The Italian Film Festival closes Saturday night, but New Italian Cinema opens tonight and runs through the weekend. Both Doc Fest and the Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival continue through this week and beyond. Cinema by the Bay opens today and runs through the week. B- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Alameda, Tuesday and Wednesday. Howard Hawks’ … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 9 – 15
Tag: french Cinema
Blu-ray Review: Children of Paradise
The one great black and white sound epic, Marcel Carné's and Jacques Prévert's love letter to France and to the theater, draws you in like a miracle. And why not? The movie's very existence is a miracle. How could they shoot a grand story on such a lavish scale during the last months of the … Continue reading Blu-ray Review: Children of Paradise
What’s Screening: July 13 – 19
The San Francisco Silent Film Festival runs through the weekend, and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival opens Thursday night. I'm hoping to catch every screening at the Silent festival (my recommendations are below) and that Jewish opening night. A- Bonsái, SF Film Society Cinema, opens Friday for one-week run. Right at the start, a … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 13 – 19
Farewell, My Queen
B Historical drama Written by Benoît Jacquot & Gilles Taurand, from the novel by Chantal Thomas Directed by Benoît Jacquot What was it like in Versailles in the final days of the French monarchy? Was the court panicked? In denial? Did anyone realize that they would soon lose their heads? Benoît Jacquot creates…or imagines…an answer … Continue reading Farewell, My Queen
What’s Screening: April 13 – 19
I somehow missed the Sonoma Film Festival, but you can still catch the last few days; it ends Sunday. So does the Women's Film Festival, but that one opens tonight. The San Francisco International Film Festival opens Thursday. B Farewell, My Queen, Castro, Thursday, 7:00. What was it Versailles like in the final days of … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 13 – 19
SF International Film Festival Preview, Part II
I've previewed three more films that will screen in this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. Here's what I thought about them. In case you missed Part I, you'll find it here. All of these films will likely receive a theatrical release in the near future. So if you miss them at the festival, you'll … Continue reading SF International Film Festival Preview, Part II
What’s Screening: April 6 – 12
No festivals this week. And no big, French silent films accompanied by full orchestras, either. B Comic-Con IV: A Fan’s Hope, Vogue, opens Friday. Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary will disappoint his fans, which is odd because it’s all about fandom--specifically fans of comic books, video games, and sci-fi/fantasy movies with reoccurring characters. This documentary follows … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 6 – 12
Free Men
B- Holocaust drama Written by Alain-Michel Blanc and Ismaël Ferroukhi Directed by Ismaël Ferroukhi I had two reasons to see Free Men, despite my general tiring of Holocaust dramas. First, at a time when Muslims are vilified, and when Muslims and Jews are portrayed in the media as natural enemies, it's important to challenge these … Continue reading Free Men
What’s Screening: March 30 – April 5
Feeling festive? Sorry. No festivals this week. However, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts starts a series called Great Directors Speak! And here's something that doesn't happen often: Saturday, you can choose between two great French silent films, each accompanied by a full orchestra, playing within five miles of each other. A+ Napoleon, Oakland Paramount, … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 30 – April 5
Great Napoleon Photo
The San Francisco Silent Film Festival included this photo in a recent email. I thought I should share it: Click it to see the full-sized image. I've also added this image to my report on Saturday's screening.
Bayflicks 