January 2010 Selections

Our latest film selections are...

A Dozen or So Documentary Films for Your Consideration

Documentaries are non-fiction films and can be about anything. Tell us what you need and we'll try to help you locate it. Thrall's documentaries can be found at the "news stand" following the fiction DVD browsers and also with the VHS tapes, in both cases cataloged with Dewey Decimal numbers to identify their subject content.

Here's a suggestion. The next time you come in looking for a popular entertainment DVD, pause and pick out a documentary to take home as well. Documentaries are often shorter than feature films. They can tell you important things about the world, everyday life, health and well-being, food, exercise, the environment, and more. They can be serious and/or funny. They can actually be great musical performances on DVD, hiding out among the other DVDs. Do yourself a favor: give "docs" a try!

Our first suggestion is...

• A Man Named Pearl (2008) Directed by Scott Galloway and Brent Pierson.. 113 min. (Call# DVD 715.1 MAN) Pearl Fryar's story is not only about his amazing skills as a topiary artist, sculpting trees in his yard at night on top of a ladder with a chainsaw. As one watches him working and talking with visitors, and especially his kindness to children, one realizes this man has a fine innate wisdom and faith and love for mankind. It is a truly uplifting experience to watch this film and learn about a man named Pearl. You won't forget him.

Next up: you are what you eat...

• Fast Food Nation (2006) Directed by Richard Linklater. 113 min. (CALL# DVD FICTION FAST) Note: Listed as fiction because there's a story line, but you can learn alot about the food industry, convenience foods, and fast food restaurants. It stars Greg Kinnear. Is he a good guy or a bad guy???
• Supersize Me: A Film of Epic Portions (2004) Written, produced, and directed by Morgan Spurlock. 96 min. (CALL# DVD 616.59398 SUP) And to make a point, Spurlock went on an all-McDonald's diet for 30 days. Funny and frightening.
• King Corn (2008) Produced and directed by Aaron Woolf. 90 min. (CALL# DVD 664.724 KIN) Two college roommates decide to raise an acre of corn in Iowa and in doing so learn much of concern about the American food industry, especially the dreaded omnipresent ingredient called high fructose corn syrup. Remember when corn was a good thing?

More titles to consider:

• Blue Vinyl (2005) Directed by Judith Helfand and Danuel B. Gold. 98,80 min. (1 disc) (CALL# DVD 668.4236 BLU) What do you know about vinyl siding? Judith Helfand was shocked at her parents' decision to use it to re-side their family home. So, she made a film about it. ". . . BLUE VINYL is a sobering, shockingly funny, uniquely personal exploration into what it takes to be a really educated consumer." -- Docurama
• Sicko (2007) Produced and directed by Michael Moore. 123 min. (CALL# DVD 362.10973 SIC) A scathing indictment as Mr. Moore takes on the American healthcare system. The film still manages to be hilarious.
• Road to the Big Leagues (Rumbo a las Grandes Ligas) (2008) Directed by Jared Goodman. 60 min. (CALL# DVD 796.357 ROA) A behind-the-scenes look at the Dominican Republic's obsession with baseball. With guests David Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero.
• English Grammar - A 10 part series. (2004) Written and taught by Carl Weber. (CALL# DVD 428.2 ENG) "for middle school students through adult learners - including students of English as a second language"
• Your Road to Passing the U.S. Citizenship Test (2008) (en Ingles y Espanol) (CALL# DVD 323.623 YOU) "A fun and easy to use interactive guide for learning the answers to 100 questions you need to know"
• The Family Guide to Long Term Care - Solutions & practical advice for older adults and their families (2005) 185 min. (CALL# DVD 362.61 FAM) Helpful information to guide families through the intricacies of setting up long term care, including advice on legal and financial issues.
• Accessible Yoga for Everybody (2003) 58 min. (CALL# DVD 613.7046 ACC) Yoga for mature students to build strength, increase flexibility, and for relaxation.

Some Noteworthy Recent Releases:

• The National Parks: America's Best Idea - A six episode series by Ken Burns.
• Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound - A PBS American Masters production.
• Calle 54 (2001) Written and directed by Fernando Trueba. (Spanish and French dialogue, English subtitles) 106 min. Excellent Latin jazz performances by truly fine musicians. "Audiences will burst into applause! It glistens with music and moviemaking talent!" -Elvis Mitchell, The New York Times

Fall 2009 Selections

September 14, 2009

Our latest film selections are...

Drama (light-hearted - defies categorization)

• Amelie (2001) Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. (French w\ English subtitles) 120 mins. Rated R. (CALL# DVD FICTION AMELIE) A delight from start to finish. Amelie, whom we first see as a sweet and funny child finding things to amuse herself, led a seemingly isolated life in the country with her uncommunicative, widowed father. As soon as she was old enough to work and earn a living, Amelie moved to Paris, where she worked in a cafe in Montmartre. Not wishing to spoil any surprises for viewers, I'll stop at this point and just say SEE THIS MOVIE!!! It's visually innovative, very well cast, suspenseful, colorful, and great fun.

Drama / Comedy

• Enlightenment Guaranteed (2002) Directed by Doris Dorrie. (German w\ English subtitles) 105 mins. Not rated. (CALL# DVD FICTION ENLIGHTENMENT) Two German brothers, for reasons of their own, share an adventure by heading to Japan to spend time living in a Buddhist monastery. Gustav is a practicing Buddhist; his brother, Uwe, sells kitchen cabinets, has just been abandoned by his wife and kids, and is quite tearful, at first. The two rent a room for one night in a Tokyo hotel and bravely venture out in the evening without knowing the hotel's name or address. Soon they have lost everything -- the perfect thing for them to do at this juncture in their lives. A sweet and affecting film as one watches transformations occur. This film offers a wonderful opportunity to be inside a working Buddhist monastery to witness the kindness, patience,and compassion of the monks. You may find yourself sitting very still by the end of the film.
• The Great Dictator (1940) Conceived and directed by Charles Chaplin. 120 mins. (CALL# DVD FICTION GREAT) If you haven't seen this 1940 Chaplin film, here's your chance to see something remarkable and courageous from its creator. At a time when many people were still thinking that an accomodation with Hitler was possible, Chaplin saw things differently and dared to make a film showing persecution of the Jews and to make "Adenoid Hynkel", the dictator of Tomania, the object of some sharp humor. After all, who were the two most widely recognizable men in the world at the time? Hitler and Chaplin. This film is the perfect vehicle for Chaplin to express his views as only he could. Yes, the Little Tramp does appear in a speaking part in this film. It was, in fact, Chaplin's very first talking film and the little tramp was "retired" after it. Chaplin's sincere end-of-film plea in which he shares his feelings, ideas and wishes for only good for all mankind is well worth waiting for. All of the extras are recommended.
• Waiting for Guffman (1996) Co-written and directed by Christopher Guest. 84 mins. Rated R. (CALL# DVD FICTION WAITING) Christopher Guest is perfect as Corky St. Clair, director of a small town community theater company. Fictitious Blaine, Missouri is about to celebrate its 150th anniversary and Corky's in charge of writing and directing a musical tribute, "Red, White, and Blaine". The film is loaded with outrageous comedy, including the antics of local husband and wife travel agents (Fred Willard and Catherine O'Hara, aka as "The Lunts of Blaine") who've never even been outside of Blaine. Then there's Corky himself -- sweet, sad, endearing -- and hopeful despite obstacles to the show's production. As James Berardinelli stated in Reelviews Movie Reviews, "This movie can be considered an affectionate satire, because, while it pokes fun at small-town America and high school stage productions, it also offers up a heartfelt homage to them."

Documentary

• Genghis Blues (2000) Directed by Roko Belic. 90 mins. Not rated. (CALL# DVD 780.9575 GEN) Paul Pena (1950-2005) became a man on a quest. A talented blues musician who happened to be blind, he tuned in to short wave radio at night to hear the world. While tuning in to find a Korean language lesson, he encountered recordings of Tuvan throat singing (khoomei) on Radio Moscow. What is that? Where is Tuva? What are they singing about? That and much more becomes clear in this documentary, winner of a Sundance audience award in 1999 and nominated for an Academy Award in 2000. Perhaps most importantly, the film is about friendships between citizens of different countries, about music made and shared together, and about Paul Pena becoming a good will ambassador by being such a dedicated student of Tuvan throat singing. Imagine this. He used two dictionaries: a Tuvan-to-Russian and a Russian-to-English, just to figure out the language. He used a device to scan pages and convert printed words into tactile sensations so he could read with his fingers. He did learn to sing several distinct notes at the same time. And, he went to Tuva to perform for the Tuvans in their own language. An amazing story.

A few more quick picks...

• Last Chance Harvey (2008) Written and directed by Joel Hopkins. 93 mins. Rated PG-13. (CALL# DVD FICTION LAST) A comedy starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, which is reason enough to recommend it. An added feature of this "boy meets girl" comedy is that the boy and girl are mature, albeit unhappy, people living with uncertainty about their jobs and longing for that missing something in their lives. Perhaps a happily-ever-after ending? Delicious.
• Enchanted (2008) Directed by Kevin Lima. 108 mins. Rated PG (CALL# DVD FICTION ENCHANTED) The title fits well. It starts out with Disney animated characters (I thought I had the wrong DVD!) but the story soon segues to Manhattan, where Princess Giselle (Amy Adams), in all her royal finery, emerges from a manhole on Broadway and the merriment begins. The kind of fun movie that can be watched many times. Wait til you see Giselle's approach to housekeeping Snow White style.
• Sunrise (1927) Directed by F.W. Murnau. (CALL# DVD FICTION SUNRISE) An oldie, certainly, but many call this a classic screen gem. A story of redemption, forgiveness, and the restoration of sanity through the healing powers of love. Stars Janet Gaynor and George O'Brien. Remember them? The extras showing how some of the scenes were designed and shot are noteworthy. Very creative film-making.
• Martha Graham in Performance (2002) 93 mins. (CALL# DVD 792.8 MAR) Three separate short films featuring modern dance legend Martha Graham and her company. The first (1957) shows Miss Graham in a dressing room as she, while "preparing for a performance", patiently explains to us how the world of dance works. Her full dance company is featured in demonstrations of dance as taught by Graham. The other two films (1961, 1958) are filmed ballets: Night Journey (the story of Oedipus) and Appalachian Spring. It's a privilege to have access to dance history in this way and especially poignant to realize that Graham was pushing herself, I'm told, beyond the pain of arthritis for the love of dance. Makes one want to read a biography or autobiography, doesn't it?

Late Spring/Early Summer 2009 Edition

May 22, 2009

Our latest film selections are...

Documentary

• Winged Migration (2003) Directed by Jacques Perrin. (English w\ optional English, Spanish, Hindi or Portuguese subtitles) 89 mins. (CALL # DVD 598.2525 WIN) Breathtakingly beautiful, scene after scene, with a haunting musical score. This viewer's jaw dropped at the astonishing first view of geese in flight - from a vantage point right next to the geese! One can see and sense their strength and determination. This powerful documentary follows geese, swans, cranes, pelicans and more during their migrations over land and sea in search of food and nesting places. The added feature on the making of the film is informative and enjoyable.

Drama

• I Am Cuba (1964) Directed by Mikhail Kalatazov. (Spanish, Russian and English w\ English subtitles) 140 min. (CALL # DVD FICTION I) This Russian film, released in Cuba in 1964, could be called a "docu-drama" about the decadence of Batista's Havana amidst the poverty that fueled the Cuban Revolution. Due to the politically sensitive issues depicted, the film was relegated to archives for many years and not released until Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola collaborated to bring it to the public in 1999. Consisting of four vignettes, with gorgeous black and white cinematography by Sergei Urusevsky that can make you feel you're under the blazing Cuban sun, I am Cuba is well worth viewing. And, what an opportunity to challenge yourself in three languages at once: Spanish dialogue, Russian narration and a bit of English, too. It all works. The four stories depict Havana's gambling and nightlife, a farmer who loses his land to United Fruit Company, a student uprising, and government bombing of mountain farmlands and farming families.
• I'm not There (2008) Directed by Todd Haynes. 135 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION I'M) Yes, it does take at least six actors to portray Bob Dylan in some of his numerous aspects. Cate Blanchett is mesmerizing as the young pop/folk music idol on tour, backstage, and goofing with the Beatles at one point. (Beatle impersonators, that is.) BUT, don't overlook Christian Bale's subtle turns as a Christian convert, gospel-singing Dylan. His performance is finely wrought. (Actually, several pseudonyms are used to refer to Dylan at different points in his life but we always know who he is.) Quite an original approach to a larger-than-life artist and his life and music.
• From the Earth to the Moon (2005) Directed by Ron Howard. (English language) 720 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION FROM) Originally broadcast in 1998 on HBO, this epic miniseries, co-produced and hosted by Tom Hanks, takes on the challenge of chronicling the history of the Apollo space program and the astronauts and their families, from 1961 to 1972. The moon landing and exploration is said to be almost as impressive as the real thing. There's a featurette that reveals some of the secrets to making the moonwalking seem authentic. A Five DVD set; a box full of the history of some exciting and recent times that found many of us glued to our TV sets.
• Buffalo Soldiers (1997) Directed by Charles Haid. (English language) 100 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION BUFFALO) "Sharp account of the post-Civil War black cavalry troops known as the Buffalo Soldiers bursts with energy, tension and drive under Charles Haid's vigorous direction. Assembled from denizens of cities' alleys and byways and from Deep South Negroes only recently slaves, the Buffalo Soldiers were fierce fighters trained and ready for anything." Tony Scott, in Variety. Stars Danny Glover as ex-slave Sgt. Wyatt.
• The Visitor (2008) Directed by Thomas McCarthy. 104 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION VISITOR) Walter Vale, a widowed college professor, travels to NYC to speak and finds the apartment he and his wife had kept there has been rented out to illegal immigrants. The occupants threaten to call the police, until they realize that they are the trespassers. The film follows the characters closely as they attempt to deal with immigration officials and each other. Changes do take place in the lives of all of them. Richard Jenkins is an actor you'll swear you've seen before, and probably have. He is a master of subtlety and nuance in acting and, in fact, was nominated for an Acadamy Award for best actor for his portrayal of Walter Vale.
• Frozen River (2008) Directed by Courtney Hunt. (English) 97 mins. Rated R (CALL # DVD FICTION FROZEN) Facing economic hardship, two single mothers are lured by the promise of fast money to be made by smuggling illegal immigrants from Quebec into a Mohawk reservation in upstate New York. Writer and director Courtney Hunt has connections to the Hudson Valley. Brava, Courtney Hunt.
• Films of Michael Powell: A Matter of Life and Death (aka Stairway to Paradise) and Age of Consent (2009) Directed by Michael Powell. (English language) 210 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION FILMS) British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger formed a team called the "The Archers" and together created a string of masterpieces, some during WWII and reflective of the times. Stairway to Heaven (1946) is, as my mother explained to me back in the 1940s, "a movie with a message" and contains a fantastic heavenly courtroom scene in which David Niven, an injured pilot, pleads his case so that he may be returned to earth to be with the woman he loves (Kim Hunter). Age of Consent (1969) was the last feature film directed by Powell and stars James Mason (also co-producer) as a jaded painter living down under, on an island on the Great Barrier Reef, and looking for inspiration for his painting. As he settles into island living, which can pretty rough, a surprise presents itself in the form of is a very young and beautiful Cora (Helen Mirren) who lives with her alcoholic grandmother and sells sea critters to save money to get away. The lively colors of the paintings, blue skies, yellow boats and a bright red purse burst from the screen. You almost need sunglasses just to watch this one!

Comedy / Drama

• Caramel (2008) Directed by Nadine Labaki. (Arabic and French w\ English subtitles) 98 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION CARAMEL) A Beirut beauty salon becomes a treasured meeting place for several generations of women from various walks of life where they can go to talk, seek advice and confide in one another. Easy to figure out what's going on; it's very much like what goes on here in the U.S. Director Nadine Labaki plays the lead role of Layale, the operator of the salon. The trials and tribulations and celebrations of the ladies do lead to some happy endings. By the way, the caramel of the title is a mixture of sugar, water and lemon juice cooked to form a sticky sweet that's also good for removing unwanted hair - painfully. Caramel (the movie), shows us the pain as well as the sweetness life can hold.
• Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) Directed by Bharat Narulli. (English or French w\ French or Spanish subtitles) 92 mins. (CALL # DVD FICTION MISS) A British comedy that stars two gifted American actresses, Amy Adams and Frances McDormand, in a female buddy movie that takes place in one action-filled 24 hour period. There's great fun as the out-of-work Miss Pettigrew (McDormand) takes a job as social secretary to glamorous high-society singer Delysia Lafosse, who's juggling relationships with three men and desperate to be a star. That's it in a tiny nutshell except that the setting is london in the late thirties. Hard times, with soup kitchens bustling and war threatening. All the roles are well cast and the whole movie is a hoot. Amy Adams is especially delightful as the "busy" Miss Lafosse. The two women each need help with their lives and, luckily for them, each provides what the other needs in the way of advice and support, and friendship which, one is convinced, will be lifelong for them.

Mystery

An update for series fans! The following have been added to our listings:

• The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (CALL # DVD FICTION INEPECTOR):
  • The first season - v.1-4
  • Season five v.1-4
  • Season six v. 1-4
• Closer (CALL # DVD FICTION CLOSER):
  • The first season
  • The second season
  • The third season

Winter 2009 Edition

February 2, 2009

Our latest film selections are...

Documentary

• The Gleaners and I (2001) "a film by Agnes Varda" (French with optional English subtitles) 82 mins. (Call # 631.56 GLE) Gleaning refers to scavenging in potato fields, apple orchards, and vineyards, as well as in urban markets, for usable food or other items left behind. The phenomenon of scavenging became of great interest to Agnes Varda, an artist who at one point in the film referred to herself as a gleaner of people, finding beauty and meaning in lives overlooked by most of the world. Varda traveled around France in her little red car, with a hand-held video camera, interviewing gleaners, farmers, experts on the legalities of gleaning, and more, in an effort to preserve and share her observances and insights into life, which she accomplishes with gentle humor, caring, and enthusiasm.

Drama

• Away from Her (2007) Directed by Sarah Polley. (English language) 98 mins. PG-13 (Call # DVD FICTION AWAY) Fiona (Julie Christie) and George (Gordon Pinsent) are an Ontario couple married for forty years - happy and fulfilled. As Fiona's memory lapses intensify, a time comes when she willingly moves to an assisted living facility. Watching her, looking very elegant and composed as she introduces herself to the front desk staff upon arrival there, is indeed poignant. After a 30-day "no visitor" adjustment period, Gordon returns, only to find Fiona has formed a bond with another man, a patient in the facility. After a while it finally strikes Gordon that, altthough Fiona will politely tolerate listening to him briefly when he visits, she no longer recognizes him. He must say a painful goodbye to the woman he has loved. Life gradually begins to move on for him.
• Starting Out in the Evening (2007) Directed by Andrew Wagner. 111 mins. Rated R. (Call # DVD FICTION STARTING) Frank Langella stars as Leonard Schiller, a more-or-less forgotten, ill, and aging NYC author trying to complete his 4th novel before he dies. Sadly, his earlier novels, which showed much promise, are out of print. Leonard has a troubled daughter with a boyfriend she loves but they disagree on having children. Along comes, of all things, Heather, a clever young female graduate student on a mission to reintroduce Leonard's work to the world through making him the subject of her master's thesis. There's a lot of back and forth among the four main characters, including the predictable May-December relationship between Heather and Leonard. Frank Langella gives what some have called an Academy Award worthy performance as Leonard.

Paul Newman Tribute

In honor of the late Paul Newman we consulted a list of his greatest films and added these titles to our collection:

• The Long Hot Summer (1958) Directed by Martin Ritt. 115 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION LONG) Joanne Woodward, Orson Welles, Lee Remick and more in combined Faulkner short stories. Newman plays a wandering handyman who decides to stay around and marry Welles' daughter (she's not), Joanne Woodward. And, he did.
• The Verdict (1982) Directed by Sidney Lumet. 129 mins. Rated R (Call # DVD FICTION VERDICT) Newman plays a Boston lawyer whose career is sinking lower and lower until a case comes along that offers a chance to redeem himself as a fighter for justice. With Jack Warden, James Mason, and Charlotte Rampling.
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) Directed by George Roy Hill. 110 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION BUTCH) A character study/western with lots of sharp dialogue and memorable music. Co-starring Robert Redford, of course.
• The Hustler (1961) Directed by Robert Rossen. 134 mins. Unrated. (Call # DVD FICTION HUSTLER) The "pool-hall movie" with Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, and Jake Lamotta. Newman, a drifter (again) challenges Minnesota Fats (Gleason).

Please note: You can also check our library catalog for more films featuring Paul Newman (some on VHS, others on DVD).

Romantic Comedy

• Who am I This Time? (1981) Directed by Jonathan Demme. 56 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION WHO) Features Academy Award winners-to-be Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon in a charming short film based on a short story by Kurt Vonnegut. A small town community theater group brings together two extremely shy people for a production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and fireworks erupt, onstage and off. Highly recommended.

Art & Foreign Films

• The Namesake (2007) Directed by Mira Nair. (English, French, and Hindi w/ subtitles in English, French, or Spanish) 122 mins. PG-13 (Call # DVD FICTION NAMESAKE) A young Bengali couple, he an aspiring engineer, she a classically trained singer, agree to an arranged marriage and set off to the U.S. to set up housekeeping and raise a family. The film, based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, follows their lives through events happy and sad. The son, improbably named Gogol, but that is movingly explained to him later by his father, becomes an architect with what looks to be a prosperous future. He decides to reconnect with his Indian roots and life takes a detour. The film is a wonderful look at the lives, fortunes, and misfortunes, of the Ganguli family. We are given a rich combination of moving, beautiful, colorful and humorous moments.
• Under the Bombs (2007) Directed by Phillippe Aractingi . (in Arabic, English, and French with English subtitles) 98 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION UNDER) A docudrama employing only two professional actors - to play lead characters Zeina, a Shiite Lebanese woman searching for her young son following the bombings of Hezbollah by Israel - and Tony, a Lebanese Christian cab driver who is the only one in Beirut willing to help her in her quest (for a hefty fee). All the other individuals along the way are real people. Men, women, and children alike give compelling "performances" as themselves. Combining newsreel footage of the devastation in southern Lebanon with live performances provides a unique and close look at the 2006 war. The bomb explosions are real, but no actual physical violence is shown. None is needed to convey the horror of the situation.

Cookery

A tasty sampling of cookery DVDs in the Thrall collection:

• Video Bread Basics: My First Loaf 40 mins. (Call # DVD 641.815 VID) The basics of yeast and kneading. Unintentionally amusing but sweet. The bread looked delicious.
• Mediterranean Cooking (Turkish Style) 60 mins. (Call # DVD 641.59561 MED)
• Asian India Sweets Cookery 78 mins. (Call # DVD 641.5954 ASI)

These last two "CookingOnDVD" presentations are part of a project that takes viewers around the world and into all kinds of kitchens with cooks preparing recipes in their native countries. With English narration, one has the oppportunity to look "over the shoulder" of the individual cooks to see exactly what they're doing. No snappy kitchen patter here. Lots of views of real cooks working in their own kitchens around the world. Interesting!

Fall 2008 Film Edition

October 17, 2008

We invite you to check out these titles from our film collections at Middletown Thrall Library.

Click a film's title to check on its availability in the library catalog. You can also try to reserve a film once in the catalog. For even more selections, please come to the library and browse our collections!

Our selections for Fall 2008 are...

Art & Foreign Films

• The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (2001) Directed by Trevor Nunn. (English w/French, German, & Italian subtitles) 184 mins.
  (Call # DVD FICTION PORGY)
  From a story by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, with music by George and Ira Gershwin. This Glyndbourne Opera Production (England) was so good it was taken into a studio and filmed - and with awesome results. Willard White as Porgy and Cynthia Haymon as Bess are superb. This is a truly beautiful and deeply moving production of what has been called "an American opera."
• Sing Faster: The Stagehands' Ring Cycle (2004) Written, produced and directed by John Else. (English language, except for the opera bits, but does it matter? Not really.) Approx. 56 mins plus extras
  (Call # DVD 782.1 SIN)
  Hilarious and tremendously entertaining! This Sundance winner takes viewers backstage at the San Francisco Opera during a long production (14 hrs. Give or take a few minutes for those who were there for it) of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle. One might wonder what the heck is going on in this opera. The stagehands have their own unique opinions. This film, in addition to being roll-on-the-floor funny, shows the tremendous efforts required backstage to make everything in the opera happen exactly when and how it's supposed to. Trolls! Giants! Magic Mountains! A fire-breathing dragon!
• Diva (Orig. 1982) Directed by Jean Jacques Beineix. (French and English w/optional English subtitles) 118 mins./R
  (Call # DVD FICTION DIVA)
  When a young Parisian postman makes an illegal recording of a live performance by a beautiful American opera singer (Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez), he becomes the target of Taiwanese music pirates. And, when the tape (tape!!) becomes confused with a cassette of murder evidence it adds to the action as he is also chased by professional assassins. Lots of action, beautiful music, fantastic artists' lofts, and classic characters. And a motorcycle chase through the Paris subway. Said to be one of the most stylish and influential thrillers of recent years.
• L'Atalante (1934) Directed by Jean Vigo. (French w/ English subtitles) 87 mins.
  (Call # DVD FICTION L'ATALANTE)
  A classic early French film with immense beauty, albeit about events aboard a cramped river barge, L'Atalante, as the captain and his bride begin married life. The bride becomes bored and craves the excitement of Paris, but an eccentric barge hand, Pere Jules, brings the couple back together again.
• Rivers and Tides (2001) Director/cinematographer/editor, Thomas Reidelsheimer. (English) 90 mins.
  (Call # DVD 702.8 RIV)
  Meditative documentary look at the Scottish Artist Andy Goldsworthy creating some of his outdoor art works, sometimes in ice, sometimes with flowers and other found items of nature. All eventually fade, melt, flow away and leave one with a sense of their beauty. Goldsworthy's voice lets us in on why he works the ways he does.

Musicals

• Flying Down to Rio (1933) Directed by Thornton Freeland. Music by Vincent Youmans. 89 mins.
  (Call # DVD FICTION FLYING)
  The very first film to partner Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers! Includes the exciting "Carioca" and an amazing closing number with chorus girls perched on the wings of airplanes. Although the lead star of the film, Dolores Del Rio, does a fine job in her role (and wears beautiful outfits) it's Fred and Ginger who steal the show. And, as they provided folks with spirit-lifting entertainment during the Great Depression, perhaps they can do the same again in 2008. Worth a try.

Comedy

• It Should Happen to You (1954) Directed by George Cukor. (In English w/ optional English, French, or Japanese subtitles.) 88 mins.
  (Call # DVD FICTION IT)
  There are three leading actors in this delightful film: Jack Lemmon (in his big screen debut), Judy Holliday (yay), and New York City in the fifties, especially Columbus Circle. Should you decide to view this DVD, you'll understand the bit about Columbus Circle. And, Central Park. A very sweet boy-meets-girl, etc. story with a skilled and charming cast. Don't miss Jack and Judy singing "Let's Fall in Love."

Drama

• Daughters of the Dust (1991) Produced, written, and directed by Julie Dash. (In English) 113 mins.
  (Call # DVD FICTION DAUGHTERS)
  The story of a large African-American family as they prepare to move north from the Sea Islands off the coast of Georgia at the dawn of the 20th century. Kudos to Julie Dash for making a film that can draw you into the daily lives of this extended family as they cope with change and loss and the end of life as it had been lived for generations.
• Boesman & Lena (1999) Based on a play by Athol Fugard; adapted and directed by John Berry. (English) 84 mins. (Call # DVD FICTION BOESMAN) Examines the devastating effects of racism on the human spirit through the progress of one couple's life together under Apartheid, as they are pushed from the bucolic Eden of South Africa's farmlands into a makeshift shelter on the mudflats near Capetown.

Welcome to Beyond the Box Office!

October 17, 2008

Welcome to the web edition of our new quarterly print publication called "Beyond the Box Office."

Starting with our Fall 2008 issue, every few months we will highlight various films (from our collections) which we think you might find interesting.

We hope you use these lists to go beyond the usual Hollywood box office fare and discover some true cinematic gems.

If you would like more assistance in finding some films, we also have movie guides in print as well as access to movie databases and reviews at the library.

You can also check out our Entertainment web guide and the Movies section of our Ready Reference web guide.