February 23rd, 2010 |
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HARLAN-IN THE SHADOW OF “JEW SÜSS” AND MID-AUGUST LUNCH OPEN IN MARCH! We have two extraordinary, and very different, films from Europe opening back-to-back at New York’s Film Forum next month before making their way across the country. Harlan - In the Shadow of “Jew Süss”, opening March 3, is a searing portrait of one of Nazi Germany’s most notorious filmmakers: Veit Harlan, director of the anti-Semitic propaganda film Jew Süss. This documentary is an eye-opening examination of World War II film history as well as the story of a German family from the Third Reich to the present, one that is marked by reckoning, denial and liberation. Mid-August Lunch, which opens on March 17, is an utterly charming tale of good food, feisty ladies and unlikely friendships during a very Roman holiday. Broke, and armed with only a glass of wine and a wry sense of humor, middle-aged Gianni (director and writer Gianni Di Gregorio) is forced to entertain his 93-year-old mother and three other lively mamas in their apartment during Italy’s biggest summer holiday, Pranzo di Ferragosto. Winner of numerous prizes at international festivals including Best First Film at Venice and the Golden Snail at the Academy of Food and Film in Bologna, Mid-August Lunch is both a warmly vibrant family drama and a delicately balanced comedy of manners. Watch the trailer and share your memories of family and food with us! |
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IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO ENTER OUR Well, to be honest, it might be, given the time it takes to painstakingly produce a stop-motion masterpiece, but if you've already started please remember that Monday March 1st is the deadline for us to receive your film, either by mail, or on our FTP site. The winning film, chosen by filmmakers Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar, will appear on the DVD release of A Town Called Panic which will be released this summer. |
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EXAMINED LIFE IS OUT ON DVD TODAY! “THIS FILM IS GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL! So engaging, hopeful and against-the-grain that it becomes a must-see cinematic tonic for these confusing times.” In this intellectual crowd-pleaser, filmmaker Astra Taylor (Zizek!) liberates philosophy from the halls of academia with entertaining and thought-provoking excursions with some of today’s most famous and influential thinkers. Offering privileged moments with Cornel West, Peter Singer, Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek and many more, Examined Life reveals philosophy’s power to transform the way we see the world around us and imagine our place in it. |
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AFGHAN STAR IS COMING TO DVD MARCH 30 “A FANTASTIC DOCUMENTARY about a talent competition in a country where you would never dream such a thing is possible!” – Oprah Winfrey Whether the thought of American Idol fills you with joy or horror you will be fascinated by this timely and moving documentary about Afghanistan’s own version of that show. Afghan Star has given many their first encounter with the democratic process after thirty years of war and five devastating years of Taliban rule. This timely and moving film, winner of two Sundance awards, follows the dramatic stories of four young finalists as they hazard everything to become the nation’s favorite performer. |
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THE HORSE BOY IS COMING TO DVD APRIL 20 “An extraordinary journey of the heart and spirit, and a stirring testament to parenthood.” An intensely personal yet epic spiritual quest, The Horse Boy follows one Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through the breathtaking steppes of Mongolia in an attempt to find healing for him. When two-year-old Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Rupert Isaacson and his wife Kristin Neff sought the best possible medical care, but traditional therapies had little effect. Then they discovered that Rowan has a profound kinship with animals—particularly horses—and the family set off on a journey that would change their lives forever. |
All the films mentioned in this newsletter are available for educational/institutional purchase or rental. For educational/institutional orders please email us. |
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