ons stival . - California Film Institute

98
MVFF T u r n i n g 3 0
world cinema
children’s filmfest
world cinema
us cinema
London to Brighton UK 2006 90 MINS
Saturday, October 13 9:45 pm LOND13R Rafael
Sunday, October 14 7:15 pm LOND14R Rafael
Director/Screenwriter Paul Andrew Williams Producers Allistair Clark, Rachel Robey, Ken Marshall Cinematographer
Christopher Ross Editor Tom Hemmings Cast Lorraine Stanley, Johnny Harris, Sam Spruell, Nathan Constance, Alexander Morton,
Georgia Groome Print Source Outsider Pictures
In this harrowing award-winning thriller, a London prostitute and a 12-year-old runaway girl form a desperate alliance
to escape a violent pimp and a callous strip club owner who both want to possess them for their own evil ends.
Writer-director Paul Andrew Williams refuses to make this journey into darkness anything close to comfortable,
but the intense drama frequently alludes to the loveliness of innocence, a saving grace skillfully rendered. Lorraine
Stanley as Kelly, the scuffed-up hooker, and Georgia Groome as her unexpected ward, Joanne, are superb in their
emotional interplay, thrust into an awkward sisterhood in a sinister world. The unkempt pimp, Derek, is played with
chilling menace by Johnny Harris. Not for the faint of heart, this one’s an audacious look at the dark side, seething
with danger yet brushed by hope—and not without powerful assurances that innocence forges its own brand of
redemption. —Peter Stack
Luna: Spirit of the Whale cANAdA 2006 91 MINS
Sunday, October 7 10:45 am LUNA07R Rafael
Saturday, October 13 10:00 am LUNA13R Rafael
Director Don McBrearty Producer Trish Dolman Screenwriter Beth Stewart Cinematographer Jan Kiesser Editor Michael John
Bateman Cast Adam Beach, Jason Priestley, Aaron Miko, Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal Print Source Screen Siren Pictures
When a friendly young Orca takes up residence near a Vancouver fishing village, news crews and tourists scramble
to get close to nature. Behind the scenes, a showdown is brewing between the local Mowachaht-Muchakaht First
Nations, convinced that the whale carries the spirit of their chief, and the government agency that claims concern
for the animal’s safety. The chief’s wayward son, Mike (Adam Beach, Flags of Our Fathers), returns for a funeral
and steps into the fray, locking horns with tribe members who expect him to take his father’s place, and with the
underhanded Fisheries honcho (Jason Priestley, playing against his 90210 type) who sees the situation as a mere
public relations nuisance. A fictionalized account of a real-life drama, Luna is an engaging journey that carries us
below the waves, to the whales’ fluid beauty, and above the surface, to witness a young man discovering his true
nature. Ages 7+ US Premiere —Deanna Quinones
Lust, Caution (Sie jie) chINA/US 2007 158 MINS
Thursday, October 4 6:30 pm LUST04R Rafael $25
Director Ang Lee Producers Bill Kong, Ang Lee, James Schamus Screenwriters Wang Hui Ling, James Schamus Cinematographer
Rodrigo Prieto Editor Tim Squyres Cast Joan Chen, Tony Leung, Tang Wei, Wang Lee Hom Print Source Focus Features
OPENING NIGHT • In Mandarin with English subtitles • Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain; The
Ice Storm, MVFF 1997) proves once again that his filmmaking excels in any genre; this time he has chosen the erotic
espionage thriller. Loyalties are spread thin in Shanghai during World War II, as political tension mounts between
Chinese Nationalists and Japanese occupiers. For a young stage actress, Wong (Tang Wei in an explosive debut
performance), this tension comes to a boil when she finds herself in a deadly game of espionage and sexual intrigue
with Mr. Yee (Tony Leung), a powerful political figure and Japanese collaborator. Wong goes deep undercover to
expose Yee, quickly earning the trust of his neglected wife (Joan Chen)—while becoming the man’s mistress. Based
on a short story by acclaimed Chinese novelist Eileen Chang, Lust, Caution smolders on the screen, revealing layers
of emotion and sexual desire in a thrilling tale that resonates deep within the human heart. —Josh Moore • Note: This
film is rated NC-17 and contains explicit sexual content. No one under 18 admitted.
• • • For Opening Night event information, see page 21.
Man in the Chair US 2006 109 MINS
Thursday, October 11 6:30 pm MAN11R Rafael $15
Director/Screenwriter Michael Schroeder Producers Michael Schroeder, Randolf Turrow, Sarah Schroeder Cinematographer
Dana Gonzales Editor Terry Cafaro Cast Christopher Plummer, Michael Angarano, M. Emmet Walsh, Robert Wagner, Joshua Boyd,
Mimi Kennedy Print Source Outsider Pictures
CENTERPIECE • The superb Christopher Plummer is Flash, a curmudgeon with a hankering for classic movies
and booze. Cameron (Michael Angarano) is a volatile teen who commits grand theft auto just because the car is an
exact replica from Christine. Their relationship is forged in the darkness of a movie theater and fueled by a mutual
appreciation of rebellion and cinema. Cameron enters a student film contest, though he lacks the resources of his
peers. Learning that Flash is a retired Hollywood gaffer—and the only surviving crew member from Citizen Kane—
Cameron follows him to his home at the Motion Picture Residence for the Elderly, a colony of aging film folk set
aside by the industry. A quirky fellowship develops, in which Flash and his friends help Cameron make his film, and,
in doing so, change his life. Plummer is outstanding as the cantankerous cynic who becomes an ardent mentor.
• • • For Centerpiece event information, see page 22.
• • •Sponsored by U.S. Trust
2007 MVFF TICKETS | 877.874.MVFF (6833)