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Film Lover’s Guide to the 2008 Ft Lauderdale Int’l Film Festival

By Denise Castillón
Here are recommendations for festival-goers attending FLIFF’s Opening Weekend, October 18th & 19th, for must-see indie arthouse, foreign language and/or documentary films:
From FLIFF’s American Independent Program:
THE 27 CLUB USA/Running Time: 85 min

“THE 27 CLUB” invites its audience to a moving drama about friendship and surviving loss. Though measured flashbacks, accompanied by an awesome original acoustical and lyrical soundtrack, the backstory reveals the path of two childhood friend’s to rock star fame that ends tragically.
Elliot (JOE ANDERSON) is devastated after his best friend and band mate Tom (JAMES FORGEY) dies from a drug overdose. By his death at age 27, Tom becomes the latest member of “the 27 Club”, and joins fellow famous musicians, such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain.

Desperate to escape his fame, an over-wrought Elliot hires a driver to take him from Los Angeles to New York for Tom’s funeral. Elliot’s journey across America enables him to eventually reclaim his humanity and his music.
Starring Joe Anderson (“Across the Universe”, “Control”), and James Forgey, who perform both as actors and musicians, and are supported by the excellent acting talents of David Emrich as “Three Words” and Eve Hewson (Bono’s daughter) as the beautiful hitchhiker, “Stella”.
Also appearing as the fictional bands’ talent managers are Alexie Gilmore, who is receiving the 2008 FLIFF Star On The Horizon Award, and Kyle Luker (Gilmore’s real-life manager).

Written, produced and directed by Erica Dunton. Cinematography by Stephen Thompson. Edited by Les Butler.
The director’s father, celebrated cinematographer and camera technician Joe Dunton, designed new 35mm anamorphic lenses to created the film’s very unique composition and very specific color palette.

Music composed by Michael Tremante, who also scored several award-winning independent feature films, (including “Village Barbershop” starring John Ratzenberger, also screening at FLIFF). Original music written and performed by Joe Anderson and James Forgey, (lead singer of electro-acoustic band, “Sleep Control”) as the fictional band “FINN”.

Also appearing in the film and performing are the “Down by the Wayside” Choir and Peter Stampfel, (one half of The Holy Modal Rounders, of the infamous “Fly Like a Bird” track from “Easy Rider.”).

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Screens on Sunday, October 19th, 2:55PM at Cinema Paradiso

View the Trailer for THE 27 CLUB

From FLIFF’s World Cinema Program:
A DEAL IS A DEAL (AKA “Three and Out”)

United Kingdom/ Running Time: 95 min

A warm-hearted comedy full of generous belly laughs, starring Mackenzie Crook, (“City of Ember”, BBC’s TV series, “The Office”), and Colm Meaney, (“Kings”, “Layer Cake”), as an oddly coupled two-some, who embark on a road trip. A good ear for British and Irish slang will ensure that you won’t miss any of the hilarious dialogue between these bickering buddies.
By unfortunate circumstances beyond his control, London subway driver, Paul (MACKENZIE CROOK), has run over two subway riders within weeks of each other. A remorseful Paul is advised by co-workers that if one more rider met their death beneath his subway car their company would offer him a payoff called “three and out”. It’s a company benefit policy for drivers traumatized by three deaths by train to receive a lump sum severance equal to ten years of salary.

Such an unexpected windfall could make Paul (MACKENZIE CROOK) realize his dream of owning a cottage on an isolated Scottish island, where he can write his first novel. He now only needs to find a willing suicidal volunteer to jump in front of his subway car before the month ends. Enter Tommy (COLM MEANEY), who Paul offers his rent money for his cooperation. Paul proposes Tommy he could use the money to fulfill an unmeet dream or make amends with his estranged family of wife, Rosemarie (IMELDA STAUNTON) and now-grown daughter, (GEMMA ARTERTON). Together, they embark on a road trip full of hilarity and touching emotional reconnection.

Starring along with Mackenzie Crook and Colm Meaney, are Gemma Arterton (“Rocknrolla”, newest Bond Girl in “Quantum of Solace”), Imelda Staunton, (Oscar-nominated for “Vera Drake”).

Directed by Jonathon Gershfield, written by Steve Lewis and Tony Owen, cinematography by Richard Greatrex (“Shakespeare in Love”; “Run Fat Boy Run”), edited by Jon Gregory (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) produced by Wayne Marc Godfrey and Ian Harries.

Screens on Sunday, October 19th, 6:45PM at Cinema Paradiso

Q & A session with Gordon Synn, associate producer, follows screening.

View the Trailer for A DEAL IS A DEAL aka "Three and Out"


From FLIFF’s Documentary Program:
SAVING FACE (Running Time: 81 min)

“Saving Face” is an engrossing documentary about an unremorseful criminals’ road to redemption. Matt Kern was an over-achieving high school student, with an attraction to trouble. Matt participated in a carjacking that ended in murder. His wealthy family dutifully turned him in to the law for punishment. Unfortunately, Matt flourished in prison by running a gambling and drug operation behind bars. Matt surprises himself, and his family, by finding God after spending 13 months in solidarity confinement. With his family now on his side, they rigorously work to have Matt’s sentence commutated and receive clemency.

Written, directed and edited by H. James Gilmore, cinematography by Gareth Paul Cox, produced by James. A. Kern, James W. Kern and Eleanor Kern Buff.

Screens on Saturday, October 18th, 7:40PM at Cinema Paradiso.

Q & A session with H. James Gilmore, Matt Kern and representatives of the judicial system follows screening.

View Trailer for SAVING FACE


www.FLIFF.com

I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND

Starring: Oldrich Kaiser, Ivan Barniv, Julia Jentsch, Jeri Labus, Josef Abrham and Milan Lasica

Directed By: Jiri Menzel

R for sexual content and nudity

In Czech with English Subtitles

By John Delia

I Served the King of England is a charming adult film that sets itself in motion and moves along at a steady pace delivering an amazing storyline that should delight most film lovers. Whether you are a film buff or just want an afternoon or evening of distraction, this film should fill the need.
The story of Czech born Jan Dite starts with his release from a Czechoslovakian prison where he has been officially pardoned following 15 years of incarceration. Being that the Czech’s wrongly imprisoned him after the fall of WWII German domination, Jan is awarded a backwoods shanty as compensation. We then are treated in flashbacks to his remarkable past from a provincial waiter in a pub to employment in a luxury brothel and finally an elegant restaurant in a fashionable hotel in Prague. His desire to become a millionaire in the face of amazing odds against him is at the center of the storyline. Jan meets and marries Laza (Jentsch), a Sudeten German living in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi takeover, which keeps himself out of harms way. But when Laza decides that she must fight for the Nazi’s and goes to the warfront, things start to take a downward turn. When the Germans take over the hotel in which he works and turn it into a birthing place for Aryans, Jan’s fate becomes in doubt.
The acting directing and cinematography in the film are magnificent, but the storyline does tend to be quite whimsical. Following Dite’s lengthy odyssey does tend to make the movie a bit involving, but it was overshadowed for me by the unusual journey in life Dite had to make in order to find his ultimate goal. Add to this some amazing cinematography of the hotels, restaurants, villages, hillsides and even the celebration of the birthing rights by a luxurious pool.
Topping the talent is a pair of actors who play Dite, Kaiser and Barniv. Both do a teriffic job in bringing Dite to life as the short in hight but high in ambition main character. I give a tip of the hat to Menzel for drawing out great performances from both.
The film contains a lot of nudity, sex and some visions of gore and should be viewed only by mature adults. I Served the King of England is presented in the Czech language with English subtitles. I found the titles easy to read and visually acceptable.

FINAL ANALYSIS: If you like your foreign films unusual and engrossing than I Served the King of England is your cup of tea.