“In The Bedroom,” starring Sissy Spacek, will screen Friday, Oct. 12, at 9:30 p.m. in the Music Box and Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 8:45 p.m. in Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema. It traces the devastating consequences of tragedy on an upper-middle-class American family. Against a sweet summery Maine backdrop, the portrait of family and community develops, only to be suddenly shattered by a single violent act. In its wake, a family struggles with their different reactions to pain, grief and emptiness.
What is this year’s film festival all about? “Our goals and motivations are no different than previous years, but this year may feel like there is a sense of the shared experience with the directors’ different point of view,” stated festival program coordinator, Helen Gramates. “There are timely films like one from Iran that shows Afghan refugees, and an American independent film, ‘The Mad Songs,’ directed by Fernanda Hussein, that explores the post effects of the Persian Gulf War within a group of people.
“On the other hand there are delightful films like ‘Water Boys,’ about a Japanese, male synchronized swim team and the French film, ‘Amelie,’ about a mischievous waitress who helps her neighbors,” continued Gramates.
“ There is a wide range of experiences for Chicago’s diverse audience.”
Gramates noted three favorites including, “What Time Is It Anyway,” a Taiwanese film with some funny moments, “Night Shift” from France, a drama about two blue collar men and their antagonistic relationship, and “Quartet For Two,” a bittersweet family drama with surreal and comedic overtones, starred in and directed by Naota Takenaka.
Other notable film festival programs include the New Japanese Cinema, which celebrates the diversity of filmmaking in Japan. From established masters to manga (Japanese comics) influenced stories, this cross-section spans age, gender, genre and aesthetics to cover the full range of the Japanese experience. There are seven films in the series from which to choose.
The New Latin America Cinema program, with political censorship a thing of the past, presents a new generation of filmmakers, combining sociopolitical commitment with an strong desire to connect to audiences.
This year’s black perspective series includes a tribute to Halle Berry with two panel discussions focusing on the future of Black Film Making.
This year’s film festival web site is the best ever.
It offers easy-to-access updates on schedule changes, film synopsis, locations and times. You can even create your own personal schedule on line at www.chicagofilmfestival.com .
Be adventurous! Go see something from a country less familiar to you. Before you go, take a good look at the program schedule for films that have done well at other festivals.
Tickets can be purchased at the Festival Store, located inside Borders Books, 2817 N. Clark St. (across from the Landmark Century Centre Cinema), or Ticketmaster at (312) 902-1500.
Terry Jinks is a voting member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and film critic for Inside.
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