Old Ways comes back
By Carol Wheeler

Film
Old Ways
Thurs, Nov 29, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

Photos by Patrice Wynne

Lolita, Anado McLauchlin, Jimmy Ray and Richard Schultz

The October 16 showing of the film Old Ways by New York filmmaker Joe Gutowski was sold out and many were turned away. Due to popular demand, the film will be screened again November 29. Get there early!

The film chronicles local visionary artist Anado McLauchlin and his peculiarly mythical muse Jimmy Ray. The following is the continuation of an earlier interview between Anado, Jimmy Ray and myself at my home in San Antonio in October.

Carol Wheeler: Jimmy Ray, is this the first time you’ve been interviewed for publication?

Jimmy Ray: I was interviewed in the past by The New York Times and the Village Voice but neither interview came to publication. I must have said the F-word.

CW: What F-word?

JR: I was referring to my funky past, but they must have misunderstood.

CW: Anado, could you comment on the genesis of this movie?

Anado McLauchlin: Due to the celebrative nature of our home in Cieneguita, we have had a number of photographers and newspaper people visiting and other curiosity seekers. Everybody was asking whether this house had appeared in any publication or on television. I told them that when the right person shows up something will probably happen. There had been a few articles here and there, especially in Atención. My friend Kathy showed up with this guy at the house and he had a video camera with him. His name was Joe and he asked me if he could film the groundbreaking ceremony of our gallery, otherwise known as the Chapel of Jimmy Ray. I said sure, it would be great to chronicle the occasion—it’s always fun to have some good home movies. The next day, after he filmed the ceremony, he called me and said not only was he a feature film editor but he wanted to do a full-length documentary on the groundbreaking and our funky house and studio. Afterwards he came and did some interviews around the place.

CW: Jimmy Ray, I viewed this film in the past. I noticed the word speculation seems to pop up continuously. Would you comment on the speculativeness of the film?

JR: I’m glad you asked that question. I notice the extreme amount of real estate speculation taking place in this town and other speculation about did she or didn’t she have a little nip’n’tuck. Before coming to San Miguel with Anado, I was never in disguise. But now, I’ve decided to jump on the speculative bandwagon. I wear many different disguises and possibly my next disguise will be that of a woman. I need to get some lessons on how to sit properly, though. To get back to your question, speculation is a great device to get Anado heard and seen. No one would pay attention to him so I gave him a little nudge.

CW: Do either of you have any favorite artists? Local or international?

AM: Lately I’ve been a huge fan of the graffiti artists in Mexico City and Berlin. These young people are taking absolute risks and are the cave painters of this age. I also dig the photographer Jeff Wall and of course I’m a huge devotee of my assistant, Carlos Ramirez Galvan.

JR: I’ve always admired the Mexican calendar painters of the thirties and forties. I’m also moved by Hindu romantic renderings, and also those folk artists in Africa who paint the B-movie picture posters. Here in San Miguel I am enamored of Susan Plum, Leigh Hyams, Lulu Torbet, the photographer Russell Monk and, of course, Anado.

CW: One more question. Thanks for coming, Jimmy Ray. I promise not to divulge your true identity but I have to ask you: Where did you get that fabulous shirt?

JR: No comment.

AM: He can be so secretive sometimes. He’s such a funky guy. Is it okay to say funky?

Carol Wheeler is a former New York writer and editor.





CINEMATECA
José Luis’ Pick and Tip

The Pick: The Painted Veil (2006)

Tuesday, November 27 at 7:30pm; 

Friday, November 30 at 3pm. 

Romantic drama, English w/ Spanish subtitles, 125 minutes. Director: John Curran. Cast: Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Zoe Telford, Yu Xia.

Shunned by a husband (Edward Norton) who’s more interested in his research, the simpleminded Kitty Fane (Naomi Watts) embarks on a quest for life fulfillment. Along the way, she ignites a passionate affair with a dashing womanizer (Liev Schreiber) and travels with her husband to the Far East, where she turns her attention to fighting the cholera epidemic. Diana Rigg co-stars in this period drama based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham.

This movie is gorgeous, from the backdrop of curvy green limestone mountains, to the superb writing, to the brilliant turns from the two leads. It is unlike any other love story in its subtlety and grace. Surprising and moving. It is a wonderful example of a “golden age of Hollywood” romance brought to life for today’s audience. It is big, beautiful and totally engaging. Naomi Watts and Edward Norton are superb. Their individual characters grow, while their relationship evolves movingly. This is a film to lose yourself in. It will stay with you.

The Tip: Important: In order to provide the best viewing experience, the show times for some movies may be adjusted to accommodate their length. Be sure to check the schedule carefully. I also want to remind you of our new ticket price: 50 pesos but discount cards buy 12 shows for 450 pesos.

Starting Monday, after 11am, buy your tickets in advance for any movie or show of the week. If you have a discount card, collect your pass to assure you a seat; don’t take the risk of being locked out. … Nos vemos en el Cine.…

Want to receive this info by email? Write to José Luis at alephamour@hotmail.com 

Thank You.

Soneros de Verdad: Sounds of Cuba (2004)
Monday, November 26 at 3pm
Afro-Cuban & Latin Jazz, Spanish, 60 minutes
Cast: Pio Leiva, Guillermo Rubalcaba, Julio Fernandez, Buena Vista Social Club.
The stars of the hit film Buena Vista Social Club – Pio Leyva, Guillermo Rubalcaba and Julio Fernandez – perform live in this zesty concert video. The godfathers of Cuban music dish up their spicy blend of traditional Latin sounds mixed with Afro-Cuban rhythms. Songs include “Chan Chan,” “Francisco Guayabal,” “Danzon y Son,” “A Buena Vista Barrio de la Habana,” “Instrumental y Bolero,” “Pena me da” and “El Cuarto de Tula.”



The Luzhin Defence (2001)
Only show, Monday, November 26 at 6:30pm
Director: Marleen Gorris, Written by: Vladimir Nabokov
Cast: John Turturro, Emily Watson, Geraldine James, Stuart Wilson, Christopher Thompson. Drama, Eng., 109 minutes.
Dutch director Marleen Gorris filmed The Luzhin Defence from a screenplay written by Peter Berry based on the novel The Defense by Vladimir Nabokov. Nabokov drew upon events in the life of his friend Curt von Bardeleben who committed suicide in 1924. The movie stars John Turturro as the tormented Luzhin; Emily Watson plays the love interest, Natalia. Watson received best actress nominations at the British Independent Film Awards and the London Film Critics Circle Awards.



Short Film Festival Award Winner
Lost and Found in Mexico
Monday, November 26 at 5pm 
Documentary, English, 53 minutes.
Writer/ Director /Producer: Caren Cross
The illusion of the American dream is challenged in this portrait of ex-pats in San Miguel de Allende who discovered that some vital things were missing in their prior lives. While many Mexicans are leaving families behind and risking their lives to cross the border to a better life, this film focuses on the Americans who have decided to cross the border in the other direction – for a simpler life. Happy to live with less, among a people they respect and admire, these ex-professionals and executives explain why they have left family and friends behind to live in a country where crowded malls and BlackBerries have been replaced by books, art and casual conversations. 



Planet Earth Series
“Shallow Seas” and “Seasonal Forest”
Tuesday, November 27 at 5pm, 60 minutes each.
The “Shallow Seas” segment is devoted to the fringe of the world’s continents. Although they constitute 8% of the oceans, they contain most marine life. As humpback whales return to breeding grounds in the tropics, a mother and her calf are followed. While the latter takes in up to 500 liters of milk a day, its parent will starve until it travels back to the poles to feed – and it must do this while it still has sufficient energy left for the journey. The coral reefs of Indonesia are home to the biggest variety of ocean dwellers. Examples include banded sea kraits, which ally themselves with goatfish and trevally in order to hunt. 

“Seasonal Forest” surveys the coniferous and deciduous seasonal woodland habitats – the most extensive forests on Earth. Conifers begin sparsely in the Arctic but soon dominate the land, and the taiga circles the globe, containing a third of all the Earth’s trees. Few creatures can survive the Arctic climate all year round, but the moose and wolverine are exceptions. On the Pacific coast of North America, 1600 kilometers to the south, conifers have reached their full potential. These include some of the world’s tallest trees: the redwoods. Here, a pine marten is shown stalking a squirrel, and great grey owl chicks take their first flight. Further south still, in the Valdivian forests of Chile, a population of smaller animals exist, including the pudú and the kodkod. 



Dark Days (2000)
Wednesday, November 28 at 4pm
Thursday, November, 29 at 3pm
Director: Marc Singer
Documentary-Sundance Standouts, 84 minutes
Documentarian Marc Singer focuses his camera on a group of homeless people who live deep underground in an abandoned New York City railroad tunnel. By day, they scavenge for food on the mean streets of Manhattan. At night, they retreat to the tunnel, where they’ve built huts out of scrap metal, plastic and plywood. ?Amazingly, they have electricity, furniture, working kitchens and a sense of community many surface dwellers would envy.



Old Ways
English, 50 minutes.
Only show: Thursday, November 29 at 5pm
Director: Joe Gutowski
Anado McLauchlin is an assemblage artist living outside of San Miguel in La Cienequita. Anado’s playful and irreverent approach to art and life can be attributed to his relationship with his Muse, the so-called Jimmy Ray, a somewhat mythical curmudgeon. Along with Anado they have created a whimsical ongoing creation in La Cieneguita known as Casa las Ranas. Anados work is collected world wide and many of his pieces can be found in homes in San Miguel. Anado will be presenting the San Miguel premier of the film directed by New York film maker Joe Gutowsky. The film takes a look at Anado and Jimmy Ray’s relationship and the art and playfulness of Casa las Ranas.



Musical Saturdays:
Ballet: La Fille Mal Gardée
Saturday, December 1 at 2:30pm, 96 minutes
La Fille Mal Gardée is a comic ballet presented in two acts, inspired by Choffart’s engraving of Pierre Antoine Baudouin’s 1789 painting Le Reprimande/Une Jeune Fille Querellée par sa Mère. The appealing simplicity and the naïve familiarity of the action of La Fille Mal Gardée have lent it a popularity that has established it in the repertory of many ballet companies all over the world.