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New Latin American CinemaThe filmmakers of Latin America continue to be a rich source of exciting, inventive cinema. While film production in many Latin American countries is tiny and not considered a major industry, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico have long histories of producing both populist box office hits and initiating groundbreaking movements like the Third Cinema and Cinema Novo. Often made on relatively minuscule budgets, in small markets and under difficult circumstances, they demonstrate a wealth of talent and imagination. This festival section is by no means a comprehensive survey. There are many Latin American countries not represented here. This is because our city is fortunate to have Washington's Latin American Film Festival, which presents an excellent wide-ranging program every year. Films in this series were selected because they represent themes related to national identity while addressing wider concerns. Basic Sanitation, the Movie humorously tells of a small group's struggle to make a relevant movie, an experience shared by so many filmmakers from this region. The Pope's Toilet depicts one man's continuous frustration as he tries to take advantage of perceived new economic opportunities. The haves and have-nots in La Zona are separated by an actual wall and clash when one side accidentally interacts with another. Is it worth going home again, asks Calle Santa Fe? These films are both entertaining and insightful. They are rooted in the national cultures, people and realities of a geographical area, but speak a universal language. Visit any Latin Concepts Restaurant including Ceviche or the Chi Cha Lounge for a free appetizer or cocktail with your Latin Cinema ticket stub throughout the Festival, $10 value. www.latinconcepts.com Politics and FilmFilm can play a key role in bridging the gap between cultures. It can make us aware of approaches to the human experience other than our own. No matter where we live, it doesn't seem possible to avoid the role government plays in our daily lives - often to our benefit, often not. The subject is unavoidable. Not just during election season and not only in the nation's capital, but where ever people come together. The works gathered in this series are diverse, yet each seems to ask the same question - What happens to the human spirit, the personal sense of self, in the face of power politics? Does this engagement make us more committed (Children of Glory), or corrupt (Mon Colonel)? Is politics always confrontational (War & Democracy) or can it call forth the best in us (Beyond the Call)? Some of the filmmakers in this series are straightforward (The Bread Winner), while others tell a story where power dynamics lurk in the background (Buddha Collapsed). Like all of the films in the festival, the Politics and Film series gives a view from the inside, and not surprisingly, what we see there is humanity not too unlike our own. Directors' RoundtableEach year, a group of international filmmakers converge at Filmfest DC for screenings of their films and interaction with each other and our audiences. Join the festival's guest directors for an informal discussion of their working styles and the contrasting conditions under which their films are made. |