CineBlog

Autism: The Musical

Remaining screenings: March 8, 6:30pm (Cam 12); March 8, 5:15pm (Rep)

The title alone is an attention-grabber. The content is even more arresting: a group of autistic kids working together under the guidance of parents and teachers to put on a musical play. There are bumps and snags along the way, but the kids and their supportive adults are determined. We meet the kids, see a little of their daily lives with their parents, and watch as they learn to act, dance, and sing together while working on writing the play as a group. This film will warm your heart even as it makes you ache for the difficulties these kids and their families face in a society that doesn't understand or (as one astute parent points out) value autistic children. By turns funny and touching, "Autism: The Musical" offers an inside look at what autistic children are capable of.

Official Site: www.autismthemusical.com

D-Tour: A Tenacious Documentary

Screenings: March 1, 10:15pm (Rep); March 2, 7pm (Cal).

Plenty of folks know Jack Black is an actor, but his musical career as half of the acoustic heavy metal satire duo Tenacious D was known only to the band's cult following -- until their film, "Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny" reached a somewhat larger audience. "D-Tour" is a documentary chronicling the tour Jack Black and his musical partner Kyle Gass went on to promote the film and its accompanying album.

The behind-the-scenes footage of tour preparation, rehearsals, and song writing is wonderful, and it is fun to see Black and Gass roaming the globe, their friends and family in tow. Things get stressful when "Pick of Destiny" opens to poor box office returns, but the D rallies and put on the rest of the tour anyway, working through the strain of their biggest tour to date and Black's massive popularity. This is an up close and personal look behind the stage personas of the Princes of Hell.

Mardik: From Baghdad to Hollywood

Screenings: March 2, 4:30pm (Cam 12); March 4, 9pm (Cam 12); March 7, 4:30pm (Rep)

Mardik Martin wrote or co-wrote some of the seminal films of the 70s and (early) 80s: "Mean Streets" was one of his early screenplays, and "Raging Bull" was his last. Since then he has taught other screenwriters his craft. With "Mardik: From Baghdad to Hollywood," Martin's story is brought to the viewing public, from his early days in Baghdad (chronicled with photographs, interviews, and lively cartoons), through his time in school, to his career in Hollywood, and beyond to his teaching. There are extensive interviews with Martin, but also with his students, friends, and collaborators (including long-time collaborator Martin Scorcese). This film is a must-see for anyone interested in screen writing, Hollywood, or recent film history.

Official Site: http://mardikmartin.blogspot.com/

The Great Ghost Mountain Experiment

Past Screening

Marshall Smith, with concurrence of his wife, Tanya, determined the rat race wasn't worth the effort and decided to leave the craziness of society and live across the land like natives. They chose to settle on a remote mountain top and raise a family, in a way, a very radical alternative to struggling during the depression. Their extraordinary lifestyle took them from 1930 passed World War II. For 17 years the Smith family lived in a pseudo-native fashion. While living in self made adobe, Marshall still held a freelance writing job earning a little money which would go for necessities. Once a month he would take a trip off the mountain to Justin, the nearest town 14 miles away. He would pick up needed stuff and submit his writing.

The documentary tells of the Smith's challenge of raising three children, of making do with what's at hand, of the struggle inherent living in a waterless environment; life was tough, but something they chose to do.

Two sides rise up. One states that the self imposed exile into poverty was unnecessary and that Marshall put his family at risk for his own vanity. The other being one of praise for the willingness to be different, to escape from society demands, and be completely independent and self sufficient.

The film offers interviews from two of the three children (the third chose to separate himself from the fame of being a Smith Kid), family, friends, and town residents, all painting a piece of the picture of Marshall Smith. Was he a nutcase? Was he a visionary? You decide. He was a writer, a potter, a painter. He was adept at construction and survival. But was living in the mountains best for raising a family? Again, you decide. The documentary provides a balanced and even handed approach to keeping a family in the California desert.

Shoot Down

Next Viewing:

Friday, March 9; 1:45pm
Camera 12

Director Cristina Khuly comes to the topic of goverment/individual confrontation with sad but top credentials. On February 24, 1993, two civilian aircraft engaged in offering humanitary aid to cuban refugees crossing the Florida Straits were downed by the Cuban military. On board one of the two aricraft shot down was Khuly's uncle. She wanted to find the truth and she wanted to present the truth. Shoot Down is the result.

Khuly's documentary is a balanced and centered presentation that could have been based on emotion. It would be easy to be polerized, to take a side. But Khuly weaves through government posturing and positions, denials and reciminations and brings to the screen a believable story, pieced together from actual voice recordings of the pilots (civilian and military) , plus interviews with involved friends, family, and members of governments. Answers to the many questions raised are covered or at least strongly suggested. "Shoot Down" is a very good documentary.

Monster Camp

Next Viewing:

Saturday, March 10; 1:15pm
Camera 12

Monster camp is a documentary, a film that captured the thoughts and ideas of a growing group of game players engaged in fantasy live action role-playing through characters of their own devising. The Dungeon and Dragon denizens have moved from isolated keyboards and screens to open fields and outdoor parks. Be a hero or villian, a PC or Monster, simply be who you wish to be. While the film highlights real people engaged in fantasy fun, I missed the point. Was it selling the value of fantasy life action play or was it to humanize the computer-phile? Not sure. However, what was presented was pleasantly paced, good videography with interesting up close personal insights that provided some understanding into the mind of a gamer. Monster Camp may not be a 10, but it was entertaining.

Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness

3/3 7:00 PM Camera 12, 03/04 4:45 pm Camera 12, 3/9 11:30 AM Camera 12

This documentary is a fascinating look at the world of the urban explorer: sneaking into sewers, climbing down into abandoned buildings, poking around in ruined hospitals. From small group explorations in Iowa to a large urban exploring conference in Glasgow, Scotland, "Urban Explorers" shows us the ups and downs of this strange passtime. There are the thrills of seeing views and locations few people ever see anymore but there are also the fears of being arrested, suspected of terrorism, or even dying in an accident while exploring. This is a film not to be missed by anybody who has even a glimmer of interest in the subject.

Monster Camp

3/3 9:30 PM San Jose Repertory Theatre, 3/4/2007 6:15 PM Camera 12, 3/10 1:15 PM Camera 12

Take a trip into a foreign land: NERO Seattle, a monthly event where hardcore gamers converge on a public park and engage in live-action role playing for 48 hours straight. It's like World of Warcraft brought to life as player characters ("the good guys") and non-player characters ("the bad guys") square off and fight each other with mock weapons to see whether the good guys can save the world. "Monster Camp" takes you inside the tight-knit group of gamers during one of the biggest events of the year, and shows both the triumph and the hardship of staging such a huge event every month. This is a fascinating look into a subculture that even some geeks regard as a little too geeky for them.

Trained in the Ways of Men

3/10 7:45 PM San Jose Repertory Theatre, 3/11 4:45 PM San Jose Repertory Theatre

In October of 2002, a group of young men and women socializing in an abandoned house discovered that one of the attractive young girls they'd been hanging out and fooling around with was biologically male. The men in the group became outraged and beat and strangled the girl to death. Her name was Gwen Araujo, and the case made headlines across the nation. Director Shelly Prevost has gathered interviews from Gwen's family, experts on transgender issues, lawyers on both sides of the murder trial, and folks on the street to examine not only the events and the trial of Gwen's murderers but the implications of the murder and the way our culture views gender. What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a woman? How do we behave when our expectations are challenged?

This important film is of particular interest to Bay Area residents, as the murder took place in Newark, just a little ways up the freeway from the screenings here at Cinequest.

Holes in my Shoes

3/7 9:15 PM Camera 12, 03/08 6:45 pm Camera 12, 3/9 4:00 PM San Jose Repertory Theatre

Jack Beers has had an astonishing life, but most people have never heard of him. This hardy nonagenarian was born into severe poverty in Manhattan, found work as a strongman in his teens and was known as New York City's Strongest Boy, helped build Radio City Music Hall and the Empire State Building spire, invented a machine that shortened the second world war, and was a character actor in over 200 films. At the age of 94 he could still rip a phone book in half the hard way with his bare hands, in spite of having just barely survived congestive heart failure in his eighties. This documentary takes us on a tour through Jack's life, guided by the old fellow himself. He has the chipper attitude and lifestyle of someone half his age, and tells his stories with enthusiasm. This is a film lovers of cinema, New York, and history must not miss.

Super Amigos

3/9/2007 7:15 PM Camera 12, 3/10/2007 11:00 AM Camera 12, 3/11/2007 1:45 PM Camera 12

Mexico's Lucha Libre wrestlers are larger than life figures, their colorful costumes and masks setting them apart from the regular populace. Five men have taken advantage of this and created Lucha Libre personas that tie in with their social activism. This documentary explains the origins and describes the activites of: Super Animal, who protests bullfights and works for animal rights; Ecologista Universal, who fights against the pollution rampant in Mexico; Super Barrio, a tenants' rights activist; Fray Tormenta, a priest who inspired the film "Nacho Libre" and uses his winnings from wrestling to fund orphanages; and Super Gay, who leads gay pride marches and counsels victims of homophobia.

"Super Amigos" feels almost like a mockumentary -- its camerawork is very polished and there were obviously several camera teams working together and the animation used to show events in the past is excellent. Plus, of course, to most Americans, Lucha Libre wrestlers don't seem like the most likely social activists. The five wrestlers profiled here, however, most certainly are real and very serious about their causes.

Making it Right

One showing only! 3/7 7:15 PM San Jose Repertory Theatre

Reality TV seems to be all about making people look terrible. With a few exceptions, reality shows involve cutthroat competition, stunts and gut-churning challenges, as many incidents of bad behavior as possible, and big money prizes for the winners. "Making it Right" is an example of the exact opposite sort of reality show: one where the college student contestants compete to complete social activism challenges, and the winners get scholarships. Moreover, the crew are also college students, and learning about how to create a reality show from behind the camera.

The pacing and camerawork are uneven, which is unsurprising given that it's basically a student- and committee-created project. Furthermore, the presentations the groups of contestants give are glossed over so that we don't get to see much of the results of their hard work. This is an enticing look at what reality TV could be, but the film does not live up to its promise.

Out of Balance

3/3 1:30 PM Camera 12, 3/4 6:45 PM Camera 12, 3/7 2:30 PM Camera 12.

Global climate change is hardly a new subject for documentaries, but "Out of Balance" takes a new tack on it: what is effects are ExxonMobil, the gigantic oil company, having on global warming? Filmmaker Tom Jackson points an accusing finger at the company with this expose of its attempts to prevent the move away from using oil. ExxonMobil is the largest company in the world, and it uses its influence to shape policy in its favor.

Cynics in the audience will not find anything new here except specific facts - preaching to the choir, as they say. But those who don't know about ExxonMobil's shaping of White House environmental policy or the terrible mishandling of the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska will find their eyes opened.

The Passion of the Mao

Shows: 3/11 2:00 PM (Cal), 3/12 2:45 PM (Cam 12)

This is not an easy film to describe. It's a documentary, but it's sprinkled through with animations and commentary that verge on the absurd. The ultimate effect is a surprisingly evenhanded look at a man generally mentioned in the same breath as dictators like Stalin and Hitler. The film follows Mao Zedong from his youth as a farmer to his death as the leader of the People's Republic of China. We get to see the many fascets of the man, from his idealistic hopes for a bright future for his country to his womanizing habits and refusal to brush his teeth. The filmmakers don't shy away from his good points or his bad ones, presenting everything they have time for with no apparant agenda of judgement.

There are documentary footage, smart-alecky animations, and quotes from Mao's writing, blended together into an intelligent and irreverant portrait of a complex and historically important man. It is almost certainly unlike any documentary you have ever seen.

Sound Man WWII to MP3

Sound Man is an outstanding documentary detailing the life of Jack Mullins, a man whose simple act of preservation during World War II changed the face of recorded sound forever. A soldier, with an engineering background, Mullins comes across a captured German device called the magnetophone, a crud and sophisticated piece of recording equipment used by the Nazi's - Hitler's voice was recorded and his speeches broadcast around the Reicht. It offered a marvel of clarity in sound and editing ease and portability. Mullins took the box apart and reengineered the device for modern times. Catching the eye of Bing Crosby and others, technology began to take giant leaps in advancement. Modern recording was now on multitracks and capable of so much more, evidenced by digital recorders and iPods and home studios. This was an engaging tale of this happened making that happen, changing this to that and the other thing; sort of along the lines of "Connections" by James Burke.

I found the film well done, leaving me just a couple of questions. What genius created the original device for the Nazi war machine? How did that come to be? What lead up to it's discovery and use? I wonder about a lot of things. This is a good documentary and worth seeing - and hearing. The sound licks dropped into the film (by Les Paul, Crosby Stills and Nash, Chuck D, Greg Kihn...) are super. Enjoy.

WFC

The 'O' Tapes

The 'O' Tapes - Oh My!

This documentary is not for the timid. It's a film of interviews and video clips and graphic visuals all designed to explain the mysteries of sexuality - in particular, the female orgasm. Interviews with professors and housewives and entertainers and grad students, the subject is parlayed into an engaging story of information and understanding. What you don’t know can cause you to miss out. The discussions are frank and vivid and no punches pulled.

Walking up to one of the filmmakers at Cinequest 2006 I was accosted with the question, “Have you had your orgasm today?” And she wasn’t kidding. She wanted and expected an answer. I just didn’t know her well enough to share the details of my private life. My Victorian prudery wouldn’t unlock for that conversation. Her point, though, was that an Orgasm a day keeps one healthy. And here I was working on Red Delicious, Macintosh, and Granny apples!

I have to say I learned quite a bit. The free exchange, the casual, relaxed discussions all left me with an insight a testosterone knuckle-dragger like me could not learn without help. The film offered surprisingly candid material and graphics. Overall, quite interesting. For the topic, well done.

WFC

God and Gays: Bridging the Gap

Shows: 3/06 7:15 PM (Cam 12), 3/10 9:30 PM (Cam 12), 3/12 10:30 AM (Cal)

What's it like, the opening credits song asks us, to be gay and Christian? "God and Gays" answers the question by presenting interviews with people struggling to reconcile their sexuality or their children's sexuality with their devotion to the Christian religion. The anti-gay movement is discussed but its spokespeople are not interviewed. That makes sense, because this is not their story and their opinion of homosexuals is well known. This is a look at the people who are torn between their love for the Christian God and their love for their own gender.

The interviews range from funny to heartbreaking. There is footage from a demonstration during which a family -- mother, father, and openly gay son -- are carted away by sheriffs after reading an open letter to James Dobson, the Head of anti-gay group Focus on the Family. There are discussions with homosexual ministers and lay leaders. There is even a discussion with a formerly high-ranking member of an ex-gay movement. There are no easy answers here, and the film presents a portrait of the struggle without a definitive portrait of what the world might look like if either side wins. This is a compassionate, heartfelt look at a struggle that reaches from religion to politics.

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One

Shows: 3/04 12:00 PM (Cal), 3/05 2:00 PM (Cal)

First screened in 1968, "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One" is a film about making a film, and nobody - even the film crew, is sure what the final result will be. Will the film they're making be a documentary about filmmaking? A drama about a couple whose relationship is falling apart? Or some blend of the two? Even director William Greaves doesn't seem sure. He's just filming, going with his instincts and those of the actors.

The result is a peculiar, mind-bending look at how people behave when there are cameras focused on them. Multiple angles of the same moment run on the screen simultaneously, shifting in size. Sequences are slipped out of order, woven together in a peculiar braid of cinematography. The end result is a peculiar but effective film.

Made in 2005, "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take Two and a Half" screens afterwards, and in it Greaves and the crew return to the park where they filmed before, using similar methods to see how things have changed.

The O Tapes

Shows: 3/11 2:30 PM (Cam 12), 3/12 10:00 AM (Cam 12)

"The O Tapes" is not a film for the prudish. According to a recent study, approximately 43% of American women will experience difficulty reaching orgasm some time in their lives, and this film sets out to understand why. Unblushing interviews with women ranging from 18 to 85 years old cover sexual dysfunction, sex toys, kink, the good girl/bad girl dichotomy, and everything in between. The film approaches the touchy and difficult subject matter with a light touch, including humor with the science and letting the women speak for themselves.

Director Chris Arnold offers viewers a film that delves into the nature of female sexuality without being salacious or condemning. History, culture, science, and anecdote blend together to provide a fascinating overview of this complicated subject. Most importantly, the women are given the majority of the screen time and simply allowed to tell their stories, which are by turns shocking, hilarious, touching, and tragic. Students of feminism, culture, human sexuality, and any related subjects should definitely see this, and anyone who is a woman or who might want to have sex with a woman at some point probably should too -- though what they see might shock or surprise them.

Note: this film includes graphic images of both male and female reproductive organs and may be considered unsuitable for children under 16.

Lomax: The Songhunter

Shows 3/02 4:45 PM (Rep), 3/05 9:15 PM (Rep)

For most of his life, Alan Lomax travelled everywhere he could, lugging bulky direct-to-vinyl equipment with him to collect the folk songs of the world. He was an archivist for the Library of Congress, a position he inherited from his father, who was also a songhunter. The Lomaxes were the first to make recordings of folk music, which later became something of a craze. Lomax was a hero to director Rogier Kappers, who wanted to interview him and make that the center of the documentary. Unfortunately, by the time Kappers could interview him, Lomax had suffered a stroke which left him unable to answer the questions Kappers wanted to ask him. So, Kappers and his crew set out to learn about Lomax by tracking down the people who had sung for him all those years ago. Many were already dead, but Kappers found some who were alive. It's amazing to watch as the old recordings are played back to the people who sang them.

This is a moving and fascinating portrait of a man who was driven to preserve a dying art form. Lomax made sacrifices to pursue his dream, and he left behind him thousands of recordings from all over the world. Anyone with an interest in folk music cannot afford to miss this film.

Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party

You've seen actor Stephen Tobolowsky in something. You may not be able to place him right away, but his face will be familiar. He's been in about 150 films and TV shows so far, including "Freaky Friday," "Adaptation," "Memento," "Groundhog Day," and "Basic Instinct." His friends, we learn from this film, know him as a great teller of stories -- both sweetly touching and laugh-out-loud funny. Director Robert Brinkmann gives us a view of his good friend that most folks don't get to see, following Stephen around on his birthday as he goes for a walk, gets food ready for his party, and finally hosts his own birthday party. He is constantly telling stories, some just to the camera, others for the large and appreciative audience of friends and family at his party. Short interviews with folks who know him are interwoven with the stories so that we get a real feel for what it must be like to know this hardworking actor and teller of tales. This is a fantastic documentary, at once touching, hilarious, and utterly wonderful.

Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party

You've seen actor Stephen Tobolowsky in something. You may not be able to place him right away, but his face will be familiar. He's been in about 150 films and TV shows so far, including "Freaky Friday," "Adaptation," "Memento," "Groundhog Day," and "Basic Instinct." His friends, we learn from this film, know him as a great teller of stories -- both sweetly touching and laugh-out-loud funny. Director Robert Brinkmann gives us a view of his good friend that most folks don't get to see, following Stephen around on his birthday as he goes for a walk, gets food ready for his party, and finally hosts his own birthday party. He is constantly telling stories, some just to the camera, others for the large and appreciative audience of friends and family at his party. Short interviews with folks who know him are interwoven with the stories so that we get a real feel for what it must be like to know this hardworking actor and teller of tales. This is a fantastic documentary, at once touching, hilarious, and utterly wonderful.

I, Curmudgeon

A curmudgeon, the dictionary tells us, is an ill-tempered person full of resentment. Filmmaker Alan Zweig has been pretty bitter and curmudgeonly for a long time, and this documentary is a record of his attempt to not only define what a curmudgeon is in modern society but give curmudgeons a chance to speak up in their own company. The result is an odd string of interviews that are at times hilarious and at times more than a little sad. One gets the sense that most curmudgeons are optimists who have been disappointed a few too many times and lowered their expectations again and again in an attempt to not be disappointed again. Of course, that doesn�t work very well.

The only problem with "I, Curmudgeon" is that it's a little too long and doesn't really come to a sense of resolution. Well, and if you aren't a curmudgeon yourself, you may find it not to your taste. More than a couple people left during the showing this viewer attended, apparently overcome by the tide of negativity coming from the screen. Still, it's an interesting collection with some very witty people spouting off about their dissatisfaction with the world.

Showing with "How to be a Hollywood Player in Less than 10 Minutes," a bitingly funny and very meta take on Hollywood.

Shows 3/6, 6:30 pm (University Theater) and 3/8, 9:15 pm (Camera 12)

I, Curmudgeon

A curmudgeon, the dictionary tells us, is an ill-tempered person full of resentment. Filmmaker Alan Zweig has been pretty bitter and curmudgeonly for a long time, and this documentary is a record of his attempt to not only define what a curmudgeon is in modern society but give curmudgeons a chance to speak up in their own company. The result is an odd string of interviews that are at times hilarious and at times more than a little sad. One gets the sense that most curmudgeons are optimists who have been disappointed a few too many times and lowered their expectations again and again in an attempt to not be disappointed again. Of course, that doesn�t work very well.

The only problem with "I, Curmudgeon" is that it's a little too long and doesn't really come to a sense of resolution. Well, and if you aren't a curmudgeon yourself, you may find it not to your taste. More than a couple people left during the showing this viewer attended, apparently overcome by the tide of negativity coming from the screen. Still, it's an interesting collection with some very witty people spouting off about their dissatisfaction with the world.

Showing with "How to be a Hollywood Player in Less than 10 Minutes," a bitingly funny and very meta take on Hollywood.

Shows 3/6, 6:30 pm (University Theater) and 3/8, 9:15 pm (Camera 12)

The Search for the Captain w/ Chick Magnet

In 1987, then-mayor Tom McEnery commissioned a statue of Captain Thomas Fallon to commemorate the man's raising of the American flag in San Jose during the Mexican-American War. The statue was built, but before it could be placed on the triangular island north of a major city park, protests put the project on hold. The statue was warehoused, and didn't see the light of day until 2002, when the process of getting it situated where the public could see it set off another round of protests. The protesters call Fallon a murderer and say the land was stolen by the United States, but historians say not a single shot was fired and that many of the locals were dissatisfied with the Mexican government at the time.

Director Erin McEnery, Tom's daughter, has made a documentary examining the conflict over the statue. The issue is clearly still a sore spot - protesters up the day of the film's premier at Cinequest to hold their anti-Fallon signs and distribute leaflets. This is a fascinating look at a controversey many people -- even residents of San Jose -- aren't at all aware of.

Screens with "The Chick Magnet," a locally-made short about a guy who develops an abnormally strong attraction to women after a moment of confusion in his lab.

Shows 3/5, 3:15 pm (San Jose Rep) and 3/7, 9:30 pm (Camera 12).

The Search for the Captain w/ Chick Magnet

In 1987, then-mayor Tom McEnery commissioned a statue of Captain Thomas Fallon to commemorate the man's raising of the American flag in San Jose during the Mexican-American War. The statue was built, but before it could be placed on the triangular island north of a major city park, protests put the project on hold. The statue was warehoused, and didn't see the light of day until 2002, when the process of getting it situated where the public could see it set off another round of protests. The protesters call Fallon a murderer and say the land was stolen by the United States, but historians say not a single shot was fired and that many of the locals were dissatisfied with the Mexican government at the time.

Director Erin McEnery, Tom's daughter, has made a documentary examining the conflict over the statue. The issue is clearly still a sore spot - protesters up the day of the film's premier at Cinequest to hold their anti-Fallon signs and distribute leaflets. This is a fascinating look at a controversey many people -- even residents of San Jose -- aren't at all aware of.

Screens with "The Chick Magnet," a locally-made short about a guy who develops an abnormally strong attraction to women after a moment of confusion in his lab.

Shows 3/5, 3:15 pm (San Jose Rep) and 3/7, 9:30 pm (Camera 12).

Missionary Positions

Director: Bill Day
Cast: Mike Foster, Craig Gross, Jimmy D
World Premiere

"Missionary Position" thankfully isn't what you're thinking. The playful title is generated to grab attention. The story is of two ministers who hear a voice saying "porn." They link together a program to draw attention to the plight of those conscripted into porn use, with the intention of offering them an alternative and freedom from porn. The documentary covers two years of pressing their attempts to help others escape the addiction of porn studies.

The film was well organized and played well to their theme. There were times of doubt and depression. There were times of expectation and accomplishment. The film worked in entertaining and in educating.

A good job.

W. Fred Crow
ANG Newspapers

Missionary Positions

Director: Bill Day
Cast: Mike Foster, Craig Gross, Jimmy D
World Premiere

"Missionary Position" thankfully isn't what you're thinking. The playful title is generated to grab attention. The story is of two ministers who hear a voice saying "porn." They link together a program to draw attention to the plight of those conscripted into porn use, with the intention of offering them an alternative and freedom from porn. The documentary covers two years of pressing their attempts to help others escape the addiction of porn studies.

The film was well organized and played well to their theme. There were times of doubt and depression. There were times of expectation and accomplishment. The film worked in entertaining and in educating.

A good job.

W. Fred Crow
ANG Newspapers

Maid in America

Director: Anayansi Prado
Cast: Judith, Telma and Eva
Language: Spanish, English
World Premiere

"Maid in America" is a documentary that highlights the American experiences of three domestic workers; Judith, Telma, and Eva. The work is relentless. The work is personally demanding. The work also keeps them away from their loved ones.

The film, as a documentary was fine. Good transitions, good editing. However, the film came with a bias touching only the neutral to negative impacts of being a domestic in America. The focus was gentle but relentless, consistently pointing toward a statement of propaganda..."The workers are being exploited - Change US policy. Stop the suffering, the inequity." I was looking for the story of the maids, not politics. I was seeking to understand the ladies, not be involved in agendas.

Rating: 2 out of 5 Feathers

W. Fred Crow
ANG Newspapers

Maid in America

Director: Anayansi Prado
Cast: Judith, Telma and Eva
Language: Spanish, English
World Premiere

"Maid in America" is a documentary that highlights the American experiences of three domestic workers; Judith, Telma, and Eva. The work is relentless. The work is personally demanding. The work also keeps them away from their loved ones.

The film, as a documentary was fine. Good transitions, good editing. However, the film came with a bias touching only the neutral to negative impacts of being a domestic in America. The focus was gentle but relentless, consistently pointing toward a statement of propaganda..."The workers are being exploited - Change US policy. Stop the suffering, the inequity." I was looking for the story of the maids, not politics. I was seeking to understand the ladies, not be involved in agendas.

Rating: 2 out of 5 Feathers

W. Fred Crow
ANG Newspapers

emmanuel's Gift

Director: Lisa Lax, Nancy Stern
Cast: Narrated by Oprah Winfrey

"Emmanuel�s Gift" is a most compelling story of courage and determination.Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah's story is told in documentary form. He's a Ghanaian who rises above his disabilities - which include poverty and nonexistent personal opportunities. The filming could be better, but who cares. The story carries all the power to the screen.

Emmanuel received A Maverick Achievement Award at the festival

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Feathers

W. Fred Crow
ANG Newspapers

emmanuel's Gift

Director: Lisa Lax, Nancy Stern
Cast: Narrated by Oprah Winfrey

"Emmanuel�s Gift" is a most compelling story of courage and determination.Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah's story is told in documentary form. He's a Ghanaian who rises above his disabilities - which include poverty and nonexistent personal opportunities. The filming could be better, but who cares. The story carries all the power to the screen.

Emmanuel received A Maverick Achievement Award at the festival

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Feathers

W. Fred Crow
ANG Newspapers

Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley

Director: Nyla Adams, Laurie Trombley

"Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley" is a documentary on the life and sounds of the singer. Buckley was a man dedicated to creating music for others. Not the media, not the moguls, not the corporations. Hence, he wasn't well known in the US. This was my first experience hearing his work, seeing him perform. His is not my style, but the film was evokative and compelling. The darkness of the film added to the edgy "out there" feeling of the performer. It's a competent treatment on Buckley's life, what motivated him, and what made him.

Rating: 3 out of 5 feathers

W. fred Crow
ANG Newspapers

Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley

Director: Nyla Adams, Laurie Trombley

"Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley" is a documentary on the life and sounds of the singer. Buckley was a man dedicated to creating music for others. Not the media, not the moguls, not the corporations. Hence, he wasn't well known in the US. This was my first experience hearing his work, seeing him perform. His is not my style, but the film was evokative and compelling. The darkness of the film added to the edgy "out there" feeling of the performer. It's a competent treatment on Buckley's life, what motivated him, and what made him.

Rating: 3 out of 5 feathers

W. fred Crow
ANG Newspapers

Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary

"Wetback" is a fascinating look at illegal immigration from the immigrant point of view. There are interviews with border guards and the vigilantes that take over when the guards are stretched too thin, but the stories that hit the hardest are those of the people struggling to cross the border illegally to enter the US and make a better life for themselves here. Not that the American dream is all its cracked up to be -- interviews with immigrants who made it show a side of illegal immigration not many consider. Illegal immigrants have to be model citizens to avoid deportation, regardless of the provocation offered by bored cops and angry locals.

Even so, thousands of people attempt to cross into the US every day. This documentary is their story, showing us the difficulties and perils as well as the rare, shining triumphs. It may not change your mind on the subject, but it may change your opinion about what should be done to solve the problem.

Shows 3/4, 7:00 pm (Camera 12) and 3/6, 1:30 pm (Camera 12)

Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary

"Wetback" is a fascinating look at illegal immigration from the immigrant point of view. There are interviews with border guards and the vigilantes that take over when the guards are stretched too thin, but the stories that hit the hardest are those of the people struggling to cross the border illegally to enter the US and make a better life for themselves here. Not that the American dream is all its cracked up to be -- interviews with immigrants who made it show a side of illegal immigration not many consider. Illegal immigrants have to be model citizens to avoid deportation, regardless of the provocation offered by bored cops and angry locals.

Even so, thousands of people attempt to cross into the US every day. This documentary is their story, showing us the difficulties and perils as well as the rare, shining triumphs. It may not change your mind on the subject, but it may change your opinion about what should be done to solve the problem.

Shows 3/4, 7:00 pm (Camera 12) and 3/6, 1:30 pm (Camera 12)

Maid in America

"Maid in America" is a fascinating look at the Latina domestic workers in Los Angeles. By focusing on three of the 100,000 in the city, this film gives us a glimpse of what it's like for them all. Judith, Telma, and Eva work as nannies and housekeepers, looking after the homes and children of those with far more money than they have. Judith longs to return to Guatemala, where her children miss her terribly. Telma has looked after Mickey since shortly after he was born, and is saddened by the realization that after he's older she will probably lose her job. Eva is college educated but has a terrible time finding work as an accountant, so she cleans houses to make ends meet while taking night courses and doing temp work in her field.

We are also given a look at a co-op for illegal immigrants which lets them establish themselves as contributing members of society even though they are undocumented, and the Domestic Workers Association, which offers support and advocacy for nannies and maids. "Maid in America" is an emotional look at an all-too-often faceless group of women: the Latinas who are trusted with the homes and children of the wealthy but live on subsistence wages and are often maltreated.

Screens 3/5, 2:30 pm (University Theater) and 3/6, 2:15pm (University Theater)

Maid in America

"Maid in America" is a fascinating look at the Latina domestic workers in Los Angeles. By focusing on three of the 100,000 in the city, this film gives us a glimpse of what it's like for them all. Judith, Telma, and Eva work as nannies and housekeepers, looking after the homes and children of those with far more money than they have. Judith longs to return to Guatemala, where her children miss her terribly. Telma has looked after Mickey since shortly after he was born, and is saddened by the realization that after he's older she will probably lose her job. Eva is college educated but has a terrible time finding work as an accountant, so she cleans houses to make ends meet while taking night courses and doing temp work in her field.

We are also given a look at a co-op for illegal immigrants which lets them establish themselves as contributing members of society even though they are undocumented, and the Domestic Workers Association, which offers support and advocacy for nannies and maids. "Maid in America" is an emotional look at an all-too-often faceless group of women: the Latinas who are trusted with the homes and children of the wealthy but live on subsistence wages and are often maltreated.

Screens 3/5, 2:30 pm (University Theater) and 3/6, 2:15pm (University Theater)

We Are Dad

"We Are Dad" is an amazing look at the lives of Steven Lofton, Roger Croteau, and the children they are raising as foster parents. Lofton and Croteau took in Frank, Tracy, and Bert as infants - three HIV+ kids from difficult backgrounds. Three years ago, they brought home Ernie and Wayne as well. Lofton quit his job to look after the kids full time and manage their complex medical needs. Under the loving guidance of their two dads, these kids have developed into happy and well-balanced children.

All that is in jeopardy, though. Bert has tested negative for HIV and because he is under 14, this makes him "adoptable" in the state's eyes. Lofton and Croteau are unable to adopt him themselves because of the Florida law banning homosexuals from being adoptive parents, so the state is looking for a "normal" famiily to take Bert. "We Are Dad" chronicles the Lofton-Croteau family's past and their current fight to stay together. Simultaneously comic and tragic, this is a must-see film.

We Are Dad

"We Are Dad" is an amazing look at the lives of Steven Lofton, Roger Croteau, and the children they are raising as foster parents. Lofton and Croteau took in Frank, Tracy, and Bert as infants - three HIV+ kids from difficult backgrounds. Three years ago, they brought home Ernie and Wayne as well. Lofton quit his job to look after the kids full time and manage their complex medical needs. Under the loving guidance of their two dads, these kids have developed into happy and well-balanced children.

All that is in jeopardy, though. Bert has tested negative for HIV and because he is under 14, this makes him "adoptable" in the state's eyes. Lofton and Croteau are unable to adopt him themselves because of the Florida law banning homosexuals from being adoptive parents, so the state is looking for a "normal" famiily to take Bert. "We Are Dad" chronicles the Lofton-Croteau family's past and their current fight to stay together. Simultaneously comic and tragic, this is a must-see film.

The Armwrestler from Solitude

Far in the north of Sweden, the town of Ensamheten (Solitude) is home to sixteen people. All of them are related, and ten of them are competitive armwrestlers. Heidi Andersson, a four-time world champion, works hard alongside her cousins, aunts, and uncles during the day, and trains with them at night after dinner. Heidi's father is her coach, and he travels with her to both competitions and the trade shows and stores where she gives demonstrations and signs autographs to finance her competition. "The Armwrestler from Solitude" follows Heidi as she trains for her biggest fight yet: the Russian team at the Canada World Championships.

This is a fascinating look at the passion it takes to be the best at something. Although athletic documentaries are nothing new, Heidi's unique background and unusual sport make this a real gem.

The Armwrestler from Solitude

Far in the north of Sweden, the town of Ensamheten (Solitude) is home to sixteen people. All of them are related, and ten of them are competitive armwrestlers. Heidi Andersson, a four-time world champion, works hard alongside her cousins, aunts, and uncles during the day, and trains with them at night after dinner. Heidi's father is her coach, and he travels with her to both competitions and the trade shows and stores where she gives demonstrations and signs autographs to finance her competition. "The Armwrestler from Solitude" follows Heidi as she trains for her biggest fight yet: the Russian team at the Canada World Championships.

This is a fascinating look at the passion it takes to be the best at something. Although athletic documentaries are nothing new, Heidi's unique background and unusual sport make this a real gem.

Missionary Positions

When Mike Foster spoke with God, God gave him his mission in a single word: Porn. Mike and his friend Craig Gross, both pastors from California churches, started xxxchurch.com, an anti-porn site offering everything from a prayer wall bulletin board to software to help porn addicts break the habit. "Missionary Positions" travels with them on research expeditions (to Amsterdam's red light district, among other places) and in their attempts to get the word out about their site via ads, talk shows, speaking engagements, and media spots. They struggle to make their message heard, and ironically find theselves making a successful ad for the site with a porn director who doesn't like the way the industry is going. They're doing their best to fight the good fight, and this documentary gives us an inside look at just how difficult that can be.

Screens 3/11, 9:30 pm (Camera 12) and 3/13, 4:30 pm (Camera 12).

Missionary Positions

When Mike Foster spoke with God, God gave him his mission in a single word: Porn. Mike and his friend Craig Gross, both pastors from California churches, started xxxchurch.com, an anti-porn site offering everything from a prayer wall bulletin board to software to help porn addicts break the habit. "Missionary Positions" travels with them on research expeditions (to Amsterdam's red light district, among other places) and in their attempts to get the word out about their site via ads, talk shows, speaking engagements, and media spots. They struggle to make their message heard, and ironically find theselves making a successful ad for the site with a porn director who doesn't like the way the industry is going. They're doing their best to fight the good fight, and this documentary gives us an inside look at just how difficult that can be.

Screens 3/11, 9:30 pm (Camera 12) and 3/13, 4:30 pm (Camera 12).

Awful Normal

Director Celesta Davis
Subject: Sexual Abuse hidden under normalacy

winner of the Cinequest 2004 Documentary Film Award

The story traces Celesta and sister Karen's personal, heart rending journey through their discovery of why bad things happend to them as children and why what happened remained hidden...for 25 years!

The driving question that forced them into uncertain but compelling waters, was "WHY?" They had to know why a family friend exposed their innocence, why he remained in their social circle, and why the problem wasn't address nor solved.

Director Davis simply told me that, "The film had to be made. This story had to be told."

Silence isn't the answer. And victims should not be made to feel guilty. This very serious and sinister problem should not be driven into hidding. Davis' film helps bring an awareness to the table that is touching and compelling. Hurrah for the Davis sister's bravery in facing such dark corners and painful memories and for sharing them with so many.
###

Awful Normal

Director Celesta Davis
Subject: Sexual Abuse hidden under normalacy

winner of the Cinequest 2004 Documentary Film Award

The story traces Celesta and sister Karen's personal, heart rending journey through their discovery of why bad things happend to them as children and why what happened remained hidden...for 25 years!

The driving question that forced them into uncertain but compelling waters, was "WHY?" They had to know why a family friend exposed their innocence, why he remained in their social circle, and why the problem wasn't address nor solved.

Director Davis simply told me that, "The film had to be made. This story had to be told."

Silence isn't the answer. And victims should not be made to feel guilty. This very serious and sinister problem should not be driven into hidding. Davis' film helps bring an awareness to the table that is touching and compelling. Hurrah for the Davis sister's bravery in facing such dark corners and painful memories and for sharing them with so many.
###

The Conscientious Objector

Director Terry Benedict
Subject: Desmond T. Doss - the first noncombatant ever to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The film won the DbyD award (film produced only on digital);
Mr. Doss (now 85) was in attendence at the world primeire of the film and received the Maverick Spirit Film Award

Doss was a man incapable of using a weapon by personal interal governing values. He was a man incapable of working on the Sabbath, again, by personal values. Doss became a medic in the US Army. Enduring tremendous villification by his peers and the Army which he served, his courage was highlighted by his constant acts of bravery, putting himself at risk in order to save the lives of "my men," those that wished him drummed out of the service.

This is an extraordinary film. In editing, in content, in narration, in cimematography, in composition, in story dynamics...it all comes together into one tight, powerful, and touching package. Hurrah for the human spirit!
###

The Conscientious Objector

Director Terry Benedict
Subject: Desmond T. Doss - the first noncombatant ever to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The film won the DbyD award (film produced only on digital);
Mr. Doss (now 85) was in attendence at the world primeire of the film and received the Maverick Spirit Film Award

Doss was a man incapable of using a weapon by personal interal governing values. He was a man incapable of working on the Sabbath, again, by personal values. Doss became a medic in the US Army. Enduring tremendous villification by his peers and the Army which he served, his courage was highlighted by his constant acts of bravery, putting himself at risk in order to save the lives of "my men," those that wished him drummed out of the service.

This is an extraordinary film. In editing, in content, in narration, in cimematography, in composition, in story dynamics...it all comes together into one tight, powerful, and touching package. Hurrah for the human spirit!
###

Long Tack Sam

The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam
Director Anne Marie Fleming

This documentary is a wonderful must-see.

Wanting to discover the life and times of her great-grandfather, Anne Marie Fleming went searching into the interesting and varied past of Long Tack Sam's history. And there were discoveries.

Sam was in show business and worked with Laural and Hardy, Orson Wells, and opened for the Marx Brothers. Harry Houdini tried to recruit him. His talents were known throughout the US and Europe, yet oddly, not so much in his homeland of China.

The cinematography was wonderful, the use of animation and narration a delight. This is a very nice nostalgic visit into the past.

By the way, the film will be shown again at the upcoming Asian Film festival in San Francisco. It's worth the effort.
###

Long Tack Sam

The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam
Director Anne Marie Fleming

This documentary is a wonderful must-see.

Wanting to discover the life and times of her great-grandfather, Anne Marie Fleming went searching into the interesting and varied past of Long Tack Sam's history. And there were discoveries.

Sam was in show business and worked with Laural and Hardy, Orson Wells, and opened for the Marx Brothers. Harry Houdini tried to recruit him. His talents were known throughout the US and Europe, yet oddly, not so much in his homeland of China.

The cinematography was wonderful, the use of animation and narration a delight. This is a very nice nostalgic visit into the past.

By the way, the film will be shown again at the upcoming Asian Film festival in San Francisco. It's worth the effort.
###

Sheriff

Directed by Daniel Kraus

Sheriff Ronald E. Hewitt of Brunswick County, North Carolina is a very savvy man. Whether raiding an illegal video poker parlor, looking into stolen ceramic bunny molds, or running a manhunt, he is polite, deals well with the media, and gets what he wants. His rural Carolina charm is as smooth and pleasant as his gentlemanly southern accent. "Sheriff" feels like an episode of "COPS" that's actually pleasant and interesting to watch.

Although director Kraus is a bit too fond of the super-closeup and suffered from some sound difficulties while filming, this is an intriguing documentary. Hewitt is presented as a good sheriff, boss, and father, and it's easy to see why he was elected. For folks who live here in the Bay Area, "Sheriff" is also an interesting taste of what life in rural North Carolina is like.

Sheriff

Directed by Daniel Kraus

Sheriff Ronald E. Hewitt of Brunswick County, North Carolina is a very savvy man. Whether raiding an illegal video poker parlor, looking into stolen ceramic bunny molds, or running a manhunt, he is polite, deals well with the media, and gets what he wants. His rural Carolina charm is as smooth and pleasant as his gentlemanly southern accent. "Sheriff" feels like an episode of "COPS" that's actually pleasant and interesting to watch.

Although director Kraus is a bit too fond of the super-closeup and suffered from some sound difficulties while filming, this is an intriguing documentary. Hewitt is presented as a good sheriff, boss, and father, and it's easy to see why he was elected. For folks who live here in the Bay Area, "Sheriff" is also an interesting taste of what life in rural North Carolina is like.

Imelda

Directed by Ramona S. Diaz

Imelda Marcos, widow of the Phillipine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is an odd contradiction. Wife of a notorious dictator, capable of the most amazing excesses (famously, she once owned enough shoes to change pairs every day for eight years and never wear the same shoe twice), and yet completely convinced that their rule was just and that the people of the Phillipines love her. Or at least, that's how she seems.

It's difficult to tell exactly how much of the version of her life she tells is what she truly believes and how much is what she wishes were true. "Imelda" lets her tell her story herself, however, and although other people (opposition candidates, journalists jailed and tortured under her husband's reign, her children, etc.) are interviewed, the film is not biased in either direction. She is given enough rope to hang herself and it is up to the audience to make up their mind about her.

This is a fascinating portrait of a powerful woman, and well worth seeing.

Imelda

Directed by Ramona S. Diaz

Imelda Marcos, widow of the Phillipine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is an odd contradiction. Wife of a notorious dictator, capable of the most amazing excesses (famously, she once owned enough shoes to change pairs every day for eight years and never wear the same shoe twice), and yet completely convinced that their rule was just and that the people of the Phillipines love her. Or at least, that's how she seems.

It's difficult to tell exactly how much of the version of her life she tells is what she truly believes and how much is what she wishes were true. "Imelda" lets her tell her story herself, however, and although other people (opposition candidates, journalists jailed and tortured under her husband's reign, her children, etc.) are interviewed, the film is not biased in either direction. She is given enough rope to hang herself and it is up to the audience to make up their mind about her.

This is a fascinating portrait of a powerful woman, and well worth seeing.

Caballe Beyond Music

This is a delightful documentary for anyone with an interest in opera or classical music. Montserrat Caballe is widely considered to be one of the greatest female opera singers of our time, if not the greatest. She is also a great philanthropist, singing for benefits and promoting humanitarian causes.

Although the subtitles, particularly in the first half, are riddled with spelling and grammar errors, this is a wonderful look at an amazing performer. The title seems odd, however, given that for Montserrat Caballe, life is music.

Caballe Beyond Music

This is a delightful documentary for anyone with an interest in opera or classical music. Montserrat Caballe is widely considered to be one of the greatest female opera singers of our time, if not the greatest. She is also a great philanthropist, singing for benefits and promoting humanitarian causes.

Although the subtitles, particularly in the first half, are riddled with spelling and grammar errors, this is a wonderful look at an amazing performer. The title seems odd, however, given that for Montserrat Caballe, life is music.

Big Enough

Directed by Jan Krawitz
Screenings: 3/7/04 7:00 pm at San Jose Rep, 3/9/04 7:15pm at SJSU Morris Dailey Auditorium

In 1981, Jan Krawitz made a documentary called "Little People" which has run on PBS and the Discovery Channel (among others). A few years ago, she contacted one of the subjects of that documentary to ask about letting some of the footage of him run on another program, and got the idea to follow up on the other people she interviewed back in 1981.

The result, "Big Enough," mixes unused footage from the first film with new footage to show how the children and teenagers she talked to in 1981 have matured and changed. It covers all sorts of topics: what the dating scene is like for little people, the issues around having children (there's a 75% chance of passing the dwarfism gene on to offspring), and what the future may hold now that the gene for dwarfism can be spotted while a child is still in the womb.

This is an uplifting portrait of a subgroup of American society and one that folks of any size should see.

Big Enough

Directed by Jan Krawitz
Screenings: 3/7/04 7:00 pm at San Jose Rep, 3/9/04 7:15pm at SJSU Morris Dailey Auditorium

In 1981, Jan Krawitz made a documentary called "Little People" which has run on PBS and the Discovery Channel (among others). A few years ago, she contacted one of the subjects of that documentary to ask about letting some of the footage of him run on another program, and got the idea to follow up on the other people she interviewed back in 1981.

The result, "Big Enough," mixes unused footage from the first film with new footage to show how the children and teenagers she talked to in 1981 have matured and changed. It covers all sorts of topics: what the dating scene is like for little people, the issues around having children (there's a 75% chance of passing the dwarfism gene on to offspring), and what the future may hold now that the gene for dwarfism can be spotted while a child is still in the womb.

This is an uplifting portrait of a subgroup of American society and one that folks of any size should see.

The Story of the Weeping Camel

Directed by Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni
Screenings 3/7/04 4:30 pm and 3/9/04 9:00 pm at Camera One

Sometimes when a female camel has a very difficult delivery, it will shun its calf and not allow the infant to nurse. "The Story of the Weeping Camel" chronicles the lengths a family of Mongolian nomads in the Gobi desert go to in order to get a mother camel to accept her colt.

Munich film students Davaa and Falorni travelled thousands of miles of desert to find a family with large enough herds that this sort of event might happen, and they found perfection. Their lifestyle is almost completely alien to those of us who live in Western countries (although eventually the youngest boy begs his father to buy them a TV), and this slow and thoughtful treatment of a struggle to prevent tragedy is as much about life in the desert as it is about the camel.

Since its completion, this film has won awards from almost every festival at which it has appeared, and they are well deserved. The camera work is inspired, the family is surprisingly at ease in front of the camera, and it's impossible to resist the camel and her offspring.

The Story of the Weeping Camel

Directed by Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni
Screenings 3/7/04 4:30 pm and 3/9/04 9:00 pm at Camera One

Sometimes when a female camel has a very difficult delivery, it will shun its calf and not allow the infant to nurse. "The Story of the Weeping Camel" chronicles the lengths a family of Mongolian nomads in the Gobi desert go to in order to get a mother camel to accept her colt.

Munich film students Davaa and Falorni travelled thousands of miles of desert to find a family with large enough herds that this sort of event might happen, and they found perfection. Their lifestyle is almost completely alien to those of us who live in Western countries (although eventually the youngest boy begs his father to buy them a TV), and this slow and thoughtful treatment of a struggle to prevent tragedy is as much about life in the desert as it is about the camel.

Since its completion, this film has won awards from almost every festival at which it has appeared, and they are well deserved. The camera work is inspired, the family is surprisingly at ease in front of the camera, and it's impossible to resist the camel and her offspring.

Awful Normal

Directed by Celesta Davis
Screenings 3/5/04 7:15pm and 3/7/04 12:00 pm at SJSU University Theater, 3/12/04 5:00 pm at SJSU Morris Dailey Auditorium.

There are some films which are incredibly difficult to watch at times yet undeniably worth seeing. "Awful Normal" is one of these. This story of the director's quest to confront the family friend who molested both her and her sister when they were children is a profoundly powerful film. It is emotionally devastating at times but is ultimately inspirational.

Celesta and Karen Davis grew up in a very loving family, but they were molested in the 70s, when sexual abuse wasn't talked about or dealt with. Their parents' comparative lack of action was not unusual, and the fact that the two families went on as though nothing had happened was normal for the time.

Now, twenty five years later, these women are still damaged and seeking closure. Director Celesta Davis lets us follow them as they track down their molester and confront him. This is not an easy film to watch, nor was it an easy film to make. But as Celesta herself says, "too many people are affected by this issue and they don't know how to talk about it... There are so many people who live in silence."

Hopefully this amazing film will help to break that silence.

Awful Normal

Directed by Celesta Davis
Screenings 3/5/04 7:15pm and 3/7/04 12:00 pm at SJSU University Theater, 3/12/04 5:00 pm at SJSU Morris Dailey Auditorium.

There are some films which are incredibly difficult to watch at times yet undeniably worth seeing. "Awful Normal" is one of these. This story of the director's quest to confront the family friend who molested both her and her sister when they were children is a profoundly powerful film. It is emotionally devastating at times but is ultimately inspirational.

Celesta and Karen Davis grew up in a very loving family, but they were molested in the 70s, when sexual abuse wasn't talked about or dealt with. Their parents' comparative lack of action was not unusual, and the fact that the two families went on as though nothing had happened was normal for the time.

Now, twenty five years later, these women are still damaged and seeking closure. Director Celesta Davis lets us follow them as they track down their molester and confront him. This is not an easy film to watch, nor was it an easy film to make. But as Celesta herself says, "too many people are affected by this issue and they don't know how to talk about it... There are so many people who live in silence."

Hopefully this amazing film will help to break that silence.

Arakimentari

Directed by Travis Klose
Screenings: 3/6/04 9:45pm and 3/9/04 7:15pm at Camera 3

Araki is a well known (some might call him notorious) photographer based in Japan. His work is hailed as visionary and as filthy, with approximately the same intensity. It's easy to see why. Whether his subject is a flower, a person he met on the street, or a beautiful and half-naked woman, his photographs are full of emotion.

"Arakimentari" introduces Araki and his work to us, lets us hear from both his supporters and those who find his work unsettling. We get to see his photos, from shots of nature to pornography, and watch him work. His models tell us that he makes them feel comfortable and is a perfect gentleman, but he often comes across like a dirty old uncle.

This is a fascinating look at a man who has dedicated his life to his work (he has released over 350 books of his artwork) and wisely, director Klose lets us decide for ourselves what to think of Araki. Is he a genius, a monster, or maybe a bit of both?

Arakimentari

Directed by Travis Klose
Screenings: 3/6/04 9:45pm and 3/9/04 7:15pm at Camera 3

Araki is a well known (some might call him notorious) photographer based in Japan. His work is hailed as visionary and as filthy, with approximately the same intensity. It's easy to see why. Whether his subject is a flower, a person he met on the street, or a beautiful and half-naked woman, his photographs are full of emotion.

"Arakimentari" introduces Araki and his work to us, lets us hear from both his supporters and those who find his work unsettling. We get to see his photos, from shots of nature to pornography, and watch him work. His models tell us that he makes them feel comfortable and is a perfect gentleman, but he often comes across like a dirty old uncle.

This is a fascinating look at a man who has dedicated his life to his work (he has released over 350 books of his artwork) and wisely, director Klose lets us decide for ourselves what to think of Araki. Is he a genius, a monster, or maybe a bit of both?

Double Dare

Directed by Amanda Micheli
Screenings 3/5/04 7:00 pm and 3/6/04 5:30pm at Camera 3

This exuberant documentary about stuntwomen is a joy! Jeannie Epper, once the stunt double for Linda Carter on the old Wonder Woman series, grew up as part of an extended family of stuntmen and stuntwomen. Now in her early sixties, she is a grandmother and still doing stunts for a living. Although she has to fight prejudice against women in the field and assumptions about her age limiting her abilities (which it doesn't!), she refuses to retire.

Zoe Bell was the stunt double for Xena: Warrior Princess but when the series ended she found herself out of work. Moving to LA to pursue a career as a stuntwoman, she meets Jeannie and finds an ally, mentor, and role model. These two women are at opposite ends of their careers - Zoe trying to break in and Jeannie refusing to quit.

Director Micheli takes us behind the scenes of the Stunt Awards, filming for various films (including Tarantino's "Kill Bill") and it's impossible not to be fascinated by this aspect of filmmaking. Jeannie and Zoe are amazing people and it's a pleasure to get to know them. They have a genuine passion for their jobs and matter-of-fact knowlege of how to do things most people would consider insane. This won't be showing again at Cinequest, but keep your eyes out for it elsewhere!