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Premiere!
THE FEMALE CLOSET at 6:00pm (U.S., 1998) directed by Barbara Hammer Print Source: Women Make Movies “How does sexuality influence art? Should lesbian artists be appropriated by political groups? Why is such a large proportion of important artists gay? Can ‘lesbian artists’ become a pigeon-hole? How has the acceptance of lesbians changed in the past century?” These are the many important questions raised by John Ruch, critic for The Other Paper, in his review of THE FEMALE CLOSET. This fascinating work from renowned filmmaker Barbara Hammer combines rare footage, interviews, and rich visual documentation to survey the lives of various closeted women artists from different segments of the 20th century. Victorian photographer Alice Austin has a museum devoted to her work, but it refuses to go on record acknowledging her gender-bending photos as any indication of a comment on sexuality. Berlin dada collagist Hannah Hoch had a legendary and significant lesbian affair, but at a major MoMA exhibit the relationship is mentioned only in the brochure but not on the wall text. Present day painter Nicole Eisenman, whose work flagrantly depicts lesbian sexuality, finds that the market for her work is mostly straight. Examining the museum as closet, and the negotiation of visibility and secrecy in lesbian history, this thoughtful video is a provocative look at the relationship between art, life, and sexuality. BARBARA HAMMER has produced and directed over 75 films and videos and is a major figure in avant-garde filmmaking. Her work has been exhibited worldwide. Her 1993 film Nitrate Kisses had its Boston-area premiere at the Boston International Festival of Women’s Cinema. Shows with
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Sneak Preview!
Director Lisanne Skyler will introduce GETTING TO KNOW YOU at 7:45 (U.S., 1999) directed by Lisanne Skyler w/ Heather Matarazzo, Michael Weston, Bebe Neuwirth, Zach Braff, Mary McCormack, Tristine Skyler, Chris Noth Print Source: ShadowCatcher Entertainment GETTING TO KNOW YOU is a remarkable feature debut from Lisanne Skyler, based on collection of short stories by Joyce Carol Oates. In the adaptation for the screen, co-authored by Lisanne and her sister, Tristine Skyler, a cohesive bond for these stories is formed through the main character, 16 year-old Judith (the incomparable Heather Matarazzo of Welcome to the Dollhouse). The film is set during one afternoon in an innocuous bus station in upstate New York, where Judith’s brother, Wesley (Zach Braff) awaits a bus to take him to college, and Judith, it seems, is just waiting. There she meets Jimmy (Michael Weston), an older boy who hangs out in the depot and entices Judith with his stories, weaving fantastically detailed yarns about the other passengers in the station. Despite her brother’s warnings, she is transfixed and devours each one. As Jimmy describes the situation that brought each of the individuals to the station’s waiting area, the film’s action portrays each character’s scenario. Eventually Judith is willing to share the true tale of what brought she and her brother to this and so many other stations over the years. Judith and Jimmy’s transformation from youthful innocence into the beginnings of adulthood is revealed before our eyes. What began as just another day, turns out to be very different than all the others. Set apart by its extraordinary storytelling, GETTING TO KNOW YOU is an exceptional literary journey. The film had its world premiere at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival where it received highly celebrated reaction. - Lisa Viola Though GETTING TO KNOW YOU is her first dramatic feature, Lisanne Skyler has directed two documentaries, No Loans Today, about a South Central Los Angeles pawnshop, which screened at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival and was broadcast on PBS and Old Timers. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley and received a master’s degree in filmmaking at San Francisco State University.
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Sneak Preview!
BANDITS at 10:00 (Germany, 1998) directed by Katja von Garnier w/Katja Riemann, Jasmin Tabatabai, Nicolette Krebitz, Jutta Hoffmann, Hannes Jaenicke, Andrea Sawatzki Print Source: Stratosphere Entertainment Imagine if Thelma and Louise had gone to prison and hooked up with two other girl inmates and they all escaped and started a rock-and-roll band and inadvertently got famous and had to dodge the police while at the same time deal with a rising fan club. Throw in a little Help!, some music video choreography, a great soundtrack, a little bit of riot grrl sassiness and you have BANDITS (or “ban tits,” the conception for the band’s name). Thoroughly energizing and engaging, this film will appeal to the rebel in everyone. It boasts superb performances from all four leads, ensemble acting reminiscent of Bound, Foxfire and Girls Town. After aptly quoting Janis Joplin “Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,” Interview Magazine continues, “BANDITS is more than a bad girl flick: It’s an exuberant musical that reveals in female empowerment fantasies - from the freedom to act on anger to the turn on of bringing an audience to its knees with a song.” KATJA VON GARNIER was born in 1966 and is emerging as one of Germany’s leading young women filmmakers. She is best known for her film Making Up! (Abgeschminkt!), which opened to tremendous critical and box office success in her homeland and in Italy. Shows with
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