IMMORTALS (2011)—TARSEM SINGH ON....

What distinguishes mortals from immortals? Is it longevity? Or is it free will? Are the characters of Gods as flawed as those of humans? Is that which is best in a human what touches the hem of the Gods? How does an actor humanize his portrayal of a deity to make him more relatable to an audience? Are the Gods old wise men in the clouds or are they young, virile and prepared for battle? These are all queries that will, undoubtedly, spring from viewing Immortals (2011), the new sword and sandal epic by Tarsem Singh (Tarsem) poised to open theatrically on 11/11/11; a date that comes once

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Henry Cavill, Isabel Lucas, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Mark Canton, Mickey Rourke, Robert Maillet, Tarsem,

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MELANCHOLIA (2011)

As is often the case, one need look no further than MUBI to achieve an overview of Lars Von Trier's Melancholia (2011). After offering the trailer, David Hudson rounded up the reviews from the film's premiere at Cannes (where Danny Kasman also weighed in), reported on the controversy surrounding Von Trier's press snafu that earned him the status of persona non grata, and then expanded his critical round-up from the New York Film Festival. Most recently, Hudson has reported on Melancholia's multiple nominations at the European Film Awards.I caught Melancholia at the Toronto International Fil

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Alexander Skarsgård, Carl Gustav Jung, Charlotte Rampling, Inanna, John Hurt, Kiefer Sutherland, Kirsten Dunst, Lars von Trier, Persephone, Sylvia Brinton-Perera, TIFF11, Udo Kier,

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FILM SOCIETY CINEMA: OCTUBRE (OCTOBER, 2010)

Belatedly screening in November as part of the San Francisco Film Society's ongoing Film Society Cinema at the New People—can someone please explain to me why this venue is no longer referenced as the VIZ (which, in my opinion, sounded so much better)?—Daniel and Diego Vega's Peruvian fable Octubre (October, 2010) has finally arrived in San Francisco. My eyes and ears in SF advise, however, that opening night had all of three people in the audience. C'mon, San Francisco!! Don't let October's cinephilic overload keep you from catching the quite charming October on the last day of its run.I

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Carlo Mirabella-Davis, Chris Dapkins, Daniel Vega, Denis Côté, Diego Vega, Federico Veiroj, Nick August-Perna, Northwest Film Forum, Sascha Rice, SFFS, VIZ Cinema,

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SFIAF: KURTISS HARE REVIEWS NOCTURNA (2007)

The sun's rays tumble thick as golden tresses on the charmed cobblestones that pass underfoot. As the skies transmute, from amber gleam to emerald glimmer and at last to sapphire sparkle, young Tim's waking life in a European orphanage descends into dream. At least it would on a usual night. It seems that a star name Adhara has vanished from the sky—a particularly meaningful disappearance for Tim, who was promised by his mother that this stellar guidance would forever be there to deliver him into gentle slumber. Wide awake with the fear of his solitude, Tim encounters a diverse bunch of c

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Adrià García, Kurtiss Hare, SFIAF, Víctor Maldonado,

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SFIAF 2011: KURTISS HARE PREVIEWS "THE BEST OF ANNECY" PROGRAM

Readers of The Evening Class have seen my preview of the sensational "Top Drawers" program screening at this year's San Francisco International Animation Festival (SFIAF). Another of SFIAF's thoughtfully curated shorts selections includes "The Best of Annecy", which highlights a handful of imaginative and provocative features in a variety of styles, each of which were accepted into this year's Annecy International Animation Festival.It's been well-said that "film is 24 lies per second at the service of truth," but—where animation is concerned—this may be a grave understatement: there are who

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Kurtiss Hare, SFIAF,

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SFIAF 2011: KURTISS HARE PREVIEWS THE "TOP DRAWERS" PROGRAM

Allow me to preview a shorts program playing at the upcoming San Francisco International Animation Festival (SFIAF). "Top Drawers" is a selection of brief forays into fantastic universes where gravity has been obliterated, colors resonate like a crystal chime, and harmony is a carefully sculpted ball of clay. You can enjoy these sensational experiences yourself at New People Cinema on Friday, November 11th at 5:00PM and again on Sunday, November 13th at 4:00PM.Hinterland (Jakob Weyde & Jost Althoff, 2010)—The war drums sound, and you're off—rampaging through the night forest, weaving in

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Alessandro Bavari, Animation, Anna Bergmann, Candaş Şişman, Georges Schwizgebel, Jakob Weyde, Jodie Mack, Jost Althoff, Kōji Yamamura, Krebitz, Kurtiss Hare, Quayola, SFIAF,

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3RD I 2011—Frako Loden Previews the Lineup

I always feel semi-miserable near the end of October. It's because I've seen just a handful of films from the San Francisco Film Society's (and other bodies') glut of autumn film festivals or missed out on others entirely. I feel I can never keep up with what I should be seeing, which in my blacker moods I've guessed is exactly how these film entities want me to feel. But then I get the call to look over the yearly offerings of the San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival, aka 3rd i, and I cheerfully try to see every DVD screener that comes my way. There's no angst, because e

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3rd i, Ajay Naidu, Asoka Handagama, Frako Loden, Joshua Dylan Mellars, Lester James Peries, Prashanat Bhargava, Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, Selvaraghavan,

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