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SLIFF, day ten: Children's Film Symposium, plus Cinematic Titanic Live
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Day ten of the St. Louis International Film Festival is today, and today is special because there really is something for all ages. Besides the independent and foreign films for the adults, the free Children's Film Symposium at Washington University will be showing some movies great for both kids and grown-ups. Plus, we've got the Errol Flynn classic "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and Cinematic Titanic Live.
Event: "Princess of the Sun"
When: 10:00 AM
Where: Washington University's Brown Hall
Admission: Free
What: This animated Hungarian film directed by Philippe Leclerc takes place in ancient Egypt, where 14-year-old princess Akhesa longs to go beyond the palace walls and find out why her mother, Queen Nefertiti, was exiled. She runs away with Prince Tut, and together they travel down the Nile in search of her mother. Runtime: 90 minutes.
Event: "The Way We Get By"
When: 12:30 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: This documentary directed by Aron Gaudet focuses on three elderly people who greet troops leaving for or returning from Iraq at the airport in Bangor, Maine daily, but who also wrestle with their own personal problems. Runtime: 84 minutes.
Event: “Adela”
When: 1:00 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: This Filipino film directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. centers on an elderly woman named Adela. She used to be a popular radio personality, but gave up her career to care for her husband and children. She now celebrates her 80th birthday alone, trying to discover what value is left in her life. Runtime: 88 minutes.
Event: “Tahaan: A Boy with a Grenade”
When: 1:00 PM
Where: Washington University's Brown Hall
What: This Indian film directed by Santosh Sivan follows a young boy’s quest to recover his pet donkey, which was sold to repay a debt. Runtime: 105 minutes.
Event: “Playground”
When: 1:30 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: Directed by Libby Spears and executive produced by George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh, this documentary examines the sexual exploitation of American children. Runtime: 86 minutes.
Event: “See What I’m Saying”
When: 2:00 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: This documentary directed by Hilari Scarl traces a year in the lives of four deaf entertainers: an actor, a comic, a drummer, and a singer. Runtime: 108 minutes. This screening features an appearance by Scarl.
Event: “Three Monkeys”
When: 2:30 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: This Turkish film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan tells the story of a politician and his family’s selfishness and disloyalty during an election campaign. Runtime: 109 minutes.
Event: “Those Three”
When: 3:00 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: Directed by Naghi Nemati, this Iranian film finds three soldiers deserting their camp on their final day of military training. Though the wilderness of Northern Iran is dangerous, they work together to make it through the treacherous terrain to freedom. Runtime: 80 minutes.
Event: “Severe Clear”
When: 3:00 PM
Where: Webster University
What: This documentary directed by Kristian Fraga and shot by U.S. Marine Mike Scotti chronicles Scotti’s adventures in Iraq as the Marines prepare to invade Baghdad. Runtime: 93 minutes. This screening features an appearance by Fraga and will be shown with the documentary short “Keep the Home Fires Burning”.
Event: “Egon & Donci”
When: 3:00 PM
Where: Washington University’s Brown Hall
Admission: Free
What: This animated Hungarian film directed by Adam Magyar centers on Egon, a scientist, and Donci, a catlike creature, both of whom live on an alien planet and who establish contact with Earth. Runtime: 75 minutes.
Event: “From Somewhere to Nowhere: On the Road in China with Photographer Andreas Seibert”
When: 3:30 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: Directed by Villi Hermann, this documentary uses interviews and photos to illustrate the trials of rural Chinese migrant workers. Runtime: 86 minutes.
Event: “Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam”
When: 5:00 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: This documentary directed by Tammy Nguyen Lee describes the Vietnam War’s Operation Babylift, during which more than 2,500 Vietnamese orphans were airlifted out of Vietnam and taken to the U.S. The film features interviews with airlift volunteers and also takes a look at where some of those orphans are now. Runtime: 73 minutes. This screening features appearances by Lee, executive producer George Lee, associate producer Jared Rehberg, and documentary subjects Jim Zimmerly and Dan Bischoff (both orphans) and Susan McDonald (caretaker).
Event: Documentary Shorts: Communities
When: 5:00 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: A screening of three documentary short films focusing on communities of individuals:
• “Down Here”
• “Goleshovo”
• “Waiting for Women”
Total runtime: 88 minutes.
Event: “Storm”
When: 5:00 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: This German film directed by Hans Christian-Schmid focuses on a prosecutor who must look for answers when a key witness in her upcoming case against a Yugoslavian National Army commander commits suicide. Runtime: 110 minutes.
Event: “West of Pluto”
When: 5:00 PM
Where: Washington University’s Brown Hall
Admission: Free
What: Directed by Henry Bernadet and Myriam Verreault, this film focuses on a day the lives of high-school students as they deal with growing up. Runtime: 90 minutes.
Event: “Desdemona: A Love Story”
When: 5:30 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: This film directed by Phillip Guzman tells the story of a Mexican boy named Gil whose father forces him to go to America, leaving behind the girl he loves. He is taken in and raised by his father’s friend alongside the friend’s son, Rod. Years later, Rod and Gil are con men who plan to take a wealthy man’s wife hostage and hold her for ransom—but it turns out that the woman is Gil’s childhood sweetheart, Desdemona. Runtime: 89 minutes.
Event: “The Brothers Warner”/”The Adventures of Robin Hood”
When: 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Where: Webster University
What: This screening includes three films: the new documentary “The Brothers Warner” directed by Cass Warner, which documents the lives of the four Warner brothers, who ran the studio for over 50 years, and their rise to prominence (runtime: 90 minutes); and the classic 1938 Warner Brothers’ swashbuckler “The Adventures of Robin Hood”, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley and starring Errol Flynn as the rogue who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, and Olivia de Havilland as his Maid Marian (runtime: 102 minutes). “The Adventures of Robin Hood” is also accompanied by the first American film version of “Robin Hood”, a 1912 30-minute silent film that will be shown with live music.
Event: “Convention”
When: 7:15 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: Directed by AJ Schnack, this documentary focuses on the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado. Runtime: 95 minutes. This screening features an appearance by Schnack.
Event: Shorts Program 7: Animated Shorts Program 2
When: 7:15 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: A screening of eleven animated short films:
• “The Astronomer’s Dream”
• “Bill’s Visitors”
• “The Control Master”
• “FOT: The Next Big Thing”
• “Horn Dog”
• “Kanizsa Hill”
• “Logorama”
• “Oedipus”
• “She Who Measures”
• “Sweet Dreams”
• “Yulia”
Total runtime: 94 minutes.
Event: “You Won’t Miss Me”
When: 7:30 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: Directed by Russo Young, this film follows a young actress trying to make a name for herself in New York City. Runtime: 80 minutes. This screening features an appearance by Young.
Event: “Mia and the Migoo”
When: 7:30 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: This animated French film directed by Jacques-Remy Girerd is about a young girl named Mia, who sets off on a journey to rescue her father, a worker trapped in a landslide, and save the Tree of Life from destruction. Runtime: 82 minutes.
Event: “The Hollywood Cartoon”
When: 7:30 PM
Where: Washington University’s Brown Hall
What: Animation historian will discuss the history of the Hollywood cartoon and screen six cartoon shorts from various studios:
• “Beep Beep”
• “Book Revue”
• “Fresh Airdale”
• “Little Rural Riding Hood”
• “Who Killed Cock Robin?”
• “Woodland Café”
Runtime: 100 minutes.
Event: Cinematic Titanic Live
When: 7:30 PM
Where: Family Arena
Admission: $30-$40
What: The cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will riff on some of the worst movies ever made—live!
Event: “2:22”
When: 9:30 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: Directed by Philip Guzman, this crime thriller focuses on a group of four thieves whose plan to hold up a hotel goes horribly awry. Runtime: 104 minutes.
Event: “Rene”
When: 9:30 PM
Where: Tivoli Theatre
What: Directed by Helena Trestikova, this documentary traces 20 years in the life of criminal Rene Plasil, who has a hard time staying out of jail and a unique relationship with the director. Runtime: 83 minutes.
Event: “Liverpool”
When: 9:30 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: Directed by Lisandro Alonso, this Argentinean film finds a middle-aged sailor returning to his childhood home, not even sure if his mother still lives there. Runtime: 84 minutes.
Event: “35 Shots of Rum”
When: 9:30 PM
Where: Plaza Frontenac Theatre
What: This French film directed by Claire Denis is about a father who has trouble dealing with his daughter’s need for more independence. Runtime: 100 minutes.
For more info, visit the Cinema St. Louis website, or feel free to email me. For regular updates on movie reviews, news, and releases, become a fan of me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
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