmagorical play is visually breathtaking, funny, sexy, and darkly poetic. Ealing Studios, Londinium Films, in association with Theatre for a New Audience and producers Lynn Hendee (Ender’s Game, The Tempest) and Ben Latham-Jones (Nina, The D-Train) have joined forces with Taymor to create this exclusive filmed production. Featuring cinematography by Academy Award nominee Rodrigo Prieto (The Wolf of Wall Street, Argo) and music by Academy Award–winning composer Elliot Goldenthal (Frida, Heat), this immersive, inventive cinematic experience allows audiences from around the world to witness this critically lauded, sold-out show. Taymor will share her experiences about bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the big screen.
Monday, June 15, 5:00pm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)