SCREEN

Bank Robbery (Pangaroov) - Meet Madis, force of nature, wild bull in the china shop of society. Just out of a ten-year stint in jail, all Madis wants is to get married and stay out of trouble. To his shy teenage nephew Hannes, who is bullied by his father and neighborhood toughs, Madis seems like a god. When Madis leaves to be with his bride-to-be, Hannes tags along. Sometimes, though, there is no straight line between two points, and the surprises awaiting them on the path they take will change both their lives forever. This incredibly accomplished, amazingly affecting film is nothing if not surprising: one moment hilariously funny, the next heart-wrenchingly sad. Anchored by a terrific script and pitch-perfect acting in all the major roles, Bank Robbery is simultaneously a wild adventure and a dark portrait of the growing love between two people trying desperately to find happiness. It will leave you stunned, moved and wholly satisfied.

The Pit - From stone tools to iPods, just how far can humans go? The Pit is one of the most primitive, yet highly ritualized arenas of the financial world: The New York Board of Trade floor. Amidst the shouting and hand signals, the Pit is also a chaotic masterpiece of eye-to-eye trading. Through relationships built during her time as an NYBOT clerk, director Johanna Lee was given unprecedented access to the Pit where she captured intense competition for survival, personal dramas and trading tickets. However, the Pit has quickly become a casualty in the technology race, as electronic trading has come to dominate the market. As Lee follows the lives of several traders who were forced to either adapt or lose everything, personal and emotional stories unfold for a film that is relevant and compelling; an intimate portrait of men and women struggling to survive on one of the last platforms of pure capitalism and a unique snapshot of the “American Dream.” The Pit is preceded by the short film Seeds of the Fall (Director: Patrik Eklund, Country: Sweden, Film Info: 22 min) - A sexually frustrated wife in a passionless relationship tries to seduce her husband, but something happens that will change their relationship forever.

The Robbers (Wode Tangchao Xiongdi) - Two robbers. One village. Lots of swords. During the Tang dynasty, two robber brothers hike through rural China. Upon entering a peaceful village, they, posing as hunters, set off a chain of events. One debacle after another leads to a massacre of Chinese soldiers, and the brothers must restore peace before leaving. However, life in tranquility leads to both men contemplating taking a new direction in life. One would rather give up his life as a bandit for a farm and family. The other seeks a more glamorous ambition of possessing all the world’s fortune and women. When more troops arrive to destroy the village for harboring the fugitives, fate steps in with dramatic effects. Director Yang Shupeng has created “a rambunctious black comedy in period duds that plays like a Chinese riff on Seven Samurai. "More ironic than knockabout in its humor, and packing an earthy punch in its action sequences, this is an intelligent crowdpleaser” (Variety).

No Tomorrow - A film from the past determines the fate of a murderer. In their film Aging Out (Cinequest 2004), Oscar-nominated Roger Weisberg and Oscar-winning Vanessa Roth portrayed the struggle of young people breaking out of the foster care system. Shortly after the film was completed, one of the subjects, Risa Bejarano, was brutally murdered. And to the dismay of Weisberg and Roth, their film played an integral role in determining whether the person accused of killing Risa was to live or die. No Tomorrow compellingly focuses on the trial of Risa’s killer, while provocatively examining the broader question of the death penalty itself. In probing that controversial issue, No Tomorrow brilliantly paints a picture of the lives of both victim and murderer, showing how fate and circumstances led to Risa’s untimely death. As Weisberg and Roth are involuntarily thrust into the reality of the death penalty, No Tomorrow offers a fascinating challenge for us to contemplate our own beliefs on the punishment for the most egregious of crimes. 

Semshook - One man’s search for truth on a journey across the Himalayas. Tenzin is a Tibetan born and raised in India. Yearning to explore his true homeland, he impulsively hops on his motorcycle and embarks on a personal quest: to find his identity and discover the indescribable beauty and wonders of his magnificent homeland. But Tibet is a nation under siege from a repressive regime. While Tenzin encounters friendship, camaraderie and even love along the way, he cannot escape the horrors of a political world he wants no part of. On his journey, he decides to cross one of the most volatile borders in the world. Looking only for the way to peace, both within himself and for the land he loves, Tenzin must find the courage to pursue the truth even if it means facing terrible dangers. Director Siddharth Anand Kumar superbly crafts a fantastic journey where not only is the majestic splendor of the Himalayas on display, but also the harsh reality of the turmoil in that part of the world.

Cleanflix - Can Mormons take the sex out of ‘R’ rated movies? There are people who object to sex scenes in films. The Mormon Church goes so far as to advocate that their members avoid “R” rated films. But with so many good movies carrying the dreaded “R,” what is a devout Mormon to do? A company called Clean Flicks came up with a solution - edit out the offensive parts and everyone will be happy. Or so they thought. Cleanflix examines the phenomenon of self-censorship in a fascinating, thought provoking and evenhanded manner. Focusing on a few individuals with Clean Flick stores and the legal problems they encounter, as well as famous directors who have seen their work eviscerated for religious purposes, Cleanflix brings to the core numerous conversational topics, the foremost being - does anyone have the right, no matter how well intentioned, to change the form of the artist’s work? 

Cost of a Soul - The old neighborhood is in a different kind of war. Wounded in the war, Tommy Donahue and DD Davis return home from Iraq to their North Philadelphia slum neighborhood. Tommy returns home to his wife, Faith, whom he abandoned while she was pregnant. He meets his four-year-old daughter, Hope, for the first time, and she begins to melt his frozen heart. Meanwhile, DD's older brother, Darnell, has risen to become the neighborhood kingpin, and DD faces the pressure to save his younger brother, James, from becoming another senseless victim of the streets. Both Tommy and DD find themselves trapped in the same world they joined the military to escape, and as they struggle to make their wrongs right, their own families become entangled in a web of crime and corruption so thick, murder becomes their only option. Most films, even the great ones, fade away like mist once you've left the theater - not this one. Director of Photography Chase Bowman's haunting imagery combined with unforgettable performances by leads Christopher Kerson and Will Blagrove and a powerful writing/directing debut by Sean Kirkpatrick make for a startling tale where the demons we fight at home may be worse than those we face on foreign soil.

Bummer Summer - What a difference a weekend makes. When you’re seventeen, every little thing can seem like a major change in the world. So it goes with Isaac, a teenager who, as his senior year in high school comes to an end, stares uneasily into the future. His feelings of confusion are further compounded by the arrival of his older brother, Aaron, who comes home for the summer to take up with his ex-girlfriend, Denise, and set out on one last road trip before entering the world of responsibilities. The harmony the three youngsters seek over the weekend getaway quickly gives way to unexpected complications, however, as Isaac and Aaron realize their shared feelings for Denise. Employing inventive storytelling, sensitive performances and deadpan humor, director Zach Weintraub shows he’s a talent to watch with this wry and touching portrait of youthful romance and potential.

Paulista (Quanto Dura o Amor?) - In the city, there is a fine line between triumph and defeat. A vibrant, exuberant tale that takes us for a bumpy and thrilling ride, Roberto Moreira’s Paulista is about being young and living in the city--weaving together the stories of the residents of Avenida Paulista. Marina, an idealistic young actress who envisions herself as a woman of means and achievement, becomes obsessed with a singer, Justine. Suzana, Marina’s mysterious lawyer roommate, strikes up a relationship with a colleague and must find a way to tell him her secret. Upstairs neighbor Jay, a frustrated author, takes a prostitute as his muse. Driven by passion, sexuality and a desire for individuality, these characters experience the highs and lows that are all part of the search for love and life.

The Tijuana Project - Children will thrive, even under the most challenging of circumstances. Just miles from the U.S. border lies a huge garbage dump in Tijuana. Within this dump is a community which Mother Teresa described as “one of the world’s most destitute.” But this is not a story of despair and hopelessness. Told directly by six children who live scavenging through an immense mountain of trash, we come to learn that people can survive with dignity and humanity, even under the worst of conditions. As we follow these six vibrant personalities through their daily existence, we can only be inspired by their enthusiasm and willingness to overcome the obstacles of poverty. Bringing to mind the whole panoply of issues which extreme poverty entails, The Tijuana Project is a powerful portrait of the hardship that some must endure while presenting an inspirational and joyous story of what can be accomplished in the face of overwhelming odds. This film is preceded by the short film Abuelo (Director: Mary Ann Kellogg, Country: USA, Film Info: 15 min) - A young girl and her grandfather find a common bond through dance.

Gabi on the Roof in July - The last thing Sam needs to obscure his life is entertaining his hell-raising younger sister, Gabi, for the summer. A portrait of young New York and the misguided hopefuls who can't afford to live there but do anyway, Gabi on the Roof in July is an ensemble comedy about ex-girlfriends, sibling rivalry and whipped cream in a city that's constantly in flux. Gabi, a rambunctious Oberlin undergrad, heads to New York City to spend the summer with her older brother, Sam, seeking solidarity in the wake of her parents’ divorce. When she gets there, she finds Sam too busy juggling women and too irked by her provocative antics and almost constant nudity to give her the guidance she needs. In an effort to get Sam's attention, Gabi seduces his free-loving, freeloading college buddy, only to find she's in over her head. Directors and lead actors Lawrence Levine (Territory, Cinequest 2005) and Sophia Takal infuse sensitivity, humor and naturalness into their characters, emanating a sibling authenticity. Add that to a sharply-written script by Levine and Kate Kirtz and Gabi on the Roof in July is one of the most electric films that you will see on the screen this year. 

Krews - Their lives were on the line…and then the trouble really began. Fraught with tension, Krews is a high-octane thriller that doesn’t let up. Just in from Poland, Henry is collected at the airport by his handler, Peter. The global economy has been dealt lethal blows, and these two high-tech con artists are on the hook for millions. As they begin to deal with the delicate details of a global crisis – and saving their own skins – the evening takes a turn for the worse. One unpredictable catastrophe leads to another, as the two are carjacked, shot at and sent spinning into a night of unending mishaps and near-misses across Los Angeles. Hilbert Hakim’s provocative and timely Krews uses cleverly drawn characters to explore themes of betrayal and greed, creating an atmosphere charged with distrust and desperation, while delivering unexpected surprises along the way. The strong ensemble cast led by Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker) give compelling and complex performances.

Life in One Day (Het leven uit een dag) - Countless kisses are forgotten, but the first kiss is indelible. For Benny and Gini, their entire lives last literally one day. In the morning, they grow up. In the afternoon, they have sex for the first time. But the unexpected happens, and in a world that teaches that love is not an option, they lose their hearts to one another and decide one day is not enough. However, there is only one way out: commit the ultimate crime and be sent to hell—a world of repetition and boredom, where you can remain in love for the rest of your life. And along the way, something goes terribly wrong. A charming, visually stunning reminder of the power we hold over our own lives, director Marc de Cloe’s Life in One Day is not only a simple story of love, but also of the importance of time. In his words, “It’s time that makes you forget love, it’s time that blunts love, it’s time that makes love die. But thank goodness it’s love that is best at fending off time.”

Little Fish, Strange Pond - Sweet Stephen murders. Mr. Jack talks….a lot. Matthew Modine (Married to the Mob, Weeds) and Callum Blue (Dead Like Me, Smallville) lead an incredible cast in an absurd and twisted story of two men—Mr. Jack and Sweet Stephen—philosophizing on life, death, love and violence, while leaving a small trail of murdered women in their wake. With a cop (brilliantly played by Adam Baldwin from Chuck and Firefly) hot on their trail and the bodies piling up, Mr. Jack attempts to explain how the two men have come together and where Stephen's actions are leading him. Their voyage is grim, beautiful and darkly hilarious. Also starring Zach Galifinakas (The Hangover), Paul Adelstein (Private Practice), Liza Weil (Gilmore Girls) and Don McManus (Ocean’s Thirteen), director Gregory Dark offers a rare, dark comedy that is as thought-provoking as it is hilarious.