War and music: The Kronos Quartet at the San Francisco International Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

Wednesday night, San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet came to the San Francisco International Film Festival to present their music-and-moving-image piece, Kronos Quartet Beyond Zero: 1914-1918. I was in the audience. This was not the usual silent movie presentation. The Quartet commissioned Aleksandra Vrebalov to write the music. Then they commissioned Bill Morrison to create a new … Continue reading War and music: The Kronos Quartet at the San Francisco International Film Festival

Cinema’s past and cinema’s future: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

Yesterday was a very strange day for me at the San Francisco International Film Festival. I didn’t see a single, complete film. But it was still worthwhile. Mel Novikoff Award: Lenny Borger The Novikoff Award goes to someone who who "has enhanced the film-going public’s appreciation of world cinema." Sometimes it goes to someone famous, … Continue reading Cinema’s past and cinema’s future: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

Music, Sex, and Novelists: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

Here's what I saw Saturday: B+ Beats of the Antonov This documentary about the current Sudanese civil war starts with a plane dropping bombs on civilians—from the civilian’s point of view. Then, when the bombing is over, laughter breaks out on the soundtrack. In this situation, you need to find something to be happy about. … Continue reading Music, Sex, and Novelists: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

SFIFF Thursday: Japanese teenagers and Chinese Brothers (but not really)

~ Lincoln Spector

I left work early Thursday to catch some movies at the San Francisco International Film Festival. I only had time for two. C+ Wonderful World End I’m really not sure what to make of this Japanese teenage drama. Seventeen-year-old Shiori lives with her theater-oriented boyfriend and enjoys some modest fame from her video blog. Then … Continue reading SFIFF Thursday: Japanese teenagers and Chinese Brothers (but not really)

Fashions and fighting: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

I only caught two films yesterday. A- Iris I started the day with Albert Maysles’ latest film, Iris. What fun! Here's what I thought about it: Iris Apfel, a fixture in the New York fashion scene well in her 90s, dresses herself in loud, bright, and absurd clothes, augmented with even crazier accessories. And yet … Continue reading Fashions and fighting: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

Bees, detectives, abortions, and more more bees: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

~ Lincoln Spector

I caught three films, all narrative features, Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Two of them were by woman directors; that is, but shouldn't be, unusual. Two of them were about beekeepers. which really is unusual. B+ Mr. Holmes What a life! This weekend, I got to see the newest Sherlock Holmes feature … Continue reading Bees, detectives, abortions, and more more bees: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival

SFIFF Friday: Great trains, bad entertainment

~ Lincoln Spector

I caught two films at the Kabuki Friday. Here's what I saw: D+ Entertainment Being weird isn't always enough. A deeply depressed, horrifically inept stand-up comic (Gregg Turkington) travels through small towns in the desert, flopping over and over again. Between lousy material, a complete lack of taste, horrific delivery, and utter contempt for his audience, he's … Continue reading SFIFF Friday: Great trains, bad entertainment