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“Film festivals have a way of bonding the community. One woman told me that when she comes to the Dietrich to see a film festival film she sees all of her friends,” shares Ronnie Harvey, Dietrich Theater General Manager and Film Booker.
This week I saw the film festival movie called “EO,” a Polish film all about the inhumane treatment of animals by humans. I saw it with my son who was impressed with the art direction in the film, including the cinematography and the electronic music.
At the end of the film, two women sitting in front of us could not leave without turning to us to help them process the film.
One of them had a donkey as a pet and may have expected a sweet story, the kind of story we can count on from Disney productions. My point is that this turning around to talk to someone about the film ending or idea behind it occurs frequently during film festivals, because the films call for discussion and contemplation.
To find out about many of the films in our current Winter Fest, 21 films in 21 days, go to www.dietrichtheater.com or search the internet for “Art Scene WVIA” to hear Ronnie Harvey’s interview with Erika Funke.
Everyone is raving about “Living,” one of the Winter Fest most popular films.
I just learned that Kazuo Ishiguro was inspired to write the screenplay because as a child he saw the Japanese film Ikiru directed by Akira Kurosawa. He wanted to tell the story from an English standpoint and he knew the actor Bill Nighy would be the perfect actor for the story of a man who vows to make his final days meaningful. Bill Nighy loved the idea and so did the producer.
There was a burst of applause as the first film rolled the credits on Opening Night. “The Good House” is continuing to earn accolades, because it is a story we can all relate to. Sigourney Weaver plays an alcoholic who needs to confront her addiction and at the same time has the opportunity to renew a relationship with an old friend played by Kevin Kline. “The Good House” and “Living” are the two films, carefully chosen for Opening Night, I recommend to everyone if you can only see two.
Another film that has amazing acting is “The Whale,” starring Brendan Fraser who plays an English teacher, unseen by students in his online class. He desperately wants to have a relationship with his estranged daughter. Morbidly obese, several friends try to help him by bringing him food and other accommodations. Brendan Fraser is completely transformed physically in this very challenging role. His daughter, played by Sadie Sink, is painfully trying to connect to her father. A very poignant story, beautifully told.
“Empire of Light” is another movie to savor for many reasons. Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, and Colin Firth are perfect for their roles as employees of a small seaside movie theater in England in the 1980s. They are all connected by work and friendship in some way. Notable, also, is the set of the theater lobby. My brother-in-law, Stephen Hendrickson, recently told me that it was totally created in a nearby building so that the production designer could achieve the faded grandeur that he envisioned.
There are so many more Winter Fest Films that I want to see. “She Said,” “The Son,” “Good Night Oppy,” “Aftersun,” “Last Film Show” and so many more. All of them will take me into new worlds and new ideas. And I know I will make new friends.
In one year the Dietrich Theater shows at least 84 foreign and independent films. It just shows that if you believe in something and work hard to make it happen, a dream can become a reality.
In 1998 the Dietrich Theater Board of Directors believed we could do it. A feast of the finest recent foreign and independent films four times a year!
