Being birthed of more humble beginnings, the Nashville Film Festival seems to grow every year. Brian Owens is starting his first year as artistic director.
His goal, as stated in our interview, “is to add diversity to the festival.”
Two major competitions are being held for documentaries in 2009. One is presented due to the new sponsorship of the Documentary Channel, while the other one concentrates on documentaries solely focused on music. Narrative features will also vie for two main awards, the Dreammaker Award presented by the NaFF and Regal Cinemas, and the Lonely Seal Award from Lonely Seal Releasing. There are opportunities for filmmakers to receive other various awards, like the NPT Human Spirit Award.
A growing trend for the festival is highlighting man’s relationship to the Earth with films concerning the environment. Al Gore plays an active role by presenting his Reel Current Award toward a selection of these efforts. Those loving horror and genre films will be delighted by a festival section dubbed, “Graveyard Shift.” Experimental shorts are being represented in a section called, “Films Without Borders,” and there is an alluring segment of “outrageous” shorts entitled, “OMG WTF!”
Various celebrities will be making appearances this year. Vincent D’Onofrio is rumored to attend for the screening of The Narrows. Ben Folds and William Shatner are scheduled to attend for William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet. And as a special last-minute entry, the Director of Hustle & Flow, Craig Brewer is coming to give a sneak peek of his MTV project, “$5 Cover.” It is a series dedicated to the low-rent entertainment scene of Memphis, Tenn., from the seedy dance halls to the roller derby. All of that said, one of this year’s highlights is that distinguished actor Hal Holbook will receive the 2009 NaFF Lifetime Achievement Award, and Dixie Carter will receive the 2009 NaFF Governor’s Award. Hal Holbrook will attend the festival to receive his award and accept Dixie Carter’s award on her behalf, as she has prior obligations. They both appear in the film That Evening Sun.
Here are some reviews from a handful of the 2009 NaFF films that are up for competition:
Big River Man
Rating: 4 Pulses
Picture an overweight, middle-aged, borderline alcoholic swimming across the widest river, and you will miss the scope of Big River Man. Slovenian endurance swimmer Martin Strel swims the length of the Amazon River in this very entertaining documentary. Presenting the film are the director, John Maringouin, and the former native Nashvillian brothers, Kevin and Rich Ragsdale, who are producer and composer, respectively.
The film is recognized by Al Gore for its awareness of the need to protect the Amazon River from further environmental destruction. The excellent music and cinematography are beautifully married in Big River Man, often being quite lyrical. For me, Martin Strel conjures a strange likeness somewhere in the void between Charles Bukowski and Marlon Brando. Initially thinking the film could head into territories fabricated by Werner Herzog, it seems to unexpectedly channel the directing style of (the fictitious) Steve Zissou. Even the cast of characters seem to have similarities to the “Zissou Society” at times, all being references from Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic, of course.
Afterschool
Rating: 4.5 Pulses
I admit that after reading the synopsis about a teenage boarding school student named Robert, who is immersed in the 21st-Century media technology of You Tube clips and cell phone videos, I was a bit skeptical before screening Antonio Campos’ debut feature Afterschool. The film captures Robert’s feelings of being an outsider and his efforts to overcome his virginity very realistically. His anti-social tendencies are recognizable as they manifest toward others in the film, but Campos goes a step further.
Much of the film is framed in a way that amateurs learn to avoid from the “shooting tips” included in their mini-cam owner’s manuals. This is one aspect of Robert’s quiet rebellion, and the film references it perfectly. The feelings I had while watching this film were reminiscent of my experience from watching Michael Haneke’s powerful work, Benny’s Video, even though the acts are not quite as sinister. Afterschool illustrates the suffering from alienation and internal turmoil like nobody’s business.
Trimpin: The Sound of Invention
Rating: 4 Pulses
Director Peter Esmonde will be in attendance with his documentary about the German-born musical instrument inventor, Trimpin. Be prepared to be wowed as Trimpin, who, while reflecting on his heritage, coverts wonder and curiosity to the power of 10. The special instruments he makes are largely comprised from found objects, and they are automated in dazzling ways. He is an engineer of electronics, mechanics and sound. Moreover, he is a composer, mad scientist and sorcerer all rolled up in one. Oddly enough, the only lull for me was concerning the famous collaboration.
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison
Rating: 4.5 Pulses
Crediting my father, Johnny Cash recordings were played prominently throughout my childhood. Since then, I have never shied away from listening to any available recording or watching any available footage of the beloved artist. I can say without reservation, that the care and effort put into this tribute truly makes it rise as one of the top films I’ve seen about the life of Johnny Cash. Director Bestor Cram will be in attendance.
Vacation
Rating: 4.5 Pulses
Directed by Hajime Kadoi, Vacation is a very reflective piece of Japanese cinema. A middle-aged prison guard is embarking on his first marriage to a previously married mother, with her six-year-old son in tow. With efforts of good intentions toward his new bride and stepson, he volunteers for a role in the execution of an inmate, which in turn, rewards him with more time off for their honeymoon vacation.
The film is refreshing in many ways. It illustrates the beauty of Japanese traditions and unearths great power and tension in the quiet moments. It is a perfectly paced consideration in self-sacrifice and good faith.
That Evening Sun
Rating: 3.5 Pulses
Hal Holbrook gives a nearly unblemished performance in That Evening Sun. Aging Mr. Meechum leaves the retirement home to return to his house and farm in rural Tennessee. He finds that his son has since rented the property to a local man, which he has long despised. The drama ensues . . .
It’s always refreshing to see films about our senior society, as they are more few than plentiful. That Evening Sun takes an elder’s rights and wishes into consideration as the plot unfolds.
Pachamama
Rating: 4 Pulses
Authenticity is amazingly captured in Pachamama, a narrative feature about some indigenous people living along a salt lake in Bolivia, who also travel to the Andes Mountain Region. The film is packed with acts of kindness and good karma as they acknowledge their ancestors and Pachamama, which translates as “Mother Universe.” They are also keenly aware of the impending changes coming to their way of life due to the modernization of society.
Make Out With Violence
Rating: 3 Pulses
The spirit of independent filmmaking is captured, while putting a twist to the Zombie Genre. The premise of a boy trying to fulfill unrequited love from a girl, who was believed to be dead but has actually risen as an un-dead, is downright creative and fun. The shots are beautifully framed, as a group of friends work out their burdens of loss and their feelings for each other. A little script work would have made this effort even better.
The director and much of the cast will be in attendance for the screening of Make Out With Violence.
Shakespeare and Victor Hugo’s Intimacies
Rating: 3.5 Pulses
Credit should be bestowed upon Yulene Olaizola for taking her camera and filming at the intersection of Shakespeare and Victor Hugo Streets in Mexico City. Her efforts to uncover the mystery surrounding a former friend and tenant of her grandmother’s is truly fascinating. The enlightened Jorge Riosse was a musician, writer and painter who enriched the lives of the older women that he knew.
After his death, the women began to question whether he might have been a serial killer responsible for the deaths of 13 women in Mexico City. For what the production value suffers, the content makes up for in this commendable documentary.
Invisible Girlfriend
Rating: 3 Pulses
It is only fitting that this documentary appears in the 2009 roster, since it could be seen as a companion piece to the NaFF sponsored showing of The Passion of Joan of Arc. Afflicted with schizophrenia, Charles travels hundreds of miles to New Orleans on his bicycle to be near his “invisible girlfriend,” Joan of Arc, who is represented there by a golden statue. He also seems compelled to test the waters of tangible love by revisiting the bartender he had previously met in the Big Easy.
Invisible Girlfriend is not quite The Straight Story of primitive transport road movies, but the hospitality of strangers is inspiring.
In addition to films for competition, there are special presentations of older films, which beckon to be seen on the big screen.
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Rating: 5 Pulses
The Passion of Joan of Arc is easily one of my top 10 favorites from the Silent Film Era. The movie follows the actual trial transcripts of Joan of Arc. Maria Falconetti’s portrayal of Joan is both breathtaking and heart wrenching. Director Carl Theodore Dreyer utilized many beautiful close-ups throughout the film.
One reason that it is such a precious treasure is because the film was thought to have been lost forever. It wasn’t until 1981 that an original print was found in a janitor’s closet of an Oslo mental institution.
*Note: This film will be presented away from the NaFF site, at the Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Nashville with a live pipe organ score performed by UNC Chapel Hill organist Joseph Roenbeck.
Hands On A Hard Body
Rating: 5 Pulses
This is a very special documentary, which covered an endurance contest in Longview, Texas. The prize of a brand new Nissan Hardbody Pickup Truck was awarded to the winner, being the last contestant to remove their hand from the truck. Hands On A Hard Body is extremely funny and entertaining, but it also explores the contestants’ deep desperation and human frailties.
Clerks
Rating: 5 Pulses
The Independent Film Movement of the 1990s was a blessing for moviegoers worldwide. Kevin Smith’s blockbuster, Clerks, embodied the spirit of that movement, in which it played a major role. Profusely funny dialogue and hilarious characters made the film a true classic. It also spurned many spin-offs by the cast and crew, but the original was never to be equalled.
Crips and Bloods: Made In America
Rating: 3 Pulses
Narrated by Forest Whitaker and directed by Stacy Peralta (Dogtown and Z-Boys), Crips and Bloods: Made In America is a semi-provocative look into the Los Angeles gang scene. The film gets high marks for exploring the history preceding the gangs, a cool soundtrack and Peralta’s signature stylized visual aesthetics. Ultimately, however, the film leaves you with more questions than answers and lacks any real plausible antidotes.
The 2009 Nashville Film Festival will be held at the Green Hills Regal Cinema from April 16 – 23. All ticket purchases and film listings can be found at nashvillefilmfestival.org. Please support art and culture in Middle Tennessee by attending the NaFF’s 40th Anniversary.
See you at the movies!
