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Martha's Vineyard Times is a weekly publication.
July 21 - July 27, 2005 Edition
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Film:
Your greatest creation is the life you lead July 21, 2005 Winner of the 2004 National Society of Film Critics Award for documentary, “Tarnation” is a wondrous achievement, a personal essay that miraculously balances despair and tragedy with an overriding air of hopefulness. Raised by a schizophrenic mother and abusive foster father, Jonathan Caouette escaped from his bleak surroundings by hiding behind a video camera. Since he was 11, Jonathan has obsessively documented himself and those around him, resulting in a stockpile of videotapes that appeared to have no certain purpose. When he discovered Apple's easy-to-use iMovie editing software, Jonathan began the arduous process of assembling the endless footage of his past. The result is an autobiographical documentary that defies description, a heart-wrenching testament to personal human spirit. Even after all that his mother put him through, Caouette heroically stands behind her, which gives “Tarnation” its unwavering soul. “Tarnation” at Katharine Cornell Theatre, Spring Street, Vineyard Haven, Saturday, July 23, 8 pm. Tickets $8, $6 for members. Call 508-696-9369 or visit www.mvfilmsociety.com.Two documentary films On Sunday, July 24, The Boston Jewish Film Festival on Martha's Vineyard continues with two unusual documentary films. “The Danish Solution: The Rescue of the Jews in Denmark” takes a look at how the Danish Jews escaped from the Nazis - more than 95 percent of the country's Jewish population survived the war. The film, narrated by Garrison Keillor, separates the truth of the Danish resistance from the myths, and the truth alone is extraordinary. In “Behind Enemy Lines,” two former friends, an Israeli police officer and Palestinian journalist, embark on an emotional journey into the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On a quest to find the origins of bloodshed, they spend a week traveling together to places which have become symbols of the dispute. Two documentaries at the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center, Center Street, Vineyard Haven, Sunday, July 24, 7:30 pm. Tickets $10. Call 508-693-0745. “There has been amazing community support,” Nancy Aronie says. “It’s like an extended family.” Last year Oak Bluffs merchant Jon Blau organized an event at the Hot Tin Roof where an early version of the film was shown to raise money so Dan could buy a van to travel in. Once the film’s fine tuning is finished, Witham, Wentworth, and Aronie hope to sell it to a network or cable company for national distribution. Dan, of course, gets in the last word. “I want this film to sell, so I can pay back my father for my house,” he says. Then he pitches his latest joke: “What do you get when you cross a dyslexic with an insomniac agnostic? Someone who sits up all night wondering if there is a dog.” Independent films spotlight social issues By Brooks Robards Interest in documentary film making is blossoming nationwide, and the Martha's Vineyard Independent Summer Film Festival (MVIFF SUMMER), now in its second season, is taking advantage of it, offering a series of issue-oriented independent films at 8 pm Wednesday evenings in the Chilmark Community Center. When possible, directors attend to discuss their work with audiences. July 27 brings a documentary by Heather Rae about Native American poet, musician, and activist John Trudell. Originally made for television, this film may not offer world-class filmmaking, but the subject is compelling. Trudell, described as dangerous because of his eloquence, speaks with messianic force about the importance of revering the earth. Rae and producer Russell Friedenberg will attend the screening. “Born Rich” follows on August 3. In this 2003 HBO documentary, director and Johnson & Johnson heir Jamie Johnson, who will attend the screening, turns the camera on his father's rich friends. Making “Born Rich” - his first film-at age 23, Johnson gains access to his subjects that would probably not be possible for other filmmakers. On August 10, the series will screen three selections in an International Shorts Program that examines the issue of children and sexuality. They include Danish director Jannek Splidsboel's “Louise and Papaya,” Dutch director Anneke de Lind van Wijngaarden's “French Kissing” and “Titties.” Also on the schedule that night is Islander Stacey Witt's "Single on Martha's Vineyard," and Witt will be present. The critically acclaimed documentary, "The March of the Penguins," also in commercial release, plays August 17 at 4 pm and 8 pm. French filmmaker Luc Jacquet has followed the annual, single-file trek of Antarctica's Emperor penguins to their inland breeding grounds. The Chilmark film series will finish August 24 with “The Real Dirt on Farmer John,” directed by Taggart Siegel. The Illinois farmer and performance artist John Peterson, who will be present to answer questions, developed a unique farming environment after his farm went bankrupt in the early 1980s, and he fell into a depression. Siegel follows Peterson's progress and creates a snapshot of a slice of America in transition. MVIFF SUMMER, which grew out of the annual winter festival of the same name, will wrap up the summer season with a special two-day discussion, “Fathers and Sons.” Independent filmmakers Jay Rosenblatt and John Badalament, along with author Terrence Real and others, will discuss how fathers and sons relate to each other. “We are basically creating an art-movie house for the community,” says organizer and filmmaker Thomas Bena. “This year the films are more nuanced. They look creatively at social issues, not through the standard template.” Films are handpicked by Bena and other members of the organization, including prize-winning filmmaker and summer Vineyarder Kate Davis, whose new film “Pucker Up: The Fine Art of Whistling,” was screened early this month. Live music is presented occasionally as a prelude to the film screening, and food from the new Scottish Bakehouse is offered for sale. E-Kaya provides a new art installation each week. Tickets available at the door for $10. Annual membership $40 (single) or $75 (couple) entitles members to tickets at half-price. For more information, visit MVIFF.com. |
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