DrBill's Aspen FilmFest 2006 Blog Day 4

September 29th, 2006 at 10:47am DrBill 180

Danger Will Robinson . . . there have been nine awesome films in three days and five on the slate for today! My head is spinning, but still anticipating what's next because it does just keep getting better and better!

Another full house last night for "After the Wedding". More on that below.

Yesterday's addition to the schedule was a 2:30 PM local documentary, THE LAST OF THE COWBOYS, by old-time local Anita Witt. This is a historical piece about our precious valley and visits various generations of it's identity. I learned something new here. In decades past, the Roaring Fork Valley produced more potatoes than even Idaho! Hence, Carbondale's Potato Festival. Anita had really done her research, initially toward writing a book that she completed in 2002, "I Remember One Horse - Last of the Cowboys in the Roaring Fork Valley and Beyond". In the film, a portrait of old ranch families and the men. Most of the cowboys were born into this ranching and agricultural lifestyle representing this final generation able to continue on with family tradition until now when it has become unfeasable to farm or ranch here and irresistable to turn down developer's big money. There are some holdouts though and they are celebrated in the film. The film has a very homey feel to it and portrays a quality that is being lost in our technological culture. My maternal grandfather was a rancher and farmer and would have fit right in with these good-ole-boys! This film should be included in the Aspen Historical Societies archieves . . . and perhaps yours, if you are a real local!

Next was GOD GREW TIRED OF US, a remarkable documentary by Christopher Quinn and Tommy Walker. In the late 1980s, 27,000 Sudanese boys, fleeing civil war, their families having been brutally murdered, marched across thousands of miles of desert, settling in a Kenyan Refugee camp. These boys, even very young, invented a new society of survival and mutual support. They became a family of thousands. The filmakers followed the boys over a period of five years and during that time several personalities emerged as subjects who ended up as focal points in this film. A few were brought to the USA and given a start to integrate into a very new world for them. This film really got me in that place of gratitude for even the simple things that are so easy to take for granted.
This film adds to the theme of this filmfest that is emerging. There always seems to be a theme though Aspen FilmFest says that there is not really an intention on their part in programing sequence, etc. This years theme seems to be evolving toward humility and gratitude.
God Grew Tired of Us is a rare film that I feel everyone shoud see!

The 8:30 PM film was, AFTER THE WEDDING, another great film from Denmark. Wedding has a theme that fits with the trend here. The main character Jacob Peterson works with orphaned children in India and funding is running out. The drama that plays out through an offer that is presented to him results in a rich, emotional and engaging story. Great twists and challenges about what family means. I loved this film! Great cast, direction and script! Lots of close-ups that I found adding to character developement and intimacy but I heard others irritated by what they deemed overuse of this technique. There is a lot of buzz about this film. Don't be surprised if you hear about it come Oscar nomination time!

Today is a full schedule of five films beginning at noon with JESUS CAMP, an award winning documentary about America's evangelical movement.

Second is PUCCINI FOR BEGINNERS, at 2:30 PM, a first feature for director Maria Maggenti, described as a "quick-witted comedy" with themes of commitment phobia and exploring relationships.

Third up is a Surprise Film. FilmFest almost always does this and I have rarely been disappointed, so I'll let you know . . . and there'll be no more surprise!

Fourth screening today is IRA AND ABBY, a second feature for writter Jennifer Westfeldt. This is described as a, "Sweetly hilarious and a worthy successor to the best of Woody Allen's romantic comedies.

Two comedies in one day . . . is our theme shifting?

Last, at 10:30 PM is THE US vs. JOHN LENNON, described as tracing John Lennon's, "metamorphosis from lovable "moptop" to anti-war activist to inspirational icon and how and why the US government tried to silence him."

The Wheeler screen is "HOT" and we are not even half way through Aspen FilmFest 2006. Check out ticket availability at the Wheeler Opera House today!

Entry Filed under: Movies, Aspen