The DRIFT filmmakers Ben Nott and Morgan O’Neill will participate in a Q&A after the 7:10 screening at the Monica on Friday, August 2.
STAFF PICK – “Fill The Void”
Fill the Void by first time writer/director Rama Burshtein has been playing at Laemmle for a while now. And there’s a simple reason for that – it’s an exquisite piece of filmmaking.
The movie is foremost a loving portrayal and homage to haredi culture in Israel (ultra-religious Jews). Burshtein brings her hasidic community to life in rich, warm tones. Everything, specially interior space, is suffused in a welcoming, other-worldly light, as if she and talented cinematographer Asaf Sudry had uncovered a place where heaven and earth meet.
With such clear affection for her subject (Burshtein is deeply religious herself), you might think the film is one long sop to Ultra-Orthodox Judaism. You’d be wrong. In fact, Burshtein illuminates this world with nary a comment. The role of women, for instance, comes into clear focus, including the many aspects that would normally scandalize a modern, liberal audience – persistent segregation, cumbersome modesty rules, arranged marriages, etc. But Burshtein neither endorses such practices nor critiques them. This approach holds true for the film as a whole. Judgment is put to the side; in its place, the director gifts us with a profound sense of grace and acceptance.
If that’s not all, Burshtein has a knowingly deft and gentle touch when it comes to interpersonal relations. Though not lacking in passion or conviction, her characters bring us into the story with remarkable subtlety and restraint. It’s one of those films that you can see three times (and I have!) and discover it anew each time; an unseen gesture, a motivation not previously considered, an underlying theme freshly revealed. Still, despite repeat viewing, Fill the Void stubbornly defies pat summations, preserving a delicious sense of ambiguity up until (literally) the very last instant.
The sublime performance of Hadas Yaron, who won Best Actress at the Awards of the Israeli Film Academy for her lead role as the younger sister Shira, is emblematic of the cast as whole. It’s hard to imagine anyone not being moved by her performance, especially in the final scenes.
Sometimes a film shines such an intense, brilliant light upon its subject that all we can do as an audience is open our mouths in grateful wonder and appreciation. Fill the Void is such a film. You may see it (for the first or third time) at the Royal or Town Center 5 through July 11.
– Marc Horwitz
Bill Moyers’ interview with Tim DeChristopher
Beginning June 28 at the Music Hall we’ll screen BIDDER 70, the new documentary about environmental activist Tim DeChristopher, who was jailed for two years for protesting an auction of gas and oil drilling rights in Utah. He disrupted the proceeding in a novel way: by bidding on and winning leases he could never pay for.
Tim was recently released and Bill Moyers interviewed him.
Q and A with the director and cast of LIAR’S ALL
Writer/Director Brian Brightly and actors Matt Lanter (Vampires Suck, “90210”), Sara Paxton (Superhero Movie, The Last House on the Left) and Gillian Zinser (Savages, “90210”) will participate in a Q & A at the Monica on June 21.
THE GIRLS IN THE BAND Q and A Schedule
Meet the people behind the terrific new documentary THE GIRLS IN THE BAND this weekend. Here’s the schedule. All screenings begin at 11 AM:
On Saturday, June 22, there will be a Q&A with one of the subjects of the film, Roz Cron, at the TOWN CENTER 5.
On Saturday, June 22, there will be a Q&A with Director Judy Chaikin at the PLAYHOUSE 7.
On Sunday, June 23, there will be a Q&A with Director Judy Chaikin and Executive Producer Mike Greene at the MONICA 4.
THE GIRLS IN THE BAND Q and A’s this weekend
THE GIRLS IN THE BAND producer Nancy Kissock will participate in a Q&A after the 11 AM screening at the Monica in Santa Monica this Saturday, June 15.
Director Judy Chaikin will participate in a Q&A after the 11 AM screening at the Playhouse 7 in Pasadena on Saturday, June 15.
Director Judy Chaikin and Producer Mike Greene will participate in a Q&A after the 11 AM screening at the Monica in Santa Monica on Sunday, June 16.
Producer Nancy Kissock will participate in a Q&A after the 11 AM screening at the Town Center in Encino on Sunday, June 16.
DIRTY WARS’ Jeremy Scahill on Government Surveillance and Civil Liberties
With government surveillance in the news, IFC Films’ release of DIRTY WARS could not be more timely. The documentary follows investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill, author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Mercenary Army, as he traces the rise of the Joint Special Operations Command, the most secret fighting force in U.S. history.
Reason.com just posted Scahill’s reactions to unfolding events.
FREE THE MIND Q&A’s May 17-19
John Osborne, National Director, faculty, and teacher trainer for Project Welcome Home Troops, who is featured in the film, FREE THE MIND, will participate in Q&A’s after the 7:30 PM screenings Friday-Sunday, May 17-19, at the Music Hall 3 and after the 11 AM screenings Saturday, May 18 at the Playhouse 7 and Sunday, May 19 at the Monicas.
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