On
Broadway, a revival of An Enemy of the People, by Henrik
Ibsen, in a new, hyperactive version by Rebecca Lenkiewicz,
with overacting by the cast, is disappointing. It is a serious play
about a spa, whose waters are contaminated, and is played for
laughs. The playwright deserved better.
Off-Broadway, Red Dog Howls, by Alexander Dinelaris,
is about an Armenian young man (Alfredo Narciso), who
discovers his grandmother (Kathleen Chalfant), who had
disappeared many years before. Through their reunion, he recovers is
Armenian identity. The three member cast is fine, but the grim play
tells horrific tales that seem inconceivable. The opening night
party took place at Phebe's.
Through
the Yellow Hour, by Adam Rapp, takes place in the future,
when New York has been destroyed. A survivor (a fearless Hani
Furstenberg) lives in a dilapidated apartment, which is invaded
by various strange people, including a drug addict (Danielle
Slavick), who leaves her baby. There is lots of misery. It is
another dark, grim, depressing play. The opening night party took
place at Dublin 6 with guests like Adam Driver and Michael
Chernus.
I attended
a photo op. for the Broadway comedy The Performers with a six
member all star cast, headed by Henry Winkler. It opens
November 14 and I look forward to seeing it.
I
photographed four contestants at Gallagher's Steak House Babe Ruth
Look-Alike Championship celebrating the 85th Birthday of the famous
restaurant.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is offering press screenings for
the 50th New York Film Festival September 28-October 14.
Downpour (Ragbar), by Bahram Beyza'i, Iran, 1972, is a
pleasant picture of an earlier, freer Iran, where a young teacher in
a provincial village is attracted to a student's sister, who is
already committed to the local, powerful butcher. It is a charming,
pleasant film.
Bwakaw,
by Jun Robles Lana, Philippines, 2012, is an unexpected
delight, about a retired, lonely old man (a splendid Eddie Garcia),
whose only companion is the dog of the title. We see his life slip
away gradually in a small town, and we learn about the reasons for
his loneliness, as he interacts with the few neighbors and remaining
acquaintances at his former work. It is a captivating, sentimental
film.
Celluloid Man, by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, India, 2012,
is a documentary about P.K.Nair, who has been an overwhelming
force in protecting the film heritage at the National Film Archive
of India. There are many clips dating from silent films, and his
colleagues speak highly of him and his influence on many Indian
filmmakers. He is also responsible for the preservation of many
films from other parts of the world. It is quite interesting.
Final
Cut - Ladies and Gentlemen (Final Cut - Holgeim es uraim), by
Gyorgy Palfi, Hungary, 2012. is a selection of film clips from
over 450 of great international films. The brief scenes will remind
viewers of the wonderful world of film.
Lines of
Wellington (Linhas de Wellington), by Valeria Sarmiento,
France/Portugal, 2012, is a beautifully photographed film of scenes
of the invasion of Portugal by Napoleon in 1810. We see the horrors
of war inflicted on the civilian population. A slew of famous actors
appear in brief sequences, including John Malkovich as
Wellington. It is an impressive film.
Memories
Look at Me (Ji Yi Wang Zhe Wo), by Song Fang, China,
2012, is about a 30-year old single woman, who returns home to visit
her aging parents. She visits her relatives and reminisces about her
life. It is a slow moving film, with lots of talk and little action,
but by the time the film ends, one feels one knows the family
intimately. In spite of minor cultural differences, it shows the
universality of family life.
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Night Across the Street, by Raul Ruiz, France/Chile, 2012, is a film about an elderly man, who is about to retire from an enervating office job. In flashbacks, we learn that in his childhood, he had literary (Long John Silver) and historical (Beethoven) characters as his imaginary friends. He also expects to be killed. The esoteric film wanders around, between live and dead people as in magic realism, and its dreamy qualities will not be to every viewer's taste.
Life of Pi, by Ang Lee, USA, 2012, is an adventure story about a young Indian boy (a remarkable Suraj Sharma), who when a cargo ship sinks, finds himself alone with a tiger on a life boat. Their relationship and subsequent rescue is the main focus of the film. It is fascinating, beautifully photographed film, using modern digital technology, and is one of the highlights of the festival. A Q & A with the director, the leading actor, the producer and the novelist, on whose bestseller the film is based, followed the screening.
MoMA is also presenting Yeonghwa: Korean Film Today September 19-30. Hwa-cha Helpless, by Byun Young-joo, 2012, begins with a young veterinarian taking his bride-to-be to meet his father. At a rest stop on the highway for coffee, she suddenly disappears. With the help of an ex-detective, he tries to find her. What follows is a fascinating mystery. It is a well made film, certainly one of the highlights of the festival.
Jool-tak-dong-si (Stateless Things), by Kim Kyung-mook, 2012, follows the aimless lives of three young people, a Chinese girl, a North Korean young man and a male prostitute. The horrors they endure are well captured, in this occasionally confusing film, especially the ending. The sex scenes are quite graphic, and, at one point, pornographic. It is a powerful film.
Ji-ok-hwa (Fire in Hell), by Lee Sang-woo, 2012, is about a sexually obsessed Buddhist monk, who flees to the Philippines after murdering a young woman. He seeks refuge in the home of a Christian minister, where he seduces his daughter. There is a great deal of violence and many graphic sex scenes. It is another powerful film.
To close the Gaumont Thriller Films at MoMA, I saw The Great Spy Chase, by Georges Lautner, France, 1964, a spy caper, which unfortunately has a plot that is not worth describing about four international spies trying to obtain secret plans in a briefcase in a chateau of a beautiful widow. It was meant to be a comedy, but was totally lacking in wit.
The Revisionaries, by Scott Thurman, USA, 2012, is a documentary about the Texas State Board of Education, and especially one influential member, a dentist named Don McLeroy, who causes the implementation of the new science and history curriculum in the public schools. One see the power of the religious right as they fight to overturn the meaning of religious freedom and separation of church and state in how students are educated. In its understated way, it is a shocking indictment of how reactionary people can affect one of the largest school systems in the nation. It is an important film that should be seen by concerned citizens.
From Ballet in Cinema from Emerging Picture for modern dance fans, there is a delightful film, Move to Move, a performance of four ballets by the Nederlands Dans Theater, which was filmed live on May 31, 2012 at their theater in The Hague. The first ballet, Left Right Left Right, choreography by Alexander Ekman, is danced by the young second company and is almost military in steps, but it has a unique originality shown especially during a portion of the dance filmed outside in the town to the amazement of passersby. Silent Screen and Shine a Light, are both choreographed by Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot, and in the first, Anna Herrmann is impressive as a young woman in love, dancing to the hypnotic music of Philip Glass, and the second has an interesting set and lighting design. Secus, choreography by Ohad Naharin, danced between the previous two, concluded an interesting program, which eager fans of dance will enjoy.
09-28-12 Playwright/director Adam Rapp at the opening night party for "Through the Yellow Hour" at Dublin 6. 575 Hudson. Thursday night 09-27-12
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