F E AT U R E F I L M S A -Z 78
25TH NEW ORLEANS FILM FESTIVAL
Jury Award Finalist
USA | 2014 | 90 min
DOCUMENTARY
THROUGH A LENS DARKLY: BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE EMERGENCE OF A PEOPLE DIR: Thomas Allen Harris WRITERS: Thomas Allen Harris, Don Perry PROD: Ann Bennett, Thomas Allen Harris, Don Perry, Deborah Willis DP: Martina Radwan ED: Matthew Cohn, K.A. Miille
Through A Lens Darkly explores the history of black photography and representation, and how contemporary artists use this material as inspiration in their visual storytelling. The film assembles a community of photographers and artists— including Carrie Mae Weems, Lorna Simpson, and Glenn Ligon, to name a few—who together shake up the familiar foundations of the images that have shaped the popular culture’s view of what “blackness” is and who “black people” are. The film was inspired by photo-historian Deborah Willis’ ground-breaking publication, Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present. In conjunction with the screening is a free interactive event called the "Digital Diaspora Family Reunion" Sunday, October 19, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the CAC Theater. See page 31 for full details. > Scheduled to attend: director Thomas Allen Harris, producer Don Perry, outreach producer Greg Warren
UK, France, USA | 2014 | 96 min
NARRATIVE
USA | 2014 | 97 min
NARRATIVE
THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY
UNA VIDA: A FABLE OF MUSIC AND THE MIND
DIR: Hossein Amini WRITER: Hossein Amini, based on a book by Patricia Highsmith PROD: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo, Tom Sternberg DP: Marcel Zyskind ED: Nicolas Chaudeurge, Jon Harris
DIR: Richie Adams WRITERS: Richie Adams, Nicolas Bazan PROD: Richie Adams, Brent Caballero, Nicolas Bazan, Nancy Green-Keyes DP: Tom Lembcke ED: David Rogow
Screenwriter Hossein Amini (The Wings of the Dove, Drive) makes a stylish directing debut with this sleek thriller set in Greece and Istanbul, 1962, and adapted from a novel by Patricia Highsmith (who also wrote The Talented Mr. Ripley and Strangers on a Train).
Renowned neuroscientist Dr. Alvaro Cruz returns home from a lecture in Paris, heartbroken and disheartened. In his absence, his mother has succumbed to Alzheimer's disease. Nothing that his research could do could stop this from happening. He decides to take some time off work and reconnect with the love of music that he shared with his mother. While finding solace in the music that permeates New Orleans' French Quarter, he hears the mesmerizing voice of Una Vida for the first time. After repeat visits to hear her sing, he discovers that she is suffering from Alzheimer's and that her unconventional family cannot cope with her declining health. Una Vida's musical partner and caregiver, Stompleg, will soon be retiring to a home out of state and her adopted daughter, Jessica, has issues of her own to overcome before she can provide the real care that is needed to prevent a tragic end for Una Vida. When Una Vida's condition worsens, Cruz surprises his wife, Angela, by bringing her home. Together, Cruz and Jessica seek out Una Vida's long lost son in hopes of finally giving her resolution to the grief, loss and longing that has overshadowed her hard but beautiful life.
Intrigue begins at the Parthenon when wealthy American tourists Chester MacFarland (Viggo Mortensen) and his young wife Collete (Kirsten Dunst) meet American expat Rydal (Oscar Isaac), a scammer working as a tour guide. Instead of becoming his latest marks, the two befriend him—but a murder at the couple’s hotel puts all three on the run together and creates a precarious bond between them as the trio’s allegiance is put to the test. > Saturday, October 18, 4:30 p.m. Chalmette Movies > Sunday, October 19, 7:00 p.m. Chalmette Movies > Wednesday, October 22, 7:00 p.m. Chalmette Movies
COMMUNITY PARTNERS New Orleans Public Library African American Resource Center, McKenna Museum of African-American Art, Junebug Productions, Community Book Center, Nola Black Professionals SPONSORED BY
> Scheduled to attend: director Richie Adams, writer/producer Nicolas Bazan, cast members Aujanue Ellis and Marcus Brown COMMUNITY PARTNER Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities >Sunday, October 19, 6:00 p.m Joy Theater >Tuesday, October 21, 11:00 a.m. Prytania Theatre
>Saturday, October 18, 5:00 p.m. Contemporary Arts Center
THOMAS ALLEN HARRIS Thomas Allen Harris' award-winning films include Vintage—Families of Value, That’s My Face (E Minha Cara), and Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela. He is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Rockefeller Fellowship, and has garnered nominations for several Emmy Awards and an Independent Spirit Award.
HOSSEIN AMINI Hossein Amini is an Iranian-British screenwriter/ director who has worked as a screenwriter since the early 1990s. He was nominated for numerous awards for the 1997 film The Wings of the Dove, including an Academy Award for Best Writing – Adapted Screenplay. The Two Faces of January is his directorial debut.
RICHIE ADAMS Richie Adams is an award-winning writer, director, and producer who cut his teeth as a title designer, working with many of the great players in film and television. After several years in L.A., he returned to his hometown of Baton Rouge to form the liveaction studio River Road Creative. Una Vida is Richie’s second feature film.