From the USG FrostFest
Showing posts with label Street. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Street. Show all posts
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
Because the one thing NYC needs is Beast
As everyone knows, Princeton is the highlight of nightlife, one that would make New York City jealous. Luckily, for all those Princetonians who move from campus into the city, the blog Guest of a Guest, which is aimed at young professionals in New York, has provided a guide on "How to Recreate Princeton's "The Street" in NYC".
Step one: Start with generalizations about each club. Some are more on the mark than others.
"Tiger Inn is the closest The Street comes to a Beirut and beer bong-centric frat house."
"Princeton alum F. Scott Fitzgerald described “literary Quadrangle“ in This Side of Paradise. We’re going to assume not much has changed."
"Princeton engineering wonks are occasionally unchained from the library and head to Charter."
Step two: Find bars and clubs that match each generalization.
Glasslands, Union Pool or Galapagos for Terrace
Mara’s Homemade, Great Jones Cafe or Brother Jimmy’s for Cottage
Step three: Madison Ave 10?
Monday, December 7, 2009
Nutcracker, Abridged
How appropriate it is that as we enjoy our first snow of the season, our very own sugarplums of Princeton University Ballet (PUB) prepare for their first "Nutcracker." As a ballet-lover myself, my childhood Christmases always included an annual trip to the theater to enjoy this Tchaikovsky ballet. A two-act fairytale, "The Nutcracker" tells the story of a young girl who travels to the Kingdom of Sweets with her prince, the former Nutcracker. Is it a little cheesy? Yes, but you can't help but smile and enjoy the tradition that this ballet represents. And with the end of the fall semester fast approaching, aren't we all in the mood for a little light-hearted fun?
Read the full review here...
--Margaret McNamara
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Article: Ivy League men attract female students to U.S.
British women come to the Ivy League for the guys, or so claims an article in the (supposedly respectable) British newspaper The Times today. The article points to the academic excellence at Ivy institutions, potential for financial aid and "the promise of a more sophisticated and all-encompassing social life that is proving hardest to resist."
The article promises that the admission offices select guys who are "confident, successful, driven and outgoing." Of utmost importance to the relationships is that while English women at university "connect with men in alcohol-fuelled environments such as the local club or the student union bar, Ivy girls meet boys by joining societies, sports teams and academic clubs." The article also looks to the methods of romance, including the story of one British Brown student being wooed with ... apple pie.
Is it true? Did you choose the Ivy League for romantic reasons? It should be added that The Times does seem to be slightly confused about Princeton and the Ivy League, claiming Ben Bernanke, a former economics professor from Princeton, also graduated from Old Nassau when he is in fact from an inferior institution in Massachusetts, and that Marc Mezvinsky, Chelsea Clinton's new fiance, is "an Ivy Leaguer through and through" when he attended Stanford.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Angels and Diamonds
And yet, this “fashion” show does exist, and not only does it attract salivating men who stare unblinking at the screen with the same expression as a cow chewing its curd, but I actually know some (straight) girls who were looking forward to last night’s extravaganza for an embarrassingly long time.
“No one puts on a show like VS,” read my friend’s Facebook status last night. After seeing some photos from the event, I can safely say she’s not wrong—but I don’t think it’s a good thing. You can’t have fantasy in a fashion show without some anchoring and practical aspect that keeps the whole thing from getting overblown (i.e. there needs to be good clothes). Considering the “Harlequin fantasy bra” costs a whopping $3 million dollars (which is modest compared to what it’s been in the past) and looks like it’s been encrusted with all of Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding rings, I guess I finally have to concede that sex, more than anything else, really is enough to sell.
Or maybe not; the show came second in ratings last night, right after, very ironically, NBC’s Biggest Loser. So maybe there is hope for our world after all.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A John Oliver Primer
John Oliver, a correspondent on The Daily Show, is giving a performance at Richardson Auditorium this Saturday at 9 p.m. To prepare you for this here are several of Oliver's clips from The Daily Show.
His debut episode:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Parliament Light | ||||
| ||||
Thanks to the Fancy English Muffin Association:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| London Flooding | ||||
| ||||
On the Queen-Michelle Obama '85 hug:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Changing of the Garb | ||||
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New York and Philadelphia Sports Fans:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Clash of the Cretins | ||||
| ||||
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
CDY and the Presidential Boogie
In case you missed this weekend's concert with the Nassoons and Whiffenpoofs, here's our very own USG president Connor Diemand-Yauman '10 performing one of the evening's big hits. Its backed by the Nassoons recording of Shama Lama off their CD Nassoons 2008.
Friday, October 30, 2009
“This is going to be the scariest Princeton Parent’s Weekend ever”
In honor of Princeton Halloween, the University got not one, but two shoutouts on "30 Rock" last night. If you just want to see the Princeton part, watch from 1:25.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
How to make a "Princeton Cocktail"
After yesterday's football score (37 to 3) you may have felt driven to drink, but, it turns out there is even a way to drink and express your Tiger spirit at the same time. Yes, Princeton has a cocktail.
The drink, which was developed in the late 1800s, was featured in the Cocktail column of The San Francisco Chronicle, showing that even Old Nassau can be new again. The recipe calls for 2 ounces gin, 3/4 ounce of Port, 3 dashes orange bitters and a lemon peel for garnish.
To serve the Princeton Cocktail, mix the gin, bitters and ice and stir for 15 seconds. Strain the mixture and pour it into a cocktail glass. Then, tilting the glass, pour the Port down the side so that it ends up below the gin and bitters. Enjoy, but maybe not this week. Good luck with midterms.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Underwear as Outerwear
Vivienne Westwood created it first, Madonna made it famous and, like all things from the
eighties have a habit of doing (think Donald Trump), it’s come back, slinkier than ever.
The king of the underwear—or rather sheer outerwear—look is Jean Paul Gaultier, who designed what many call the “original” pointed bra for Madonna’s 1990 “Blonde Ambition Tour”. And this season, he wouldn’t let you forget that cultural contribution; plastic bras peeped out of strips of torn striped fabric in (sometimes too) complicated arrangements that made about as much sense as anything that has to do with Madonna ever does. For those wanting to star in their own burlesque act, Gaultier struck exactly the right tone.
However, the look doesn’t have to be overtly sexual; indeed, there’s something strangely innocent about a simple silk slip trimmed in lace. The key is, of course, to contrast the delicacy of the underwear fabric against something rough and unexpected, like a jean jacket or leather blazer.
Still, one must always take precautions with this style; though I’m sure our upstanding Princeton males will be more than delighted to see girls wearing black lace camisoles as tops, it might be slightly awkward to wear that to a professor’s office hours. For the Seinfeld fans out there, think Sue Ellen Mischke.
Friday, October 16, 2009
If you give a mouse a mitten ... he'll want a Blackberry
Today hit a high of only 44°F, and tomorrow is expected to be the same. This first cold snap of the year is sending people running for gloves and mittens. But with the huge usage of iPhones and Blackberries on campus, this could cause a problem. To text or to be mildly chilly: truly a question for our age.
Luckily Vivian Weng ’05 and her brother Edward Weng ’10 have a solution for that problem. They have developed the Mittenberry, a mitten with removable thumb covers to let you type away. They come in three different colors and cost $24.99 for a pair.
Best of all, they serve multiple purposes. Cold-weather thumb wars, anyone?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Is purple the new black?
No. Nothing will ever be the new black, and people need to stop pretending that something could be, and abolish the use of this annoying phrase.
That being said, I have noticed a sudden rise in the amount of that regal color—not necessarily on the runways, but definitely, and inexplicably, on the streets.
It first caught my attention on vacation to Italy this summer; everyone, from straight men in skin-tight D&G shirts, to Paris Hilton look-a-likes, was wearing the same lilac color.
Surely, I thought, this is just another one of those crazy Italian fads that we Americans are immune to, like universal health care and soul-meltingly good pizza. No self-respecting American man would ever wear purple pants.
False. One step out of Penn Station and I was already surrounded by a cloud of purple. And there weren’t even any Williams’ people around. Luckily, I was wearing these, purchased in Italy (because really where else?) so I fit in fine.
What could the reason be for this phenomenon? I have absolutely no idea-perhaps people are nostalgic for the days of Barney. Or maybe it’s just a sick plot by United Colors of Benetton to make everyone the same color.
Whatever the case, it’s impossible to deny that this trend is here to stay. And hopefully, things will remain that way for a long, long time. This dude's already bought into it—have you?
That being said, I have noticed a sudden rise in the amount of that regal color—not necessarily on the runways, but definitely, and inexplicably, on the streets.
It first caught my attention on vacation to Italy this summer; everyone, from straight men in skin-tight D&G shirts, to Paris Hilton look-a-likes, was wearing the same lilac color.
Surely, I thought, this is just another one of those crazy Italian fads that we Americans are immune to, like universal health care and soul-meltingly good pizza. No self-respecting American man would ever wear purple pants.
False. One step out of Penn Station and I was already surrounded by a cloud of purple. And there weren’t even any Williams’ people around. Luckily, I was wearing these, purchased in Italy (because really where else?) so I fit in fine.
What could the reason be for this phenomenon? I have absolutely no idea-perhaps people are nostalgic for the days of Barney. Or maybe it’s just a sick plot by United Colors of Benetton to make everyone the same color.
Whatever the case, it’s impossible to deny that this trend is here to stay. And hopefully, things will remain that way for a long, long time. This dude's already bought into it—have you?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
20 Sweet: Autumn Tunes
As much as we try to deny it by wearing flip-flops and “forgetting” to bring a coat everywhere we go, fall’s here. So we may as well embrace some fall songs...Happy listening, and feel free to post song suggestions.
1. “Sometimes in the Fall” – Phoenix
2. “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)" – The Byrds
3. “Halloween” – Matt Pond PA
4. “Autumn Sweater” – Yo La Tengo
5. “Pumpkin Soup” – Kate Nash
6. “Is This the Fall?” – Carbon Leaf
7. “Cold Hands (Warm Heart)” – Brendan Benson
8. “Changes” – David Bowie
9. “Gone Till November” – Wyclef Jean
10. “Harvest Moon” – Neil Young
11. “Autumn Fallin’” –Jaymay
12. “Colorful” – Rocco DeLuca and the Burden
13. “The Little Acorn” – Fruit Bats
14. “Love You in the Fall” – Paul Westerberg
15. “Cappuccino” – The Knux
16. “Cosy in the Rocket” – Psapp
17. “Autumn Leaves” – Nat King Cole
18. “Undone (The Sweater Song)” – Weezer
19. “Pink Moon” – Nick Drake
20. “ Wind in the Trees” – Laura Zax
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Too much glitter, and not enough gold at Paris Fashion Week
I have one question, why?
Or maybe “how” is better. How could one of the most respected fashion houses in Paris, Emanuel Ungaro, replace Esteban Cortazar as its chief designer with Lindsey Lohan? Sure, Cortazar, who held the position since 2007, was still finding his footing in his 2008 Spring and Fall collections, but his beautiful Fall 2009 show was an artistic triumph-if not a commercial one.
When told that he would have to share a runway with the star who spends as much time in rehab as she does in films, Cortazar quit in protest. An understandable move; I don’t think anyone would want to be associated with the lumps of fabric that Lohan and Estrella Archs tried to pass off as clothing this Sunday at Paris Fashion Week. Some of the models looked like they had walked straight off the set of Mulan does Studio 54, others like a sultan who’s found Jesus (harem pants and heart prints do not mix). But the worst just looked, well sad, and extremely uncomfortable in clothing so poorly constructed and designed.
Luckily, there were other shows to make up for it. Riccardo Tisci presented a marvelous collection for Givenchy, with zig-zagging prints dripping and draping in innovative ways. His pieces are wearable, but still interesting, which is perhaps the hardest balance to get right.
Alexander McQueen continued along with the same structured mini-dresses plastered with tapestry-like prints that he used in Spring 2009 collection. In keeping with his new theme, “Plato’s Atlantis”, however, his models looked like those strange beings that inhabit the deepest depths of the ocean. As usual, everything was impeccably tailored and fitted, and McQueen made even the lightest, most delicate fabric take structure and form. And all of this pulsated to the tune of Lady Gaga’s new single.
Alas, it was near impossible to avoid celebrities. Even at Chanel, the crown jewel of Paris fashion, Lily Allen gave a surprise performance. Luckily, both Karl Lagerfield and McQueen were able to show such strong collections that the celebrities, rather than eclipse the show, merely became another part of the spectacle.
Indeed, Lagerfield’s gauzy, but not ethereal dresses, superb lacework and the always new classic Chanel tweed, were quite enough to hold the show together on their own; Lily Allen was just a side-show. Thankfully, for some, at least, fashion week is still about the clothes.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Things Princeton Students Should Stumbleupon
If you haven’t used Stumbleupon, or what is basically the “shuffle” button of the internet, then boy are you missing out. Stumbleupon is a site that takes you to a wide variety of random, awesome, fascinating websites based on your personalized interests (potential topics include anything from psychology, to reggae, to exotic pets, to liberal politics).
Many of the sites I’ve stumbled upon are ones I would not have found otherwise…and some of them could definitely be useful to Princeton students:
Moodstream: Having that 2 a.m. case of writer’s block? Or need a little inspiration to get through a problem set? Moodstream is a brainstorming tool that creates a stream of images and videos with music according to your personalized settings on scales like “happy---sad” and “warm---cool.” Even if it fails to get you in the right mood, well, it’s still fun to play with.
Send Me Something: For the homesick Princetonian who just never seems to get an email from the package room in Frist announcing the arrival of goodies from home, Send Me Something is the solution. After just sending a self-addressed stamped envelope or box to this specific Brooklyn address, the mysterious person on the other end will send you something within two to three weeks. As sketchy as this may sound at first, who doesn’t love a surprise?
Blockposters: Still got some blank ugly walls in your room? Don’t want to spend money? Blockposters lets you upload an image from your computer and turn it into a poster that you create by printing out multiple sheets that contain pieces of the image. Using the Google images advanced search tab to search for “large” images only will help make your finished product less pixilated.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sleek, Sexy and Scary
Italian fashion is not about approachability. A Gucci girl is not someone who you see on the street and immediately want to know. She’s someone you see on the street and gawk at because you never realized anyone could actually look good in satin pants.
In Milan, more than anywhere else, you are reminded that fashion is expensive, and that it takes a special kind of person (the ones with trust funds + legs that never end) to make a leather bathing suit look good. London is quirky, Paris is sensational, New York is commercial, and Milan is downright intimidating.
There are exceptions -Marni’s Spring 2010 collection was sweet, if not a bit frumpy, and I adored the draped knits at Missoni, dripping with strings of pearls and fabulous slashes of silk. But Prada and Gucci’s shows were, as usual, suitable only for a Bond girl before she jet sets off to Monte Carlo.
Though all designers are worried about their profits, in Milan at least, they’re still counting on the power of the very wealthy and the very beautiful.
Read my New York Fashion Week review.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hot Off the Press: A Look at Some of This Tuesday’s New Albums
Some of us get so entangled in the chaotic web of the orange bubble that we start mixing metaphors and we can’t even stop for a second to hear the new music being produced in the real world. So how about I do a little of the work for you?
Tuesdays are typically big days for new music, so here are a few noteworthy albums being released today, along with a quick synopsis of what some music reviewers have to say about them (apologies to hardcore Mariah Carey and Barbara Streisand fans; I know those divas also released albums today, but, well….sorry):
1. Zero 7 – Yeah Ghost
Some describers: mellow but catchy, experimental, swoon-worthy vocals, varied tempos, makes-you-wanna-move, echo-heavy
Most popular song from the album on iTunes as of right now: “Swing”
What Antiquiet.com has to say: (4/5 stars)
While a few songs remind us of the atmospheric, chill-out music we have heard from Zero 7 in the past (such as their song “In the Waiting Line” from the much-hailed Garden State soundtrack), the band mixes things up on this new album. Songs like “Mr. McGee” do more than just make you want to nod your head—they make you wanna legit shake it. Guest vocalists like Eska Mtungwazi, Martha Tilston, and Rowdy Superstar spice things us as well. Some could criticize the album for its incoherence, but it still maintains an identity throughout and for that, Antiquiet salutes it.
2. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
Some describers: North Carolinian, folky vocals with plenty of harmonization, heavily acoustic, laid-back, heartfelt
Most popular song from the album on iTunes as of right now: “I and Love and You”
Paste Magazine says: (96/100 or “Phenomenal”)
The Avett Brothers, after having hovered in the shadows for a while, are at last entering the spotlight with this major label debut. According to Paste, this record is “not just a stab at the mainstream—it’s a harpoon through its sternum.” …In a good way. Epic, lyrically powerful ballads dominate the album, and the name Avett is sure to become familiar to many more music lovers once they hear I and Love and You.
3. Paramore – Brand New Eyes
Some describers: emo, pop-punky, tough-girl vocals, good-to-exercise-to
Most popular song from the album on iTunes as of right now: “Careful”
Rolling Stone says: 3/5 stars – Paramore seems to have lost some of its appealing angsty naivete that was evident on 2007’s Riot! and has instead put more energy into making a statement with its lyrics and its almost too-sweet songs…for better or for worse. Lead vocalist Hayley Williams still sounds angry though; don’t worry!
Friday, September 25, 2009
UFO Film for the weekend of Sept. 24: Up
“Up” probably peaks within the first 15 minutes, but those minutes are unforgettable — the wordless sketching of the arc of a loving marriage, done in a way that is guaranteed to make you cry. The rest of the film is up (pun intended) to the gold standard of quality we’ve come to expect from Pixar. It’s a surprisingly dark and moving look at issues of mortality, loss and the meaning of a good life, but if that sounds too depressing, you should also know it contains the funniest talking animal jokes that I’ve ever seen.
--- Raj Ranade
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Final Verdict on Italy's Giffoni Film Festival
Both summer film festivals of Cannes and Karlovy Vary were largely defined by their fantastic scope - presenting a vast swathe of world cinema. Southern Italy's Giffoni Film Festival which ran from July 12-25 stands as the curatorial antithesis to such sprawling international events with its narrow focus on a single theme derived from the experience of youth. Given that the juries were comprised of over 1500 children from 3 to 18 years of age, I expected the films at the 39th annual Giffoni to be rather tame and simple - nothing could be further from the truth. Emblematic of the fearlessness of the world's largest children's film festival, was the driving theme of the year, taboo. Few festivals geared towards adults would focus on unspeakable cultural boundaries. That Giffoni faced the issue of taboo head-on illustrated its deep respect for the intelligence of its young audience.
Luca Apolito chose the films and led the discussions for the Generator +16 series. Aimed at jury members 16 and older, Apolito's selections were among the festival's most hard-hitting. He spoke at length about the philosophy of the festival, as well as the challenges of programming for a teen audience. Apolito stressed that "the main aspect of our festival is not the screenings but the ensuing debates." The festival programmer found that this focus on film as a catalyst for dialogue was ultimately what differentiated Giffoni from all others. Since it brought together young jurors from around the world, Apolito identified his branch of the festival "as the place where we want to amplify the teenagers' voices." Working with films that focused upon the issue of taboo, Apolito hoped that the movies encouraged his jurors to discover their own deep-rooted taboos and think critically of their negative and positive impact. The sometimes shocking works Apolito presented testified to the surprising aesthetic and thematic complexity of Giffoni films.
Two films Apolito that held in high regard from his series were Johnny Mad Dog and the festival sensation My Suicide. He confessed "I wasn't able to sleep for two nights" after choosing the films as they both could be interpreted as cinematic instigations to anarchy and violence. Due to the dialogue oriented nature of the festival, however, Apolito felt confident he could lead the audience to go beyond their superficially violent qualities. Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire's Johnny Mad Dog stood out as Giffoni's most shocking and memorable film. Focusing on a band of Liberian child soldiers, the film presents a reality defined without taboos that borders on pandemonium. Violence becomes the only means these indoctrinated children can gain a modicum of control in their powerless existence. The superbly acted film boldly goes beyond the pop cultural caricature that these fighters are mere brainwash monsters by highlighting moments where their childlike mentality becomes apparent. This deep exploration upon the "child" aspect of the child soldier phenomenon transforms the expertly directed Johnny Mad Dog into an illuminating and sad lament on a modern-day tragedy.
Although David Lee Miller's My Suicide swept the awards in Apolito's Generator +16 bracket, the film remains an imperfect examination of the suicidal mind in the digital age. Archie Williams (Gabriel Sunday) is a video camera enthusiast stifled by the sterile confines of modern-day American suburbia. His hope to commit suicide on camera turns him into a celebrity at his high school and he catches the eye of his here-to unattainable love, the beautiful Sierra Silver. Archie's sudden happiness will force him to reconsider his beliefs even as his dangerous philosophy draws some unexpected acolytes. Filmmaker Miller employs a hodgepodge visual style that lends a whimsical creativity to Archie's desperate tale and effectively captures the media overloaded vision of today's teenager. The hero's meeting with a cinema loving psychiatrist becomes a series of animated homage to films ranging from Clint Eastwoord westerns to The Matrix. In response to the doctor's inquiries, Archie suddenly becomes a doppelgänger of Agent Smith and confesses, "I have to get free!" Miller's free wielding direction creates a film of profound relevance crystallizing the perception of the vignette-fed You-tube generation that appropriates the most eclectic pop cultural artifacts into their every day expression. The production's success of Giffoni is no surprise as My Suicide is a film completely attuned to its time.
The very dynamism of the film's construction allows My Suicide to showcase the startling range of its young star Gabriel Sunday. His natural charisma shines during the fits of inspired mania that take place when Archie performs for his cameras. Sunday never disappoints in scenes where his mode of performance shifts constantly, making his character's act of fundamental narcissism into a universally compelling one. His rich and nuanced efforts, however, are undercut by the film's overuse of caricature, particularly Mariel Hemingway as a shallow WASP mom. The whole subplot involving the gorgeous popular girl, Sierra Silver, and her malaise created by her distant relationships with her family, smacks of cliché. Ultimately, My Suicide both succeeds in bringing the mindset of today's youth to the screen and fails to convincingly articulate the conditions that drive the desperate to the brink.
A film that offers more insight into mortality's inherent connection with youth was the best film of the +13 series, Phillipe Falardeau's It's Not Me, I Swear!. Its unforgettable first shot presents a long take of the adolescent hero Léon Doré (Antoine L'Ecuyer) attempting to hang himself from a tree. This moment of violence juxtaposed against the perfect 60s suburban home in the background signals the film's subversive intentions to uncover the darkness underneath the joyous myth of childhood. The young boy Léon Doré seems driven towards death, a compulsion that leads to the dissension of his family after his freewheeling mother leaves Quebec for Greece. As Léon, Antoine L'Ecuyer delivers a performance that highlights the subdued hatred of a child always defined as abnormal by his community. Every gesture hints at his desire to break away, even a happy wave hello is a covertly hidden middle finger. Filmmaker Phillipe Falardeau injects the film with unreal imagery that powerfully illustrates the alienated reality of the protagonist. When Leon bashes a hole through the neighbor's wall, he suddenly sees the vast blue sky and the white façades of Greece. The visual frames the dichotomy between the dream of escape and the nightmare of the Québec suburbia that so completely governs Léon's life. With its wry humor and stark imagery, It's Not Me, I Swear! remains a strange and totally distinct meditation on the anti-joie de vivre unique to the experience of childhood.
Falardeau's work failed to strike a chord with its respective jury who instead awarded the much more blasé Australian production Broken Hill. The award winner focuses on Tommy who lives on an outback ranch but dreams of leaving the rugged life behind to become a composer. Elevating the derivative premise somewhat are the film's numerous attempts to uncover the music within the natural world. When the hero works on the farm, the monotonous sounds of his labor create a rhythm that leads Tommy to envision an imaginary symphony. Although the film contains directorial surprises, the stiff leads are unable to convincingly express a passion for the liberating effect of music, a dramatic failure that consigns Broken Hill to the realm of mediocrity. Other films in the +13 series such as the Dutch production How to Survive... Myself? managed to transcend their well-worn premises using inventive dramatic conceits. The aforementioned teenaged dramedy frames the confusions of a teenager as a schizophrenic battle of selves. That such intriguing productions were ignored in favor of the tired Broken Hill suggested a jury impressed with easy themes and directorial bravado.
By awarding the Iranian film A Time to Love, the jurors for the 10-year-old bracket challenged any conceptions that only the most accessible films could win praise at Giffoni. The film provides a harrowing look at the taboo of disability in Iranian culture. As the disabled child of an increasingly embittered middle-class family, Babek develops a sense of disgust at his own condition due to his deep desire for his family's happiness. Divergent emotions of selfless love and self-hatred are always at play in child actor Mohsen Tanabandeh's portrayal of Babak and lend the character a complexity far beyond that of simple victimhood. Director Ebrahim Farouzesh brings out similarly rich performances in the rest of the ensemble, adult and child alike. Farouzesh's austere visual style allows the rich performances to shine without distraction. This finessed and refined eye capably maneuvers between the contrasting perspectives of the family, so that one's success becomes another's humiliation. So many films attempt to capture familial strife in a bombastic fashion, A Time to Love explores the far more quiet pain brought on by social dogma. Farouzesh's film evokes the helplessness experienced when confronted by such oppressive norms even as it provides a hope for broader cultural enlightenment.
While the selections for the 3 and 6 year old juries were lighter in tone, the screenings revealed how the festival organizers hoped to cultivate an appreciation for foreign films in their young Italian jurors. To accomplish this, non-Italian features were overdubbed live by an actor who gave a dramatic reading of the dialogue. This unique approach provided a solution to the dilemma of the subtitled film, and ensured that the enthusiastic audience could have their first immersion into a wider world of cinema.
Even the more broadly appealing slate was not without its gems, particularly the animated short Chicken Wings. The very strength of its execution speaks beautifully to the elegant simplicity of hand-drawn animation. A woman and werewolf are starving on the open range and find a chicken that might satiate their appetite. Things go awry after the werewolf and the chicken suddenly develop a close bond. The question remains: will the hungry gal get her grub? The short black-and-white hand-drawn style permits completely fluid and expressive movements which lend the scenes of physical comedy the same infectious energy of the best Looney Tunes cartoons. As the werewolf and women fight for the bird, it remains utterly passive. The chicken's calm demeanor perfectly counterbalances the increased frenzy of the friends turned antagonist. Director Pauline Kortmann complements the frenetic action with many visual non sequiturs, including a shot of the chicken and werewolf playing a game of chess that saliently establishes their blossoming relationship. Chicken Wings was without peer in a slate that featured far complex and meticulous animation due to its sublime confidence and pitch perfect pace.
Acclaimed French auteur Francois Truffaut famously claimed “Of all festivals Giffoni’s the most necessary.” More than any other film festival that I have attended, Giffoni sought to be a formative experience for its attendees always showcasing the cinematic medium's range. Those in attendance saw Rupert Grint in the new Harry Potter movie which made its Italian premiere at Giffoni. Later, jurors in the +16 bracket could also see Grint in the Northern Irish film Cherrybomb where he plays, with incredible nuance, a model teen that struggles against the expectations of his family and the weight of oncoming adulthood. As Apolito was always quick to point out, Giffoni's most important feature was not the films presented, but its emphasis on the dialogue that the medium can spark. Where Cannes and Karlovy Vary were events where cinephiles congregated, the Giffoni Film Festival was a forum where true cinephiles were created - active viewers who can appreciate the medium's complexities and grapple with how film continually challenges their worldviews.
-Fareed Ben-Youssef '09
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