The Shooting Gallery has a near-flawless reputation for bringing cool independent films to the big screen — [ “Croupier” ] was a huge favorite with the Film Threat team. The six films in the Spring 2001 Shooting Gallery Film Series at Loews Cineplex Entertainment are:
[ LAST RESORT ] , Dir. Paul Pawlikowski ^ Abandoned by her fiancé at the airport, a young Russian woman, with child in tow, applies for asylum in England. With her dreams of a better life dampened by the faded seaside resort she must live in during the processing, an unusual friendship develops that gives her hope. A lyrical, beautifully poetic story that earns its deep emotion, LAST RESORT is a triumph for director Paul Pawlikowski. Acclaimed at the 2000 Edinburgh Film Festival (Best British Independent Film), Thessaloniki Film Festival (Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Int’l Critics Prize), London (Int’l Critics Prize), Venice and Toronto Film Festivals, it will soon to be featured at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.
[ WHEN BRENDAN MET TRUDY ] , Dir. Kieron Walsh ^ Peter McDonald (I Went Down) and Flora Montgomery make an insanely appealing mismatched couple in this fast and fresh romantic comedy for movie maniacs. He wants to show her the glories of pre-Star Wars cinema. She wants to teach him her burglary skills. Kieron Walsh directs from a riotously funny script by Roddy Doyle (THE SNAPPER).
[ TOO MUCH SLEEP ] , Dir. David Maquiling ^ Describing it as a suburban AFTER HOURS doesn’t quite capture how unique and charming this wholly original first film by David Maquiling is. When an underachieving security guard loses his unregistered gun in a diversion scam involving a beautiful girl, he’s forced to enlist the aid of the local expert on the “criminal underworld” in their quaint, quiet town. Hilarious and affectionate toward all its characters, this is a shining example of the best American independent film has to offer.
[ THE DAY I BECAME A WOMAN ] , Dir. Marziyeh Meshkini ^ A beautiful and intense triptych of three stages of a woman¹s life, this marks an extraordinary directorial debut for Iranian filmmaker Marziyeh Meshkini. Alternately funny, surreal and heartbreaking, and filled with breathtaking imagery, the film features a script by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, one of the masters of the new Iranian cinema. Winner of the Best First Film prize at the 2000 Venice and Chicago Film Festivals, Best Director at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, and Best Film (Asian Filmmakers) at the Pusan Film Festival.
[ THE LOW DOWN ] , Dir. Jamie Thraves ^ This first feature by acclaimed British video director Jamie Thraves is a heartfelt, bracingly honest look at the relationships between long time friends as they lurch toward adulthood. Aiden Gillen (star of the British QUEER AS FOLK) is intensely charismatic as the lead character who needs to kick his life into another gear when he meets a woman he may want to settle down with. Thraves avoids all the clichés about twenty-something life and gives us characters and situations that are both unique and recognizable. A hit at the Edinburgh, London and Toronto Film Festivals, THE LOW DOWN will be screened at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival.
[ EUREKA ] , Dir. Shinji Aoyama ^ This 3 hour 40 minute, gorgeous back and white film from Japan is a transcendent story of redemption that you won¹t soon forget. Featuring a brilliant performance by Koji Yakusho (SHALL WE DANCE), as a character trying to rebuild his life after a shattering event, EUREKA marks an enormous breakthrough for director Shinji Aoyama. This is truly a singular movie experience. Winner of the FIPRESCI Award and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and featured at the Toronto and New York Film Festivals.
The six Spring films will be released in select markets/areas throughout the season. For all Shooting Gallery news, see the [ official site. ]
