Cinemateca, September 15–21, 2008
September 12, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

José Luis Pick’n’tip

The Pick

Music Special: Weather Report: Live at Montreux 1976

Featuring the line-up that went on to record Heavy Weather, this DVD really shows what a great band Weather Report was, especially live. It still sounds remarkably fresh 30 years later. Jaco Pastorius had only joined the band three months before and this is one of the earliest films of the man who changed the world of bass playing. Anyone familiar with the broadcast versions of this concert will be pleased to know that it includes “Dr. Honoris Causa/Directions” but saddened to know it excludes the one-minute spontaneous duet between Joe and Jaco as the band begin to leave the stage. The music features many tracks from their 1976 release Black Market and if the piano intro to “Dr. Honoris” sounds familiar, that’s because it is an embryonic version of “Birdland.” The sound is excellent but the filming is a bit claustrophobic, probably because of the small stage and you often wish they would show the person currently soloing.

Songs played: “Elegant People,” “Scarlet Woman,” “Barbary Coast,” “Portrait of Tracy” (Jaco solo), “Cannonball,” “Black Market,” “Rumba Mama” (Acuna and Badrena’s drum and percussion duet). “Duet” (Zawinul and Shorter’s piano and saxophone duet), “Dr. Honoris Causa/Directions,” “Badia” and “Gibraltar.”

Weather Report line-up: Joe Zawinul, piano, keyboards; Wayne Shorter, saxophone; Jaco Pastorius, bass; Alex Acuña, drums; Manolo Badrena, congas, percussion, voice.

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 Jose Luis at alephamour@hotmail.com . Thank you.


The Movies

Music Special:
Weather Report: Live at Montreux 1976 
Monday, September 15 at noon
Thursday, September 18 at 7:30pm
Contemporary jazz, English, 80 minutes
Weather Report: Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, Alex Acuña, Manolo Badrena

Formed in 1970 after its members met during a stint with luminary Miles Davis, jazz fusion collective the Weather Report immediately made an impact on the world of music. This show at the legendary Montreux Festival in 1976 precedes the release of the bands most successful album, Heavy Weather. Performance highlights include “Elegant People,” “Black Market,” “Scarlet Woman,” “Barbary Coast” and “Cannonball.”




Exiles (Exils, 2004)
Wednesday, September 17 at 7:30pm
Friday, September 19 at 3pm
France, French with English subtitles, 104 minutes
Director: Tony Gatlif
Cast: Romain Duris, Lubna Azabal, Leila Makhlouf, Habib Cheik 

In this French drama, two Parisian lovers (Romain Duris and Lubna Azabal) decide to move to Algeria and reconnect with their roots. They travel slowly, moving across three countries by foot, train and hitched rides. En route, they meet many people, including a helpful Algerian couple (Leila Makhlouf and Habib Cheik). When they finally arrive, the culturally naive pair find themselves in a country that fascinates them, but feels truly foreign.



After the Wedding (Efter Brylluppet, 2007)
Wednesday, September 17 at 3pm
Friday, September 19 at 7pm
Scandinavia, Danish with English subtitles, 120 minutes
Director: Susanne Bier
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgård, Sidse Babett, Rita Angela

To save the failing orphanage he runs in India, Danish transplant Jacob Petersen (Mads Mikkelsen) returns to his homeland to meet a self-indulgent businessman named Jørgen who has offered a generous donation—and who represents everything the noble-minded Jacob abhors. Complicating matters further are the unusual strings Jørgen has attached to his so-called gift. Rolf Lassgård co-stars in this Oscar-nominated emotional powerhouse of a drama.




The Namesake (2006) 
Wednesday, September 17 at 5pm
Friday, September 19 at 5pm
English with Spanish subtitles, 114 minutes
Director: Mira Nair
Cast: Kal Penn, Jacinda Barrett, Irfan Khan, Tabu, Glenne Headly

While he respects his immigrant parents (Irfan Khan and Tabu) and their decision to rear him in his US birthplace, Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn) is torn between Indian traditions and the modern Bostonian lifestyle. Jacinda Barrett and Zuleikha Robinson also star in director Mira Nair’s thought-provoking coming-of-age drama, which explores first-generation Americans’ delicate dance between culture and identity.



Kids Movies: Cartoons
Saturday, September 20 at noon




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