From: Adam Hyman (email suppressed)
Date: Wed Aug 24 2005 - 13:01:54 PDT
Hi all,
I neglected to get these on the Flicker list in time, so I thought Iıd send
it to the list directly.
Hope the Southern California based members can attend!
Adam Hyman
Los Angeles Filmforum
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William Greaves' "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm"
Peter Watkins' "La Commune (Paris 1871)"
And more
As part of The Films That Got Away series, Los Angeles Filmforum is back
this Sunday with an exceptional and unique opportunity to see "La Commune
(Paris 1871)" by Peter Watkins.
Los Angeles Filmforum presents:
"La Commune (Paris 1871)" Los Angeles premiere!
Sunday August 28, 2005 at 2:00 pm
At the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. at Las Palmas
PLEASE NOTE THE START TIME IS 2:00 PM for this six-hour film. There will be
three intermissions, including one long one for a meal and it should end
around 10:30 pm.
$10 general; $6 students & seniors; free for Filmforum members
(Price raise for this show only; we'll be back at our normal $8 with our
next show)
In conjunction with the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the
American Cinematheque, Filmforum hosts a screening of Peter Watkins's
six-hour epic La Commune as part of The Films That Got Away series.
http://egyptiantheatre.com/archive1999/2005/FilmsThatGotAway.htm
La Commune is the name given to the French revolutionary government
established by the people of Paris during the Franco Prussian War
(1870-1871). For the film "La Commune" we travel back in time to 1871. A
journalist for Versailles Television broadcasts a soothing and official view
of events while a Commune television is set up to provide the perspectives
of the Paris rebels. On a stage-like set, more than 200 actors interpret
characters of the Commune, especially the Popincourt neighborhood in the
XIth arrondissement. They voice their own thoughts and feelings concerning
the social and political reforms. The telling of this story rests primarily
on depicting the people of the Commune, and those who suppressed them.
Deliberately, this film is an attempt to challenge existing notions of
documentary film, as well as the notions of 'neutrality' and 'objectivity'
so beloved by the mass media today. For Peter Watkins, to make a film is to
question his own work as a filmmaker. La Commune represents an
uncompromising challenge to modern media and a penetrating critique.
Tape courtesy of First Run/Icarus Films; screening on Beta SP (the only
available format)
Also please try to attend the opening night screening (Thursday Aug 25, 8:00
pm) of SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM, (1968, Janus Films, 70 min. Dir: William
Greaves). I just saw this, and it's marvelous, an incredibly funny and
experimental documentary of sorts following the making of a faux movie.
Thursday, August 25, 2005 8:00 PM ALTERNATIVE SCREEN INDEPENDENT FILM
SHOWCASE
The West Coast Premiere of William Greavesı Two-Part Masterpiece:
Double Feature!! SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM: TAKE ONE, 1968, Janus Films, 70 min.
Dir: William Greaves. SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM: TAKE 2 1/2, 2005, 99 min, Dir.
William Greaves.
The best American sequel of 2005 isnıt REVENGE OF THE SITH, but it might be
legendary independent filmmaker William Greavesı SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM: TAKE
2 12. In 1968, Greaves created a daring, innovative feature in which a film
crew rebels against a director (Greaves, playing himself) and takes over his
production. Artfully blending documentary and narrative approaches,
SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM: TAKE ONE is an intricate but accessible and deeply
moving rumination on art, politics, sexuality and filmmaking, set against
the turbulent America of the late 1960s. SYMBIO 1 went unseen until 1992,
when it re-emerged on the festival circuit, to garner rave reviews and a
rabid cult following that includes actor/filmmaker Steve Buscemi and
filmmaker Steven Soderbergh.
Soderbergh helped mentor Greavesı stunning 2005 follow-up, SYMBIO 2-1/2, an
elegy for the creative heat of the American 60s and a stunning celebration
of the growth and evolution of human relationships and their embodiment in
the actorıs craft. In this special evening, William Greaves will present the
West Coast premiere of the complete SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM including both
"Take One" and "Take 2 1/2." The question of the night: is SYMBIO one
masterpiece or two? Mr. Greaves will be on hand to take your questions, so
ask him yourself! NOT ON VIDEO!
Discussion with director William Greaves in between movies. Pre-screening
reception from 6:30 8:00 PM in the Egyptian Courtyard, sponsored by Janus
Films and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
The Films That Got Away
Every year, there are dozens of superb American and foreign films that fail
to be shown commercially in the United States. Ironically, it's usually
precisely because these movies are unique and special that distributors
avoid the challenge of trying to sell them. The result this summer was movie
houses full of concepts that were mostly sequels, remakes or adaptations of
television series, and an audience that stayed away from these "presold"
titles in droves. Fear not, cinema fans. The L.A. Film Critics Association,
in association with Filmforum and the American Cinematheque, has polled its
membership and programmed a festival completely comprised of their picks of
"films that got away" -- but which shouldn't have. Bold, visionary, sexy,
shocking and indescribable. These are the titles the best critics in town
pass among themselves like rare jewels. Well, the treasure box is now open
to all, with overlooked gems plus in-person discussions with some giants of
independent film and other indescribably rare treats!!
http://egyptiantheatre.com/archive1999/2005/FilmsThatGotAway.htm
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The Egyptian theater is located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd. Tickets are $10
general for this screening only (of "La Commune"), $6 students, seniors and
American Cinematheque members. Free for Filmforum members. Cash and checks
only!
Parking validation at the Hollywood & Highland parking complex. Park 4 hours
for $2 with validation. Free street parking also generally available. Since
it's a Sunday, and you'll be at the show for 8 hours, try to find street
parking.
Tickets only available at the door, but we will take reservations through
the email address, and hold all reservations until 1:45 pm.
Did I mention that the film is starting at 2:00 pm on Sunday?
**For full and up-to-date information, please visit our website at
www.lafilmforum.org or email us at email suppressed **
***For a complete listing of alternative films in Los Angeles, check
www.filmradar.com
Coming soon to Los Angeles Filmforum:
We'll be back on September 18 with more great alternative film and video!
See the website for more details: www.lafilmforum.org
Los Angeles Filmforum is the city's longest-running organization dedicated
to weekly screenings of experimental film, documentaries, and video art.
__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.