SIFF Day 12 (May 30): More Shorts

I camped out at SIFF Cinema for the final day of the ShortsFest. It was a good day with many excellent selections, and I enjoyed meeting many of the filmmakers. However, I was also feeling a little stir-crazy after three and half days in movie theaters. At one point today, I felt like it was late evening... Turned out it was mid-afternoon! So as much as I enjoyed the long weekend of films, I'm also glad it's over.

Even after watching 9 of the 16 shorts packages between Fri - Mon, I managed to miss Jury Award winners for Best Live Action Short ("Time Freak") and Best Animation Short ("The Eagleman Stag"). Hopefully I will get to see them later.

Shorts: Seattle Stories - B-

Though not the most impressive package technically (which is somewhat expected), there are memorable entries about two Pike Place Market artists ("Belltown, 98121" and "Busking Cadenza"), a pair of queer artists who blend dance with comedy acts ("The Cherdonna and Lou Show: The Movie!"), Seattle's vibrant DIY music scene ("We Invent You"), and Ivan the laser show artist at Pacific Science Center ("When the Lights Go Out"). Ultimately, this package is as much about celebrating Seattle as it is about celebrating local filmmaking.

Large group of filmmakers for the Seattle shorts; dance artists Cherdonna & Lou

Shorts: Twists and Turns - B-

"Library of Dust," directed by Ondi Timoner and Robert James, is the very deserving winner of Jury Award for Best Documentary Short. By telling the story of 3,500+ unclaimed canisters containing cremains of past psychiatric patients at Oregon State Hospital, the film sends a powerful message of celebrating and honoring every member of our society. The five live action shorts are a mixed bag, ranging from funny to creepy to intense, from pleasantly nice to painfully slow.

FutureWave Shorts - B

It wouldn't be fair to hold these shorts by young (18 and under) filmmakers - many of which were school projects - to the same technical standards as the other shorts in the festival. With that said, I was quite impressed by the creativity and passion demonstrated by this package of 19, including several that came from Ballard High School. Though it's hard to pick favorites, I especially applaud "The Adventures of Floating Boy and Flying Girl," "How Could She?" and "Reflection" for their uniqueness, and "Deaf Perspective" for its social relevance.

(Top L-R, Bottom L-R): FutureWave Q&A;

me with Joseph Yao, Prodigy Award winner ("The Million Dollar Watch");

me with Rogan Shannon ("Deaf Perspective");

SIFF's Dustin Kaspar with Ballard High seniors Blair Scott & Sheridan Koehler ("Reflection")

ShortsFest Closing Night - A-

If only all shorts packages were as strong as this one! "North Atlantic," a touching story about radio communication with a pilot on a doomed flight, is my favorite short of the festival and a common pick among those I talked to. "Cataplexy" is a pitch-perfect comedy that, astonishingly, was made for a 36-hour film contest (and won the contest). "Monkeys" is almost as funny and "Steve," starring Keira Knightley in a non-annoying role and Colin Firth as a questionable neighbor, is good for some chuckles as well. "Danny & Annie" uses radio interview and cartoon animation to tell a bittersweet tale of long-time love.

Closing Night Q&A; Shorts Competition jurors announcing the winners;

me with director John Salcido ("Cataplexy");

me with Documentary Short winner Robert James ("Library of Dust")

SIFF Day 11 (May 29): Have Guests, No Camera

Today I took a break from the ShortsFest and watched four feature films. Seeing that they all had filmmakers attending, it was a perfect day to forget my camera.

The Whistleblower (Canada) - A-

This gripping political thriller about human trafficking may very well become one of the must-see films of 2011. It kept up the intensity without being sensationalizing or exploitive; Rachel Weisz and a strong supporting cast carried the weight of the story with ease and finesse. I walked away with somewhat of a doomsday feeling, saddened by the level of cruelty and injustice that still run rampant in our world, and the extent to which most people - myself included - remain unfamiliar with such situations (even though so much can be found with an Internet search). Yet there is always hope for progress and small victories, even just the little bit of awareness raised by films like this one.

White Irish Drinkers (USA) - B

The story is boggled down with too many familiar elements, but strong directing and acting make this a worthwhile film. Lead actor Nick Thurston proves himself to be one to watch. The blue collar setting and the focus on family relationships (particularly the one between the two brothers) remind me of Ben Affleck's "The Town" - which, granted, is a much better film overall.

Late Autumn (South Korea/USA) - C+

There is a common phenomenon in Chinese (Asian?) cinema, where a female character remains stone-faced and expression-less for an extended period of time, while refusing to answer questions like a normal person. For me it's irksome; and "Late Autumn" seems all too willing to demonstrate this phenomenon for most of the film. I also didn't buy into the chemistry between the two main characters, or how their personalities shifted. Now back to the film itself... There are several clever and creative scenes that shine on their own, but in terms of story structure and character development, the film leaves much to be desired. It feels more like a series of film segments, instead of an organic whole. It's rare to see an Asian/Asian-American film set in Seattle, so it's quite a pity that "Late Autumn" fails to heat up the screen.

Surrogate Valentine (USA) - B

An ultra-low-budget, black-and-white, quasi-road-trip-movie about a singer/songwriter (Goh Nakamura playing a version of himself), a bad actor, and a dubious movie project. That sounds far from a sure bet, so it is a pleasant surprise that "Surrogate Valentine" turns out to be sweet, funny, endearing and enjoyable. The post-screening Q&A was one of the liveliest I've seen, thanks to an excited audience, a beer-influenced Goh Nakamura, and an audience member that downloaded the memorable ringtone from the film right on the spot.

Me with "Surrogate Valentine" director Dave Boyle and star Goh Nakamura

(thanks to Ramsey for taking the photo!)

SIFF Day 9-10 (May 27-28): Time for Shorts

An African Election (Ghana) - B

This documentary holds special interest for me, because I took a trip to Ghana in the fall of 2008 for a charity project. (It was the subject of my own documentary "Hope, Ghana.") That was about one month before the election depicted in this film, and I witnessed some of the pre-election excitement. It was during the same trip that Obama was elected in the U.S., adding another level of intrigue to the experience. Ghana, the first sub-Saharan nation to gain independence in 1957, holds their presidential election every four years (same year as the U.S. election) and has two major parties that have dominated. So the comparison with the U.S. is inevitable. When the election in December 2008 ended in a virtual tie between two major candidates, what happened next was in sharp contrast with the Bush-Gore debacle in 2000. "An African Election," benefitting from an unprecedented level of access and trust that director Jarreth Merz was able to obtain, tells a remarkable story of a country that displayed passion, hospitality and civility under intense situations.

Director Jarreth Merz answering questions at Harvard Exit Theater

The funniest moment came during the post-screening Q&A, when a woman (she sounded like a well-educated white woman) asked the director how he "miraculously" found a farmer who was so articulate and thoughtful about politics. I don't know where this lady received her knowledge about Africa, but based on my personal experience in Ghana, I was not surprised at all by the comments made by the farmer. Most Ghanaians I met, in both cities and villages, were bright, aware, and passionate about their country. Perhaps the real significance of this documentary is to allow the audience a glimpse into the Ghanaian culture and personality.

ShortsFest

Short film is a great format that offers a big variety of cinema bites at a fast pace. Some of these bites are quite tasty or even super-brilliant. The short film sub-festival of SIFF runs for three and half days at SIFF Cinema, with 16 different packages and over 100 short films. I plan to catch over half of them - and that's still a lot - so my review will only mention the highlights from each package.

At SIFF Cinema (L-R): Dustin Kaspar and Dan Doody of SIFF,

Geoff Klein and Mo Fine of the Tumbleweed Film Festival

ShortsFest Opening Night - B+

The opening night package, supposedly the best of the best, felt uneven to me. My absolute favorite was "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," a stunning, imaginative, and poetic ode to books, originally inspired by the scene of paper-covered streets of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The visuals were so refined and smooth that I didn't even realize it was stop-motion, which made the library scenes all the more incredible. Check out the trailer and iPad app(!) at Moonbot! Two short-short comedies, "We Are What We Drink" and "Careful With That Crossbow," achieved hilarious results with simple premises. I found "The Abyss Boys" a little too bleak and fatalistic, but I'm sure a lot of people loved it.

Packed house for ShortsFest Opening; post-screening Q&A;

me with "We Are What We Drink" director Marc Hardman (UK);

me with Calvin O'Neal Jr. from Moonbot

Thrilling Tales of Astonishment - C+

Horror is not a genre I generally enjoy, so I took a chance in sitting through this horror-heavy package. The thing is, even in the most gory horror films, I can appreciate clever plots and strong characters. Not a lot of those in this package, except for the mischievous opener "Moving Day" a.k.a. "fairies behaving badly". "The Dungeon Master," "Chum" and "BlinkyTM" were moderately successful, but the rest of the package were head-scratchers.

Sat May 28, great sunny day, FolkLife festival in full swing...

Alas, I am going indoors for more cinematic samplings.

The Family Picture Show - A-

Hamster, babies, bunnies. Awww. Even the snow rodent is adorable. But beyond the cuteness factor, there are great artistry, innovative storytelling, and important messages to be found in this mostly animated package of 13. "New Digs" is the cutest of the bunch, followed closely by "Amazonia." "Walkin' on Snow Grass," a quiet piece from Japan, is hypnotically beautiful. Also memorable are "The Yellow Balloon" (pencil sketch animation), "The Sasquatch and the Girl" (shadow puppet style, made in Flash), "Precise Peter" (German humor), and the seemingly "Coraline"-inspired "Temple Rider."

"The Sasquatch and the Girl" director Trevor Knapp Jones

Between The Silences - B

"Howl of a Fish," a 20-minute French short about a poet working at a phone survey center, looks and tastes like a full meal instead of an appetizer. "Sign Language" is a great example of how a short can succeed with a simply yet beautiful story. "Project Silence" makes me take notice of the director's visual poetry, though not necessarily his story-telling.

Directors Tess Martin, Matt Kazman, and Bruno Caticha (Brazil)

Boy Meets Boy - D/B-

Fair disclosure here: I submitted a short film to SIFF 2011, which would've fit perfectly in this package. It was rejected. So I couldn't help carrying a sense of awkwardness as I went into this show. I liken it to being dumped by someone and then attending their big fancy wedding... That said, I can assure you that my score for this package is not an act of revenge. Indeed, after being repeatedly disappointed by the gay short packages in previous years, I would much rather see a great collection that blows me away. That didn't happen. The best two, "Requited" and "Cappuccino," are authentic and heart-felt. The other selections suffer from a range of issues including laziness, messiness, and lack of depth. And then there is "I Want Your Love," a pornographic short film. Not glorified porn, but 100% real porn, produced by a commercial porn website nonetheless. Call me a prude if you want, but I consider it absolutely inappropriate for a general-audience festival (without any warning, even). If my short film had been played alongside it, I would have been deeply offended and insulted. The fact that SIFF considers the gay short package an appropriate venue for commercial porn is a major disservice to the gay community, and a slap in the face for gay independent filmmakers. And I also feel offended on behalf of the word "Love", because the title should have been "I Want Your Sex." I give this package a score of D, or B- if the porn piece is excluded.

"Boy Meets Boy" Q&A; me with "Requited" director Sal Bardo;

me with "Cappuccino" director Tamer Ruggli (Switzerland);

me with Seattle filmmaker Rolito Mojica

SIFF Day 8 (May 26): Paper Birds

I skipped SIFF today due to another commitment, but went over to Renton to catch the post-screening Q&A for "Paper Birds," which I saw (and loved) at a festival preview event.

Director Emilio Aragon is a warm and affable man and a fourth-generation comedian performer. He co-wrote the film by drawing from stories and anecdotes he heard from his own family; his father appeared in the film in a small but critical role. In answering the audience's questions, he talked about the inspirations behind the setup of the story, and his experience working with the talented group of actors, including the young kid. I asked a question about the film's art direction and cinematography. Emilio revealed that the art director used to work in opera but never before in film; and that the cinematographer was his right hand man in fighting with his producer. The final question was about the state of film industry in Spain. He commented that new technology has allowed a lot of talented young people to enter filmmaking, and he is optimistic about the future. He also said he still considers himself as "young", even though he is 52.

Here again is my review of the film, which will screen two more times this weekend:

Paper Birds (Spain) - A

If you are allergic to emotional stories, heart-tugging turn of events, and orchestra music that swells on cue, don't see this film. Otherwise, don't miss it! The complex and layered plot is accentuated with refined acting, atmospheric cinematography, and snazzy performance numbers. There are moments and elements that remind me of "Schindler's List," "The Sound of Music," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - not a bad class to be in. And the ending is perfect.

SIFF Day 7 (May 25): Language Barriers

Tyrannosaur (UK) - B(?)

Seriously. Some British films should be required to have English subtitles. The accents are so thick here that I think I understood less than 20% of the dialogue. Most others said they had a lot of trouble too, so I don't feel too incompetent. Anyway, based on what I saw, it's a solid film. The SIFF description made me fear that it would be super-gritty and super-intense the whole way through. Turned out it's not that bad (not that gritty and intense is bad), though some scenes are definitely brutal. It's not my favorite type of story, but "Tyrannosaur" is a well-made film with an appropriate ending.

Page One: Inside the New York Times (USA) (Docu) - B

The topic of online vs. print media is a highly relevant one in today's society. (I mean, you are reading this review through online media right now...) This documentary offers a fun ride-along with the daily grind at the New York Times, one of the biggest tentpoles in the print world. (What a snazzy office building!) There are some great characters and highly amusing stories that should make this an enjoyable watch for everyone. I would have loved to see the film dive deeper into some of the subpoints, or organize the various stories in a more connected way. Additionally, as a documentary filmmaker myself, I was bothered by the lack of technical finesse and consistency. A lot of the camera movements seemed unnecessary, and sound quality was bad in many scenes. Come on, you are interviewing the New York Times. Invest in a good microphone.

panel discussion following "Page One"

Apart Together (China) - A-

This film is a wonderful illustration of how cinematic languages can differ from country to country. The pacing is slower; the camerawork is restrained and pulled-back; and the characters don't generally wear their feelings on their faces. All these can sometimes make a painfully boring or detached movie - as I have unfortunately experienced in previous SIFFs - but in this case they help build a beautiful story that is quietly moving. Starting with a premise that's both interesting and challenging, the film walks a somewhat unexpected path before reaching a richly meaningful conclusion. As someone who grew up in China, I can say that the characters and their interactions feel very authentic, full of subtleties that I hope will not be totally lost on an American audience. Some old Chinese songs appear as significant supporting players in the film, in a way that unfortunately cannot be conveyed through subtitles.

OK, so that was 19 films over 6 days... I am taking a day off from SIFF tomorrow, then coming back to dive into the ShortsFest over the long weekend. See you soon!

SIFF: My Tentative Schedule

May 25 - May 30 (Subject to Change)

Go to http://www.siff.net/festival/index.aspx for full details and to buy tickets.

PAC: Pacific Place; EGY: Egyptian; HAR: Harvard Exit; NEP: Neptune; SIF: SIFF Cinema; ADM: Admiral; REN: Renton

(*) : Filmmaker guests in attendance

Wed May 25

4:30pm, NEP, "Tyrannosaur" (UK) (Drama)

7:00pm, NEP, "Page One: Inside the New York Times" (USA) (Docu) (*)

9:30pm, SIF, "Apart Together" (China) (Romance)

Thu May 26

4:30pm, TBD

Fri May 27

4:30pm, HAR, "An African Election" (Ghana) (Docu) (*)

7:00pm, SIF, ShortsFest Opening Night

9:30pm, SIF, Shorts Package "Thrilling Tales of Astonishment"

Sat May 28

All day, Shorts Festival at SIFF Cinema

Sun May 29

1:00pm, EGY, "The Whistleblower" (Canada) (Thriller) (*)

4:00pm, HAR, "White Irish Drinkers" (USA) (Drama) (*)

6:45pm, HAR, "Late Autumn" (South Korea/USA) (Romance) (*)

9:30pm, HAR, "Surrogate Valentine" (USA) (Music/Romance) (*)

Mon May 30

All day, Shorts Festival at SIFF Cinema

9:00pm, SIF, "Silent Sonata" (Slovenia)

SIFF: Forgot This One

I watched this one at a special preview event and highly recommend it!

Paper Birds (Spain) - A
Screening on May 26, May 28, May 29

If you are allergic to emotional stories, heart-tugging turn of events, and orchestra music that swells on cue, don't see this film. Otherwise, don't miss it! The complex and layered plot is accentuated with refined acting, atmospheric cinematography, and snazzy performance numbers. There are moments and elements that remind me of "Schindler's List," "The Sound of Music," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - not a bad class to be in. And the ending is perfect.

SIFF Day 6 (May 24): Against Expectations

Beginners (USA) - B

Oh, how I wanted to love this film. Ewan McGregor - one of the finest actors working today. Christopher Plummer - I don't think he is capable of being disappointing. And a premise that seemed full of potential. So how did I end up feeling so disinterested? All the tricks and quirks, from stock photo sequences to a subtitled dog, are quite effective. It's the overall story that I have trouble connecting with, particularly the girlfriend - I fail to understand what the relationship is about and why they are together. When I don't buy in the primary relationship, that pretty much kills it for me. The father's story is way more engaging. Unfortunately, the narrative structure of jumping back and forth between two timelines, while interesting at first, eventually started being distracting and disruptive. Despite all that, I still consider "Beginners" worth watching for the two actors alone.

Perhaps it served me right that I didn't act fast enough to get ticket to the Ewan McGregor tribute event, thus ending up watching this film under the horrible sound system at the Neptune? I heard many people complaining that they missed a lot of the dialogue. If I could hear everything better, that might have helped... Who knows.

A Lot Like You (USA/Tanzania) (Docu) - B+

Screening again on June 12

Seattle local Eliaichi Kimaro, born half-Tanzanian-half-Korean, went to Tanzania to find a deeper understanding of her paternal root. During her several years of filming, however, the focus shifted to somewhere else... and then to somewhere totally unexpected, when the issue of sexual violence and abuse came into the picture. In my conversation with her after the screening, Eli stated that she sees herself as an activist more than a filmmaker. This film is first and foremost for her own purpose (and a gift for her daughter); her process of shifting focus and, to a certain degree, the lack of resolution are reflected in the documentary as well. (There seemed to be strong interest from the audience to know what happened next after the film finished.) But like Eli said in the Q&A, the more personal and honest she went with the documentary, the more universal it became. Originally slated to be called "Worlds Apart," "A Lot Like You" is an appropriate title for a film that's so appropriate for today's ever-blending world.

"A Lot Like You" Q&A; post-film reception;

me with Eli, her mother, and her husband

SIFF Day 5 (May 23): Good Touch & Bad Trip

My tour of the SIFF venues continues today with the Admiral Theater in West Seattle. Some people dislike that venue; I don't really mind it. True, the screening room is so long that most seats feel too far away, and the projection is too dark. But the long room also means good viewing angle, and there is ample leg room.

Touch (USA) - B+

This half-Vietnamese, half-English film centers around the special relationship between a young Vietnamese-American woman Tam, who newly became a manicurist, and one of her clients, a Caucasian car mechanic who is trying to save his faltering marriage. By "special relationship" I don't mean an affair - It is indeed quite unusual and intriguing. The secondary storyline is about Tam's relationship with her parents, both currently and in flashback. The unconventional turn of events is not always convincing, and the multiple subplots seem to compete instead of gelling together. That said, "Touch" is a beautiful and touching tribute to the power of human connection as conveyed by physical touch. Writer/director Minh Duc Nguyen deserves major kudo for presenting a story that's both culturally authentic and universally relatable. This is a must-see for anyone who has a romantic streak.

"Touch" Q&A; me with writer/director Minh Duc Nguyen,

star Porter Lynn, and star Melinda Bennett

The Trip (UK) - C-

So much of this movie is built upon Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's rambling, bantering, voice impressions and self-referential indulgence, that I imagine you would find it absolutely hilarious - if you are already a fan of Coogan, Brydon, and that particular style of comedy. I am not one, unfortunately, so this became a very long and very random sequence of footage to sit through for a few weak chuckles. The main story is thinner than Kate Moss and hollower than a tin can. The side points, including the numerous shots of beautiful food, are completely inconsequential and often pointless. By the time we got to watch Coogan and Brydon comparing their vocal ranges, I found myself playing a game in my head to see how many ways I can pronounce the word "insufferable."

SIFF Day 4 (May 22): A Great Mix

An awkward and lovelorn teenager; a gay love affair across party lines; a woman who chose to die on her own terms; an abandoned red couch; a tormented screenwriter stuck in a conspiracy theory. That was the wonderful mix that made up my rewarding SIFF experience today. I spent much of the day at Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center, a nice venue that offers a very comfortable viewing experience!

Submarine (UK) - B

A teenage boy struggles with everything from school bullies, parents' relationship (is one of them having an affair?), and of course girlfriend issues. It reminds me of "Rushmore," one of my favorite movies, except here the young man is less corky, more awkward, and dating a girl his own age. The dry humor works, and so do most of the metaphors and visual themes. I can't help feeling, however, that the film is trying too hard. As if the characters are not quirky enough inside, and have to act up to meet the demand of the story. At the end, I don't particularly feel like rooting for the little guy, or his relationship with the girlfriend.

Four More Years (Sweden) - B+

Screening again on May 23 & May 28

I've always said I want to see more gay love stories that are not so focused on being gay - i.e., love stories where the two people happen to be gay. Here we have one of those, and ironically I find myself wanting to see more about the "gay issues". After all, these two men are in politics, and one of them started off married to a woman. Maybe those are just less of a concern in Sweden than in the US? Anyway, "gay issues" aside, this is a love story that works, one that feels refreshingly authentic and warm without being overly cheesy (not counting the copious amount of cheese ingested by one of the characters). I wouldn't call it a romantic comedy or romantic drama, rather just a romantic story; although there are some very funny bits.

How to Die in Oregon (USA) (Docu) - A

This film will premiere on HBO on Thu May 26.

The first thing to clarify is that despite the opening sentence in the SIFF description, the Death With Dignity law is not about "euthanasia", which refers to physician-administered death and remains illegal. In "death with dignity", a person with a terminal diagnosis chooses to be prescribed a lethal medicine, and then chooses their own time to intake the medicine (which they must do on their own) and end their life, usually with loved ones and a non-profit volunteer on their side. Or, they could choose not to use it after all. Oregon was the first state to legalize such practice in 1994; Washington the second, in 2008. This documentary focuses on Cody Curtis, a bright and endearing woman in Oregon who chose to use the law, and the time she spent with her family in the final period of her life. More stories were filmed of people who used the law, but most of those didn't make it into the film (I wish more of them did). There is also a side story about Nancy Niedzielski, who fulfilled her late husband's final wish by advocating for the law's passing in Washington State.

me with Nancy Niedzielski

Death is never an easy topic, especially when it's so real - So this is a documentary where crying is not only normal, it is perhaps encouraged. But it is not dreary or tragic, as ultimately the film is about living. Director Peter Richardson did a marvelous job keeping the focus on Cody's emotions and her relationship with her family, and treating her story with the utmost respect. It is an important documentary that I highly encourage you to see, despite the reservations you may have in confronting the issue of death. After all, we all encounter death plenty of times in our lives, leading up to our own. Does it have to happen in the way that we currently assume based on modern medicine? Or could it be empowering to have more choices?

me with "Oregon" director Peter Richardson

Pinoy Sunday (Taiwan) - B

A seemingly trivial story about a red couch unfolds into a hilarious adventure for two migrant worker buddies, and then an unexpectedly touching lesson on life, friendship, and the haves vs. the have-nots. If this was an American or European film, I would expect there to be more to the story... A bigger ending or something. But this being an Asian film, such expectation proves to be unfitting. While I don't want to be too negative about such style difference, I do wish there was something more that came out of the story.

Everything Will Be Fine (Denmark) - B+

Screening again on May 27

A successful suspense thriller with a fine European sheen. A film that you might feel compelled to watch again after everything is revealed. It could be said that the resolution falls on the side of being manipulative. However, that is compensated by the depth of intrigue that opens up when you look back on the story in a new light.

So, there you go... 12 films in 3 days. A good start for my SIFF 2011.

SIFF Day 3 (May 21): LOVE Rocks

Today I braved the infamous folding chair seats an the Neptune, which is no longer a regular movie theater and currently undergoing renovation by its new owner, Seattle Theatre Group. Hopefully this is just growing pain, and the finished multi-purpose performance space will be wonderful.

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (UK) (Docu) - B+

For someone like me, who is not well-versed in classic cinema, "Cameraman" is certainly a treat and a history lesson. This documentary brings us on a journey of Jack Cardiff's incredible long career, focusing especially on his love of the craft and how he brought his artistic vision into his collaboration with illustrious directors and movie stars. I would've liked to see the film dive deeper into Cardiff's inner world and the person he was outside of his film work. Even so, this is quite an enlightening documentary for film lovers. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go add some titles to my Netflix queue...

3 (Germany) - B

This being from the director of "Run Lola Run," you might expect emotional intensity, unusual circumstances, and clever split-screen sequences. There were some of those, but the real surprise was that the whole thing, while enjoyable, felt a little long and drawn-out. The core of the story, which finally emerged in the second half, felt like a soap opera, and rushed to a hasty conclusion. I wish this whole movie had been the first act, since I am quite curious what would happen next. Perhaps they were setting it up for a sequel?

Lope (Spain) - B

OK, correction. THIS is what's really like a soap opera. Since I'm not big on soap operas, I'll just say "it's good" and leave it as that. One question though: Were the women attracted to Lope because of his poems? Or his tall, handsome sexiness?

LOVE (USA) - B+

Without a doubt, "LOVE" is one of the most remarkable independent films you'll ever see. Started as a video project for the band Angels & Airwaves, it turned out to be a four-year-long passion project for first-time filmmaker William Eubank. In a DIY set that was literally constructed in a backyard and looked ten times more expensive than it should, Eubank meticulously constructed a haunting story of an astronaut who lost all contact with earth. Lead actor Gunner Wright truly carried the film with a stand-out performance that embodied his character's maddening experience. While I wish the film had developed more around the connections between the various story elements, it definitely left a strong impression on me. After seeing three other films with much higher budgets, it was this "small" film that inspired me the most today.

"LOVE" pre-screening introduction, fake astronauts and all

Me with "LOVE" director William Eubank

Me with "LOVE" lead actor Gunner Wright

SIFF Day 2 (May 20): "Where is the motivation?"

I should probably start with an explanation of my grade system.

A+: Among my all-time favorites (rare)

A: Superb, go see it for sure!

A-: Great, highly recommend

B+: Very good, definitely worth seeing

B: Good, recommended if you like the genre

B-: Flawed, but still OK

C+: Bad, with perhaps a few redeeming qualities

C: Spend the time on something else

D: Big mistake!

F: Scarred me for life (rare)

My general goal is to see films that are B or above, and minimize C-level or lower selections. Today, my first day at SIFF 2011 (I didn't go to opening night), didn't hit the bar but wasn't a total loss. Since I had evening plans, I caught the three daytime shows at Pacific Place.

Happy, Happy (Norway) - B-

I call this love-rectangle film "perfectly adequate and nothing more." In dealing with the age old topic of love and marriage, it didn't offer anything new or insightful. There are some things I find peculiar about the movie: The parents' relationship (or the lack of) with the kids, the plausibility of some plot points, and of course those songs... Overall though, it's nicely put together, and an OK distraction.

Ex (Hong Kong) - C

Hong Kong cinema has a knack for producing quirky, clever romantic stories. This, unfortunately, is not one of them. Everything looks good in this film, which successfully utilizes set design and cinematography to distinguish the numerous flashback scenes. The problem is that there is nothing underneath - no motivation, characterization or character development to speak of. By the end of it, I didn't know any of the characters better than I did at the beginning, nor did I have any revelation or resonance around the central theme of past relationships.

Interestingly, at this screening I ran into my friend Kathy Hsieh, writer and star of the popular Asian-American-romantic-comedy-episodic-play "Sex In Seattle." Kathy and I are in a writers' group together and, while waiting for this movie, I was working on character backstories for the play I am writing. After seeing the movie, Kathy and I agreed that it played as if the characters had no backstories whatsoever.

Venice (Poland) - B-

It's war time. People die. Children are forced to grow up fast despite their need for joy and fantasy. "Venice" features gorgeous, gorgeous cinematography and tight production, and it's easy to feel for these characters. That said, I once again felt somewhat detached from the story, which seemed like a common theme today. Was it me, or was it the movies? Also, I totally didn't understand the last scene. Even scarier, I didn't really care to understand it.

That was it for today. In the evening, I performed in a flash mob (whoo-hoo!!), then called it an early night so I can gear up for a full weekend ahead.

SIFF 2011: See Interesting Films First!

Seattle International Film Festival 2011 runs from Thu May 19 to Sun Jun 12. Once again, I have a Full Series Pass and will be hitting as many films as I can while still attempting to have a life.

After doing day-by-day SIFF reviews in 2009 and skipping it all together in 2010, I will once again attempt to do day-by-day reviews this year. I will also post my movie-going schedule, which I usually plan a few days in advance. You are welcome to join me for any of them! Of course, my plan is subject to change, especially since my pass gives me the freedom to switch plan last minute.

Zheng's Schedule: May 20 - May 24

Go to http://www.siff.net/festival/ for full details and to buy tickets.
PAC: Pacific Place; EGY: Egyptian; HAR: Harvard Exit; NEP: Neptune; SIF: SIFF Cinema; ADM: Admiral; REN: Renton
(*) : Filmmaker guests in attendance (a major plus for me)
Bold red font: Films I particularly look forward to

Fri May 20
11:00am, PAC, "Happy, Happy" (Norway) (Romance)
1:30pm, PAC, "Ex" (Hong Kong) (RomCom)
4:00pm, PAC, "Venice" (Poland) (Children/War)
SKIP: personal plans

Sat May 21
11:00am, HAR, "Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff" (UK) (Docu)
1:30pm, NEP, "3" (Germany) (Romance/Gay) - from the director of "Run Lola Run"
4:00pm, NEP, "Lope" (Spain) (Biopic/Period)
SKIP: personal plans
10:00pm, PAC, "LOVE" (USA) (SciFi) (*)

Sun May 22
11:00am, NEP, "Submarine" (UK) (Comedy/Teen)
1:30pm, EGY, "Four More Years" (Sweden) (RomCom/Gay)
3:30pm, REN, "How to Die in Oregon" (USA) (Docu) (*) - about assisted suicide
6:30pm, REN, "Pinoy Sunday" (Taiwan) (Comedy)
9:30pm, TBD

Mon May 23
4:30pm, TBD
6:30pm, ADM, "Touch" (USA) (Romance) (*)
9:15pm, ADM, "The Trip" (UK) (Comedy)

Tue May 24
4:30pm, NEP, "Beginners" (USA) (Family/Gay) - starring Ewan McGregor & Christopher Plummer
7:00pm, HAR, "A Lot Like You" (Tanzania) (Docu) (*)
9:30pm, EGY, "Fire of Conscience" (Hong Kong) (Action)

So... Bring it on!!