Create Your Own Film Festival - Part 2

Movie Poster - Mao's Last Dancer

Now that you have watched your animation choice and documentary (see Create Your Own Film Festival - Part 1), it is time to curl up with popcorn and a feature film.  Here are a few quality movies that you may have missed, or that you may want to see again.  Each works well as a stand alone film, or as part of your own "festival" experience.

Scene from "Mao's Last Dancer"

Mao's Last Dancer (2009) is the story of Li Cunxin, who, at the tender age of 11, was taken from his home in China and placed in training for classical ballet at the Madame Mao's Dance Academy in Beijing.  Years later, he goes to Houston on a cultural exchange and performs with the ballet company there.  Li Cunxin falls in love with another dancer, Elizabeth Mackey, and faces a difficult choice:  marry her and defect to the US, or leave her behind and return to China.  The cinematography in this autobiographical movie is stunning.  This is a beautiful movie, and a story that will stay with you long after the film is done.  Mao's Last Dancer is rated PG.

A Separation - Movie Poster

A Separation (2011) is an Iranian movie about the difficult choices we face in a family.  It won both an Oscar and Golden Globe award for Best Foreign Language Film. Simin and Nader are a married couple with a young daughter (Temeh).  Nader feels he must stay in Iran and care for his aging father who suffers from Alzheimer's.  He fulfills his responsibilities as a son with tenderness and devotion.  His wife, Simin, however, wishes to move to another country to give their young daughter more opportunities.  Nader cannot leave his father, and cannot take him with them to another land, and as a married lady, Simin cannot leave the country without Nader's permission.  So, Simin makes the difficult choice to seek a divorce. This couple clearly loves each other, and there is no easy solution to the dilemmas they face.  This is a thoughtful movie, and very well made.  A Separation is rated PG-13.

Sarah's Key promotional poster

Sarah's Key (2010) is based on the novel of the same name by Tatiana De Rosnay.  In Sarah's Key, journalist Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas) is researching the Vel d'Hiv roundup of Jews in 1942 Paris for an article.  One of 13,000 victims was young Sarah Starzynski.  As the police rounded up her family to take them to a stadium in Paris, Sarah hides her younger brother in a secret cupboard to protect him. Her actions have devastating consequences.  As Julia investigates this event in Paris, she finds many are reluctant to discuss this awful history.  She also learns of Sarah's terrible secret, and that her husband's family have secrets of their own.  How do you live with the consequences of your choices, and how do you move on from the past?  These are questions raised in this film.  I was not very familiar with Vel d'Hiv, and learned a lot from this movie.  Sarah's Key is rated PG-13.

The Visitor - Movie poster

The Visitor (2007) tells the story of professor Walter Vale.  He is lonely, widowed, and teaching part time. He returns to New York for a speaking engagement, only to find his apartment occupied by a young immigrant couple.  Vale sympathizes with the young couple, Syrian- born Tarek and Senegalese Zainab, and agrees to let them stay.  Tarek teaches Walter to play an African drum, and the two become friends.  When Tarek is arrested after a subway incident and taken to a detention center, Walter hires a lawyer to help his young friend.  Meanwhile, Tarek's mother shows up, and Vale discovers he may be able to love again. The plight of illegal immigrants is not played for sentimentality in this moving story, and the ending will make you think.  This is a film that leaves the you examining your views of a complex and timely issue.  The Visitor is rated PG-13.

Check out my other blog posts for more film festival ideas, and happy watching!

Create Your Own Film Festival - Part 1

Venturing to "Another Earth" - movie review

Footnote - movie review

Create Your Own Film Festival - Part 1

Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival opens today in Park City, Utah.  If you are like me and have never attended a film festival, that shouldn't stop you from having one in your own home!  Many films you may have missed are easily accessible now, often free from the public library.  January is the perfect time to hole up with some blankets, hot chocolate, popcorn, and a couple of good movies.  Here are some recommendations for a "Do-It-Yourself" film festival experience.

Pixar Shorts

Start your evening with an short animation or two.  Pixar has released two collections of their short films, and both are delightful.  Some shorts feature well-known Pixar characters, like Buzz Lightyear.  My favorite shorts, however, are stand alone stories, like "Partly Cloudy" on Pixar Short Films Volume 2.

Scene from a Pixar short - "For the Birds"

Follow your short films with a documentary.  Since documentaries can be scarce in theaters, this is a good time to catch up on some you have missed.  Any of the documentaries listed below are suitable for family viewing.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams movie poster

In the "Cave of Forgotten Dreams," Werner Herzog takes you inside the Chauvet cave in France for an intimate look at ancient cave art.  The film crew was granted incredible access for only a few days to this amazing collection of cave images.  Although theatrically this often played in a 3D format, the 2D version is also beautiful.

One of my favorite paintings from the Chauvet cave.

"Waiting for Superman" was the 2010 Audience Documentary Award winner at the Sundance Film Festival. Filmmaker David Guggenheim follows five students as they try to get in to a charter school via a lottery system.  "Waiting for Superman" explores the failings in the public school system, as well as the potentials of educational alternatives like charter schools.  Guggenheim blends the stories of the five families with statistics on the American educational system.  I have not yet seen this movie, but it is on my list for my own film festival!

Waiting for Superman movie is about the failings for public education.

"First Position" is another documentary about students competing for an opportunity, only this time the arena is the world of ballet.

First Position poster

The description on the poster summarizes the film beautifully - "6 dancers, 5 minutes on stage, 1 chance to make it."  "First Position" follows 6 young ballet dancers, male and female, who are preparing to compete in the Youth America Grand Prix.  Competitions such as the Youth America Grand Prix provide an opening to ballet companies around the world, and young dancers from all over the world compete in hopes of attaining scholarships and positions with ballet companies that may lead to a career as a professional dancer.  The hours spent training and preparing are incredible, and the dedication of these children is amazing.  This is a beautiful film, and you will find yourself rooting for these kids to make it.  I would gladly see this one again.

Image from the documentary "First Position"

Buck Brannaman worked as a consultant on the film "The Horse Whisperer."  He travels the country 40 weeks of the year teaching horse clinics and helping others learn to work with their animals without using "punishing" methods.

Promotional image for the documentary "Buck"

The film, "Buck" follows Brannaman on his clinic circuit, and also tells the story of his rough past with an abusive father.  When his football coach becomes aware of the beatings Buck is taking at the hands of his father, he notifies law enforcement, and Buck spends the rest of his growing up years with foster parents, the Shirleys.  Brannaman manages a good relationship with his own family despite his time away on the road each year.  His work with horses will amaze you, and this film is a must-see.  Horse training techniques and life lessons mix easily in this wonderful documentary.  This gentle man points out we all make choices in life, and he is to be commended for not following in the footsteps of his own father.  "Buck" won the Documentary Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011.  

Check out Create Your Own Film Festival - Part 2 for some great dramatic feature films to round out your festival experience.