so many movies, so little time

[floatingleaf]

So, yesterday I started my artsy little vacation with a bang. First I went to a free exhibition of painting/sculpture/handicraft etc. by local Chicago artists, taking place just a few blocks away from where I live. The only reason I knew about it was because my sister & her husband were on the list of contributors; it was a small event, mostly a sort of a get-together for the local creative community. Some of the art wasn't too impressive, but I did spend over an hour looking at the really good stuff, including beautiful stained glass, stunning photography and some pretty cool decorative pieces made of wood, paper, fabric etc. In the painting department, my sister & brother-in-law's work (and that of their students at the Ravenswood Atelier) definitely stood out. They were giving away their business cards left and right, so hopefully this event will bring them some tangible results. Anyway... I walked all the way back home from there instead of waiting for the bus, and the weather was kinda crazy (I was SWEATING in a short-sleeved top!... in OCTOBER!!!... WTF?????... *blink blink*), so I thought I'd had it for the day. But then I checked the film festival schedule and realized that there was still plenty of time for me to make it to the theater for a movie that I was kind of thinking of seeing "in case I have time". I hadn't bought the ticket for it in advance, since I wasn't sure I would go, but it didn't look like the sort of film that might sell out - so I took the risk. And boy, am I glad I went. That movie (called Sasha) was simply BRILLIANT. It's a coming-of-age/coming-out story of a boy from an immigrant family (from Montenegro) living in Germany. It touches some pretty serious issues with a mix of empathy, tenderness and crazy Eastern European humor. To sum up the plotline, the protagonist has a crush on his (male) piano teacher, while in turn being crushed-on by his best female friend, who also happens to be the love interest for his younger brother. Hilarity ensues. Add to that a very traditional, controlling Montenegran father, for whom the word "gay" is a grave insult; a demanding mother, obsessed with making her son into a successful pianist (whether he likes it or not, lol); and a crazy uncle from Bosnia who meddles way too much.:) You can see right from the beginning that the poor boy is about to have a meltdown. Actually, pretty much everyone in the film has a meltdown at some point, and there is high drama mixed in with the hysterical comedy-of-errors stuff - but, amazingly enough, it all melds smoothly together into a very touching, believable, uplifting story. Which inevitably reminds me of Ferzan Ozpetek's Le fate ignoranti, or Almodovar's All About My Mother. Or - most closely, perhaps - my number one gay-themed film from Eastern Europe, the Russian comedy You I Love. Except in Sasha the topic of accepting one's sexuality and coping with homophobia is combined with a more general perspective on relationships, aspirations, growing up etc. There is also the multicultural element (the piano teacher is German, the BFF is Chinese); as well as the problem of parents unable to see their kid through the shiny blueprint of this "new & improved" version of themselves they are trying to create (and, of course, the father's and the mother's blueprint are two completely different things). There are just layers and layers of thought-provoking content underneath the hilarious dialogue and endless silly misunderstandings that escalate by the minute. An absolute delight throughout. It's been a while since I had so much fun watching a movie - and I certainly wasn't the only one enjoying myself.:) I even stayed for the brief Q&A with the director (and screenwriter) Dennis Todorovic. As it turns out, Sasha is his first full-length feature. What a way to start! I'll be sure to watch out for his future films. <333

Now that I was so pleasantly surprised by this almost-random movie choice, I sort of want to see everything else on schedule.:) Which is, of course, not going to happen. The movies I have already bought tickets for are on Tuesday & Wednesday, but I am tempted to try and catch another one tomorrow as well. And then I should also somehow squeeze in a massive grocery shopping trip (which was meant to happen today, but strangely didn't). Not to mention cooking (didn't happen today either - could be because I hadn't bought the groceries, lol). Oh, and the apartment is begging to be cleaned. Looks like I should have taken the whole week off, instead of just the next three days. Well... too late now.:/ I'll do what I can. Shopping for new shoes/underwear/tights etc. will have to wait. Today the weather was so incredible that I went for a walk instead. Wading through fallen leaves in a summer dress & sandals. In October. O_O Not that I'm complaining, but it's just so weird. And then it started getting dark at around 6 p.m., which completely threw me off - because, well, things like that don't happen in the summer. And it totally felt like summer, despite the golden foliage and stuff. Climate confusion, I has it.;)

Comments

[dissonant-dream.livejournal.com]

The exhibition sounds very cool and I'm glad your sister and brother-in-law were doing well. :) And I'm glad you enjoyed the movie, it sounds good. What a lovely way to spend the day. I hope the rest of your days off go as well as that.

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

Well, today I finally did my grocery shopping and cooked a big pot of delicious parmesan chicken - in addition to seeing another movie. I am truly impressed with myself.:P

[dissonant-dream.livejournal.com]

It's all good! ;D

[surreysmum.livejournal.com]

Film sounds really good - thanks for the rec. I checked it on IMDb, and unfortunately there was nothing at all about release dates; of course it would have been too much too hope for a theatrical release, but I was hoping there might be some hope of a DVD. Guess we'll just have to keep an eye open for it!

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

The movie is pretty recent, so it's probably too early for a DVD. I'm sure it will be released sooner or later, though. The director did say they had to cut quite a few scenes and there is plenty of material for "DVD extras".:D