Welcome to the weekend. The Seattle International Film Festival is here. There’s so much to see, it’s down right intimidating. First, make sure to check out Mr. Strangeways’ recommendations here. Then, here are a few more recommendations for tonight.
The Seattle International Film Festival, selections for Friday 5/20:
Paul Liebrandt: tortured food artist
A Mater of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt, directed by Sally Rowe. At 24, Paul Liebrandt was the youngest chef to ever receive a 3 star rating from the New York Times. In this documentary, the young chef demonstrates his creative process and hard work to impress critics with the opening of his latest restaurant Corton in Tribeca. Some of the menu items are eels, violets & chocolate and espuma of calf brains & foie gras–certainly not your typical bistro faire. (SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer Street, 7:30 p.m.)
Mama Africa, directed by Mika Kaurismaki. Using primarily archival footage, this documentary presents the inspirational life story of singer and political activist Miriam Makeba. Coming from a humble upbringing in South Africa, her voice was discovered by international producers. Her career was supported by a musical partnership with Harry Belefonte, and she became hugely popular in the folk music scene of the 50s and 60s. Forced into exile by the apartheid South African government, she spent four decades in the United States before returning to her home country. She basically rules, and this documentary will prove it. (Renton Ikea Performing Arts Center, 400 S 2nd St, Renton, 5 p.m.)
Outrage: Takeshi Kitano's return to the yakuza film
Outrage, directed by Takeshi Kitano, starring Beat Takeshi. What I’ve learned is that if Golden Lion winner Takeshi Kitano has a new film, you must see it. The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003), Dolls (2002), Fireworks (1997) and Sonatine (1993) are each insanely incredible, fascinating, bizarre, entertaining, violent, beautiful, elegant and comedic. His movies are truly singular experiences that are very difficult to describe. What makes Kitano even more fascinating is his alter-ego the prime-time comedian Beat Takeshi, one of Japan’s biggest celebrities and host of the incredibly popluar Takeshi’s Castle, to which he lends his name:
http://youtu.be/PGuYojcmZpI
(Egyptian, 805 E Pine St, 9:30)
Trollhunter, directed by Andre Ovredal, starring Otto Jespersen, Glen Erland Tosterud, and Hans Morten Hansen. This film is the Blair Witch Project for Norwegian trolls…and it actually looks really scary. Just watch the trailer. Trolls are totally rad.
http://youtu.be/TLEo7H9tqSM
(Egyptian, 805 E Pine St, midnight)
Non-SIFF Seattle Screenings:
Potemkin: Bolshevik sailors start a revolution
Battleship Potemkin (1925) directed by Sergei Eisenstein. Often considered the most important film ever made, Battleship Potemkin started it all. Seriously Eisenstein perfected the motion picture montage and revolutionized camera tracking shots that are taken for granted today. The Soviet propaganda film describes a Bolshevik mutiny that led to a police massacre, which became the famous “Odessa steps” scene, one of the most powerful and famous images in cinema history. If you missed this film in Film History 101, now’s your chance to get an eduction. (Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, Friday-Thursday, 7 & 9 p.m.)
Ryan Hicks is Development Manager for Three Dollar Bill Cinema, a film fan, and contributor to Seattle Gay Scene.
