NIGHT VISITORS
Documentary/essay on moths morphs into a pondering of life on a larger scale. This is a gorgeous looking film that not only shows us the beauty of moths but also forces us to think about biodiversity and life in general. If you want an atypical mind blower this is for you.
ALLENWORTH
Portrait of the abandoned community of Allensworth, California. Now little more than a group of empty buildings it was once a thriving African American town. This is a thought provoking essay about communities, race and the ebb and flow of society. While the nature of the presentation may not work for everyone, the film raises a number of issues that will make the receptive audience think about the film for hours afterward.
NOWHERE NEAR
Miko Revereza’s essay/documentary pondering his family’s status as undocumented Filipinos in America is a film of quiet power. Contemplative in nature owing to the film diary like approach, the film puts us in to the head space of the director and makes us walk the proverbial mile in his shoes. Worth a look for anyone who is interested in the state of being undocumented.
THE STRONGER
Lee Grant’s 1976 short film is a huge scale intimate drama about the meeting of a man’s wife and lover at a ritzy restaurant. Based on a Strindberg play it’s a chamber piece in a grand setting. Susan Strasberg and Dolores Dorn shine in their roles. It feels like it’s part of a much larger film we never got to see, but should have. It’s playing with Grant’s excellent TELL ME A RIDDLE so make the effort and go see them.
(I should write up TELL ME A RIDDLE but it’s been too long since I’ve seen it so my review would have been just go. Truthfully it’s so good it will make you realize how good Grant is as a director and curse Hollywood for not letting her direct more.)
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