2009 Souvenir Program Guide - California Film Institute

EAT THE SUN THE ECLIPSE AN EDUCATION
VALLEY OF THE DOCS
Hira Ratan Manek (aka HRM) has not eaten
solid food for 411 days. Impossible, you say? But
HRM takes nourishment through an alternate
source: by staring directly at the sun for 44 minutes
every day. Isn’t that damaging to the eyes?
After two days with HRM, Mason Dwinell is ready
to dismiss such minor concerns to explore “the
possibility of a new truth” through sungazing.
On a spiritual journey to achieve the 44-minute
goal (you work up to it gradually), Mason also
embarks on a physical voyage around the country
(perhaps unsurprisingly, in a VW van) to meet
other sungazers and better understand this solarpowered
lifestyle. But confusion, identity crises
and eye exams interfere with Mason’s progress,
and many troubling questions arise. Throughout
its subtle quirkiness and parched humor, Eat the
Sun maintains a steady compassion for Mason’s
luminous quest, and gives new meaning to “light”
food.
—Joanne Parsont
Director/Producer Peter Sorcher Cinematographers
John Baker, Keith Brauneis, Peter Sorcher Editors
Peter Sorcher, Jed Stuber Print Source Sorcher
Films
US 2009 90 MINS
Friday, October 9, 8:30 pm
EAT09R, Rafael
Saturday, October 17, 12:00 pm
EAT17S, Sequoia
tickets 877.874.6833
WORLD CINEMA
Acclaimed Irish dramatist Conor McPherson’s
second feature fi lm as writer-director is a characteristically
penetrating exploration of grief and
mortality folded into an eerie, psychologically
sophisticated and shockingly unpredictable
ghost story. Set during an Irish literary festival
in the picturesque city of Cobh, woodworking
teacher (and closet writer) Michael Farr (Ciarán
Hinds) is raising two kids after his wife’s death
when he volunteers as a driver for the event,
intrigued by the proximity and colorful behavior
of its participants. Assigned to Lena (Iben Hjejle),
an attractive author of a book about ghosts,
Michael becomes increasingly intrigued. But also
interested in Lena is pompous, frequently inebriated
bestselling author Nicholas Holden (Aidan
Quinn). As Lena and Michael draw closer, the shy
widower confesses to being haunted, physically,
by his wife. If The Eclipse is ultimately more existential
drama than ghoulish tale, the enveloping
narrative includes brilliantly jolting cinematic surprises.
Indeed, McPherson’s well-acted, thoughtful
tale is a genre-bending mood piece.
—Rod Armstrong
Director Conor McPherson Producer Robert
Walpole Screenwriters Conor McPherson, Billy
Roche Cinematographer Ivan McCollough Editor
Emer Reynolds Cast Ciarán Hinds, Aidan Quinn,
Iben Hjejle, Jim Norton, Eanna Hardwicke, Hannah
Lynch Print Source Magnolia Pictures
IRELAND 2008 88 MINS
Sunday, October 11, 8:15 pm
ECL11R, Rafael
Wednesday, October 14, 9:15 pm
ECL14R, Rafael
SPONSORED BY DOLBY LABORATORIES.
PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
SAN FRANCISCO IRISH FILM FESTIVAL.
WORLD CINEMA
FOCUS: UNITED KINGDOM London, 1961:
An intellectually precocious 16-year-old named
Jenny is on the cusp of adulthood, and the world
is on the cusp of dramatic changes of its own,
in this inspired coming-of-age tale from director
Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners) and
writer Nick Hornby. In a beguiling, star-making
performance from Carey Mulligan, Jenny’s impatience
with adolescent routine and eagerness to
embrace life come fl avored with dreams of Paris
and the songs of Juliette Gréco, but tempered by
commitments to her Oxford-bound studies and
stodgy parents (Emma Thompson and Alfred
Molina). Then David (Peter Sarsgaard) enters the
picture. A devilishly handsome, urbane charmer
in his 30s, David woos Jenny from her studies—
even winning over her parents—offering a life
education in a glittering world of high culture and
swanky nightclubs with attractive friends Danny
and Helen. Dangling a trip to Paris before her,
a path very different from Oxford opens before
Jenny. Will it be her making or undoing?
Director Lone Scherfi g Producers Finola Dwyer,
Amanda Posey Screenwriter Nick Hornby, memoir
by Lynn Barber Cinematographer John de Borman
Editor Barney Pilling Cast Carey Mulligan, Emma
Thompson, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina Print
Source Sony Pictures Classics
UK 2009 100 MINS
Friday, October 9, 6:30 pm
EDUC09S, Sequoia
FILMS B-E
SPONSORED BY POST STREET SURGERY
CENTER.
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