December 05, 2008, Love Is… a love letter to San Miguel, By Christine Foster, Babel, By Holly Yasui, History of Mexico returns by popular demand, By Cleo Stevens Kamelhar, Cinemateca, December 8

Love Is… a love letter to San Miguel
By Christine Foster December 5, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

World Premiere
Love is…
Mon, Dec 8, 6 & 8pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Relox 50A
50 pesos, 6pm; 100 pesos, 8pm

A year ago Love Is…was a mere notion. Nils MacQuarrie, Gwen Holmes and I were sitting around one afternoon playing “What if?” over a cold Modelo.

The game went something like: What if we made a series of short films about relationships in San Miguel? Maybe a half hour in total. And what if each vignette was about a different stage in the game of romance: meeting, proposing, quarrelling, parting, looking again—that sort of thing? And wouldn’t it be fun if it also showcased the city and the beauty of living here? Then we started thinking about everyone we loved working with in the local theater and began scribbling up a dream list of who we most wanted in it. The first script was 75 pages long; suddenly it was going to be a feature.

Excited about the idea of doing the first full-length entertainment film for the local English-speaking market, we started the important work of scouting locations and convincing our friends. Director and editor MacQuarrie (whom you may know better as the actor and powerhouse rock performer Seth Sharp), who also did the original music, had been making short films for a while and was looking for a more challenging project. Producer Gerry Holmes had 40 years’ experience directing and designing for film and television in England and Canada and was hoping never to work that hard again. Me, I’m the writer.

So here it is a year later and it’s out! Like the biblical Flood, the shooting schedule was a grueling 40 days. Unlike the Flood, we managed to spread the upheaval and chaos from February to June (excluding post-production which ran another five marathon months). We built a dolly and tracks and bought a small crane and film lenses for MacQuarrie’s video camera to give the project the best possible look. We worked with the top talent in town, including the delightful wonder dog, Luci, owned and trained by Kathi Hamblet. We shivered dawn after dawn while a hot air balloon was inflated and we prayed the wind wouldn’t come up too soon. We fussed over steam in the camera lens at La Gruta, got rained out in Parque Juárez and hired the merry Mariachi Allende for the finale in the Jardín.

Love is… was, above all, fun to make, which is probably why it’s fun to watch. This movie answers that constant query from friends and relatives (and tourists considering a move to our fair city): “Just what the heck do you do all day in San Miguel, anyway?”

Love is…a romp, a giggle, a gentle dig at expatriate life in San Miguel, and above all a love letter to this wonderful town. The World Premiere has two showings. The first is at 6pm; the second at 8pm includes a post-show reception with some of the performers and key players. Tickets are available at the door, or buy them in advance in the Biblioteca courtyard, December 8, 10am–2pm.

The DVD will be available for sale at US$20 or peso equivalent at the show and at many locations around town from now on. Visit loveisthemovie.com or email foster.christine@gmail.com for more distribution details.

© Fata Morgana Inc. 2008.

IREE Film Series

Breaking through the Silence:
Babel
Tue, Dec 9, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

Four interlocking stories of estranged or ill-fated families facing crises in different parts of the world comprise the award-winning film Babel, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

In the arid, stark hills of Morocco, a shepherd buys a gun to keep the wolves away from his sheep. His two young sons practice taking shots at various things they find in the vast, still landscape and spy a moving tour bus in the distance. The younger boy takes aim and shoots. They watch the bus come to a stop. Inside the vehicle, the window next to a blond woman shatters and panic ensues.

In suburban southern California, a Mexican nanny receives a phone call from the father of her wards. He says that they are going to operate on his wife, so the nanny has to stay at the house to take care of his son and daughter. When the nanny explains that she has plans to go to Mexico the next day because her own son is getting married, the man hangs up on her. She tries unsuccessfully to find someone else to look after the children, but being unsuccessful, she takes them with her across the border.

In Tokyo, a deaf teenage girl loses her temper while playing volleyball and is ejected from the team. After the game, her father asks her out for lunch, but she prefers to go out with her girlfriends. They encounter some boys who at first don’t realize that the girls are deaf. When that becomes apparent, they back off, embarrassed. The girl, annoyed and frustrated, goes the bathroom, takes off her underwear and on the way back to their table, flashes the boys.

In the end, these seemingly disparate narratives converge, after exploring the consequences of rash decisions and lack of communication—the babel of misunderstandings visited upon a world in which we are all more connected than is immediately apparent.

We believe in IREE and their work

IREE provides the only opportunity in the region for low-income deaf children to receive an education, therapy and, as bonuses, a nutritious breakfast and lunch every day as well as a variety of extracurricular activities and excursions.

“We believe in IREE and the work that they do,” says local filmmaker Emilie Davies. “We don’t want to see it have to close its doors after more than 15 years in operation. We are working pro bono on this project because we know that without recognition and support, IREE will not be able to keep its doors open.”

The school is slated to close at the end of this year if sufficient funds are not raised to pay the teachers’ salaries, rent and utilities.

The Breaking through the Silence Film Series concludes with the Babel screening. The IREE Pastorela follows on December 11, and the “Breakthrough” fundraiser is December 15 at The Restaurant at Sollano 16.

The IREE photo and poster exhibit is located in the hallway to the Café/Teatro Santa Ana in the Biblioteca Pública.

History of Mexico returns by popular demand
By Cleo Stevens Kamelhar

Film
The History of Mexico
Thu, Dec 11, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

After the successful premiere on November 20 of the DVD version of The History of Mexico we are showing this extraordinary documentary again. The filmmaker and the cast will be available for questions after the screening.

Bob Sommerlot, when he was the director of academic affairs at The Instituto Allende, said that he would like to replace the lecture on the history of Mexico with a more theatrical treatment. Thus was born Actors Lab’s production of The History of Mexico, using 336 slides and four actors. You may know them: Lilia Trapaga, José Luis Mendoza Aubert, Cleo Stevens Kamelhar and Gary Ware. For the past 11 years, The History of Mexico has been presented in the summer and winter to residents and tourists. A reporter for the New York Times commented that it “should be required viewing by all who come to Mexico.” Some visiting teachers felt that this program should be seen by high school and college students as well. On that day the idea of putting our production on a DVD took shape. If you want to purchase the DVD that evening you will be credited with 50 pesos toward the price of 200 pesos.

The DVD is also available at La Tienda in the Biblioteca. If you have questions, call or email Murray Kamelhar, 152 4942 or cleokam@cybermatsa.com.mx.

Day for Night

This film is a joyful view into movie-making. The first scene kept me smiling, where a man is slapped out of nowhere and then someone yells “cut!” The scene with the kitten and the cat is great, too. Truffaut was a master filmmaker, and here, playing a director, he is just brilliant.

It feels almost like a documentary; I bet each and every scene is based on a real incident. Truffaut takes a wonderful jab at the absurdity of movie making, especially the final comments at the end.

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 and 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 secure a seat; don’t take the risk of being locked out. Would you like to receive this info by email? Write to José Luis at alephamour@hotmail.com . Thank you.

The Movies

Video Opera and Ballet series continues:
The Fiery Angel
Monday, December 8 at 2pm
Russian opera, 165 minutes
By: Sergei Prokofiev
Starring: Marinsky

The full title of Bryusov’s novel gives a good idea of the substance of the opera, The Fiery Angel: or, a True Story in which is related of the Devil, not once but often appearing in the Image of a Spirit of Light to a Maiden and seducing her to Various and Many Sinful Deeds, of Ungodly Practices of Magic, Alchymy, Astrology, the Cabalistical Sciences and Necromancy, of the Trial of the Said Maiden under the Presidency of His Eminence the Archbishop of Trier, as well as of Encounters and Discourses with the Knight and thrice Doctor Agrippa of Nettesheim, and with Doctor Faustus, composed by an Eyewitness.

Set in sixteenth-century Germany, the story concerns a young woman named Renata who has fallen in love with a “fiery angel” whom she believes appeared to her during her childhood.

She later identifies the “angel” with one Count Heinrich, who takes her as his mistress but then abandons her. She enlists the knight-errant Ruprecht in her efforts to track down her “angel.” Though she believes her motives are holy, the presence of Faust, Mephistopheles and assorted demons in the story suggests otherwise. Her obsessive quest leads her and the loyal, lovestruck Ruprecht deep into the realms of the occult. After many bizarre adventures, Ruprecht emerges unscathed, but Renata is condemned by the Inquisition to a fiery death at the stake.

Next week: Monday, December 15: Nabuco

Movie Premiere
Love is…
Monday, December 8 at 6pm, 50 pesos
Monday, December 8 at 8pm, 100 pesos (includes reception)
Director: Seth Sharp
Starring: San Miguel community troupe

This movie was filmed entirely in San Miguel, with the participation of most of the local actors. Experience the funny and unexpected twists love takes and enjoy gathering with the actors and crew after the second show.

Special Movie Series to support the IREE school for the deaf
Babel
Tuesday, December 9 at 5pm
Drama, English with Spanish subtitles, 143 minutes
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Mohamed Akhzam, Peter Wight

Four interlocking stories of estranged or ill-fated families facing crises in different parts of the world comprise this award-winning film. In the end, seemingly disparate narratives converge after exploring the consequences of rash decisions and lack of communication—the babel of misunderstandings visited upon a world in which we are all more connected than is immediately apparent.

Bioneers Special
The World According to Monsanto
Wednesday, December 10 at 4pm
French documentary, French with English subtitles, 108 minutes
Director: Marie-Monique Robin

This French documentary tells you where your food comes from. It is not easy today to find the origin of food we put on our tables. This film, recently released with English subtitles, is the tale of Monique Robin, an investigative journalist in France, who interviews scientists, farmers and professors to dig into the background of Monsanto, the largest of the biogenetic engineering corporations.

Visual-Chronological Narration of the History of Mexico
Thursday, December 11 at 5pm
Visual narration, English, 60 minutes
Director-producer: Murray Kamelhar
Cast: Cleo Stevens, Gary Whare, Lilia Trapaga, José Luis Mendoza

For the past 10 years, this final version has been presented to full houses at Teatro Santa Ana. Through the voices of the actors and the beautiful visuals, The History of Mexico brings to life the struggles, defeats and victories of its people. The poetry, the art, the color and craft of their culture are also part of their story. A reporter for The New York Times said, “This story should be required viewing by all who enter Mexico.”

Day for Night (La Nuit Américaine, 1973)
Thursday, December 11 at 6:30pm
Monday, December 15 at 6:30pm
French award winner, French with English subtitles, 116 minutes
Director: François Truffaut
Cast: Jacqueline Bisset, Valentina Cortese, Alexandra Stewart, Jean-Pierre Aumont

Truffaut’s lavish dramedy about a film production is a case of life imitating art, with Truffaut playing a director and his most important actor in real life (Jean-Pierre Leaud) portraying Jacqueline Bisset’s immature co-star. A thrilling sequence set to music by Georges Delerue celebrates the art of filmmaking as seen from an editor’s perspective. It’s enough to make you want to shoot your own film!

Kids Movies: Cartoons
Saturday, December 13

Closed for the Christmas Big Sale