The Brooklyn Underground Film Festival is gearing up once again, taking place April 19 – 23. The following list is just a sample of what you can expect to see at this event…
My Grandmother’s House Adán Aliaga’s visionary documentary revelas two very distinct characters: Marina, six years old, and Marita, her 75-year old grandmother. As Marita tries at no avail to tame the spirited youngster, the quietly omniscient camera follows them through their days together, often accompanied by Marita’s clique of jaded, like-minded grandmas. But what will happen to Marita’s emotional impasse when she must give up her home of fifty years?
Lifelike Meet four unlikely taxidermists or self-proclaimed Realist artists, and one enthusiastic client. This documentary by Canadian filmmaker Tally Abecassis will open one’s eyes to the profession of taxidermy—or how to fall into it—as it traces the steps to the National Convention in Alberta, where professionalism goes to the next level: showmanship.
High Score A crowd favorite for all ages, filmmaker Jeremy Mack takes us on a zany tour of classic arcade game enthusiasm, and in particular one die-hard Missile Command fanatic who may or may not be just the one fated to beat the game’s all-time high score.
Clever Monkey Pinochet Versus La Moneda Pigs Weaving together improvisations of several groups of young people, Bettina Perut an d Ivan Osnovikoff’s documentary tells an historical event from the imaginations of those who grew up in its wake. The plot of the September 11, Military Coup in Chile is portrayed in lively acts by children and young Chileans, giving way to how history is processed by the people.
The Empire in Africa The international reaction to the civil war in Sierra Leone has resulted in one of the most devastating humanitarian disasters in recent history, and Philippe Diaz’s narrative, important documentary tells the inside story of the country’s victims.
The Other Side This highly visual, personal documentary by up-and-coming filmmaker Bill Brown explores the United States-Mexico border and its liminal cinematic __expression. Talking to undocumented immigrants and border activists along the way, the director sheds a new, poetic light upon a landscape well-known to politicians and his Texas hometown.
Super Happy Fun Monkey Bash is a no-holds-barred and often shocking montage of clips from popular Japanese TV. But what happens when these clips are taken out of context, presented before a disengaged Western audience, and become a cult DVD success?
For more info, visit the Brooklyn Underground Film Festival website.
