FILM:
Apron Strings
An observant film with timeless cultural significance, APRON STRINGS examines the parallel lives of two families living in modern day New Zealand. In one family, Michael, the half-Indian son of a popular television cooking show host, attempts to learn more about his Indian heritage and reconcile a decades-old split between disjointed members of his family. In a nearby household, a retirement-aged woman struggles with the choice of selling her bakery, which she views as an act of submission and which is clouded by the financial meddling of her jobless, middle-aged son. By subtly illuminating similarities between the families concerning prejudice, love, and the role of history, APRON STRINGS offers a glimpse into two dramatic and highly representative stories. -Joe Stussi Screening with: THIS IS HER
FILM:
Dim Sum Funeral
Facing death changes everything. Mrs. Xiao has passed away in her opulent home somewhere in Seattle. Faithful assistant Viola notified each of her four children by phone, since they are scattered around the country and are emotionally distant from one another as well. The whole family gathers to observe seven days of funeral rites together. They respect the spiritual traditions in the Chinese way, but respect for their mother is something this family has not felt in a long time. Doors open to friends who reveal stories of love as layers of grief and humor unfold and mysteries of the past paint a new portrait of the family. Dim Sum translates “to touch your heart,” which is just what this film has to offer.-Jo Clessler
FILM:
Follow The Prophet
WORLD PREMIERE An American independent film that tells a powerful story, FOLLOW THE PROPHET mixes elements of intense melodrama with plot-driven crime thriller, all set in the insular world of a polygamous cult. Jude is an ex-Army colonel whose daughter has been killed in Iraq, on the cusp of their reconciliation. Avery is a precocious 15-year-old girl whose incestuous father has arranged her marriage to the Prophet. She escapes his ugly advances and happenstance brings her to Jude. Together with a renegade female sheriff named Red, Jude and Avery conspire to topple the Prophet, searching for both justice and emotional resolution. Writer and lead actor Robert Chimento has crafted a film that involves and entertains but also challenges the audience to understand and address a still-hidden subculture of child abuse. -Mahil Senathirajah
FILM:
Ink
WORLD PREMIERE They're like the air we breathe. Storytellers, our invisible guardians, will do everything possible to protect us. When Emma, a young girl, is kidnapped by a monster named Ink, her soul is taken to an alternate reality while her body lies in a coma. Her father, John, had abandoned her to pursue a life of pride and wealth, but he is about to be given a second chance. A group of storytellers fights for Emma's life by battling incubi that shadow John like the plague. Jacob, a blind pathfinder, shows the group that he can “stop the flow” by playing a symphony of destiny that alters a human's life path. In INK, you will float in an ethereal landscape of stylized visuals and airy music, watching a broken man make room for hope. -Christy Zwicke
FILM:
Poppy Shakespeare
US PREMIERE Based on the popular novel by Clare Allan (a former mental health patient herself), POPPY SHAKESPEARE is a funny, poignant slice of disrupted life, told from the skewed viewpoints of patients in a North London psychiatric hospital. Poppy, flamboyant and certain of her sanity, is given to “N” to mentor. “N” is a veteran, self-described “dribbler” who long ago resigned herself to life in an institution and to medication. Hatching a plan for Poppy's escape, they form an unlikely friendship. Driven by an affecting and authentic performance from BAFTA-winner Anna Maxwell Martin, the film provides a vivid portrait of flawed characters struggling heroically with their challenged lives. Exploring themes of choice and surrender, institutions and individuals, trivial subsistence and meaningful existence, POPPY SHAKESPEARE is a caustic black comedy with serious intent. -Mahil Senathirajah
FILM:
Skin
When a genetics expert testifying in a 1960s South African courtroom considering a young girl's racial assignment announces that most Afrikaners have some black heritage in their background, the audible gasp of disbelief in the room reveals the tone of SKIN. This compelling film is based on the true story of Sandra Laing, the dark-skinned, kinky-haired daughter of two white-skinned Afrikaner parents born during the reign of apartheid. Sophie Okonedo plays the adult Sandra with a nuanced heart on her sleeve as she confronts the issues of identity, love, family, conflict, and abandonment along her journey of resolution. Sandra's parents, Abraham and Sannie Laing, in strong performances by Sam Neill and Alice Krige, express the complexity of family further complicated by skin color during the apartheid era, asking the important questions of how we view human rights and how we judge each other. -Felicia Tomasko
FILM:
Sweet Thing
SWEET THING is a story about two teenage free spirits, Liz and Jody, and their journey of self-discovery. Joe Lia's first feature film, the movie effectively depicts the hardships of growing up and becoming an adult. Jody and Liz both live for the moment as they attempt to understand who they are and what they want from their lives. While Jody abuses drugs to cope with her father's repeated rejections, Liz sets out on a mission to find her soul mate. When the two girls meet, their monotonous lives seem to take an unexpected turn. They enjoy spending time together, driving around Seattle in Jody's old green truck, but will they be able to find the “sweet thing” they are looking for?-Nanci Herbst
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