Expresión en Corto celebrates Indian cinema
By Sarah Hoch June 27, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Expresión en Corto Film Festival
July 18–22, San Miguel
July 23–27, Guanajuato
www.expresionencorto.com 

Only three weeks away, the eleventh edition of the Expresión en Corto International Film Festival, Mexico’s largest competitive film festival and the most prestigious of its kind in Latin America, kicks off Friday, July 18 in San Miguel de Allende.

Yearly the film festival hosts a Spotlight Country, or guest country of honor, presenting the best of that country’s film—past and present. This year the festival celebrates artists from the world’s most prolific film industry: India. Beginning the celebration is a special tribute to Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta, director of the controversial trilogy: Fire, Earth, Water. Ms. Mehta’s tribute takes place Saturday, July 19, at 8pm in the Teatro Ángela Peralta, immediately followed by a screening of her film Earth. Present for the tribute to Ms. Mehta will be the honorable Mr. Rinzing Wangdi, Ambassador of India to Mexico.

Ms. Mehta is giving a Master’s Class the following day, Sunday, July 20, in the Teatro Ángela Peralta at 1pm, where she discusses her career and background as an Indian filmmaker who immigrated to Canada in the seventies, only to return to India to make some of the most controversial films of the past decade.

That same Saturday night in the main Jardín, beginning after nightfall at 9pm, producers from Eros International, one of India’s biggest film studios, present their smash hit and tribute to Bollywood cinema, Om Shanti Om.

The film tells the tale of Prakash Makhija (played by superstar actor Shah Rukh Khan, one of Bollywood’s film icons) as he falls for the beautiful Shantipriya (played by actress Deepika Padukone).

Prakash is ready to give up his life for Shantipriya, when suddenly calamity strikes, and we are flashed-backward in time, beginning a whirlwind tour through the history of Bollywood. An excellent primer for anyone unfamiliar with Bollywood cinema.

The festival’s Indian Spotlight Program includes programs from the Indian Film Festival Los Angeles, presenting The Best of Contemporary Shorts form India; and the Film and Television Institute of India, featuring The Best Shorts from the Past 40 Years. As well as Aids Jagoo: Four Views on Aids in India, featuring four shorts from acclaimed Indian directors Mira Nair, Santish Sivan, Vishal Bhadarwaj and Farhan Akhtar. Vikalp: Films For Freedom, will showcase independent film that rails against censorship in India. And the feature length films: Jodhaa Akbar, No Smoking, Salaam Bombay, Sholay, Mother India, Kahliya Mardan and Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy. The children’s programming includes Taare Zameen Par, which deals with children and dyslexia. The festival’s “Midnight Madness” program includes gay, lesbian, and erotic programming from the Nigah Queerfest, more from VIKALP and Frameline.

With this year’s central theme of Identity present throughout the festivities, an artistic installation dubbed Tíbet, Identidad en Exilio (Tibet, Identity through Exile) inaugurates on Saturday, July 19, at 11am in the Museo de la Ciudad, in the former city jail next to the former Presidencia Muncipal, just off the Jardín. Tíbet, Identidad en Exilio is a reflection upon the annihilation that we can all be faced with, simply for being different.

As part of the celebration of Tibetan identity, the festival is screening the documentary, What Remains of Us (2004), Saturday July 19 at 4pm in Teatro Ángela Peralta. The documentary depicts a young female Tibetan refugee who enters her own homeland for the first time carrying a clandestine video message from the Dalai Lama, which causes people to break 50 years of silence and react to the current political situation.

On Wednesday, July 23 the festival moves to its second city, Guanajuato Capital, and inaugurates once again in the Auditorio del Estado at 9pm.

The inauguration features a celebration of Indian film and culture and pays tribute to one of India’s greatest living and most prolific directors, Shyam Benegal, who will be in attendance. The festival is screening Shyam Benegal’s 1974 classic Ankur and the following Thursday, July 24, Mr. Benegal hosts a Master’s Class next door in the Auditorio Chico at 11am.

Expresión en Corto is publishing a book, written by Spanish author and journalist Javier Millan, entitled Cine con identidad: Maria Novaro frente a Mira Nair, which explores the parallels and similarities between the careers of Indian director Mira Nair and Mexican director Maria Novaro, with the backdrop being the common Indian and Mexican cinematographic identities shared between both countries. The book will be presented during the Guanajuato portion of Expresión en Corto, before the Women In Film and Television Luncheon, on Friday, July 25, in Guanajuato Capital.

Expresión en Corto is a state-sponsored, nonprofit, cultural event that does not charge admission to its screenings. Seating availability is based upon a first-come, first-serve basis. To assure your entry, the festival recommends arriving at least half an hour early for the inauguration and tributes, and fifteen minutes early for most screenings. For complete information on events, activities and official festival programming, the official website after July 8 is www.expresionencorto.com. 

Sarah Hoch is the founder and director of the Expresion en Corto film festival.

The Dance at Romanos
By Dave Brucia

Film
The Dance
Tues, July 1, 8pm
Romanos Restaurante
Hernández Macías 93
Reserve: (415) 152-7454
Free

“I don’t think of myself as an artist, but rather more of a storyteller. I’m a hunter- gatherer of sorts, who captures art in the faces and places in everyday life and suspends it in time.”

–Marilyn Peterson

In a continuing effort to promote local talent and entertainment, Romanos Restaurante kicks off the summer season with the debut of the latest photo-essay works by California artist Marilyn Peterson. The Dance is a 55-minute, fast-paced exhibition of photographic art and rhythms. Filmed and produced here, it was choreographed to a toe-tapping music score. Peterson eloquently expresses the story of everyday life in San Miguel, through her eyes.

The Dance is a visual experience and an emotional ride. Beginning with “The Benediction,” you’re transported from the very heavens above to life on the streets below and back again, all the while meandering through the hearts and souls of the Mexican people, one step at a time.

For people who ask, “Why are we living in San Miguel?” The Dance is the answer. This exhibit brings to life through photography and music the city’s difficult-to-define magical qualities. Peterson, a freelance writer and photographer, is a native of San Francisco and a recent immigrant to San Miguel from the central coast of California. She has photographed extensively in the US, Europe and Mexico, is a published writer and photojournalist, and has authored several media programs taught in California schools. She returned to a photo-essay format with musical score while filming within the Peace Movement in the US and found the impact of stills set to music effective in documenting and delivering a message.

I am also from California and see eye to eye with Peterson in her love of San Miguel. As community activists, we are contributing all donations received from The Dance to local charitable organizations. “Our desire is to entertain and intoxicate the viewer with the diversity and majesty that is San Miguel de Allende and, hopefully, inspire generosity by extending a helping hand to our neighbors,” Peterson said. “We’re not sure where this is headed, but it was born out of good intentions. Like a balloon, we’re releasing it and we’ll see where it goes. For now, we invite you to simply come and join us, in The Dance!”

The Dance will be shown on the widescreen in the Romanos newly renovated courtyard. There is no cover charge, but seating is limited. Reservations guarantee excellent viewing. Romanos will donate 10 percent of the evening’s receipts to local charities.

For reservations and information, call (415) 152-7454, Tuesday–Saturday, 5–11pm.

Cinemateca, June 30 to July 6, 2008 
José Luis Pick’n’tip

Greenfingers
A witty, moving and uplifting movie—the less you know about the plot the better. Not your typical movie by any standard. You will really enjoy it. Excellent tempo and acting. You will find yourself smiling throughout the movie. Just a feel-good movie anyone could enjoy. If you ever worked with a group of “tough” guys, you will enjoy watching them “blossom” into gardeners. Lots of fun. I strongly recommend watching it. 


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



Fear and Trembling (Stupeur et Tremblements, 2004)
Monday, June 30 at 7pm
Thursday, July 3 at 5pm
France, French with English subtitles, 107 minutes
Director: Alain Corneau
Cast: Sylvie Testud, Kaori Tsuji, Taro Suwa, Bison Katayama 

In search of a new beginning, Amélie (Sylvie Testud) moves from Belgium back to her early-childhood home of Japan, where she starts working full-time for a large corporation. But life as a foreigner proves difficult to navigate—and Eastern office etiquette is nothing like what she’s used to. French director Alain Corneau helms this Tokyo-based dramedy adapted from the autobiographical novel by Amélie Nothomb.



House of Fools (Dom Durakov, 2002)
Tuesday, July 1 at 7pm
Friday, July 4 at 5pm 
Russia, Russian with English subtitles, 108 minutes
Director: Andrei Konchalovsky 
Cast: Yuliya Vysotskaya, Yevgeni Mironov, Sultan Islamov, Stanislav, Bryan Adams 

A true story about the patients of a Russian psychiatric asylum (in Caucasus, on the Chechnyan border) who become involved with the Chechen War after their doctors, nurses and attendants abandon them. Amidst the turmoil, a young woman, Janna, falls in love with a Chechen soldier. Canadian pop singer Bryan Adams (playing himself) appears to Janna as a hallucination singing his hit, “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” 



Greenfingers (2000) 
Thursday, July 3 at 7pm
Friday, July 4 at 3pm
United Kingdom, English with Spanish subtitles, 91 minutes
Director: Joel Hershman
Cast: Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, David Kelly, Warren Clarke 

A (green) thumbs-up for this affecting true-life tale about hardened con Colin Briggs (Clive Owen), who gets a new lease on life—behind prison bars—as an award-winning gardener. Wonderful in support are David Kelly as a prisoner chum of Briggs’s who coaxes him out of his shell and Helen Mirren as a world-class gardener who fears for her daughter when she falls for Briggs.

Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2006) 
Wednesday, July 2 at 8pm
Friday, July 4 at 7pm
India, Hindi with English subtitles, 90 minutes
Director: Jahnu Barua
Cast: Anupam Kher, Rajit Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Pravin Dabas 

Once known for his intellectual prowess, a retired professor (Anupam Kher) begins experiencing memory gaps and periods of forgetfulness. But while he tries to laugh it off, it soon becomes clear that the symptoms are a sign of a more serious illness, prompting his grown daughter (Urmila Matondkar) to move in as his caretaker. Meanwhile, as his mind regresses, he recalls a traumatic childhood memory involving the death of Mahatma Gandhi.



Art Film
Arakimentari (2005) 
Wednesday, July 2 at 6pm
Thursday, July 3 at 3pm
Japan, Japanese with English subtitles, 75 minutes
Director: Travis Klose
Cast: Nobuyoshi Araki, Takeshi "Beat" Kitano, Björk, Richard Kern

With more than 350 visually stunning books to his credit, Nobuyoshi Araki has established himself as one of the most published photographers in the world. But the Japanese artist is also known as the premier purveyor of erotic images in a country known for its sexual, uh, stiffness. With input from Araki devotees Björk, Richard Kern, Takeshi Kitano and Daido Moriyama, among others, filmmaker Travis Klose explores the genius behind the lens.



Kids Movies: Cartoons
Saturday, July 5 at noon