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Literature always anticipates life. It does not copy it, but moulds it to its purpose. The nineteenth century, as we know it, is largely an invention of Balzac. |
Sunday, June 7, 1998
One year ago: Communion Sweet
The festival is two-thirds over! It's gone really fast; it just doesn't seem possible! I got to the line for the Secret Festival a little after eleven, with a book in my bag to re-read while standing in line. Candice Hern's A Garden Folly is a charming book. I did manage to get a seat towards the front and on the aisle, despite arriving what I would consider late.
I can't say too much about the Secret Festival, it being a secret and all. Festival Director Darren introduced the film and really emphasised the need for confidentiality. The rights for the movie they showed are split between two studios, and the person who got us the print would lose zir job if the word got out. But the movie was wonderful! The opportunity to see it really made my buying my Secret Festival pass worthwhile! I do hope the battling studios get themselves sorted out, since this movie deserves to be seen.
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I met up with my festival buddy A--- after the secret, and we walked to my car. We had decided to go to the Guild 45th for the rest of the day, and driving there was the easiest way.
Henry Fool
I love Hal Hartley! His last movie at the festival, Flirt from 1996, wasn't so good, but he came back in a big way with this! A quiet garbageman, living with his extremely sexually active ("slutty" is such a loaded word, isn't it?) sister and their depressed mother, finds his life changed when a writer comes to live in the basement apartment in their house. The cast was great! I especially like what Hartley does with the smaller parts. His movies are spare, but not underpopulated. The dialog is so great! Funny, terse and unexpected. I'll be seeing this one again in the theater, if it gets released.
A---, R---, and I made a quick dash down the street to Taco Time, to pick up some dinner. We had less time between movies than usual, because Henry Fool is over two hours (but worth it, I swear!). We got our food to go (chicken soft taco and mexi-fries, yum!) and ate it in our seats inside the theater. I'm glad that during festival time, they don't seem to enforce the usual movie theater strictures about bringing in outside food. If they did, we'd be subsisting entirely on popcorn!
Cousin Bette
A costume drama, or is is a black comedy? Jessica Lange stars as a neglected poor relation who gets revenge on her family in 1840s France. Worth seeing, and it's a great part for her. They did a good job boiling down a complicated novel, as far as I could tell (I haven't read the Balzac original). A fun movie to see, and the production is fancy enough that it's worth seeing on the big screen. Aden Young plays a hunky sculptor, and I didn't recognize him as the same young man from Under Heaven a few days ago. Good job!
I forgot to mention that at Vanguard last night, I was carrying a folding fan, since I anticipated that the rooms would get quite warm. I was amused to find myself gesturing with it like an 18th century coquette! Pointing with it, tapping someone on the arm. I did restrain myself from covering my face and peeking out from behind the fan, though. It's an interesting example of how objects or clothing can influence our actions!
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