Beautiful People, Beautiful Movies, Beautiful Day

Well, we finally had to pull out the old sunglasses and rubbed elbows with a few celebrities. Today was our day on Main Street. Main Street in Park City is the hub of Sundance. The box office, Sundance Store, film maker workshops and panels, hospitality venues, nightclubs, etc. are all along this street. In short, it's a scene.

But first, we shuttled to the Temple Theater for our only documentary of the day. On our way there, we met the director of Joan Rivers -- A Piece of Work and her researcher/production assistant. It premieres tonight and Ms. Rivers will be there for the Q & A. The director encouraged us to try to get tickets. She's proud of it and wants everyone to be able to see it. It's funny, many of the directors we have talked to are concerned that no one will come to their films, even though every movie this weekend is "sold out."

Upon entering the theater, our new friend pointed out Michael Moore in the lobby. As I headed to the restroom, I grabbed my camera to get his pic. He had disappeared by then, but I bumped into this guy (see photo below.) He was very nice as I thanked him for Supersize Me (no more McDonalds for my kids after that) and complimented him on the recent Simpson's 20th Anniversary special.

Me and Morgan Spurlock








12th and Delaware
To make this documentary, one corner in a small town in Florida was filmed for a year. On one side of the street is an abortion clinic and on the other a "Pregnancy Crisis Center" (aka Right to Life facility.) This gave the film makers a bite-size picture of the greater abortion debate and why it won't be resolved any time soon in the U.S. With full access to both sides of the street, the film makers give equal time to each perspective. As someone who is pro-choice, however, it was illuminating to see the somewhat underhanded tactics of the opposite side. The really telling stories, however, come from the interviews with the women visiting each clinic. Every high school kid in America should see this movie.

Sundance added another new film category this year called "Spotlight." These are films that the programmers have seen at other festivals and loved, so they worked hard to bring them to Sundance. These next two films were in that category.

Women without Men
This gorgeous film, adapted from an Iranian novel, focused on four women in 1950's Iran. The film, which will never by shown in Iran, was directed by an Iranian-American who is a visual artist, so it had a stunning beauty to it and felt more like a poem than a narrative. It was a challenging film (for example, we were never entirely sure if the main character was alive or dead throughout the movie) but the period costumes, beautiful Moroccan landscape and exemplary acting made for a very compelling total package. The director described the film as "magical realism" and I think that's the best description of her unique storytelling and exquisite cinematography.

The director (the tiny, but brilliant woman on the right) and her producers and cinematographer from Women without Men.

I am Love

This Italian film starring Tilda Swinton (who is British) as the Russian born wife of a wealthy Italian industrialist (did you get all that?) almost overwhelmed the senses. Dramatic flashbacks, sensuous feasts and a soaring soundtrack hit you from all sides. As, for various reasons, the family starts to unravel, the audience is taken for an emotional ride. In the end it is a story of discovery and being true to yourself. I'm not sure if it will ever play in U.S. theaters, as there's one sex scene that leaves little to the imagination. That being said, if you get a chance to see it, do.

Tilda Swinton and Director, Luca Guadagnino during the Q & A. Every woman in the room coveted her shoes and, at the same time, wondered how she was getting around in them in the snow.