Having gotten in around 1:30 this morning, and finally hitting the bed sometime after 2am, I knew that 5:30am alarm would hit me like a heavy stone, but this is my choice, as nobody is making stay out so late, nor get up at an ungodly hour to stand in some chilly ticket line with an empty promise of entry into my desired films. BUt shit, it IS my choice and I actually seem to thrive in the environment. The stimuli of seeing great films, meeting talented filmmakers, and maybe even enticing them to participate at SouthSide this June is reason enough for me to continue at this pace. My earlier blogs this week told of more relaxed schedules and less Wait List or early morning ticket releases, because I had company and I'd never subject anybody else to my grueling demands... unless they asked for the "full experience".
It has been suggested by my friend Mel that I might consider doing a Riedy Reality Tour of Sundance, immersing the willing into my World during Sundance, with all its intricacies and secrets. I know where to go and when to get there, how to choose tickets, venues, and the timing of it all. I have become a minor expert on the nuances of this machine they call Sundance, but I'm still learning, and of course each year the Festival makes adjustments to throw me off a bit. I love being the Guerilla Fest Goer, if you like. I thrive on the challenge, love the early morning Wait Lists, and crave as many films as is humanly possible. And in the past two years I've also learned how to do "Sundance Lite", exposing friends to my Sundance World without overwhelming them with my usual intensity.
Anyway, Friday morning's alarm sounded at 5:30 and I quickly rolled out of bed, showered, and recharged with my morning pot of coffee. Chugging coffee and orange juice, I found time today to eat a bit of breakfast before heading out today. I was out the door by 6:45 and back in Park City before the sun rose. Again, knowing the Sundance routine, I had high hopes that I'd be successful in the morning Wait List. The week was drawing to a close, and I knew some people had already "left the building" while still others simply were exhausted from a week of late nights and lots of alcohol. As they say: "feed off the weak" and take advantage of that achilles' heal suffered by the human element. Not that I'm inhuman, let's just say I'm Abby Normal ("Young Frankenstein"). I ain't right in the head, yo soy muy loco en la cabeza!
This morning's goal was to get in to screen "Frozen River", which happens to star the talented Charlie McDermott. I was especially interested in screennng this film as Charlie has signed on to star in MY next film, Michael Yurinko's "For the Love of Jade". I arrived at the Library Center Wait List and found that only 5 other early morning weirdos had beat me to the punch. With #6 in hand, I felt confident that I was "in", and soon I was. Though I suffered from a lack of sleep, my energy level rose once handed that coveted admission ticket. We proceeded immediately into the line at the door, and I found myself among the first twelve ticket holders in line. Today was again going my way!
Courtney Hunt's "Frozen River" tells the tale of Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo) and her two children, as they struggle to make ends meet while their absentee father/husband wandered the country gambling away their life savings. The human struggle would seem to be a common thread among many of this year's Sundance offerings, both documentary and dramatic. We are given a glimpse into Ray's life and her choices for survival. Push comes to shove, you'll do what you have to survive; "survival of the fittest", as this ain't a World for the weak. The meek will not inherit the Earth, but instead will be chewed up and spat out. Ray is a survivor and will do what it takes to not only make ends meet, but to survive, flourish, and succeed beyond expectations in a seemingly "trailer trash" environment.
The film was shot with sensitivity, as we are shown the Wolrd of border Indian Reservations, also struggling to simply survive. Through a chain of events Ray meets Lilla (Musty Upham), a down and out Indian woman also struggling to make ends meet, who plunges Ray deep into the dark side of the Indian Culture, where border crossings over the frozen St Lawrence River mean income in the form of smuggling, often including merchandise and sometimes including moving illegals from Canada to the US. Ray dreams of a better life for her children, wants her double wide trailer, and simply can't make it happen with an absentee husband nor with her minimum wage job at the Yankee Dollar Store. Smuggling bodies would mean a quick payout, and as the film develops we feel a snowballing of events that could push Ray beyond the edge. Ray and Lilla first are simply business partners, but somewhere along the line they form a bond that is more than business.
The performances of the entire cast were strong and believable. The film was shot in a very gritty style, and directed with care and humility. I LOVED this film. And Charlie McDermott simply nailed his role as the big brother, having to step into a fatherly role. I can't wait to watch him shine in a leading role role in my next feature. Bravo Charlie. The entire audience, a house filled to capacity so early in the day, was most receptive to the story and the acting. It was believable, raw, and very real. I salute Ms. Hunt's care and consideration, as she chose not to exploit the stereotype of the Indian Community, but instead show the similarities between the White man and the Indian. In the end we are all human, with our faults and our desires to "get by", often at any expense. Touching, moving, and filled with strong emotions, this film will certainly shine a light on the talents of this cast and crew.
After the screening I did my normal "Jeff Mode", introducing myself and my SouthSide Film Festival to Ms. Hunt, thanking her for the sensitivity and realism she explored. With any luck I'd lOVE to bring this film to SouthSide, as it would be a wonderful "teaser" for our '09 Cultural Focus of "Indigenous and Displaced Cultures". Again... fingers crossed.
I said my goodbye to Courtney and headed up Main Street for one final stroll through the various venues and lounges, distributing a few more SouthSide brochures. Saturday they begin to roll up the sidewalks here in Park City, as the momentum of the Fest slows, people begin to leave town, and they prepare for the final day on Sunday, filled with the promise for some of Awards, acknowledgement, and maybe even the coveted "Distribution Deal": the reason most of these filmmakers come to Sundance. I made my way through town, did a little shopping, and then headed out of Dodge, and back to the apartment for an afternoon of catch-up: catching up on e-mails, blogs, and maybe even sleep.
I'll write more on that in the next entry. Stay tuned.
In the meantime... butter up the popcorn, turn down the lights, and crank up that projector. The evening's show is about to begin. Ciao!
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