Press screenings started a few weeks ago for the 49th San Francisco International Film Festival, which starts tonight, April 20, 2006. What follows are a few picks from the upcoming fest.
Addictive TV – Live in San Francisco
Co-presented by Microcinema, the British duo Graham Daniels and Tolly will be doing live video mash-ups and audiovisual remixes of films using their DVJ-X1 DVD turntables. Watch an online demonstration of their talents as they remix Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas.
Monday, May 1st at the Kabuki, 9:45 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3rd at Mighty, 119 Utah St., San Francisco, 9:00 p.m.
Perhaps Love
Perhaps Love opens the film festival on April 20th at the Castro Theatre. The film is mainly shown in flashbacks and the film-within-a-film musical numbers are right up there with the spectacle of Moulin Rouge. While elaborate, the film’s pacing tends to drag and some of the flashbacks get confusing. It’s not one of the better films in the festival’s otherwise great schedule, but it’ll be a fun night with the energy of the audience and the after party might make up for the film’s inadequacies. Director Peter Ho-Sun Chan will be available for questions after the screening.
Thursday, April 20th at the Castro Theatre, 7:00 p.m.
Brothers of the Head
Brothers of the Head is by far my favorite film screening at this year’s festival. Directed by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe (Lost in La Mancha), Brothers of the Head is a mockumentary about conjoined twins who become rock stars. It’s truly original, will make you squirm and laugh at the same time and has a few tender moments. There will be comparisons to Spinal Tap, which are totally warranted. In fact, it’s better than Spinal Tap and the band created for the film NEEDS to go on tour.
Saturday, April 29th at the Kabuki, 9:15 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2nd at the Kabuki, 6:30 p.m.
Factotum
Norwegian director Bent Hamer (Kitchen Stories) succeeds brilliantly at an adaptation of Charles Bukowski’s writing. Matt Dillon plays Henry Chinaski with more subtlety and humanity than Mickey Rourke’s portrayal in Barfly. The first time I watched the film, I walked away with mixed feelings because I thought Matt Dillon was too good looking to play Chinaski (Bukowski’s alter-ego in his writings). After a second viewing, I got passed Dillon’s looks, just watched and it was magic. If you haven’t seen video interviews of Bukowski, watch some after seeing Factotum and you’ll be amazed at the transformation in Dillon.
Saturday, April 22nd at the Kabuki, 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 30th at the Kabuki, 3:00 p.m.