Lance Around Orlando

The Salt of Life

The Salt of Life is about a lonely man. Gianni, retired and middle-aged, is transparent to woman, not that it should matter because he’s married. His friend convinces him he can still have a romantic relationship with other woman and he becomes somewhat obsessed to find a girlfriend or lover. This film had some funny parts but overall I agree with the comments I heard from the audience after the film which was it was a very “slow movie” and “I was bored 90% of the time.” I wish I could write more, but the movie was really just okay.

The line of people waiting for The Brookyln Brothers

After The Salt of Life, I planned on seeing Shorts #1: “It Takes Two.” When I got outside the theatre, I looked at the line that was forming for The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best and I switched my gears. This was the first film, besides opening night, that I saw the line wrapped around and people waiting to get in. Despite an extremely annoying man chewing on his ice in front of me the whole movie, this was the best film I’ve seen at this year’s FFF. The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best was brilliant and funny. The only thing I didn’t like about the film was the one editing error I saw towards the beginning of the film when Alex, the main character, destroyed his phone.

Ryan O'Nan, Director, Writer, and Actor

After the film we had a Q & A session with Ryan O’Nan, the director, writer, and star of the film. He was extremely down to earth and funny; he even dropped the f*bomb three times. The film was sponsored through private equity, filmed solely in Maryland, cost a total of $625,000 and took just 18 days to film. Ryan said “I wrote it [the film] for myself.” When it came down to casting, “a lot of people said ‘no,’ which is always hard.” He went on to say “everything I’ve ever done, I learned through books.” He believes if you’re passionate about something just “push your way through it. Go after it and live; put your life into it.”

Ryan was in a band for 4½ years that toured the country. Because of the movie, he’s proud to say “we’re a band now and got a record deal through Warner Brothers Music.” This probably had to do with the fact that he wrote a majority of the songs for the film.

I couldn’t have been happier to see this film and it’s rated #1 on my 2012 FFF list. Unfortunately, tonight was the second showing of the film, so if you missed it, you missed a great film.

King's Point

The Olympian
In the late 1800′s Thomas Edison filmed a man who is considered the father of modern bodybuilding. This film is a simple juxtaposition of that film and a modern bodybuilder of today. Short. Fascinating. Well conceived.

Kings Point
If we’re lucky, one day we’ll be old. Ever wonder what life will be like then? This film gives a glimpse of life in a retirement community in Florida. Stark. Realistic. Beautifully filmed. Informative.

Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest
This short features the true story of Ingrid Pitt’s escaped from a Nazi concentration camp. Ingrid went on to become a famous actor. This was her last project. It was made in collaboration with famous shorts animator Bill Plympton. Most impressively, it was animated by a 10 year old.

The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
This film shows heart wrenching, live footage of the March 2011 tsunami in Japan. Then the survivors are interviewed. After which, the filmmaker explores the powerful symbolism of the cherry blossom to the Japanese culture. Many ancient cherry trees survived the tsunami and their “rebirth” is held up as the epitome of the Japanese struggle to survive and overcome this horrendous disaster. NumberOneSon said this was his favorite of the four shorts.

Audience Response
“I cried three times and smiled at the same time,” reported Jessica Gasparolo. 

“I Loved the cherry blossom one–kinda showed the worst of nature and the best of human nature,” Said Harriett.

“I would say that the shorts have been just outstanding this year. We liked a lot of them,” claimed Helen and John Steele. They went on to discuss several of the shorts programs. They agreed with me that Shorts 1 was absolutely fantastic. While I loved The Other Side, they were more fond of High Maintenance.

It’s a testament to the diversity of the FFF that the one they liked the most, was the one that I thought was the least of all the Shorts 1. Don’t get me wrong–I really enjoyed High Maintenance–it’s just that I liked the other six even better.

But isn’t that what the FFF is all about–Different people, different opinions, thoughtful and provocative films for everyone to enjoy, analyze and review.

I love it!

Do You Know if Paul Williams is still Alive?

I have fond childhood memories of sitting with my father and watching classic 70s TV shows, like the comedy/variety show Laugh-In. I remember Paul Williams. A short, charismatic character who always made my dad laugh.

A documentarian considers making a movie about this iconic personality of the 1970’s. Paul is most noted for writing mega song hits such as Evergreen, We’ve Only Just Begun and my personal favorite (sung by none other than Kermit the Frog) The Rainbow Connection. The filmmaker knows that Paul battled alcohol and drug addiction. Then he just disappeared. “He died too young,” the filmmaker laments. 

Problem is, Paul’s not dead yet. So the filmmaker tracks him down and spends over two years filming him for his documentary.

This is touted as one of the better films at this year’s FFF, so I’m surprised to see such a small crowd. Not surprisingly, the crowd appears to be slightly older than usual. Is this because the subject was popular back in the 70s? Does anyone younger than 40 even know who Paul Williams was?, uh, is?

I ask an older gentleman if he would like to be interviewed for the blog. He curtly tells me, “No I don’t.” Normally, I can engage a few people as they enter and exit the theatre. For this show, very few of them even make eye contact with me.

The movie is good.  Just good. Paul Williams makes for a great subject. But on some level the movie does not work. As I watch it, I find myself getting drawn in and drawn…then, the filmmaker puts himself in the movie and…Poof…I’m out of the movie now. Then there’s more about Paul and again I’m drawn in, drawn in and…Poof…the filmmaker gets into the film again.

This is not working. 

I think about Michael Moore. He puts himself into his documentaries all the time. But I don’t have the same experience. Why is this not working?

I never do figure it out. But the film, at least everything about Paul, is so fascinating that I can easily recommend this documentary. And as patrons exit the theatre, I hear a lot of positive comments.

 “That was good,” says one guy. “It was interesting,” says another. Still one more is overheard saying, “I really liked it.”

Scott Abrahams takes a moment to give this review, “Good, I got a little bored here and there. It was a little more about the filmmaker than about him. I would like to have seen more about the songwriting process.” He goes on to tell how he was disappointed that the movie was scheduled for 9pm but the chalkboard outside the theatre said 9:15 so he missed the first seven minutes of the movie.

Another member in the audience was discussing the directorial decisions of Stephen Kessler, the filmmaker, with three others who saw the movie. The conversation gets pretty animated—a sign that the film succeeded in eliciting a response, which is usually a good sign. One woman says, “Because it’s Paul Williams, I want to give it a 4+, but because of the filmmaker, I want to give him a 3.”

I stop one of the audience members on his way out of the theatre. I discover he’s also a documentarian who has a film at this year’s FFF. I ask for more feedback on the movie. “Let me just say, I don’t appear anywhere in my documentary.” He’s reluctant to say more because he doesn’t want to disparage a fellow filmmaker. I ask him what he thinks of Michael Moore. That gives him pause. “With him, it works,” he concludes.  “But for this movie it didn’t work.”

However, he insists on ending the interview on a positive note about a fellow filmmaker, “After seeing this movie, I want to know more about Paul Williams.” “So you liked it?” I inquire in an overly obvious attempt to illicit a negative response I can attribute to him. He pauses, smiles, and tactfully retorts, “I liked Paul.”

And that, in a nutshell, is this movie.

Some of the Girl Models Waiting to Audition

One night as I lay in bed listening to the snoring of my dog, I start flipping through the nothingness of cable TV at 2 am. I stop on ‘Dance Moms.’ I watch reality TV occasionally, but mostly shows on MTV that involve challenges and crazy drunk people. I really wasn’t interested in this show. But it was like a train wreck and I couldn’t turn it off. After about three plus hours I was hooked. So when I saw the preview for Girls Models and First Position, I just had to see them.

I needed to know if all dancers and models were just as obsessed and crazy as in the reality TV show. Within minutes of the film starting, the model agency stated a good model starts between 5 to 10 years of age. I immediately thought, “what 5 year old should be modeling and watching what they eat?” It seemed extremely crazy to me.

The film focused around Nadya Vall, a 13 year old from Siberia, who wanted to be a model and help her family from the financial hole they were in. Missah, the owner of Switch Models, believes he’s saving these young girls. He believes the younger the better because ‘youth is beautiful.’ He promises these girls a life of luxury and wealth for their families, and they end up in more debt than before they left.

Girl Model

Ashley Arbaugh is an ex-model who now selects the ‘right’ models for jobs in Tokyo, Japan. She believes the business of modeling has no weight because it changes minute to minute. She also said most girls turn to prostitution because it’s easier than modeling and not considered a terrible thing in a lot of countries.

Both myself and the audience were in complete shock after the film ended. Once the lights in the theatre turned back on, there was a lot of talking behind me. Some of the general comments where “that was a pick me up, huh,” and “I couldn’t even imagine being 12 or 13 in Japan not knowing where to go.” These girls were promised something, and given something completely different. They weren’t with their parents, didn’t speak the language, and didn’t even get paid for the modeling work they did. Their contract could be changed on a day to day basis. If they gained more than 1 inch on their waist, their contract was voided. I have no idea what parent in their right mind would exposure their child to such extreme measures. The girls would cry, talking to their parents, asking to come home.

Before the film I was speaking to some of the volunteers. Doris said she read the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and said the majority of the people said this film was “sad and depressing.” After seeing this film, I would have to agree. No part of what Noah Models was putting the girls through would I ever subject my child to. The company talked about how they always get their girls work and they never leave in debt; yet we didn’t see any girl happy or making money. It’s all just a lie and I have no idea why Missah believes he’s saving these girls lives.

The opening short The Odysseus Gambit was just as sad. Saravuth Inn was one of the babies from Cambodia that was air lifted to the U.S. He has no home and plays chess for money. When I got to the end of the film, I asked myself, ‘what was the point?’ The only conclusion I came to was life is a game of chess. Again, not one of my favorite shorts.

If you’re looking for some sad, depressing movies, be sure to catch Girl Models and The Odysseus Gambit. Instead, take some advice from Doris and see Mamitas to watch someone “grow into adulthood right before your eyes.” She believes the film opens up to you and you “start believing something and end up believing something else.”

Overall, the two movies I saw tonight were nowhere near my favorite films at this year’s festival. Disappointing.

Beware the Big Bad Mouse! A Film for Children of All Ages

My lucky number is 3.

And, today, I went to see 3 movies. Coincidence? I think not!

The Gruffalo’s Child, was the most adorable short film I’ve ever seen! It made me smile most of the time, and cry the other few times; just as all good stories should. The voiceover in the movie was effective and beautifully put together. I absolutely loved it! It seems they did the right thing when turning this children’s book into an animated film. It only makes me wonder where these animators were when things went wildly wrong with certain things regarding a certain children’s book I cared about that was turned into a certain movie a few years back which was absolutely horrible.

A Film For Older Children and Up

The film that followed was The Cat in Paris. This animated film was certainly meant to be a movie for young children. Yet, I loved this one too! However, there are some violent scenes with thieves kidnapping a child and threatening her as well as some strong language. Even still, I think that any child over ten would really enjoy the interesting hand-drawn animation and action.

A Film For Teens

The final movie of the day was Magic Valley. This is definitely not a movie for the kiddies. However, it’s perfect for an angsty teen like me. While, I have no idea what the director had against fish, this was incredibly well put together for a first film. (There were a LOT of dead fish in this movie–including fish being chopped up by lawn mowers and fish being blown up by firecrackers!) I loved how the movie left you guessing. This who-dunnit film was something that I enjoyed and I’d recommend it if you’re into murder mysteries.

When the movies were over, LanceAround and I had a great opportunity to speak with an intern who had helped work on Magic Valley. He told us stories about how it was around 16 degrees during the filming of one of the scenes! I feel awful for the child actors who had to go into the freezing river water during the filming!

This intern was lucky to work on such a great film. It was wonderful to get behind the scenes detail on what happened during production. It reminds me why I love to go to the FFF. You get the opportunity to meet the people who create such art.

All in all, this was probably one of the best days I’ve had at the festival so far. I hope to enjoy more days like this. Still, it was my lucky day 3. So, who knows?

Mohamed Fellag as Monsieur Lazhar

As Day 2 comes to a close, I realize my misgivings about this year’s festival were unfounded. It has turned out to be one of the best days I have ever had at the FFF. I decide to see one last film and interview a few more festival patrons.

Doris says Mamitas was great. I agree. Jason says he is with a great date. I’m not sure if that means he has paid any attention to the films or if he is just trying to impress her. Whatever, it’s time to go into the theatre for my last movie of the day.

Monsieur Lazhar
The theatre is almost at capacity. It’s been so busy this year that most films are getting started incredibly late. This is very unusual at the FFF. But I don’t see how it could be avoided. Just exiting the theatre from Mamitas took about 10 minutes because the patrons couldn’t push past the crowds outside the theatre waiting to enter to see Monsieur Lazhar. As I look over the auditorium, I see something unique in a movie theatre. Every seat across each row is completely filled. None of them are empty. Usually, at a normal movie, there are gaps between parties. Not at the FFF. Is it the common bond of love for film that allows us to feel comfortable sitting closer to one another?

The lights dim and Monsieur Lazhar begins. This film was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film last year so it’s very popular. A hush falls over the theatre…

The movie is very well done. The title role requires just the right touch of subtlety and depth. Mohamed Fellag provides a sublime performance that is a joy to watch. It’s a good film. I didn’t think it lived up to all the accolades that preceded it. The story was somewhat simplistic yet very moving. Others in the theatre were even more impressed.

“It was great.” “Very moving,” said Kasey and Colleen.

“I thought it was excellent, I liked it,” noted Dawson. “It was a very touching story.”

“Films like this should go beyond best foreign language and into best picture,” said Ken.

A trio of women approach me as I’m conducting my interviews. “It was touching,” said Flora Torra. Her friend, Therese Murphy, confirmed that was her real name and went on to say, ”it was beautiful.” “It was moving,” chimed in Rosario. Then, turning away from the film Flora blurts out, “These are great names for a blog,” referring to Flora, Therese and Rosario. “No one’s ever heard of these names.”

“It was beautiful. It was peaceful. And it had a fabulous message,” said Kerry. Her friend Sandy replied, “You said it all. I loved it.”

For me, I loved this day at the FFF and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

From NumberOneEmber
Everyone seems to love Monsieur Lazhar. Well, I must have missed a major component of it. While the story was touching, there didn’t seem to be any other point, besides having to say “goodbye” even when you never want to go–or let go. It’s possible that this is just what everyone else loved about the film, but I, being a person who’s had to say goodbye far too many times, didn’t react nearly as emotionally as many other audience members. After a second viewing, I’m sure I can more accurately explain my reaction, or non-reaction, to this Oscar-nominated foreign film.

From ThatGuyRoberto
Monsieur Lazhar made me feel like I’ve been stabbed in the heart. The heaviness, overall, made me feel empty. Yet at the same time, it made me realize that every moment of every day with everyone is priceless. I can’t say any specific part made me feel this way, just the movie overall. It was powerful–extremely powerful. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone I know simply for the message of it.

Kumare
I think it will be a long time before this film finds its rightful place within my heart and my mind. It’s a simple documentary by an Indian, Hindu man—Born and raised in New Jersey—Who has come to believe his religious family’s beliefs are totally bogus. To prove it, he “becomes” a guru of a made up religion and plants himself in Arizona where he entices 14 different people to become his disciples.

Then, he tells them who he truly is. At least, he tries to. In his own way. But, in my opinion, he does so in a way that is significantly more dishonest than honest.

I won’t say any more about what happens in the film. You really should see it. But I will talk about how it continues to affect me. Because it does.

At the heart of this documentary is the reality that Vickram Gandhi, the swindler who created the character of Kumare, is a fraud-pure and simple. In fact, he’s so good at being a fraud, he appears to even con himself into believing he has done some good by perpetrating this fraud.

L. Ron Hubbard is famous for saying, “If you want to get rich, start a religion.”  Apparently, he said that some time before he founded the “religion” of Scientology and then went on to become extremely wealthy.

In a similar vein, Vickram seems unable to face his own duplicity. When it comes time to “expose” his falsehood, he does so in a way that clearly allows both himself and his followers to latch on to “the truth” behind the lie–a convoluted concept which attempts to portray him, not as the perpetrator of a fraud, but as a bearer of the truth that if he can become a guru, then everyone has it within themselves to become a guru.

Suddenly, not only are both he and his followers embracing this concept, some people who watch this documentary seem to fall for it as well.

Personally, I try to detach myself from the hype. Being as objective as I can be, I observe this phenomenon. Are we, as humans, so desperate to find meaning in our lives that we’re willing to toss out reason and common sense and fall for something like this?

These are the thoughts I have as I watch both the movie and the reactions to it. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Mamitas
I can never figure out why a movie like this doesn’t make it into wide release, while movies like American Pie make a ton a money. Is it because this movie is too real? Too True?  Are most movie watchers like Kumare’s students—too eager for an escaped from reality that they are willing to see…or believe..the most ridiculous tripe?

I just don’t know. But I do know this. If you love good film. If an intelligent story appeals to you. If you’re the kind of person who is open to discovering truth about humanity, then a movie like Mamitas is worth a look.

Where Does Reality Begin and End?

My day was all planned out, after An Affair of the Heart I planned on going to see The Gruffalo’s Child, which looked super cute (opposite of my normal slasher film). While waiting for An Affair of the Heart to start, I run into LanceAround. I ask him where the Garden Theatre is located (so I don’t get lost again like last year), and he tells me an additional 45 minutes away. Since I already live about 2 hours from where the FFF is held, I changed my plans a bit.
 
I look at the schedule and decided upon Kumare, which I originally did not plan on seeing at all during this year’s festival. Before Kumare starts, Peggy announces that the short Maurice will precede the feature. She gives the audience a disclaimer that it has some nudity and that it’s about the last porn cinema in Paris. This short did not capture my attention, and the nudity that was shown was not needed or classy, since it just used as a backdrop behind the cinema owner. I couldn’t wait for it to end and for Kumare to start. 
 
Kumare is about a self appointed ‘guru.’ Vikram Gandhi (Kumare) grows out his hair, uses his grandmother’s accent and goes undercover to start a following. His point is to prove that no one is more spiritual that anyone else. He made up chants and taught nonsense rituals that people followed with no questions asked.
 
This ‘religious belief’ was reported to be the longest prank ever documented. The point behind the film is that you don’t need anyone outside yourself to make you happy.
 
I was actually shocked by this film as I didn’t really want to see it. It captured my attention and really made me think about people and society. What are people thinking? What makes someone follow a person or religion? As Vikram said, most gurus and spiritual leaders a full of it, and I completely agree. You shouldn’t need a religion or person telling you that you can have personal happiness; you just need to recognize the guru within yourself.

These People (with NumberOneEmber and ThatGuyRoberto) Willingly Follow a False Prophet. Why Would They Do That?

Upon entering the Film Festival, I notice three oddly dressed people. Two guys and one girl were all dressed as, what I assumed to be, hippies. They all had beards–even the girl! I approached them and just had to ask what they were doing here dressed like this.

“We’re promoting Kumare,” Shriyantha Wimalasekera explains.

I hadn’t heard of this particular movie, but Chelsea -adorning the lovely false beard- explains to me that it’s a movie about a man who wants to “teach people to be their own guru. He’s a false guru and teaches people his own teachings. His own techniques are called Kumare and he’s made his own website of the false teachings called Kumare.org.”

“It won the audience award at SXSW in California and this is the east coast premier,” adds Jeffrey Pennett.

Maybe it was my spiritual upbringing, but I have to admit I was rather intrigued. So, I ask Shriyantha what he thinks of the movie.

“Kumare’s way of life is a reflection of yourself. It has strong support and it won’t disappoint; it’s not possible.” He says.

After a quick picture, they inform me that the director and star of the movie is going to hold a Skyped Q and A at the Tuesday showing. “He’s a spectacle,” says Jeffrey, “and you can italicize that.” (So I did.) It’s too bad I have school that day.

With that, I bid them adieu and head to Shorts 1. I ask Stuart, the guy standing next to me, if he had seen the shorts and what he felt about them.

He said, “I like shorts. You see a lot of creative stuff and if it’s terrible, it only lasts a short time.”

I completely agree. Although, many of the shorts in this program weren’t short enough. I’ll admit I did love some shorts such as Queen, The Other Side and Jim & Frank. Otherwise, I’d like to just skip over that experience completely.

When those films were over, I took the “hippie” group’s advice and headed to Kumare instead of the second set of shorts (which I’ve lost all faith in). I’d like to block out the short documentary that premiered before this movie as well. However! Kumare has to be one the BEST films I’ve seen all year and was certainly the best documentary I’ve seen in my life time (as far as I can remember). I’ll save the details of the movie for you all to find out, but let me say: it’s true, this movie does not disappoint.