BAMcinemaFest in partnership with Rooftop Films screens Catechism Cataclysm during their annual outdoor screenings in the BAM parking lot. The Catechism Cataclysm film turned out to be a thought provoking dark comedy of self examination, faith, endless revelations and the perils of the evil unknown. Director and writer Todd Rohal, The Guatemalan Handshake brings to his audience a peculiarly funny film about a confused young priest, Father William (Billy) Smoortser (Steve Little) of Eastbound and Down who has finally come to the realization that he has lost his way in faith, the church and his priesthood. At the beginning of this bizarre yet hilarious film, Father Billy is ordered by his father superior, Father O’Herlihey, to take a sabbatical after overhearing him telling inappropriate distorted parables to his congregation. He sends Father Billy on this sabbatical to support the rediscovery of his true calling, whether it’s to the church and his priesthood or to his love for heavy metal music and his dream to be in a heavy metal band. Before starting his sabbatical Father Billy finally gets in touch with an old high school idol of his, Robbie (Robert Longstreet). After 60 plus emails from Father Billy, he reluctantly agrees to meet with him only to find out that Father Billy wants him to accompany him on an all day canoe trip. While in the men’s room at a rest stop, Father Billy drops his bible into a toilet just before embarking on their day-long canoe trip, sending him into a tailspin of hell fire occurrences. By the way, he only carries his bible for his favorite celebs to autograph. While the two are canoeing in the middle of a pointless river the two men began to reminisce about Billy's days as the keyboardist in a Christian band and Robbie's as a guitarist for a metal band in high school. During reminiscing the two men embark on a wild trip of alcohol infused self discovery. As their day starts to dissipate, Robbie notices that the two have become lost and angrily demands that they dock the boat and find somewhere warm and safe to hold up over night. As their night wears on Father Billy discovers that his rocker idol is no longer and has never been the rock god he made him out to be, as a matter of fact, he currently works as a spot lighter for the Ice Capades. During their layover, Father Billy and Robbie, the rocker encounters some of the strangest characters along the way. Including two mysterious female Japanese tourists by the name of Huckleberry Finn (Koko Lanham) and Tom Sawyer (Miki Ann Maddox) who are accompanied by a big burly bodyguard type named Jim (Rico A. Comic), who turns out to be really Tim? The bizarre humor just keeps coming as the film nears its cataclysmic finale. One of the most humorous scenes in the film is, while urinating in the woods, Father Billy is approached by Jim/Tim for confession, with one knee in Father Billy’s urine puddle. Tim begins to confess a horrible secret to the young priest. Meanwhile, back at the camp fire Huck and Finn occupy Robbie’s attention with wine and music blaring from a vintage pair of odd headphones. The rest of their trip turns out to be a cataclysmic night and next day of explosive revelations an redemption. This must see film is explosively funny in all the right places. Steve Little’s comedic delivery of such intense and touchy subject matter as religion is simply fantastic! Robert Longstreet’s brooding and bitter ex wanna be rocker straight man performance only enhances Little’s comedic timing and Rohal’s brilliant dark film of good vs. evil. In addition to the great acting, writing and direction, the film also showcases a great soundtrack that includes hard hitting heavy metal rhythms and an outrageous theme song titled: "God will f... you up" Mr. Rohal explained during a Q/A, “he wrote it as a drama, directed it as a comedy, and edited it as a horror movie.” All elements of this formula are evident and clear throughout this disturbed piece of daring cinema. IFC Midnight plans to release The Catechism Cataclysm theatrically in New York, Los Angeles and across the country in October 2011. THE CATECHISM CATACLYSM is a production of Rough House Pictures (David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, and Jody Hill).Producer: Megan Griffiths, Lacey LeavittMusic: Joseph Stephens The BamcinemaFest will be screening films through Monday, June 27, 2011
Please click on the following link for additional photo coverage:
http://sopiphotography.com/2011/06/21/catechism-cataclysm-screens-at-the-bamcinemafest-2011/
Comments