They’re screening a few classics this year, but not many? Aside from the already-mentioned Shampoo, they’re screening a newly-restored print of a classic Technicolor film noir (yeah, that does sound like an oxymoron) called Leave Her to Heaven. I haven’t seen it, and neither as Leggat, apparently, but he assured us that “Eddie Muller says it’s amazing.†When it comes to noir, that statement makes a high recommendation.
And what would a SFIFF be without a silent film and original score? This year, it’s the German expressionist classic The Golem, with a new score by Black Francis, formerly of The Pixies.
Among the other films announced are
- Go Go Tales, a comedy set in a strip club by Abel Ferrara
- Locally-made family drama Touching Home
- Ask Not, a documentary on the military and gays.
- Shadows in the Palace, a Korean period-piece murder mystery set in the royal palace.
- Mongol: Yet another biopic of Genghis Khan.
- And David Mamet’s new film, Redbelt
The whole thing closes with a benefit screening of Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson on May 8, also, of course, at the Castro.
I’ll see as many of these films as I can before the festival starts, and let you know which to catch and which to avoid.
Bayflicks 