SIFF weekend

At the beginning of the summer, Seattle has its annual international film festival (known by its acronym SIFF). It's a pretty big deal, and every few years I carve out the time to make it to a bunch of films. Although this year the incentive was a long weekend visit by Kristina (who chose the great selection of films), often I attend the festival thanks to a friend and former teaching colleague who makes the trip out for it from Pennsylvania whenever he can. He's a big film buff who often sends me his reviews and recommendations. Since he didn't make it this year, I wanted to return the favor. So, here's the report I sent to him on the seven movies we saw (in three days!):

"Mugabe and the White African" - a bleak but important documentary that follows a white Zimbabwean family's efforts to keep their farm in the face of heinous pressure. Complex because we resist the easy default of identifying with the white people in this context, except... they deserve it in many ways.

"Life During Wartime" - billed as quirky independent film with Alison Janney and Allie Sheedy... betrays all promise with a pointless - and tastelessly comedic - romp through the world of pedophilia with some infidelity included. What was anyone involved thinking!? - or what did I/we miss? I'd investigate/seek positive reviews if it were worth it.

"Winter's Bone" - almost brilliantly shot and near-perfectly acted exploration of a young woman struggling to hold on through crisis in a meth-tainted, impoverished community in rural Missouri (about a far from Seattle as I can imagine, and yet it's still America; go figure). Worth watching for.

"Son of Babylon" - we achingly follow a Kurdish woman and her grandson as they travel occupied post-Saddam Iraq trying to confirm the death of the boy's father, just one of the many victims of Saddam's wars. No revelations, but served effectively and without any heavy-handed politics or emotional appeals. Just a raw, real story. A good reminder that we are an occupying nation at war in places populated with other human beings.

"Turn it Loose" - 2009's world break dancing championships in S Africa. Engaging stories and some great dancing footage, but felt at times like a Red Bull (the sponsors) production.

"Cairo Time" - complex story of a Western woman waiting for her husband (working for the UN in the region) to join her for a vacation. Alone in an unfamiliar and not always welcoming city and with only her husband's Syrian colleague to hang out with, introspection and "before sunrise"-esque intimacy ensue - and with the pyramids as a back drop! Acted with terrific realism and depth, and refreshingly shot on site without sterilized locations and trained extras. This one should come to a theatre near you (well, maybe not that near to you...).

"Mao's Last Dancer" - Communist China sends a ballet prodigy to Houston in the 1980's... this could go in many directions, not all of which are good. However, with flashbacks and enthralling dance scenes, the strong cast tells this story with effective sincerity. Although it's a bit "Hollywood" and is sure to get a theatrical release, it deserves it - and it's a true story! This may have been my favorite of the batch; I think Kristina's vote goes to "Cairo Time."

All in all, a wonderful cinematic experience!