Film Review -“Auction”
By Rachel Galvin
The art world is not without its difficulties. Finding precious art, getting a buyer, selling it at auction … it’s not always so easy. When a pretentious art auctioneer Andre,’ played by Alex Lutz, learns of a lost painting, he goes to investigate. Is it genuine? It is. Lost in the ravages of World War II, the Egon Schiele painting now hangs unassuming on the wall of a blue collar worker … a young man living in a small town with his widowed mother. Next, Andre’ must determine if the family is willing to part with the precious find once they discover its outstanding value and return it to its rightful owners, after it had been taken away by the Nazis. Next, he has to make sure the family auctions it to the highest bidder and does not get sidetracked along the way. This all has its own challenges and stress.
But some of the biggest dramas come from his precocious and headstrong young intern, played by Louise Chevillotte. The dealings with her father figures and with the boss prove to be the most unstable moments in this film. Another player in the mix is his ex-wife and art appraiser, played by Léa Drucker.
Every time it seems this film will have a big twist, it stays the course. Again, other than the family dramas that color the personality of the intern, there are not too many minutes that stray away from the main plot points of the film. It stays the course and leads to an interesting conclusion. What will become of the young man who sold the painting? And what of the intern? Will it all go smoothly? Much is on the line.
There is an element of character study in the film as each person has a multi-layered personality. Andre’ has drinks to calm his nerves and deals with challenges with his work stability and bumps against the boss along the way, like two bulls in the ring. The intern has a lot of internal anger she takes out using insults and lies. The ex-wife is more subtle in her candor, trying to work her way into the mix and find out information. The young man selling the painting shows a moral nature but an extreme shyness and fear. The actors had a lot to work with in these roles.
This drama by Menemsha Films opens tomorrow, Dec. 5, at Movies of Delray. In addition, it will open at Movies of Lake Worth and in Miami at Coral Gables Art Cinema.
It is told in French with English subtitles.
Film Review: “Blue Moon” – Word Play, Wit and a Washed Up Genius
By Rachel Galvin
Once in a blue moon, you come across a piece of masterful cinema that you can’t stop thinking about. The film I just watched was one of those films … It was the kind of film that leaves you hanging on every word yet exhausted by the endless stream of verbiage and aching lack of movement. It makes you sit still with the main character and endure his internal struggles, much like those around him in the film.
The movie is “Blue Moon” and the main character is played by Ethan Hawke, who delves so deeply into his role that he is unrecognizable in every way. If he is not nominated for an Oscar, something is wrong.
With his oversized jacket, huge cigar in his mouth and combover, he is the very essence of a failing human being, and its not just his looks… it’s where he is in his life. His brilliance stands the test of time, his wit is without question, but some people have run out of patience with his imposing personality, endless drinking and lack of professionalism.
He plays lyricist Lorenz Hart, the once partner of the dapper young and confident Richard Rodgers (played by Andrew Scott) who has at this point left him to work with a new partner – Oscar Hammerstein (Simon Delaney), who seems a bit unsure of himself. Of course those two would go on to be legends of the American theater, creating plays like “Oklahoma!” “Carousel,” “Sound of Music” and many others. They left Lorenz Hart in the dustbin of history with not many remembering he existed. But he did do plays like “A Connecticut Yankee” and “Babes in Arms.”
The play takes place in the 1940s and is all set within a theater bar it seems primarily with Hart unleashing his every thought upon the bartender (Bobby Cannavale), who is hesitant to pour him a drink at first, obviously knowing his propensity. Harz is dripping with disdain about the new play, which everyone is watching in the theater… mocking everything from lines like “surrey with a fringe on top” to the fact it has an exclamation point at the end. His remarks are biting and, although in real life the play remains a classic, his commentary also rings true to a seasoned critic. It is nostalgic for a time that never existed, he says. He wants to create something with more substance and humor.
His attitude is not just about being jealous of not being involved with the play, which is getting huge accolades, but it is about being tossed aside by his longtime friend and collaborator … and also about a girl. The girl, Elizabeth, is all of 20 years old to his 47. She is a vision with a wavy bleached blonde bob and shining green eyes, a tall stature and an intellect and wit to match. He is smitten. He spends most of the film pining away by her beauty to anyone who will listen. He finds few takers – the bartender, a soldier who plays the piano and a writer. All the characters are mere extras to him. He sucks all the air out of the room. Everyone is a captive audience, some finally escaping his endless talking.
It isn’t until he talks with Rodgers that he meets his match, someone who can stand up to him, bat at him back and forth like a tennis match, and Elizabeth (played by Margaret Qualley), whose storytelling lures him into a trance, like a schoolgirl who goes mum in order to hear more about her friend’s escapades.
The idea of Elizabeth goes beyond just this young girl. It’s about her vivaciousness, her beauty. She is his prodigy, at the beginning of her career, while he is at the end. He wants to suck the marrow from her, wants to know every aspect of her relationship, to enjoy every morsel of a life he no longer can have.
We know from the beginning that, ultimately, this story is a tragedy and, by the end, you see the train wreck his life has become, the abandonment he feels, the longing for something more, the desperation. He is washed up, a Willy Loman, unable to change himself enough to move forward, stuck in his sentiments, and in the past, unable to adapt to others’ ideas. His life has become reminiscing about the good old days and criticizing everyone else, rather than creating anything new. He is all pie in the sky ideas that no one finds feasible anymore.
As the camera pulls away, he continues to do what he probably often does … listen to himself talk while others stand by listening the best they can as he pontificates on life, trying to keep them and himself entertained and make himself still feel relevant.
Everything from the size of the flowers in the scene to the quoting of lines from Casablanca add to the inadequacy of the character and his heartbreak.
Director Richard Linklater is known for working on films that are focused around dialogue and this one certainly fits the bill. Writer Robert Kaplow is to be commended for his script. Every word was carefully chosen, filled with in depth description, written more like a play or a novel than a standard film. And many witty lines gained plenty of laughs.
The film is perfection for an actor wanting something meaty to bite into, but it is a hard watch for the audience with no attention span used to watching soundbytes on the Internet these days rather than sitting through a cinematic drama with zero action. This is the essence of what independent cinema is about – not shallow fluff, but in depth character driven drama that means something.
The film was shown opening night at the OUTShine Film Festival tonight (October 16) at Savor Cinema in Ft. Lauderdale and can be seen virtually
The movie is well worth seeing, just be prepared for the pace, and see it before awards season because it is sure to be nominated – for acting, writing and probably direction, after all, it is Linklater. He has not won an Oscar yet, but he has been nominated for five.
The OUTShine Film Festival continues through the 23rd in Broward County and then heads to Miami, until the 26th. You can watch many films from home virtually as well. For more information, visit OUTShineFilm.com.
Opening night had a pre-party for some filmmmakers, sponsors, etc. and then the film was followed with an after party down the street at Masa and More where they had spanakopita shrimp and more.
“Blue Moon,” is being released to select theaters starting on October 24.
Film Review: “An Officer and a Spy”
By Rachel Galvin
The theme of antisemitism is rife from the very beginning of the film “An Officer and a Spy.” When Jewish Army Captain Alfred Dreyfus (Louis Garrel) undergoes a very public degradation, a court marshal for supposedly passing secrets to Germany in 1895, the disdain is obvious. Many look down on him just for being Jewish. The fact that he evidently is a traitor seems to go hand and hand. Convicted without very little effort, the dejected man is sent away to live a solitary life on Devil’s Island in a penal colony.
But this is not the end of his story. In fact, what would happen next in this true story would turn his tragedy into an action that would change the world.
His former teacher, Officer George Picquart (Jean Dujardin), who was promoted to head military counter-intelligence to take over for a man riddled with syphilis, begins to uncover clues that maybe Dreyfus’ conviction was not so cut and dried. He begins to doubt those around him as he finds more and more evidence that something is not quite right. And along the way, he finds one person after another who seem to tell him he is barking up the wrong tree and should drop the whole thing.
But, he persists … against all odds. A man who has a deep love for the army throws caution to the wind and threatens to lose everything to share the truth and seek justice. The further he goes down the rabbit hole, the deeper he finds the political corruption.
It finally takes the help of the press, Emile Zola and his open letter “J’Accuse,” to bring everything to light and lead to a new trial for the accused. Despite being convicted, Dreyfus would eventually win an appeal and be released and even be reinstated to the army.
The Dreyfus Affair would lead to a cultural divide in France and expose the antisemitism present in the country, as well as the corruption, and would lead Theodor Herzl to write “The Jewish State” in 1896 and convene the first World Zionist Congress a year later. At the congress, he discussed the idea of creating a Zionist state for the Jews. Thus, the plight of Alfred Dreyfus had a direct correlation with the creation of Israel as a haven for Jewish people — a profound piece of history.
Visually beautiful with a musical score to match its growing intensity, this film slowly builds from military bureaucracy to political intrigue. Two men’s lives seem to hang in the balance as the tale unravels. This, combined with the increased hatred toward Jews as the film progresses, leaves the audience feeling both thoroughly engaged and completely spent all at once while awaiting a resolution.
Two powerhouses collaborated to bring this story to life — director Roman Polanski and co-writer Robert Harris, known for “Conclave.” The duo also collaborated on “The Ghost Writer.” Dujardin, who plays the leading role, has already won an Oscar for his work in “The Artist.” The other actors from Garrel to supporting characters who surround them all hold their own. Everything from the performances to the props play a part in the masterful storytelling of this important history.
The film’s screening now is certainly timely. Although Dreyfus had been released from prison, his rank was not returned to where he felt it should be … until recently. On June 3 this year, The French National Assembly finally voted unanimously to promote Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general, 130 years later. Given an uprising lately of antisemitism in the world, this acknowledgement is one step toward reparations in this matter, but also an acknowledgement of the state of the world today. This change of heart makes this film very current and an even more important watch.
The film originally premiered on August 30, 2019 at the 76th Venice International Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize. It also received 12 nominations for the 45th César Awards, the most nominations of any eligible film, and won the awards for Best Adaptation, Best Costume Design, and Best Director.
Now, the movie “Officer and a Spy” (J’Accuse) is showing starting on October 3 at IPIC in Boca Raton and North Miami.
Film Review: “The Musicians”
| By Rachel Galvin The aptly named film “The Musicans” is a character study on four classical musicians who find themselves out of tune … with each other. The foursome is sought after for their brilliance in their field by a wealthy woman named Astrid, played by acclaimed actress Valérie Donzelli, who decides to realize her late-father’s dream–to create a one-of-a-kind concert in a church utilizing Stradivarius instruments she has worked painstakingly to bring together. The instruments and the musicians are rare finds, true priceless gems, but it seems that when it comes to the musicians at least, their price may be too steep. These four turn quiet melody into cacophony, as their personalities clash, leaving Astrid wondering if this dream will ever become a reality. It seems more like a nightmare. Each musician, like a unique instrument, plays a different tune. George (Mathieu Spinosi), the Grammy Award-winning violinst, is full of himself, a bit brash, bold and pedantic. His opposition it seems is fellow violinist Apoline Dessarte (Emma Ravier), a newbie to the field, who has just as much ego but in a quieter more playful demeanor. She spends her time trying to get him in an unwanted selfie in between creating videos of herself, tossing asunder his feeling of control. Their cat and mouse game disrupts everyone. Meanwhile, cellist Lise (Marie Vialle) and violinist Peter Nicolescu (Daniel Garlitsky) have a quieter, more brooding game of their own. Former colleagues and one-time lovers, the bitterness remains. Peter adds another element to the mix. He is blind and only plays instruments he knew before he lost his sight. This new instrument is not one he has worked with in the past. When the clash between these musicians becomes too much, Astrid seeks the assistance of the only one she feels can help bring them together, the composer, played by acclaimed actor Frédéric Pierrot. But he wants nothing to do with that old piece he barely recalls. When he changes his tune, he brings a fifth ego into the mix, adding a new element to the conflict and making the concert seem even further away from becoming the masterpiece Astrid hopes it will become. The interplay between these characters sways the viewer back and forth much like the bow upon a violin. Each note adds to the overall not-so-melodious melody, as sprightly staccatos hop above the more deeply played underbelly, and instead of succumbing and becoming a part of the whole, they fight to stand their ground. The conflict is underplayed but noticeable. The tension is palpable. The actors in this musical comedy treat their characters with subtlety, as their tussle for individuality rolls tumultuously toward synergy. The plot is simple but the personalities bring it to life, as does the music. The actors are each classically trained and perform an original composition by César Awards nominated music composer Grégoire Hetzel. Their musical prowess seems equal to their acting chops. Classical music lovers and anyone who has struggled to work in a team of any kind will most appreciate this film, which is set in a gorgeous villa in the French countryside. The movie is told in French with English subtitles, and will screen starting August 8 exclusively at Coral Gables Art Center. For more information, visit https://gablescinema.com or visit www.outsiderpictures.us/movie/the-musicians. |
Film Review: “The Shadow of the Sun”
By Rachel Galvin
Mired in the societal muck surrounding them in their small Venezuelan pueblo, two brothers aim to find a way out in the movie “The Shadow of the Sun,” directed by Miguel Angel Ferrer. But, for this dynamic duo, the journey toward freedom seems impossible. The odds are clearly stacked against them, and the further they go, the harder it becomes. Older brother, Leo (played by Carlos Manuel González) hustles all he can to make a buck after losing his job, squirreling away his funds into a broken-down couch he often sleeps upon. He works hard to take care of his deaf younger brother, a responsibility he took on after his parents passed away. This is much to the chagrin of his nagging jealous wife, who doesn’t give him a moment to breathe with her constant accusations and mockery. The brother, Alex (played by Anyelo López in his first role) is constantly harassed by punk kids, bullies who shake him down for money or deliver him a beating. Leo finds he has to deal with them as well.
A ray of hope comes in the form of a flyer talking about a singing competition. Alex pleads with Leo to join in. He hesitates but soon agrees, and goes about reconnecting with old musician buddies from his past to form a group and take the contest head-on and hopefully win. But this effort is not so easy. He meets challenge after challenge.
This is a story of tenacity and grit, of brotherhood, and the spirit of survival. Leo puts up a brave front, leading with his heart, but he is broken inside from a hidden pain he carries. Alex wears his heart on his sleeve, still spurred on with unyielding optimism despite the dark forces all around him. When truths are revealed on both sides, it only brings them closer together. But can they push back against the darkness and accomplish something so brilliant that even the sun will pale in comparison? Will they relish in triumph or sink in defeat?
The film keeps you rooting them forward from start to finish. It takes you into a world of poverty and desperation, not often captured on the silver screen, set amid the natural beauty of Venezuelan landscapes. But it is the prowess of the actors that makes this film intense and engaging. González’ depth of character and López’s hopefulness are the foundation of this film, and the other characters around them increase the interest. The acting is good overall, from Greisy Mena’s screeching indictments as Leo’s wife Yolanda and the bullies’ cruelty to the priest’s and Tita’s subtle initial stubbornness and humanity. Watching López as Alex, showcasing an open heart and wide-eyed optimism, warms the heart, and we feel his vulnerability. But it is González who steals the movie with his depth of spirit. We cry too at the heart-wrenching agony he feels over what he experienced with his parents’ death and the seeming futility of he and his brother’s endeavor. His eyes hint at his pain until it gets to be so much he tears open his heart and lets it bleed for the camera figuratively. The performance is certainly award-worthy and unforgettable.
The film already was a winner of the 2024 audience award for the Miami Film Festival, was Venezuela’s Oscar selection for Best International Feature, and it has been featured in several festivals.
The movie, which is in Spanish with English subtitles, is showing in select theaters in South Florida. The opening night is Friday, August 8 at Coral Gables Art Cinema, at 260 Aragon Ave. The 7:15 p.m. reception is followed by introductions and the film at 7:45 p.m. Director Miguel Angel Ferrer will participate in a Q&A after the film. The film will also show elsewhere in Miami starting on that day at Coral Gables Art Cinema, CMX CinéBistro CityPlace Doral, CMX Brickell City Centre and AMC Aventura 24. It also starts on Thursday, August 14 in Fort Lauderdale, at Savor Cinema. Palm Beach County is TBA. Additional South Florida theaters are to be announced soon.
The Boca Burger Battle Delivered!
Pictured: Judge’s Choice winner- Duffy’s, Photos by Rachel Galvin
By Rachel Galvin
The Boca Burger Battle didn’t disappoint. The meat was sizzling, the buns were warming and people were smiling from ear to ear. This annual event, held this year on July 12 in Sanborn Square Park in Boca Raton, attracts burger lovers from near and far to enjoy some of the best offerings from local restaurants. Not only were the restaurateurs there to tempt people’s tastebuds, but they were also there to win the competition.
The judges gorged themselves on burger after burger before making their final determinations. This year’s judges were Carmine Gialanelia, the morning show host on Carmine & Maegan In The Morning for WiLD 95.5; Chef Scott Seddon, brand manager at Pero Family Farms; Sam Kerrigan, anchor at CBS News 12; Vicki Corrao, board member of the Palm Beach American Culinary Federation and former owner of three Italian restaurants in NYC’s Little Italy; Robert S. Weinroth, former Palm Beach County Mayor; Douglas Heizer, publisher of The Boca Raton Tribune, and Dante Nardini, of #CommonManEats.
Besides the Judges Choice prize, plus 2nd and 3rd runner up, there was also a People’s Choice Award. People were voting til the tail-end of the competition.
In the end, it was Duffy’s who won the Judges Choice for Best Grill Master, followed by Won Toms and The Cove Waterfront Restaurant & Tiki Bar. People’s Choice went to The Vault.
While people tried out the 16 burger selections and sampled beer and other spirits, they could listen to the Spider Cherry band. Some even did a little dancing, although there was not much room. It cleared out a bit later; however, the event was still packed.
The event, put on by founder Russell Spadaccini, always gives back to charity, and this year they donated once again to Children’s Giving Foundation. People could also donate blood to OneBlood and Boca Heping Hands was on hand to take nonperishable donations. This was the 12th year for the event.
The next event put on by Spadaccini will be in the same location. It will be the Boca Raton Wine & Food Festival, held on November 8. For more information, bocaratonwineandfoodfestival.com.
Take PRIDE! Celebrates LGBTQ+ Leaders
By Rachel Galvin
In correlation with Pride Month, History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale teamed up to present the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort “Take PRIDE!” 2025 on July 18. The benefit kicked off with hosts Fay What?! Albernas and Shawn “Kitty Meow” Palacious. They introduced Patricia Zeiler, the executive director of History Fort Lauderdale, and deputy director Ellery Andrews, who read a proclamation on behalf of the mayor, who was unable to attend. Melissa Milroy, senior marketing manager at The Galleria, also had a chance to say a few words.
Before jumping into the honorees being awarded, the hosts brought out the very colorful and dynamic Drag Queen Rianna Petrone, who rocked it in her performance, complete with a costume change, high kick and a death drop. DJ Jay McCracken kept the beat.
Next came the honorees. This year’s inspiring leaders being honored included Steve Glassman, Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner, District 2; Hon. Robert Lee, retired judge (known for dealing with the hanging chad incident back in the 2000 presidental campaign); Scott Holland, media president for Hotspots Happening Out; Michael Berry, complex general manager of The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel; the hostess with the mostess FayWhat?! Albernas, host of the Take PRIDE event and also of “The FayWhat?! Show” on the Happening Out Television Network; dazzling drag queens Velvet Lenore and T.P. Lords; Tony Lima, CEO of SunServe; Franchesca D’Amore, founding president of TransEd; and beloved arts advocate and philanthropist Ed Hashek.
The event also kicked off the opening of the exhibition Zorita’s World, with photos and other artifacts of the groundbreaking burlesque performer and fearless LGBTQ+ advocate. The exhibition was curated by Julio Capo, Jr., Ph.D., associate professor of history at Florida International University. It is on display free to the public until July 13 near Swarovski during mall hours.
Also at the event, authors Fred Fejes and Rick Karlin greeted guests and signed copies of their book “Last Call South Florida – A History of 1001 LGBTQ-Friendly Taverns, Haunts & Hangouts.” Their work chronicles South Florida’s LGBTQ+ spaces from the hidden bars of the past to today’s thriving community hubs.
Throughout the event, guests could mingle while enjoying a drink or some tasty tidbits from the likes of PF Chang’s and Seasons 52.
For more information on History Fort Lauderdale, visit historyfortlauderdale.org.
OUTShine Film Fest-April 17-May 4
By Rachel Galvin
The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival spring edition is here with more than 60 films overall from all over the world.
The festivities begin with the film “On Swift Horses” on April 17 at 7 p.m. at Regal Cinemas South Beach (1120 Lincoln Road Mall, Miami Beach) and end with “Four Mothers” on April 27 at Savor Cinema in Ft. Lauderdale, and there are plenty of films to see in between. And don’t forget the parties! This event yearly is always so much fun. This is the 43rd year for the fest. It travels from Miami to Fort Lauderdale, allowing people from all over a chance to see what they have this year.
Checkout the fun flashback cult classic “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” at The Well (1023 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale) on April 27 at 12:30 p.m. along with a drag brunch. Beatles fans will love “Midas Man” on April 26 at The Gateway, 1820 E. Sunrise Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale. The Centerpiece Film, “Accidental Friends,” takes place in Dania Beach April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Regal Dania Pointe (128 Sunset Dr.) Those who want to know what is coming next will love the sneak peek of the trailer for “Our Family Pride,” during the closing night event. There are films with Latin flair, such as “Fine Young Men,” on April 18 at 7:15 p.m. at Regal Cinemas South Beach. And ladies get plenty of attention too. Check out the Ladies Spotlight on April 19 with the film “Sisters” at Regal South Beach at 7 p.m. Those who like short films will enjoy the South Florida Shorts Showcase at O Cinema South Beach (1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach) on April 23 at 7: 30 p.m. with a special Cocktails & Cinema reception just before. This is just a glimpse at all of the films and parties happening throughout the fest. There are so many!
“Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to share the cinematic stories, stars and directors whose creative visions urge us to embrace our differences and foster a sense of unity and belonging,” said Joe Bilancio, director of programming, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. “We have meticulously curated a glowing roster of award-winning LGBTQ+ films, and we’re thrilled to host several premieres that offer thought-provoking viewpoints, dramatic emotional escapes, eye-opening documentaries and situational comedies that promote tolerance, equality, understanding and empathy.”
Can’t make it to the fest? They also have films available online from April 28 to May 4. For more information on the fest and to get tickets, visit outshinefilm.com.
Film Review: “Magic Hour”
Miriam Shor, who plays Harriet, and Sendhil Ramamurthy, who plays one of her unexpected allies, Hank, in “Magic Hour.
By Rachel Galvin
Harriet Peterson manages to keep a smile on her face while her world begins to slowly close in on her. Optimistic to a fault, and the type to always look at the bright side of life while being pushed from all sides, Peterson harbors an inner secret. Any outward joy she projects is in sharp contrast to the inner despair she does not know is growing, fed by constant challenges she encounters slicing away at her stability, in a thousand cuts.
On the surface, she seems oblivious to the resentments from people all around her, so when the angst in them builds causing them to take action, she is taken completely by surprise. Everything she has known is about to be taken away, leaving her a shell of a woman.
For one, the rift between Harriet and her daughter is growing with each passing day, as her daughter begins resenting her mother for what appears to be a lack of confidence in her dream to be an actress. The more the daughter feels neglected, the more she turns to her dad, who is having an affair, something that also comes out of left field to Harriet. The daughter does not realize that it is not her career choice her mother is upset about, but the loss of her own forgotten dreams.
As the crevices between Harriet and her family grow larger, Harriet boils over like a teapot, spilling her rage toward everyone around her, including her boss, who also treats her like a doormat. The anger she feels is not only toward these issues, although they would be enough, but also due to that dream she deferred — her deep desire to follow her passion and go back to film school and finish what she started.
That simmering pot eventually explodes. Harriet is forced to take bold action. But she is not bold enough to reveal everything she is doing to certain people around her, leaving her to lead a double life — adding to the excitement of the moment, but also the angst.
But going back to school is not that easy. Things have changed; she is older and wiser now, and her peers are now much younger. The people she is forced to work with do not necessarily have her best interests in mind. And she is forced to really push herself out of her comfort zone even more to battle back and fight for what she believes in, to fight for her dream and make it come true no matter the consequences. But she does find unexpected allies along the way as she works to get back what she has lost. The struggle to regain her identity again is quite a journey.
Director Jacqueline Christy delivers a powerful film. Beautifully shot with excellent acting, the film is both relatable yet more dramatic than real life. Actress Miriam Shor, who plays Harriet, is everything in this role — vulnerable, funny, heartbreaking, tragic, wise, naive … Shor is perhaps best for her role as Diana Trout in the TV show “Younger,” in which she plays an over-the-top man hungry demanding boss at a publishing company. Her role in this film as Harriet softens her considerably and presents a very deep and three-dimensional human being. There is so much meat to the character that it gives Shor much to chew on and really showcases her range as an actress, something that is sure to be a steppingstone to more nuanced roles and performances for her in the future. All actors do well in this film, but Shor stands out far above the rest.
This multi-layered film takes the viewer a bit through the ringer, feeling every bit of the ups and downs of Harriet’s hopes and heartaches, leaving them spent so that when the unexpected twists occur at the end, it is even more emotional. Anyone that is misunderstood for following their passion in life will especially relate to Harriet. (Honestly, this reporter could not stop bawling). For anyone in that category, this is a must-watch, and even those who might not personally relate to the yearning for a dream will really enjoy this film, which is a tour de force for Shor and a great accomplishment for the whole cast and crew.
The film will be showing for free on Wednesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at Mayfair House Hotel and Gardens in Miami as part of the Miami Film Festival. Both Shor and Christy will be in attendance at the post film Q&A. Due to popular demand, there has been a second festival screening added on Sunday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m. at Silverspot Miami. Reserve your seat at miamifilmfestival.com.
Swedefest Returns
If you are a fan of pure silliness, Swedefest is sure to be up your alley. The popular film festival that showcases bad films made by good people has returned. This year, the fest, which is presented by The Palm Beach Film Society, will be held March 28 at 7 p.m. at Lake Worth Playhouse (713 Lake Avenue).
The films are remakes of mainstream movies. The idea started out following the Jack Black film “Be Kind Rewind” in 2008. The Swedefest began in Fresno, California and grew from there. It has been in existence in Palm Beach for 10 years.
What to expect at the event? Besides very silly short films, crazy unexpected props might show up on the red carpet. There are sure to be silly antics on stage, and definitely silly awards (like best use of toilet paper). Who knows what craziness will ensue! It is also always a family-friendly event, so films are very PG.
This year’s list of “bad films by good people” includes new submissions: “Jurassic Park,” “Weekend at Bernie’s,” “Jay and Silent Bob,” (which this reporter is in!) “12 Monkeys,” and “Rocky,” along with top favorite remakes “Aliens,” “Twister,” “E.T.,” “Titanic,” “Hunger Games,” “Ghost,” “The Fast & the Furious,” “The Thing,” “Momento,” “Goodfellas,” “Rambo,” “Goonies,” “Back to the Future,” “Basic Instinct,” “Willy Wonka,” and more creatively planned disasters by complete amatures of all ages.
This event is also a kickoff of the 12th Annual L-Dub Film Festival, which features professional shorts and feature films. Screenings for the L-Dub run Saturday and Sunday at the Lake Worth Playhouse’s Stonzek Theater. For tickets and film line-up, visit lakeworthplayhouse.org.
The movies start playing at 7 p.m., but the red carpet starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and an afterparty with a cash bar is included with admission. Visit lakeworthplayhouse.org for tickets.
Examples of some past “swedes” can be found at vimeo.com/swedefestpalmbeach.
For general information & sponsorship opportunities
CALL Elizabeth Dashiell, 561.543.8276
EMAIL elizabeth@dashiellcommunications.com
PHOTOS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS:
