Sundance Unveils Lineup
Variety
November 28, 2007
by Todd McCarthy
Films that explore individual ways of coping with a distressed world
mark the lineup of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, which unspools
Jan. 17-27 in Park City, Utah.
Eighty-one world premieres are among the 121 feature films set for the
nation’s premier indie fest, which received 2,051 narrative features
and 1,573 documentaries submitted from around the world this year, an
all-time high.
Fest director Geoffrey Gilmore noted that, surprisingly, the films on
view this year "are not as political or social issue-oriented as last
year. There’s more personal expression about the daily aspects of
lives, about people’s state of mind. The fact is that the world around
us is a very troubled place, but the response of the filmmakers isn’t
always dark, but is about people finding a way though it and about
persevering, not succumbing. You sense the need for an escape from the
exhausting pressures of reality."
That said, Gilmore allowed that, "This festival is as hard to typify
as any we’ve ever done. There’s such a range and disparity to the
work, as well as a quality of surprise and distinctiveness. The
differences are not so much aesthetic as in the points of view, in a
way of understanding the reality around us. They deal with the pain of
existence and an awareness of the existential dilemma, but the
solutions are not ideological, but personal, and often told through
dark comedy."
John Cooper, fest’s director of programming, agreed that, "Since the
world seems a little dark to people, they’ve turned to comedy,
although comedy with a dark turn to it." While fest programmers try to
keep a very close watch on what filmmakers are up to, Cooper allowed
that, "This year, a lot of people came out of the woodwork. A lot of
the directors are ones we didn’t even know about," a statement
bolstered by the presence this year of 51 first-time filmmakers.
In the realm of documentaries as well, Gilmore noted a move toward the
personal voice he believes marks a development of the form. "There
used to be a ‘professional class’ of documentary filmmakers that sort
of dominated the field, but now you feel they’re coming from lots of
places. Maybe because of Michael Moore, more documentary filmmakers
are putting themselves at the center of their work and are making
personal investigation films, like, this year, ‘Trouble the Water,’
‘Traces of the Trade’ and ‘A Complete History of My Sexual Failure.’"
Gilmore also suspects the blogging syndrome of torrential personal
opinion may, in a way more metaphorical than literal, have seeped into
the filmmakers. Quite a few films depict, or reflect upon, the
artistic process, including documentaries about Hunter S. Thompson,
Patti Smith and Roman Polanski. Gilmore revealed that so many docs
about filmmakers, musicians and other artists were submitted, the
entire section could have been filled up with them alone.
Structurally, only minor alterations have been made for Sundance
’08. The Premieres section, which will be announced Thursday along
with lineups for the Spectrum, Midnight and New Frontier sidebars, has
been beefed back up to 24 titles. To keep the overall total the same,
however, Spectrum has been reduced to 19 entries, including seven in
the new Documentary Spotlight.
The 16 entries apiece in the Dramatic and Documentary Competition
sections are all world premieres. Dramatic category had 1,068
submissions, while 953 docs were received.
DRAMATIC COMPETITION
"American Son," directed by Neil Abramson ("Without Air") and written
by Eric Schmid, about a young Marine’s four-day leave at home in
Bakersfield, Calif., and his attempt at a romance before being sent
into active duty. With Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz, Matt O’Leary, Jay
Hernandez, Tom Sizemore and Chi McBride.
"Anywhere, U.S.A.," directed by and starring Anthony (Chusy)
Haney-Jardine and written by Haney-Jardine and Jennifer Macdonald, an
experimental, three-part feature about manners, prejudices and family
dynamics.
"Ballast," directed and written by Lance Hammer, a lyrical look at the
effect of a tragedy on an impoverished family in the Mississippi
Delta. Features Michael J. Smith Sr., Jim Myron Ross, Tarra Riggs and
Johnny McPhail.
"Choke," directed and written by Clark Gregg, a raw mother-son comedy
starring Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald and Brad Henke
and based on a novel by Chuck Palahniuk ("Fight Club").
"Downloading Nancy," directed by Johan Renck and written by Pamela
Cuming and Lee Ross, a very dark study of a terminally unhappy woman’s
tortured love affair that stars Maria Bello, Jason Patric, Rufus
Sewell and Amy Brenneman.
"Frozen River," directed and written by Courtney Hunt and starring
Melissa Leo as a woman on New York’s Mohawk Reservation who takes up
illegal-immigrant smuggling to survive. With Misty Upham, Charlie
McDermott, Michael O’Keefe and Mark Boone Jr.
"Good Dick," directed, written by and starring Marianna Palka as a
vulnerable young woman drawn into a relationship with a videostore
clerk. Also features Jason Ritter, Tom Arnold, Mark Webber, Martin
Starr and Eric Edelstein.
"The Last Word," directed and written by Geoff Haley, an irreverent
romantic comedy centering on a reclusive writer-for-hire of suicide
notes. Stars Winona Ryder, Wes Bentley and Ray Romano. A ThinkFilm
release.
"The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," directed and written by Rawson Thurber
("Dodgeball"), an adaptation of Michael Chabon’s first novel,
concerning sexual exploration and a tense father-son
relationship. With Jon Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sienna Miller, Mena
Suvari and Nick Nolte.
"North Starr," directed and written by Matthew Stanton, about a young
black Houston man who, after witnessing his best friend’s murder,
moves to a backward rural town. Features Jerome Hawkins, Stanton,
Chris Sullivan, Isaac Lamb, Zach Johnson and Wayne Campbell.
"Phoebe in Wonderland," directed and written by Daniel Barnz, an
unusual coming-of-age tale about a girl (Elle Fanning) who takes her
dysfunctional family on an unexpected journey. With Felicity Huffman,
Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman, Campbell Scott and Peter Gerety.
"Pretty Bird," directed and written by Paul Schneider, an archetypal
American story about three entrepreneurs whose partnership goes awry
in very nasty ways. Stars Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, Kristen Wiig
and David Hornsby.
"Sleep Dealer," directed by Alex Rivera and written by Rivera and
David Riker, a social commentary-infused sci-fier about three
strangers who attempt to break through future technological barriers
to connect in a world of closed borders and virtual labor.
"Sugar," directed and written by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the
co-writer and writer-director, respectively, of "Half Nelson," with
Algenis Perez Soto as a Dominican baseball star recruited to play in
the U.S. minor leagues.
"Sunshine Cleaning," directed by Christine Jeffs ("Sylvia," "Rain")
and written by Megan Holley, starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt as
sisters who try to climb out of poverty by working in biohazard
removal and crime scene clean-up. Also with Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin,
Amy Redford and Clifton Collins Jr.
"The Wackness," directed and written by Jonathan Levine ("All the Boys
Love Mandy Lane"), a comedy about a teen drug dealer (Josh Peck) who
falls for the daughter of his drug-taking shrink (Ben Kingsley). Also
features Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby, Mary Kate Olsen and Method
Man.
DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
"An American Soldier," directed and written by Edet Belzberg
("Children Underground"), a look at one of the U.S. Army’s all-time
top recruiters, Sgt. 1st Class Clay Usie.
"American Teen," directed and written by Nanette Burstein ("On the
Ropes"), an irreverent, frank account of four Indiana high school
seniors.
"Bigger, Faster, Stronger," directed by Christopher Bell and written
by Bell, Alexander Buono and Tamsin Rawady, about three brothers, one
of whom is the filmmaker, who use steroids.
"Fields of Fuel," directed and written by Josh Tickell, who also
appears as a man who takes on "big oil, big government and big soy" as
he proselytizes for energy alternatives.
"Flow: For Love of Water," directed by Irena Salina, confronts the
possibility that Earth’s supply of this essential liquid is dwindling.
"Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson," directed by Alex
Gibney ("Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room"), a look at the late
author’s prime period of 1965-75 via previously unavailable
homemovies, audio recordings and unpublished manuscripts.
"The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo," directed and written by
Lisa F. Jackson, who traveled to the war zones of the Congo to record
the struggles and testimonies of rape survivors.
"I.O.U.S.A.," directed by Patrick Creadon ("Wordplay"), an examination
of the United States’ precarious financial condition that also
advances ideas to avoid national economic disaster.
"Nerakhoon" (The Betrayal), directed and written by Ellen Kuras and
Thavisouk Phrasavath, the culmination of a 20-year project to portray
the struggle of the latter’s family to survive the impact of
U.S. foreign policy in Laos and to understand his father’s involvement
in the war.
"The Order of Myths," directed and written by Margaret Brown, about
the 2007 Mardi Gras in Mobile, Ala., where the event remains
segregated.
"Patti Smith: Dream of Life," directed and written by Steven Sebring,
a 12-year project that offers an intimate portrait of the
poet-musician.
"Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," directed and written by Marina
Zenovich, focusing on the particulars of the director’s decision to
flee his legal problems in the U.S.
"Secrecy," directed by Peter Galison and Robb Moss, an investigation
of the world of government secrecy.
"Slingshot Hip Hop," directed by Jackie Reem Salloum, a look at
Palestinian rappers.
"Traces of the Trade," directed by Katrina Browne, co-directed by Alla
Kovgan and Jude Ray, written by Browne and Kovgan, a fresh look at
personal history by descendants of the largest slave-trading family in
America.
"Trouble the Water," directed by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal,
incorporates the video diary of a young couple and family who
struggled to survive the New Orleans flooding and post-Katrina despair
and difficulty.
WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
There were 983 submissions from 15 countries in this category.
"Absurdistan" (Germany), directed by Veit Helmer, written by Helmer,
Zaza Buadze, Gordan Mihic and Ahmet Golbol, about a sex strike by
village women that threatens a young couple’s first night together.
"Blue Eyelids" (Mexico), directed by Ernesto Contreras, about the
ramifications of a single woman’s winning of a beach trip for two.
"Captain Abu Raed" (Jordan), directed and written by Amin Matalqa,
concerning an aging airport janitor who relates tall tales to local
kids who think he’s a pilot.
"The Drummer" (Hong Kong), directed and written by Kenneth Bi, the
story of a young man who matures from reckless gangster to serious
grownup due to the influence of Zen drumming.
"Elite Squad" (Brazil), directed by Jose Padilha ("Bus 174") and
written by Braulio Mantovani and Padilha, which focuses on a special
crime unit’s war against drug dealers in the run-up to the Pope’s
visit to Rio. A Weinstein Co. release.
"I Always Wanted to Be a Gangster" (France), directed and written by
Samuel Benchetrit, which consists of four episodes in which aspiring
hoods discover whether they’re up to a life of crime. With Sergi Lopez
and Jean Rochefort.
"Just Another Love Story" (Denmark), directed and written by Ole
Bornedal ("Nightwatch"), about the unanticipated effects on a family
man after an auto accident causes a young woman to suffer from
amnesia.
"King of Ping Pong" (Sweden), directed and written by Jens Jonsson,
which pivots on an acrimonious relationship between two young
brothers.
"Megane" (Glasses) (Japan), directed and written by Naoko Ogigami, a
Zen comedy depicting a life-change occasioned by a vacation at an odd
beach community.
"Mermaid" (Russia), directed and written by Anna Melikyan, about a
girl whose ability to make wishes come true hits reality when she goes
to Moscow as a young woman.
"Perro Come Perro" (Dog Eat Dog) (Colombia), directed by Carlos Moreno
and written by Alonso Torres and Moreno, a crime drama about two hoods
who sign their own death warrants when they bungle a job.
"Riprendimi" (Good Morning Heartache) (Italy), directed by Anna Negri
and written by Negri and Giovanna Mori, centered on a married couple
with a baby who are breaking up while a documentary is being made
about them.
"Strangers" (Israel), directed and written by Erez Tadmor and Guy
Nattiv, which depicts a love affair between an Israeli man and a
Palestinian woman during the World Cup finals in Germany.
"Under the Bombs" (Lebanon), directed by Philippe Aractingi and
written by Aractingi and Michel Leviant, about a woman who engages a
taxi driver to drive her through areas just bombed by Israel in 2006
in search of her sister and son.
"The Wave" (Germany), directed by Dennis Gansel and written by Gansel
and Peter Thorwarth, a look at the unintended consequences of a high
school teacher’s experiment to demonstrate what life is like under a
dictatorship.
"The Wind and the Water" (Panama), directed and written by a
collective, concerning two very different encounters between an
indigenous teenage boy new to Panama City and an alluring girl from a
wealthy family.
WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
There were 620 submissions from 10 countries in this category.
"Alone in Four Walls" (Germany), directed and written by Alexandra
Westmeier, which focuses on Russian teenage boys whose life confined
to a rural home for delinquents might be preferable to freedom.
"The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins" (New Zealand), directed and
written by Pietra Brettkelly, in which a woman’s obsession to adopt
Sudanese twin orphans raises many questions about Western attitudes
concerning Africa.
"A Complete History of My Sexual Failures" (U.K.), directed by Chris
Waitt and written by Waitt and Henry Trotter, in which the filmmaker
consults the women in his life, past and present, to learn exactly how
the opposite sex views him.
"Derek" (U.K.), directed by Isaac Julien, an artistic illumination of
the life and work of the late British filmmaker Derek Jarman.
"Dinner With the President" (Pakistan), directed and written by Sabiha
Sumar and Sachithanandam Sathananthan, an interview-driven report on
the state of mind of Pakistanis.
"Durakovo: The Village of Fools" (France), directed and written by
Nino Kirtadze, a look at Russian nationalism through the activities of
a right-wing leader training initiates at a castle near Moscow.
"In Prison My Whole Life" (U.K.), directed by Marc Evans and written
by Evans and William Francome, an investigation of American history
and the justice system through the case of death row inmate Mumia Abu
Jamal.
"Man on Wire" (U.K.), directed by James Marsh, looks back at the 1974
stunt in which a Frenchman danced on a wire suspended between New
York’s Twin Towers.
"Puujee" (Japan), directed and written by Kazuya Yamada, which
concerns a Japanese photographer whose subject is a girl who tames
wild horses on the Mongolian plains.
"Recycle" (Jordan), directed and written by Al Massad, about a man’s
struggle to support his family in the tense hometown of Muslim leader
Al-Zarqawi.
"Stranded: I’ve Come From a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains"
(France), directed and written by Gonzalo Arijon, in which survivors
of the 1974 Andes plane crash tell their stories first-hand for the
first time.
"Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma" (Canada), directed
by Patrick Reed, about former Doctors Without Borders head James
Orbinski returning to Africa to assess the harsh conditions there and
explore the meaning of humanitarian work.
"Up the Yangtze" (Canada), directed and written by Yung Chang, a
portrait of a changing China through the experiences of young people
from the Three Gorges Dam area who take jobs on a cruise ship.
"Women of Brukman" (Canada), directed and written by Isaac Isitan, an
account of how poor workers who take over a Buenos Aires clothing
factory adjust to becoming self-managers.
"Yasukuni" (Japan), directed and written by Li Ying, which probes the
controversy surrounding Japanese officials paying homage at the
Yasukuni shrine, where swords used to kill Chinese were forged.