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 There are many great productions out this year at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Lets dive right in!
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly: This
remarkable true story centers on Jean-Dominique Bauby, the successful
editor-in-chief of Elle Magazine, who suddenly has an incapacitating stroke
that seemingly takes him out of touch with the world, changing his life
forever.
This touching and extraordinary
drama creates a passionate look at not only Bauby, but also the work of
Henriette and Marie who break through to him with a special alphabet that
allows him to write his memoirs on which the movie is based. Probably the most passionate film of the
festival, The Diving Bell And The Butterfly will be shown at Regal
Cypress Creek Cinema on October 30 and November 1.
Winds From Zero:
This very disturbing true story centers on a Japanese woman who looses
her son when a drunk driver runs him over.
The tragedy gets worse when we find out the driver was only
sentenced to 5 years in prison, the going sentence in Japan for the crime. We follow the mother as she fights to change the law and make her life whole again.
The film is very engaging and heartfelt.
Director Toshi Shoya will be present during the screening at Cinema Paradiso
on November 3.
 Still
Green: This teenage drama centers on 10
best friends who rent a house by the ocean for one last summer fling before
leaving for college. During their stay
their personal stories interweave and sometimes get out of control. When a tragedy occurs, the group makes some
unimaginable decisions. I found the film
to be disturbing and strange without lessons to be learned—or any redeeming
value. The film should be viewed by
mature adults and will be screened at the Miniaci on November 7 and 8.
The Cake
Eaters: This little film was directed by
Mary Stuart Masterson, starring Bruce Dern, Jayce Bartok, Jesse Scolaro and
Kristen Stewart. It is an interesting drama
set in rural upstate New York, centering on Beagle—a down -on-his-luck 20-something—who falls for Georgia—a terminal neuromuscular 15 year-old who wants to explore
her sexual side before she dies at an early age.
The sweet and involving plot shows how
families have to cope with the tension, mistrust and intimacy brought on by the
desires of the terminal girl and the adult.
The film has some great moments and is a delight to watch. Mary Stuart Masterson, Jayce Bartok and Jesse
Scolaro will be attending the screenings at the Miniaci Theatre November 8 and 9.
Magicians: This very funny British tongue-in-cheek
comedy features two famous magicians years after they have split up following
the death of their assistant during a guillotine mishap. Down on their luck and needing the prize
money from a contest given by the ‘International Magic Shield', the two go up
against each other for the top prize.
Spotted with some hilarious situations and a bit of charm, Magicians
may be one of the best in fest. Screens at the Cinema Paradiso on November 10.
The
Business Of Being Born: This
documentary explores whether a woman should birth her baby using a midwife or
a doctor at a hospital. The film centers
on the history, culture and economics of childbirth. During the 94 minutes of
‘live’ film we are shown many deliveries by both methods, and experts on the
subject from many sources. Although very
well done with excellent documentary footage, the film, however, seemed a little
one-sided. The documentary can be seen
on November 4 at the Miniaci and November 10 at Cinema Paradiso.
Steal A
Pencil For Me: This Holocoust documentary centers on Jack and Ina—two of the
150,000 Jewish Dutch residents that were taken to concentration camps by the
Germans during WWII.
Married to Manja—what Jack says was a flirtatious and Mercurial spouse—he meets and falls in
love with Ina at a party. When the three
get shipped to Bergon Belson, Manja and Ina find themselves in the same
barracks. Determined to have Ina for his
own, he gets a divorce from his wife at the camp.
Although the story sounds unconscionable considering
the circumstances, I found it very profound and sad. Based mostly on letters that the two wrote
each other before freedom spared their lives, Jack and Ina did what they could
to keep their wits while their world was crumbling around them. Of the documentaries in the festival, this
may be the best. The film will be shown
at the Cinema Paradiso during the last week of the event. Please go on line to www.fliff.com for dates and show times.
Some of these sound really great. Will these be coming out for regular release at the theaters? |
