I went to the Sidewalk Film Festival this last weekend and – if you missed it (you poor sap) – I’m retelling what I saw.  Today’s post recounts my six movie extravaganza on Saturday.

1st: Marwencol.

Synopsis: Mark Hogancamp was attacked outside of a bar in Kingston, NY.  He suffered brain damage and had little memory when released from the hospital.  As a coping mechanism, Mark built Marwencol in his backyard, a 1/6th scale World War II-era town.

Quotes: “I was the only man there – and 27 Barbies.”  “At least my alter ego can have a girlfriend.”  “I still really miss somebody to talk to.”  “I tell people who I am and I’m not accountable for their feelings or what they think.”

Good Stuff: In the style of Equus and a bunch of other stuff I like, when this documentary started, I wasn’t terribly sympathetic.  But once you see the art Mark is creating, his earnest devotion to the project, and the obvious theraputic benefits from creating Marwencol, it’s hard not to become invested.  His photographs are terrific and it’s possibly the best thing I saw all weekend.

2nd: NY Export: Opus Jazz

Synopsis: Shot on location in New York City, starring an ensemble cast from the New York City Ballet, and completely without dialogue, this movie takes Jerome Robbins’ 1958 “ballet in sneakers” and reimagines it for a new generation.  It won an Audience Award at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival and aired nationally on PBS’ Great Performances.

Quotes: I already said it was dialogue-less, but I wrote down: “Something beautiful in a mundane space.”

Good Stuff: I came in late to this one because Marwencol ran over, but the visuals were pretty spectacular.  It’s a nice trick – and really fun – to watch the same dance from so many different angles, without seeing the cameras.  I can only imagine how many times the dancers were asked to perform.  Also, it’s a great example – and I talk about this all the time – of the dancers looking warm, likeable, and like they’re having a good time.  Anyone involved with ballet anywhere should see this.

3rd: Annabelle & Bear

Synopsis: Bear, a motorcycle-loving biker, is drinking beer and hanging out with friends when an unexpected visitor drops by.  It’s Annie, the ex.  She’s strung out on drugs and drops off their 2-year-old daughter, Annabelle, who Bear hasn’t ever really even met.  With no parenting experience, no car, and a house that isn’t exactly childproof, Bear works through caring for his daughter.

Quotes: (from the world’s cutest kid): “Bear, what are we doin’ today?” or “What are we doin’ today, Bear?”  “It’s okay, Bear.”

Good Stuff: I love that this film was made completely in Michigan and emphasizes everything local, with its cast, locations, bands (nervous but excited), and even the peanut butter (Velvet).  It features the World’s.  Cutest.  Kid.  and most of the actors really nail it (Curt Massof, Olivia Walby, and Dal Bouey, especially).  There are flaws, but it’s an incredibly likeable and memorable movie because the actors don’t feel all actorey.  They feel like real people.  (“Deniro could not do what that guy just did.”).

4th: Pelada

Synopsis: Away from professional stadiums, bright lights, and manicured fields, there’s another side of soccer.  Tucked away on alleys, side streets, and concrete courts, people play in improvised games.  Every country has a different word for it.  In the U.S., we call it pick-up.  In Trinidad, it’s “taking a sweat.”  In England, it’s “having a kick-about.”  Pelada is a documentary following Luke and Gwendolyn, two former college soccer stars who didn’t quite make it to the pros.  Not ready to stop playing, they take off around the world, chasing a game that transcends gender, race, religion, and class.

Quotes: (I’m a little unsure I wrote these down correctly)  “If you stop, it’s difficult to come back.”  “Can I kiss in this country?”  “Sometimes, bad company makes you do bad things.”  “The beauty of soccer is the people around soccer.”  “Soccer gives you more than you can give it.”  “If I lost my eyesight, I’d play blind soccer.”

Good Stuff: Apparently, this was the first film that Sidewalk accepted this year and for good reason.  Another nominee for the best thing I saw all weekend.  Kids play soccer on garbage, inmates play in prison, workers play soccer on lunch break even while they build the World Cup stadiums in South Africa, and women (quietly) play in Iran.  Interesting and beautiful throughout.  Plus, there was a pick up soccer game in the street outside the Carver Theatre right afterwards.

5th: Make Believe

Synopsis: A coming of age journey set in the quirky subculture of magic, this film follows six of the world’s best young magicians as they battle for the title of Teen World Champion.

Quote: “I want to be Asian when I grow up.”

Good Stuff: I liked Hiroki Hara from the moment we met him and – as a nerd from way back – I was completely curious about what it was like for Krystyn Lambert to get involved in community that’s virtually all-boy and all-nerd.  It’s fun to think that someone’s job is “Magic Castle Librarian”.  I kept thinking how much magic has a parallel with dance – the job is to practice, practice, practice until you make the impossible look easy.  The problem with that is that we, the audience, sometimes can’t appreciate how difficult it all is.  Moviemaking can be similar, eh?

6th: Dogtooth

Synopsis: A husband and wife keep their (mature) children imprisoned within their house and pretend that this is normal.  There is a tall fence that surrounds the property and the children have never been on the other side of it.  They are taught different meanings for everyday words belonging to the forbidden outside world and told that the airplanes that fly overhead are toys that fall to the ground.

Quotes: “Pass me the phone.”  “The cat is the most dangerous animal there is.”  “Your mother will give birth to two children and a dog.”  “A cat with a hammer did it and jumped out the window.”

Good Stuff: Memorably disturbing straight to the core – mostly in a good way – though the graphic incest was simply too much.  Not a good first date movie, but I’ve thought about it all week.  Would be a great source of inside jokes for any two people who have seen it.  May answer the question: exactly how much can you brainwash people?

Thanks once again to Rebecca Pugh and the Sidewalk Film Festival.

I watched Teenage Paparazzo on Friday night at the Sidewalk Film Festival.  Adrian Grenier, Paris Hilton, and Lindsey Lohan all make appearances in this documentary that has everything to do with fame, publicity, and celebrity culture.  It’ll also make its first appearance on HBO tonight.  Even by writing those celebrity names, I probably guaranteed myself a few more blog hits.  And there you go – that’s one of the movie’s big themes.

In truth, Adrian Grenier is largely responsible for this documentary.  I’ve never watched Entourage, but he’s apparently famous for playing a character on TV who is famous.  Once this fame bled over into his real life and he drifted into real celebrity, he started getting chased by the paparazzi.  One of those photographers was 13-year-old Austin Visschedyk.  This short, blonde kid stood out from the packs for his youth, even as he blended in with the professionals’ relentless pursuit of the perfect celebrity photograph.

With cameras rolling, Grenier befriended Visschedyk and spent his time documenting what it’s like to be a celebrity photographer.  We meet Austin, see what he does, see what he’s into, meet his paparazzi friends (who are very skeptical of Adrian’s motivations), and find out where exactly all those pictures go.  Grenier even spends time chasing Brooke Shields around and learning how to do the job.

Equally fascinating, Grenier spends time talking to Eva Longoria, Matt Damon, and others about their strained relationships with these annoying photographers.  He does a good, even-handed job of researching the celebrity culture and why we even consider it relevant.  Over the course of the film, we get to know the Teenage Paparazzo and watch him go through the process of attaining some of his own celebrity.

I couldn’t help but think that the whole thing felt a little like a considered PR move for Grenier – oh, isn’t he a thoughtful and interesting guy – but I can’t fault the content.  It’s a good and provocative product.  It’s also highly entertaining.

Frankly, I was surprised at the parallels to my own work on this blog.  One of the most interesting comments made during the documentary is that the reason celebrity culture exists is to give people something in common to discuss.  I agree entirely.  After you and a new friend have talked about the weather, you can almost always find something to say about Michael Jackson, Heidi Montag, or Charlie the Unicorn.  We use this stuff to fill gaps and make conversation.

It’s obvious that Birmingham is entirely third-rate when it comes to celebrity culture, but I’m using our arts organizations to fill in.  No one would read my blog at all if I didn’t talk about Opera Birmingham, the Alabama Ballet, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Sidewalk Film Festival, or the Red Mountain Theatre Company.  Right?  If there were a few individual stars of these organizations, rather than just the organizations themselves, you betcha I’d have an opinion about them.

The flip side of that observation is that it might be wise for arts organizations to get hip – just like Adrian Grenier, Lindsey Lohan, and Paris Hilton – and realize that they need media mosquitos like the paparazzi.  If people can’t google your show, see your performers, and read about your productions, then – in a very real way – you don’t exist.  We’re the audience and the audience is half of the equation.  All communication (and art) requires a speaker and a listener.  We’re the ones who ignite these conversations and keep them going.  If you’re an arts organization, or anyone in search of a listener, I’d think it would be in your best interest (and win-win) to help promote those who are promoting you.  Think about that.

And then stand still for just a minute and let me snap a picture.

Thanks to Rebecca Pugh and Sidewalk Film Festival for letting me write about their event and this movie.

I’m headed to Sidewalk Film Festival for the weekend.  I’m always surprised that more people don’t go to this event.  Well, hopefully they will this weekend, but not crowd me out of movies I want to see.

A big part of the fun is making your schedule.  Here’s my probable plan for the weekend, though part of the fun, too, is talking to people to find out what else you need to see.

Friday:

• Teenage Paparazzo – Adrian Grenier (HBO’s Entourage) turns the tables on a juvenile paparazzo.

Saturday:

• Marwencol – about a man who builds “Marwencol”, a 1/6th scale World War II-era town, in his backyard.
• NY Export: Opus Jazz – featuring a “ballet in sneakers” by the legendary Jerome Robbins (West Side Story)
• EITHER Exit Through the Gift Shop OR Annabelle & Bear – Banksy‘s maybe-a-movie, or motorcycle-loving biker Bear inherits a 2-year-old daughter, Annabelle, who he has never really even met.
• Pelada – the improvised, non-professional side of soccer
• EITHER The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan OR Beijing Taxi OR Make Believe -  following the Nolan family as they search to find out what happened to McKinley in Vietnam; following three cab drivers in Beijing with the Olympics as a backdrop; or focusing on six talented teenagers as they compete to be crowned Teen World Champion at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas.
• Dogtooth – going to be dark and weird, I’m quite sure.

Sunday:

• The Happy Poet – billed as a charming, upbeat indie deadpan comedy….
• Barbershop Punk – capturing the net neutrality debate (although I admit to wanting to see Automorphosis at the same time)
• Ballhawks – Bill Murray narrates a movie about Wrigley Field baseball ballhawks; could there be a movie more tailor made for me?  (although I admit to wanting to see Ready, Set, Bag! at the same time and I’m curious about Daniel & Ana)
• Brotherhood – (completing my all-”B” movie selections) following a hazing event that goes horribly wrong (although I admit to being curious about Evil Things at the same time)

Anyone have other advice on what to go see?