JANUARY
Friday 5
Cine Club @ SF Art Institute (800 Chestnut Street)
Mathieu Kassovitz's LA HAINE (1995, France)
24 hours in the life of three young men from the gritty suburbs of Paris who spend a freewheeling night in the city, alternately fun and frightening. Brilliant performances by its young stars show the effects of the deep-seated racism underlying French culture.
Why we show this film:
It is always thrilling to see a debut film from a young director with such style, thoughtfulness and technique that marks it as an instant classic. This film often affects students deeply with its themes of the outsider, racial diversity, prejudice and persecution. It's particularly interesting to see it as a companion to Do The Right Thing which we are showing in September, looking at similar issues playing out in quite different cultures. Finally, the performances in the film are mesmerizing and firmly established the careers of the three main actors.
About the director:
This was Kassovitz’ first feature, though he had already developed a career as an actor (and is familiar to American audiences as the hero in Amelie). His later films have trended more towards action/thriller films including Crimson Rivers, Gothika, and Babylon A.D.
Friday 12
Cine Club @ SF Art Institute (800 Chestnut Street)
Jane Campion's BRIGHT STAR (2009, UK)
The true tale of English poet John Keats’ affair at the end of his short life is a one of the great love stories. He’s brilliant but impoverished, she’s bright and talented, and they don’t have much time. Campion fills this story of love and loss with stunning imagery and genuine emotion.
Why we show this film:
This film is sumptuous on every level: beautifully filmed, full of perfectly designed sets and gorgeous period costumes. Campion creates a film of such artistic merit that it supports instead of being overshadowed Keats' poetry. Much of the dialogue comes directly from his letters. It's since it’s about the struggles of a hardworking young artist during the 19th century. Also it focuses on the domestic and social world of people drawn to the arts, showing lives and viewpoints that are so in contrast to our own time, they are noteworthy.
About the director:
Jane Campion grew up in New Zealand, daughter to theater directors. Her very first professional film won the award for best short film at Cannes. Early on she cemented her status as a brilliant pioneering director with films such as An Angel at my Table (1990) and The Piano (1993). After the Piano won the Palme d'Or and 3 Oscars, Campion struggled, releasing several films in a row that received middling reviews and worse ticket sales, but recently has returned to form with Bright Star (2009) and the critically acclaimed TV series "Top of the Lake".
Saturday 13
Art Saturday @ DOWNTOWN GALLERIES
The new Vinyl Art show at Fraenkel Gallery
It's a new year and the art galleries are full of new shows. Come with us on a walk through downtown to visit some of SF's top contemporary art galleries, followed by a picnic lunch!
11 am Meet inside SFMOMA (the Howard Street entrance by the Richard Serra sculpture)
11:15 Visit Berggruen Gallery and Gagosian Gallery.
12:00 Walk up to 49 Geary to visit Fraenkel, Haines and Koch galleries.
12:45 Picnic lunch in Yerba Buena Gardens
Friday 19
Cine Club @ SF Art Institute (800 Chestnut Street)
Noah Baumbach's FRANCES HA (2013, USA)
Life in New York City as a struggling young artist is full of troubles and Frances doesn’t have a clue how to solve them, but that’s not going to stop her. With no apartment, no boyfriend and grim job prospects, Frances is simply the most relatable, genuine modern heroine that’s appeared in years.
Why we show this film:
Female lead characters have often gotten a bad deal in film history—always with plagued with guy troubles, always playing a sidekick to one more macho hero. Here's a film that lets a young woman be just who she is, all the indecision, the fractured dreams, the starts and stops, the spontaneous whole. This movie is like a tonic, to rid yourself of every female cliché. To watch Frances hit bottom and rebound is a joy indeed.
About the director:
Born in Brooklyn and educated at Vassar, Baumbach reputation in film has had a slow steady growth. His films concern the lives of young people with various problems including his semi-autobiographic The Squid and the Whale, Highball and Kicking and Screaming. His recent While We’re Young has been his most popular so far.
Friday 26
Cine Club @ SFAI (800 Chestnut Street)
Terrence Malick's DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978, USA)
A meditative love story of two Italian immigrants making their way in America as migrant workers. This tale reflects the complexity of the American West as it erupts into jealousy and violence. One of the great visual wonders of cinema, with a powerful performance from the recently departed Sam Shepard.
Why we show this film:
This film remains as one of the most beautiful and lyrical in American cinema. The grandness of Malick's vision, the extraordinary visual integrity, and the simple but affecting characters are unforgettable. The trip across the plains, the isolated mansion, the terrifying locust swarm and the rags to riches tale, make it the equivalent of a visual novel. One of the best examples of pure filmmaking we have.
About the director:
Malick is one of the most unusual of American directors. He was born in Illinois, studied philosophy at Harvard, and began his graduate work in Oxford, England. His interests veered from there and he wound up at the American Film Institute. He directed his first film, Badlands in 1973. Days of Heaven, his second film, followed in 78. After many failed projects he simply vanished from the film scene, moved to Paris and did not produce a third film for 20 years. The Thin Red Line was produced in the late ‘90’s followed by The New World in 2005. Since then he has been one of the most active in the last decade with The Tree of Life, To The Wonder, Knight of Cups, Song to Song and the Voyage of Time.
Saturday 27
Art Saturday @ The Exploratorium
Art & Film is very excited to announce a new partnership with one of San Francisco's most beloved cultural institutions, the Exploratorium!
Explore small, surreal worlds at Curious Contraptions, a temporary exhibition of the charming, often hilarious mechanical sculptures known as automata. A predecessor of gifs, these machines loop simple scenes and stories through hand-powered motion. The exhibition will be presented along with a short film program highlighting the fun, whimsy, and hand crafted marvels inspired by the exhibition. Gather in the Kanbar Forum to meet the film curators who will present a hand-picked selection of short films. An additional special guest from our Tinkering Studio will share context about the exhibition and introduce ways you can get your hands on these small, storytelling machines.
11 am Meet in front of The Exploratorium (Pier 15, The Embarcadero)
11:15 A program of short films at the Kanbar Forum.
12:30 pm Picnic lunch
1:00 pm visit the Curious Contraptions show
Once we finish you're free to explore the rest of the museum!