At every film festival, there’s always at least one film that becomes your personal favorite. You end up seeing dozens of movies and whenever anybody asks you, “So what have you seen so far that’s good?” you reply with your go to favorite. When I was asked that question at the San Francisco International Film Festival, my answer was Life, Above All. I was blown away from this movie and thought it was so beautiful in so many areas. The standout is obviously the young star Khomotso Manyaka who we talked about in our post about young actresses from the festival. It’s amazing how she had never acted before but carried this movie on her shoulders like a seasoned professional. Director Oliver Schmitz did an amazing job coaching her and eliciting a touching performance.
The movie was picked up from Cannes last year by Sony Pictures Classics so I hope it gets a good distribution because this is the type of movie that should be shown to almost anybody. It’s a moving and inspiring story about determination and keeping true to yourself and your morals. Chanda, the main character, is a preteen who must battle with almost everything in her life. Her stepfather is a drunk, her mother has postpartum depression, she must take care of her younger siblings, her best friend is the center of gossip in the neighborhood and turns to prostitution, and she has to do well in school to move ahead in life. How can one little girl deal with all of this? Watch the movie and find out, it’s fascinating.
Hot Coffee
“The Film Society seeks to elevate all aspects of film culture, offering a wide range of activities that engage emotions, inspire action, change perceptions and advance knowledge.” The San Francisco International Film Festival had a great slate of documentaries this year that really spoke to this notion from the society. The movie that stood out the most for me was Hot Coffee from first time film maker, long time lawyer, Susan Saladoff. I was amazed that this was her first movie because it was so well done and polished. I was even more amazed at the content of the film which highlighted certain legalese terms and gave you a different prospective on it all.
Beginning with the famed Hot Coffee McDonalds case, this documentary changes your mind on what you thought you knew but had no idea. Once it grabs your attention, it keeps hitting you with more and more knowledge about things you should know about. It does what a documentary like this should do…get you angry and wanting to do something. As the movie goes on, it does get a bit bogged down by the legal terms as you would expect from a lawyer but it keeps mashing them up with real life accounts and stories that will keep you engaged. The movie premieres June 27th on HBO as part of the Summer Documentary Series…it’s not one to be missed.
If you’ve been keeping up with our SFIFF coverage, then there’s no secret that I loved Stake Land. Our full review is here. This is an imaginative apocalyptic vampire zombie movie. Done before? Sure, but not quite like this. Jim Mickle and Nick Damici took the campy genre and turned into a deep character-driven epic journey. It’s like if The Road had a pulse.
While most genre films do not get the respect they deserve, Stake Land demands the respect because it’s just a great feature rich film that happens to have horror elements in it. As I’ve said before, it’s my new favorite zombie/vampire movie and you should definitely check it out…it’s on VOD so even if it’s not playing in your area, you have no excuse! Again, here’s our full review.
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
One theme I quickly noticed with the films at the San Francisco International Film Festival was young actresses. As film making becomes more accessible and more and more female directors start putting their vision on the big screen, they are including more stories and characters like themselves. So finally, women…and now young girls are being represented in film. This is a great time to get such fresh perspectives and new ideas from movies. Here are a few standouts with young female actresses. Many of them have never even acted before!
The Sleeping Beauty (dir Catherine Breillat)
This is an interesting French film about a young girl who is cursed by a wicked witch but don’t worry…this is no Disney film. Luckily, three young fairies counter the spell but even the three of them combined are not as powerful as the old hag. The best they can do is put her to sleep for 100 years and have her awaken as a 16 year old. Why 16? Because childhood is too long anyways.
Well the young Carla Besnaïnou’s childhood is even longer. She gets randomly adopted and falls in love with her adopted brother. As he hits puberty, he vanishes and she goes on a journey to find him while running into other young princes and princesses. Finally, she’s awaken by the descendant of Peter back in the real world as she’s awake from her dream and back into reality where she must confront the modern world and problems that come along with it. It’s always difficult to work with such young actors but Carla Besnaïnou is intriguing. At times you can tell she’s just a young girl having fun in front of the camera but at other times you get an incredible performance. She’s already a diva, you can tell but she’s a joy to watch through this fanciful fairytale.
The Joy (dirs Felipe Bragança, Marina Meliande)
As we move to a bit older crowd, The Joy follows teenagers in the rough neighborhoods of Brazil. The directors set out to find nonprofessionals and they stumbled upon 15 year-old Tainá Medina who plays the lead Luiza. These kids create a fantasy dream world while battling with the harsh realities of their own lives. Luiza’s cousin is shot dead and his ghost becomes the center of attention for Luiza and her friends. But soon, he must move on and so do they.
Luiza and her friends decide to be superheroes in their dream world. They believe the apocalypse is upon them and with strength and determination, they somehow combine their imagination with the real. The movie is a bit confusing as these mystical ideas come to fruition but the ending is so rewarding that you stop yourself and want to watch the movie again from the beginning. The nonprofessionals do a great job carrying the film but I feel some more experience actors could have portrayed a lot of the scenes better. Either way, this was the North American Premiere of The Joy and definitely one to sought out.
She Monkeys (dir by Lisa Aschan)
She Monkeys has both older teenage girls and a younger sister. The movie follows a reserved Emma (Mathilda Paradeiser) as she tries out for equestrian vaulting. She quickly meets Cassandra (Linda Molin) who is the top dog of the team…for now. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer they say…both Emma and Cassandra do this from the beginning but who is really using who? They become good friends but even greater competitors.
Then there’s Emma’s kid sister Sara (Isabella Lindquist) who is a bit sexually matured for her age. It’s interesting to see both Emma and Sara grow up at different stages of their lives while going through somewhat similar scenarios. It’s also interesting to see Sara fight for Emma’s attention while Cassandra takes it away. There are plenty of themes in this one including female sexuality, ruthless competition, society influences and family. It truly demonstrates that you never know what’s going through the head of some people.
Life, Above All (dir Oliver Schmitz)
This was a true surprise at the film festival for me. About a preteen dealing with numerous issues in a soweto (ghetto) of South Africa, Life, Above All is an amazing story of morals and social behavior. Khomotso Manyaka stars as Chandra and she remarkably has never acted before in her life. She was nothing less than amazing in this movie. She had to portray many emotions dealing with things like AIDS in the family, the deaths of a baby, her best friend in prostitution, as well as all of her neighbors looking with a heavy eye.
Trying to balance going to school and taking care of her younger brother and sister, you could tell that she wouldn’t be able to do it all. You would think she would fall to the same fate as her best friend or turn to some other vice, but the story is so inspiring watching Chandra deal with everything on her own while keeping her moral compass in the straightest direction. I was fascinated by this movie and hope it finds the right audiences to inspire even more people.
Another Earth (dir Mike Cahill)
A late addition to the festival was Another World which premiered at Sundance earlier in the year. This is a special movie because it was co-written and stars an up and coming star in our times, Brit Marling. Not only is she a great female actress but also a great filmmaker also being in my favorite film from the South By Southwest Film Festival, Sound of My Voice (which also premiered at Sundance). Brit has amazing performances in both of these compelling stories…she’s definitely one to watch!
This movie is about a duplicate Earth that suddenly pops into the sky. On the same night, Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) crashes into an oncoming car and kills a man’s wife and kid. After being released from jail, she tries to go apologize to the man but instead builds a strange relationship with him. At the same time, our Earth makes contact with Another Earth and there’s a theory that we all have duplicates on the other planet but the day the Earths appeared to each other, our paths separated. Rhoda enters a competition to travel to the other world…could the man’s family still be alive?
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
Some of my favorite programming from the San Francisco International Film Festival comes from the late night programming dubbed, “The Late Show.” This year was no different even though the program was a bit smaller. It Consisted of only four films: Outrage, The Selling, Stake Land and The Troll Hunter and I saw them all!
Outrage
Yakuza. The Japanese Mafia. Takeshi Kitano. Intrigued yet? You haven’t even began to understand the twisted stories and back stabbings that come along with Outrage. Family and territory are the top things these people care about. But above all that is honor and if you mess with that, you’re dead. Outrage has some gory and excruciating scenes that you have to believe are some what true in the mafia world. It goes over the top but just over the cusp of what may actually be going on in the underworld. These guys live their lives like nothing else matters and its such a fun time to watch them with two eyes wide open. If you can get through some of the muddled and confusing twists, you’d definitely enjoy Outrage.
This movie really doesn’t belong in The Late Show program since it wouldn’t scare a two year old but it does have an ancient unnamed evil and would entertain any age. It’s a campy horror comedy about a salesman trying to unload a haunted house! I love the concept and the script was so funny. The lead actor (who also wrote the movie), Gabriel Diani, stole the show and really made this movie better than expected. You can read my full review here.
This is now my favorite vampire zombie movie. It’s just superb in so many ways. I can’t wait to re watch it again and see all of the things I missed or see it again with fresh eyes to make new interpretations…you don’t say that regularly with horror films. Stake Land takes the genre and injects it with soul allowing characters to develop and a world to flourish around them. You join an epic journey to the promised land but the tone and story is still grounded making the trip relatable. This is a must see for horror fans and a gotta see for everybody else. You can check out my full review here.
The Troll Hunter
You know the term, “This is Huge in Japan!”? Well, The Troll Hunter is “Huge in Norway!” This is a great mocumentary following a troll bounty hunter. Hired by a government agency, his job is to protect the forests and badlands of Norway from the ever increasing danger of escaped trolls. It’s just the right blend of ridiculousness, comedy and action that will keep you engaged for the entire film.
You get to see different types of monstrous trolls from ones that life in the forest, to those under the bridge and of course a three-headed one. The movie is imaginative and creative in the way it handles the monsters to the way the characters interact with them and each other. I would definitely recommend this film which will be getting a larger American release but be warned…trolls don’t like Christian blood!
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
Never be an informant. A couple guys learned the hard way in this Hong Kong action film written and directed by Dante Lam. This isn’t your typical bad guy/good guy flick as it centers around the delicate relationship between detective and informant. The Stool Pigeon shows the lives behind both sides of a jewelry heist and how everyone has their own problems to deal with as well as the bigger problems in society as a whole. Who’s really using the who and which side is really abusing the system? Can enemies be friends?
The movie focuses on policeman Don Lee (Nick Cheung) one year after a drug bust went horribly wrong and his informant ended up on the wrong side of a machete. Even though it wasn’t a good experience for the informant, Lee got promoted and began teaching other officers how to interact with informants. His boss was informed that a notorious jewelry store robber named Barbarian (Yi Lu) is back in time. After 2 failed attempts, he wants to make sure he captures him this time so gives Don Lee over a million dollars to hire informants and get his man.
Don Lee goes to prison to find the other star of the show: Ghost Jr. (Nicholas Tse) His father left a debt of $800,000 and the gangsters are collecting that debt by using Ghost Jr.’s sister as a prostitute. Knowing that Ghost Jr. used to work with Tai Ping (Philip Keung), an accomplish of Barbarian, he recruits him as informant to take down the jewelry burglar. Ghost Jr. is a driver and so we get plenty of car chase and race scenes similar to a Fast and Furious type movie including a really cool freeze scene. Some of the gory scenes are really gut wrenching but luckily they were few and far between.
As most asian movies, there are plenty of stories coinciding in the same timeline. You have the story of Ghost Jr. trying to save his sister while falling in love with his gang boss’ girl Dee (Lunmei Kwai) who he hilariously ran into years before while trying to run away from police while she was running away from gang members. When their paths crossed, the police started chasing the gang members and they both were freed. You also have the story of the actual jewelry heist and the police trying to stop it. And finally, the main story of the life of Don Lee and his interactions with informants which pretty much destroys his own life piece by piece. It’s a complex dance he must perform with both work and life. They show this literally…
The story is convoluted but presented in a fairly good way. The acting balances between superb performances and over exaggerated antics. There aren’t many amazing action scenes but rater a lot of character development and structure. Most of Ghost Jr.’s scenes are him acting beat up and staggering all across the screen. Don Lee goes from sad to depressed throughout the movie and you learn why with the side story of his ex wife Cher (Pu Miao) and how he became too focused on work and trying to right his wrongs. If you want to follow along a winding story, this movie could be for you…otherwise, I’d let it pass by like an opportunity to be a snitch. Don’t do it! Machetes are no joke!
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
It has been really hard to sell a house in this downmarket, wouldn’t you agree? But what if the house was haunted!? How’s that for an original creative plot. Emily Lou debuts the world premiere of The Selling at the San Francisco International Film Festival and you have got to check it out because it’s hilariously quirky and fun. The Selling combines the HGTV fix up your home craze with classic haunted house antics to create a cute and campy ghost story that the whole family can enjoy. It doesn’t scare away from making fun of the genre as well as making fun of itself allowing you to laugh along as the story unfolds.
Richard Scarry (Gabriel Diani) is in the business of turning houses with his buddy Dave Ross (Jonathan Klein). Mary Best (Janet Varney), a kind of evil co-worker, unloads a house on them but doesn’t let them know it’s apparently haunted. It doesn’t take long before they realize something’s horrifically wrong. They try fixing up the house but the ghost doesn’t make it easy…rearranging furniture Richard tries to set, overflowing toilet of black sludge, random rocks being thrown and doors closing by themselves, bleeding walls, a door that is a portal to the spirit realm and of course ghosts popping up in mirrors when you don’t expect them to. You know, the usual scare tactics.
“Sometimes the closet becomes a portal to another realm”
Richard tries to plead with the house letting it know that no matter what it tries, they’re going to sell it. Dave, on the the other hand, helps from outside…he’s not stepping one foot in that place. In a final last ditch public auction, they’re stopped by a local ghost blogger named Ginger Sparks (Etta Devine). She scares away all potential buyers as she reveals that this was the house of the Sleepstalker, an alleged serial killer who murdered 12 victims in his sleep and then hung himself before he could stand trial.
Diani (the screenwriter and star) is what really sells The Selling with his awkwardly quirky mannerisms. His character is too nice to be a salesman which his mother (Nancy Lenehan) lets him know. I loved their relationship and clever dialogue…they really brought this smart script to life. For example, when Mom looks up the Sleepstalker on the internet for the explanation segment of the movie, she ends with, “This is really not helpful, is it?” When the house starts ruining Richard’s life, he seeks out Ginger and she figures it wasn’t the Sleepstalker haunting the house but an ancient unnamed evil that possessed him and is now possessing Richard.
Jonathan Klein, Janet Varney, Etta Devine and Nancy Lenehan in The Selling (LTR)
Once this stage of the movie begins, it gets even better! You know how characters sound when they’re possessed by an ancient unnamed evil and The Selling takes it to another comedic level. Again, it’s Diani that sells the movie and makes it really enjoyable. It’s a wacky tale of horror that takes the genre in a different direction but doesn’t go too over the top. If you’re into the kind of comedy style that this is written in, you’re going to love it…otherwise you’ll just enjoy it The Selling premieres at the San Francisco International Film Festival on Friday, April 29 at and screens again on Wednesday. You can still buy tickets here!
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
You wake up and find your world overturned by some kind of zombie vampires. Your family tries to figure out how to escape the madness but it’s too late. Luckily (or unluckily…depending on how you look at it), you’re saved by a mysterious man who your dying father tasks to protect you. Welcome to Stake Land. This movie will surprise you, it definitely surprised me. Even if you’re not a fan of genre films, this is a well formulated movie that anyone can enjoy. It has everything you want packaged into a horror film: disgusting monsters, great visuals, a spectacular score, stunning backdrops, captivating acting and to top it off…a story! Winner of the Midnight Madness Award at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, this is now my favorite zombie/vampire flick.
Stake Land is an apocalyptic creature feature quest following a bad ass rugged loner named Mister and told from the point of view of his new young apprentice, Martin. Together they journey north towards New Eden which is rumored to be safe from the zombie vamps terrorizing everywhere else. As they travel from “safe” town to town, they are quickly warned that, “it’s not the zombies you have to worry about, it’s the cannibals!” But everything in this world is based on rumors and speculations so they can only trust themselves. They have a few run ins with a crazed religious organization called the Brotherhood which opens the doors to the argument of whether the monsters or humans are more dangerous.
Headshot? More like a Neckshot!
The movie has a lot of themes that a Western would have and the basis of both genres is not just the story, but more importantly, the characters. Stake Land’s characters are remarkable. From the puzzling silent killer within Mister (Nick Damici) to the growing and influenced? Martin (Connor Paolo) to a nun who must test her religion (Kelly McGillis), pregnant girl (Danielle Harris) who just wants a better life before her baby enters the world and military man (Sean Nelson) who was left behind long before he returned to America. The insane leader of Brotherhood, Jebedia Loven, is played by a stage actor, Michael Cerveris, who brings a top notch performance that really drives this movie over the top. Some of these might sound cliche, but the work really well together and the twists and turns within the film are only complimented by the character design. There are actually a set of shorts shot by different directors on the origins of each of the characters before they’re introduced to the film…you can check them out here (Click on Media).
Young Martin played by Connor Paolo in Stake Land
The most interesting, of course, is our young lead Martin played by Connor Paolo. He’s coming into his own while dealing with the environment around him. He must choose to stick with his new idol: Mister or settle down in one of these towns with other people. He’s like a blank slate that the audience gets to watch develop. One scene that I loved is after Martin takes his first drink and falls for the only clean girl in the entire movie. It’s those little scenes that make the biggest impact on me. There are plenty of different types of zombie vampires that don’t really hold to any one definition…they let the audience figure that out. There are slow zombies, fast zombies, vampires in packs, etc. They do a good job of explaining each along the way for the die hard monster maniacs, but don’t let that bog down the story.
Mister is a badass
Written by Mister himself, Nick Damici, and direct by Jim Mickle, they did an outstanding job creating a world you wouldn’t want to live in but would love to explore. They wanted to create a depression feel thinking that the world would be thrown back 100 years if some kind of infestation did happen. Rather than being completely dark, most of this movie is shot in daylight which really adds to the tone of survival and actually makes the film more relatable. You get drawn into these characters and can’t wait to see where the story takes them next on their journey to the rumored New Eden. Does it exist? Will they have enough supplies and strength to get there? Who from the group is going to make it? The movie doesn’t really add anything new to this genre of movie but what it does do is offer a movie that does everything right in it. It opens this Friday at the Roxie in San Francisco and plays at the IFC Center in New York. It will also be shown on IFC On Demand starting April 27th so you can check it out!
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
Two friends sit to have a drink before one leaves their home country of Korea. Once they discover that they both took a recent trip to the small town of Tongyeong, they decide to swap interesting stories for each and every sip. What unfolds is a curious coincidence of time and space that the audience is privvied to. Filmmaker Hang Sang-soo continues his Korean legacy as this film took top prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year for the Un Certain Regard section.
You go back and forth between flashbacks from Jo Moon-kyeong (Kim Sang-kyung) and Bang Jong-sik (Yu Jun-Sang) broken up by black and white still snapshots of the two friends in present time. It’s a really interesting choice that the writer/director Hang Sang-soo made but that I really enjoyed. He also decides to do many zoom in shots to focus the audience’s attention on an actors upcoming reaction or important concept..it got pretty corny at points since it was so overused. Other than that, the scenes are pretty straightforward depicting relationships and courtship.
Bang Jong-sik (Yu Jun-Sang) trying to woo Wang Seong-ok (Moon So-Ri)
The acting is hilarious and dramatic throughout the movie. Some scenes felt as if they were from a wacky comedy sitcom while others, a theatrical play. The filmmaker likes to put creative artistic characters such as poets, actors and filmmakers in his work to sort of poke fun at himself as well as to feed off knowledge he knows…it plays off as a really genuine experience. Combine that with plenty drunken nights and you have a plethora of stories that the two friends can exchange like a break-up piggy back ride and grown man being punished by his mother’s hanger. The film is very lightheated to the point of ridiculousness at points.
The deeper and deeper both friends get into their stories, the more the audience realizes that the two are talking about the same people at the same exact time without them realizing it themselves. Throughout their small town visit, they don’t run into each other but they interacted with mutual friends and family and sometimes were actually in the same place at the same exact time without knowing it. I think only one character in the film realized they knew both sides. This is kind of fun but a stretch at the same time…I thought they would have to realize their similar journeys at some point. I guess they didn’t use names in their blurbs to each other and only the audience saw the detailed flashbacks.
Poets know love, right?
Some of the storylines dragged a bit and you begin to stop caring about some of the characters as much but they all came down to the simple idea of love: Why should you stay with someone you didn’t love? How could you be without someone you did love? Could you let somebody go if you really loved them? One little trip to one little town pushed all these questions on the two friends changing their lives forever. Grab a friend and go check this film out, but grab a drink first…Cheers!
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
I figure I’d start our 54th Annual San Francisco International Film Festival coverage with a film from local filmmakers that speaks to the surrounding area of the festival: Something Ventured. This is a documentary about the people behind the people behind some of the most important technology companies that have pushed the world forward in modern times. Most people have no idea how the technology in their pockets, backpacks or on their desk even work. On top of that, even more people have no idea how the business behind these technologies work…this documentary aims to shed some light on the little known world of venture capitalism.
Something Ventured begins with the definition of venture capitalism. venture: to proceed despite the risk of danger. capital: wealth used to generate additional wealth. Basically, these people invest money in entrepreneurs and their groundbreaking ideas for a chance to make millions if not billions. The movie takes us back to when this concept was originally conceived. I love how the documentary got candid interviews with some of the original VCs including Arthur Rock, Tom Perkins (Founder of Kleiner Perkins), Don Valentine (Founder of Sequoia Capital), Reid Dennis (Founder of Institutional Venture Partners) and Bill Draper (Founder of Sutter Hill Ventures and Draper Richards) among others. They gave you a chronological road map of how the industry came to be starting all the way back in the late 50s. The movie began with “the traitorous eight” but really highlighted about a dozen early VCs who were responsible with helping start and grow companies we’re all fond of today.
"the traitorous eight"
Intel, Apple, Cisco. Household names but without VCs, they may have never been possible. Without going into too much of the boring details, the movie laid down the facts about numbers of original investments and current (2010) valuations of various companies. Imagine if you invested a few hundred thousand into a company that’s worth billions today…these guys did! They explained how these businessmen not only write the checks but also assign board members and management to help bring an idea to its full money making potential. “Writing the check is easy…it doesn’t use much ink!” The charismatic old men set a fun tone for watching a documentary on such a mundane subject.
Tom Perkins has so much swag and dapper, I would invest in him
While watching the doc, you start to wonder what makes these guys so special? And I think the filmmakers do a great job explaining the answer: “nothing.” It’s luck and common sense that these men bring to the table. It’s a close knit society of risk takers who have their own expertise and collaborate with one another to help each other, the entrepreneurs and companies do what they couldn’t do alone. The movie has a short section on the VC’s backgrounds, fathers and influences…you quickly learn that they’re just normal people with a knack for starting businesses. One VC exclaimed that everybody gets lucky, you just have ot know what to do with that luck…and he just got lucky early.
Arthur Rock: The Father of Venture Capitalism?
The document is pretty one sided with interviews from the VCs themselves and a handful of entrepreneurs that love them. There’s one exception with the story of Sandy Lerner and Cisco but for the most part, there’s no criticism for what these guys do. Just praise from the companies for the help of the VCs and praise from the VCs to the entrepreneurs and their ideas. The movie highlighted the rise of hardware companies like Intel and Apple, software companies like PowerPoint and even game companies like Atari (Pong). These are the stories you never hear unless you’re in the know. Even if you’re not familiar with the subject matter, this is a great glimpse into a fascinating world.
Steve Jobs and Mike Markkula...the guys behind the success of Apple Computers
I’m looking forward to a lot more docs from the San Francisco International Film Festival and if you’re in the bay area, it’s a great movie to watch to learn about what’s going on in your backyard! Something Ventured is screening again on May 1st at 3:00pm at the Kabuki and you can buy tickets here.
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
As we wrap up our coverage from South By Southwest, we’re heading right into another festival, but this time on our home turf! We’re attending to the 54th Annual San Francisco International Film Festival. Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. This year’s lineup is a vibrant mix of narratives, documentaries and shorts from around the world. You can expect a few dark comedies, twisted tales and thought-provoking ideas. For the next 2 weeks, San Francisco will be hypnotized by the big screen at some of the nicest venues including the Sundance Kabuki and grand Castro Theatre.
Here’s a preview of some of the films that we’re excited to check out and if you’re around the bay, you should come watch too! I recommend buying the CineVoucher 10-pack because after one day at the festival, it’s impossible not to want to see more! As always, you can follow @matthewfong for real time updates from the festival.
Cinema By The Bay Films by local filmmakers from around the bay area American Teacher
Chronicling the stories of four teachers in different areas of the country, American Teacher reveals the frustrating realities for today’s educators, the difficulty in attracting talented new teachers and why so many of our best teachers leave the profession altogether. World Premiere (USA 2010, 81 min)
Crime After Crime
This intimate look at a female prisoner and the two pro bono lawyers fighting for her release is a must-see documentary for those interested in the power of film to change the course of events. Shot over a five-and-a-half year period, the saga of one woman’s case resounds with broader social implications. (USA 2011, 93 min) GGA Documentary Feature Contender
Miss Representation
Through interviews with Gloria Steinem, Margaret Cho and dozens more, this documentary explores women’s under- representation in positions of power, challenging their limited, often disparaging portrayal in the media. Can we convince a new generation that women’s primary value lies in their capacity as leaders rather than merely their youth, beauty and sexuality? (USA 2011, 85 min)
The Selling
For most people affected by the recent housing market crash, the impact was financial. Super nice real estate agent Richard Scarry has an additional burden: the paranormal. This startlingly funny debut feature takes many of the tropes of haunted house films and employs them to exciting, witty and original ends. World Premiere (USA 2010, 92 min)
Something Ventured
Silicon Valley, Apple, Intel, Cisco Systems—they might never have been if not for the enterprising inventors and financiers who joined forces to create a new approach to business called “venture capitalism.” This intriguing, often funny documentary uses inisghtful interviews and vintage footage to examine the stories and conflicts behind these now familiar names. (USA 2011, 84 min)
Personal Picks After going through the program, I marked over 40 films, but these are the ones that really stood out to me Blessed Events
After a New Year’s Eve of listless partying that ends in a one-night stand, Simone discovers she’s pregnant. The father is not only delighted but good-looking, kind and eager to build a life with her. Simone’s suspicions soon grow, however. Are these truly blessed events, or is this domestic bliss too good to be true? (Germany 2010, 91 min)
HAHAHA
Over drinks, two friends agree to swap fond memories of their recent trips to the same seaside town. As the stories unfold in flashback, we realize their accounts take place at the same time—and with the same people—in this potent swirl of chance encounters, nostalgia, heartbreak and grace from Korea’s highly regarded auteur. (South Korea 2010, 116 min)
The High Life
Combining street realism and artifice, the first fiction feature by the director of acclaimed documentaries Street Life and Ghost Town depicts hustlers, migrants, prisoners and others on the shabby outskirts of Guangzhou, where everyone is on the move but nobody is getting anywhere. US Premiere (China 2010, 96 min) New Directors Prize Contender
The Joy
In Rio, a group of young students (played by a memorable cast of nonprofessionals) transcends the hard truths of their lives through spirit and imagination in this magical realist urban teen adventure. Led by the charismatic Luiza, the group creates poetry and mirth in a collapsing world. North American Premiere (Brazil 2010, 106 min)
Life, Above All
This inspiring coming-of-age story about a preteen girl dealing with several family crises, including her mother’s battle with AIDS, pits the community-ravaging effects of teenage prostitution, alcoholism, infant mortality and the HIV epidemic against a single household and one heartbreakingly resilient child. (South Africa/Germany 2010, 106 min)
She Monkeys
This psychological drama and coming-of- age story explores the friendship and rivalry between two teenage girls competing for a spot on the local equestrian vaulting team. Manipulating each other with physical challenges and budding sexuality, they find themselves locked in an escalating battle for control that only one of them can win. (Sweden 2011, 84 min) New Directors Prize Contender
Walking Too Fast
The psyche of a ruthless secret agent in Cold War Czechoslovakia begins to unravel when he obsesses over the girlfriend of a suspected subversive he is tracking. This taut political thriller is a bleak and potent rendering of the emotional destruction wreaked by totalitarianism. North American Premiere (Czech Republic/Slovakia/Poland 2009, 146 min)
Nighttime Scares These are films you definitely want to see at night…be prepared to jump out your seats! The Selling
For most people affected by the recent housing market crash, the impact was financial. Super nice real estate agent Richard Scarry has an additional burden: the paranormal. This startlingly funny debut feature takes many of the tropes of haunted house films and employs them to exciting, witty and original ends. World Premiere (USA 2010, 92 min)
Stake Land
Martin and Mister are two of the few remaining survivors of a global apocalypse caused by rampaging (and ravenous) vampire zombies. Pursued by crazed cultists and marauding monsters, they try to make their way to a rumored encampment of remaining humans in this visually gritty dystopian tale where human beings are even worse than the beasts running amok. (USA 2010, 96 min)
The Troll Hunter
Equal parts Blair Witch Project and Jurassic Park, this is a “raw” CGI-filled romp through troll lore. Student journalists making a documentary on bear poaching in the Norwegian countryside stumble upon a secret war between government operatives and stony giants. Thrust into danger and intrigue, the students suddenly need to bone up on troll defense. (Norway 2010, 103 min)
See you at the Kabuki You can check out the rest of SFIFF’s lineup here: http://fest11.sffs.org/films/. Have any films you want us to check out for you? Let us know!
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 150 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence. The Festival attracts an annual audience of more than 80,000.Visit an Francisco International Film Festival’s Official Website
What do you get when you cross a coming of age story, geeky genetic technology, and a creature film? A new generation of horror film from the writer/director who also brought us Cube, Vincenzo Natali. Splice is about two rock star geneticists who decide to cross animal DNA with human DNA to create a barn new organism. What started out as an experiment just to see if it could be done turns into a twisted story of morals and inner demons/monsters coming to surface from each of the scientists. After their lab is taken from their control and charged to concentrate on profits rather than focus on research, Clive and Elsa, played by Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, decide to take matters in their own hands and take their research to the next level. Eventually they got what they dreamed for but created something that they couldn’t even imagine in their wildest dreams…or nightmares.
Splice is like three movies in one. You begin with a sci-fi discovery movie as you enter the N.E.R.D. lab with the scientists and see how genetics and biotechnology actually works. Then, you’re introduced to Dren (Nerd backwards) and the story quickly turns into a relationship film with strong family ties evident. You watch as Dren comes into her own as she evolves rapidly and dramatically and see how Clive and Elsa both interact with her and how their relationship with each other is affected. Throughout this process to the end of the film where it climaxes, Splice delivers a great horror aspect which will leave you with an anxious nervous feeling even after the end credits have finished rolling. It’s an incredible build up and conclusion as the movie takes you places and does things you would never expect. I can’t wait to see the public reaction after this film hits theaters. This is definitely an indie film which had to be created out of the regular movie studio environment and I’m amazed it got picked up for a major release.
Elsa (Sarah Polley) meeting Dren for the first time
Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, and the actresses who play Dren, Delphine Chaneac and Abigail Chu, all give incredible performances which are vital to this film because it is mainly about the relationships and family elements. The casting was spot on since you had to believe that these characters could really be genius scientists and the creature had to be something completely new and familiar at the same time. Adrien Brody seemed to have a different geek t shirt in every shot which was awesome and Dren’s body movements and expressions left you wondering what exactly was going on in the mind of the creature which many films have trouble showcasing. All the cast had to be confident in what they were doing because this movie really does do some edgy things that are quite out there and controversial. Vincenzo Natali held nothing back when creating this project which took him twelve years to complete (he refers to it as his baby). There is so much symbolism and hidden messages in this movie that you can get lost in the fascination of the subject matter.
Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) in Splice
I got to screen this movie at the San Francisco International Film Festival where there was Q&A session with Vincenzo Natali afterwards. He remarked that this was definitely his homage to creature films and Frankenstein. Even the lead character names, Clive and Elsa were taken from the Frankenstein films. He consulted with real geneticist while writing the script and through the development of the film to stay true to the science and keep it real. He was actually kind of shocked when he kept asking the scientists about everything he put in the film and they continued to reply that yes, these things could be done. Many other great questions were answered like the technology which was used, meanings of some of the symbolism, and the reasons some choices were made in the film but I don’t want to give away anything from this film because it truly will surprise you as you watch it and the conclusions you draw for yourself are part of the great filmmaking that Splice has to offer. So, come June 4th, go check out Splice in a theater near you or check out our list of advance screenings to see it early!
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 200 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence.
The Loved Ones is one of the weirdest most messed up (for lack of better NSFW words) movies I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s a horror film that doesn’t quite fit the common definition of the genre for me but actually affected me more than modern day horror films. From Australian writer/director Sean Byrne, The Loved Ones is about Brent Mitchell (Xavier Samuel), a high school senior tormented with the guilt of his father’s death. He tries to escape the guilt and his emotional mother through drugs and metal music and only has his beautiful girlfriend, Holly (Victoria Thaine), to keep him grounded. It’s time for prom and he knows who he’s going to take but this wouldn’t be a fascinating movie if he made it to prom, right? Instead, Brent is sidetracked by a twisted secret admirer that puts him under a disco ball and gives him his very own prom.
The film is definitely like a train wreck…but in a good way. As each scene gets more intense and horrifying, you just can’t turn away. Even when you do turn away (and trust me, you will), the scenes keep going and you have to watch! But you’ll be happy you did because the way the camera moves and the imagery Bryne uses are wonderful and captivating. The movie is gory, bloody, and persistent…it doesn’t let up until the end credits start to roll. The characters don’t use the everyday weapons of choice we’re used to like axes, chainsaws, or other large sharp objects, but instead it terrorizes us with common everyday items like hammers, power drills, and eating utensils. It’s kind of like a do it yourself guide for homemade psychopathic killers.
I think the title of this film is spot on and quite clever. There are a few different relationships in this movie between mother and son, girlfriend and boyfriend, and a very curious relationship between father and daughter by Robin McLeavy playing Lola and her dad played by John Brumpton. Robin plays her role freakishly well; you can really tell that she had fun with it. Richard Wilson and Jessica McNamee also deliver great performances as Sac and Mia who are our comic relief. Sac is Brent’s friend who asks Mia to the prom. When various characters go through a number of different emotions and situations, you really see who each of them loves and what they would do for them or because of them.
This review doesn’t say much about the plot and characters on purpose because I don’t want to ruin the story for you. This is one of the rare movies where you can go in completely blind and be shocked at what you see. I didn’t get to see this movie at the South By Southwest Film Festival and many other critics told me I missed out and that The Loved Ones was one of the best films showed there. Luckily that’s all they said and didn’t spoil the movie for me. I attended the San Francisco International Film Festival and this film was part of their late night offerings.
I would implore you not to read too many other reviews especially the ones that go deeper into the plot. Did you read some already? Don’t worry, the beginning of the film moves pretty fast and honestly, some of the early surprises are straight forward and not really surprising so hopefully other critics didn’t give up too much information. Don’t see this movie if you’re squeamish…but if you’re up for something different and can find this movie in your area, go see The Loved Ones.
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Held each spring for two weeks, the International is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring some 200 films and live events with more than 100 filmmakers in attendance and nearly two dozen awards presented for cinematic excellence.
Life, Above All
Hot Coffee
Stake Land
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage
The Sleeping Beauty (dir Catherine Breillat)
The Joy (dirs Felipe Bragança, Marina Meliande)
She Monkeys (dir by Lisa Aschan)
Life, Above All (dir Oliver Schmitz)
Another Earth (dir Mike Cahill)
Outrage
The Selling
Stake Land
The Troll Hunter
Never be an informant. A couple guys learned the hard way in this Hong Kong action film written and directed by Dante Lam. This isn’t your typical bad guy/good guy flick as it centers around the delicate relationship between detective and informant. The Stool Pigeon shows the lives behind both sides of a jewelry heist and how everyone has their own problems to deal with as well as the bigger problems in society as a whole. Who’s really using the who and which side is really abusing the system? Can enemies be friends?
It has been really hard to sell a house in this downmarket, wouldn’t you agree? But what if the house was haunted!? How’s that for an original creative plot. Emily Lou debuts the world premiere of The Selling at the San Francisco International Film Festival and you have got to check it out because it’s hilariously quirky and fun. The Selling combines the HGTV fix up your home craze with classic haunted house antics to create a cute and campy ghost story that the whole family can enjoy. It doesn’t scare away from making fun of the genre as well as making fun of itself allowing you to laugh along as the story unfolds.
The Selling premieres at the San Francisco International Film Festival on Friday, April 29 at and screens again on Wednesday. You can still 
Two friends sit to have a drink before one leaves their home country of Korea. Once they discover that they both took a recent trip to the small town of Tongyeong, they decide to swap interesting stories for each and every sip. What unfolds is a curious coincidence of time and space that the audience is privvied to. Filmmaker Hang Sang-soo continues his Korean legacy as this film took top prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year for the Un Certain Regard section.
I figure I’d start our 54th Annual San Francisco International Film Festival coverage with a film from local filmmakers that speaks to the surrounding area of the festival: Something Ventured. This is a documentary about the people behind the people behind some of the most important technology companies that have pushed the world forward in modern times. Most people have no idea how the technology in their pockets, backpacks or on their desk even work. On top of that, even more people have no idea how the business behind these technologies work…this documentary aims to shed some light on the little known world of venture capitalism.
As we wrap up our coverage from South By Southwest, we’re heading right into another festival, but this time on our home turf! We’re attending to the 54th Annual San Francisco International Film Festival. Founded in 1957, the San Francisco International Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. This year’s lineup is a vibrant mix of narratives, documentaries and shorts from around the world. You can expect a few dark comedies, twisted tales and thought-provoking ideas. For the next 2 weeks, San Francisco will be hypnotized by the big screen at some of the nicest venues including the Sundance Kabuki and grand Castro Theatre.
American Teacher
Crime After Crime
Miss Representation
The Selling
Something Ventured
Blessed Events
HAHAHA
The High Life
The Joy
Life, Above All
She Monkeys
Walking Too Fast
Stake Land
The Troll Hunter
What do you get when you cross a coming of age story, geeky genetic technology, and a creature film? A new generation of horror film from the writer/director who also brought us Cube, Vincenzo Natali. Splice is about two rock star geneticists who decide to cross animal DNA with human DNA to create a barn new organism. What started out as an experiment just to see if it could be done turns into a twisted story of morals and inner demons/monsters coming to surface from each of the scientists. After their lab is taken from their control and charged to concentrate on profits rather than focus on research, Clive and Elsa, played by Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, decide to take matters in their own hands and take their research to the next level. Eventually they got what they dreamed for but created something that they couldn’t even imagine in their wildest dreams…or nightmares.
This post is part of our SFIFF coverage
The Loved Ones is one of the weirdest most messed up (for lack of better NSFW words) movies I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s a horror film that doesn’t quite fit the common definition of the genre for me but actually affected me more than modern day horror films. From Australian writer/director Sean Byrne, The Loved Ones is about Brent Mitchell (Xavier Samuel), a high school senior tormented with the guilt of his father’s death. He tries to escape the guilt and his emotional mother through drugs and metal music and only has his beautiful girlfriend, Holly (Victoria Thaine), to keep him grounded. It’s time for prom and he knows who he’s going to take but this wouldn’t be a fascinating movie if he made it to prom, right? Instead, Brent is sidetracked by a twisted secret admirer that puts him under a disco ball and gives him his very own prom.
