Serge the Concierge

Love Will Tear Us Apart, Celluloid Heroes Version, Japan Society Film Festival, NY, March 2-18

Not wanting to spoil anyone's Valentine's Day, the Japan Society scheduled its 6th Globus Film Series titled Love Will Tear Us Apart from March 2 to March 18, 2012.

What do you get?

"Bad romance, blind love, amour fou! This spring, we screen a series of twisted, obsessive, heart-blazing love stories from Japan and Korea, because, after all, it takes two to tango and at least two to tumble. The 20+ film lineup, mostly from the past decade, includes the U.S. premiere of Shinya Tsukamoto's latest film, KOTOKO, and the world premiere of Koji Wakamatsu’s Petrel Hotel Blue, as well as Hirokazu Kore'eda's Air Doll, Nagisa Oshima's arch-classic In the Realm of the Senses, Yukio Ninagawa's Snakes and Earrings, Lee Sang-il's Villain, Lee Chang-dong's Oasis, and Kim Ki-duk's Bad Guy, among other twisted tales. The complex relationship between Korea and Japan provides a fascinating coupling of national cinematic identities. Although both Japanese and Korean films and filmmakers demonstrate their own unique preoccupations, narrative traditions, structures and cultural sensibilities, a considerable amount of shared ground leads directly to unique avenues of artistic collaboration (Korean actress Bae Doo-Na and director Hirokazu Kore'eda, Kim Ki-duk and Joe Odagiri), ultimately revealing a similar visual grammar and inclination towards the emotional violence that flows beneath the quiet surface of societal restraints."

Non Japanese entries include Vegetarian (South Korea):

"Ominous dreams haunt and drive a young woman to abolish meat from her diet and her household, and even reject her husband, who smells of meat. Her family mistakes her sudden fixation for insolence, and she soon grows despondent, alienating herself from everyone. Her sister tries to reach her, but only her brother-in-law, an artist, manages to penetrate her withdrawn state. Her mysterious trauma ignites creativity and desire in him, and they collaborate passionately on beautiful body-painting art--drawing on her psychological pain but also providing the catalyst for a mystical sexual transformation."

Visions of love and film obsessions on menu of Tokyo Thursdays # 223

Previously: Kibo celebrates Food and Spirit of People of Tohoku One Year After the Earthquake

(* Image from 'Vegetarian' above from Japan Society event pages) 

Free Brazilian Arts, Music, Dance and Film Festival, New School, NY, February 27

End the month of February with rays of sunshine thanks to Brazilian Arts, Music, Dance and Film Festival presented by Student Film Collective at New School in New York.

Details:

Event Date: Monday, February 27th from 6 to 9:30 – Location: Wollman Hall – Event Name: The New School Brazilian Arts, Music, and Film Festival  “Free Food, Films, Live Concerts by 2 Brazilian Bands from the Jazz School – Amanda Ruzza/Chris Stover Quintet and – Scott Kettner’s Maracatú NY Free to New School Students Come hang, eat and dance with us right after you are done with class!

Last sentence makes me wonder if it is opened to general public. I guess it is since they are spreading the word via social media.

G'Day USA: Merino Wool, Mudfest, Australia in 80 Sips, Australia Week, January 11-29

The variety of topics featured during G'Day USA- Australia Week (January 11-29) is quite large.

Closest stop for me is New York (most events on January 19).  Topics will run the gamut from Australia's contribution to Green Building to putting wool on our backs by being the largest world producer of Merino wool.

This last part will be highlighted in The Australian Five (January 23 to 25, 2012)

"The Woolmark Company and Australians In New York Fashion Foundation are pleased to bring the best of Australian Merino wool and Australian Fashion will blend with THE AUSTRALIAN FIVE – five designers working innovatively with the highest quality Merino wool will be on show in NYC."

Food and wine of course are part of the mix.

Highlight is dinner at Craft co-hosted by Tom Colichio and Australian chef Neil Perry who created meal with best meat, seafood and wines from Australia.

Most of the program is for trade and media.

General public can attend Around Australia in 80 Sips organized by Bottlenotes.

Other Around Australia in 80 Sips events will take place at stops in Chicago (January 26) and Los Angeles (January 12)

Warm up session was in Dallas (January 10). Australia Week 2012 really opens in San Francisco on January 11 followed by by Los Angeles where I would pick 'Nature and Adventure Forum' and 'Digital Down Under'.

Check the Full Calendar as programs on occasion take place only in some cities.

Amongst what organizers call Satellite Events are Australia Day Dinner in Boston (January 24) and Mudfest Film Festival featuring Short Film Program at Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles (January 17).

The tour concludes with BBQ, Cricket and Netball in Houston on January 29.

Dumpster Diving Gift Idea, Dive! Living Off America's Waste, The DVD and Eat Trash Campaign

Time's been scarce to jot down ideas for today's Green Day.

Thankfully a fully formed topic landed in my Inbox.

As our buying frenzy gets into high gear with each holiday, what could be a better antidote than the subject of Dumpster Diving, rescuing food leftovers.

Let's be honest, many people do it out of necessity rather than choice.

A man on a mission, Jeremy Seifert documents the trend in Dive! The Film- Living Off America's Waste.

The film site also promotes the Eat Trash Campaign to End Food Waste.

Will it be part of the conversation at the dinner table on Christmas or New Year's Eve 2011?

Dumpster Diving for Green Day # 205

Previously: Are DIY Gifts the Best Way to Give Green This Holiday 2011?

Boiled Peanuts are Stars of Hot Wet Goobers, Short Film in Honor of Hardy Farms

When I hear the word peanuts, I think of Dizzy Gillespie and his tune Salt Peanuts...

No jazz talk today with short film 'Hot Wet Goobers' starring Boiled Peanuts.

This Southern Foodways Alliance film was directed by Joe York.

It is dedicated to Hardy Farms of Hawkinsville, Georgia.

Thanks to Lee Bros for putting these peanuts on my plate.

Tokyo Drifter by Tetsui Matsue Premieres at TIFF Tokyo International Film Festival 2011

The 24th Edition of TIFF or Tokyo International Film Festival concludes on October 30.

The Japanese selections include Tokyo Drifter directed by Tetsuaki Matsue (not the 1966 classic) described as follows in program:

"In May 2011, the director of Live Tape (2009 Japanese Eyes winner) shot his latest work on the neon-less streets of post-quake Tokyo. Musician Maeno sings and yells as he wanders on a rainswept night."

Tokyo Drifter has its World Premiere at TIFF Festival with second screening on October 29 at 5 PM at Cinemart Roppongi.

Life couched on the screen for Tokyo Thursdays # 210

Previously:

4 Decades of Photography Covered in An Evening with Daido Moriyama, Japan Society, NY, November 3

(* Trailer for Tokyo Drifter from TIFF Festival's program pages)

 

Take Nothing for Granted, Duffy, Photographer, Gets Book Retrospective

Like many music fans, I knew Duffy's work through the covers he shot for Lodger and Aladdin Sane by David Bowie.

I did not know until Idea Generation Gallery announced their Duffy Exhibit that Duffy was the man behind these classic covers.

I mentioned the London exhibit in Jane Birkin 1965 Pas de Deux and a few days later found out about Duffy (Antique Collector's Club, 2011) the book put together by his son Chris Duffy after his father passed away in 2010.

David Bailey, Terence Donovan and Duffy were dubbed 'The Terrible Trio' by the Sunday Times and 'The Black Trinity' by Norman Parkinson.

They captured the changing moods of the 60's and brought a touch of provocation and fresh blood to British photography.

Path that led to Duffy's 20 intense years in photography was not straighforward.

In 'on getting started' he writes that after having a rough and tumble youth during and after 2nd world war, his creation of a Christmas Card led a teacher to recommend Duffy attends art school.

He went to St Martins School of Art in 1950 to study painting and soon realized that his talent in that field paled in comparison to fellow students Frank Auerbach and Len Deighton.

He moved to fashion department and showed skills at fashion drawing which was his first line of work.

How did this lead to photo shoots. Duffy explains: "I was doing fashion drawings for Harper's Bazaar and I was in the office of the Art Director, a womaon called Gill Varney, and I saw sheets of contact photographs that all looked alike to me, I asked Gill why the photos were all the same, and she explained they were all different. I thought "Gawd this looks dead easy compared to the drawing lark, I'll give this a whiz. Take up photography as an easy way to make money. Just my sort of thing women, gadgets, clothes, I must have a go at it."

Duffy, the book is rich in portraits from Alan Freeman (1964) to Patick Mcnee and Pagan Griggs (1961), prime minister Harold Wilson (1966), William Burroughs (1960, 1974), Arthur C. Clarke in Ceylon (1973), Michael Caine (1964) and I could go on (most in black and white). I chose Reggie Kray and grandfather (1964) to illustrate that category.

Advertising was another facet including his contribution to Pirelli calendar.

I picked his 'Alphasud Car' (Henley on Thames, 1974) for the cars and girls department.

As far as music is concerned, besides record covers, the book includes various stars from Black Sabbath (73) to Shadows (61) and Sandy Shaw (65)

During Duffy's 20 intense years spent snapping pictures (late 50's to late 70's), fashion photography was a big part of his work for magazines like French Elle, Queen, Town, Biba, Vogue.

The classy cover of the book (below) was shot for Queen magazine in 1965.

Not sure if the line 'anarchists make better photographers than they do hairdressers' in the book' is Duffy's or by his son.

There is a mischevious quality to his explanation of the Bowie pics.

"I met this pocket genius called Tony DeFries. David Bowie was a client of his, and Tony asked me if I would like to take some pictures of him. He had a scam going, and realized that in order to get the record company to really pay attention, to get them really going, you had to get them up to their neck in debt, which was of course a masterstroke. Couldn't have come to a better con artist than my good self! He set out to make the most expensive record cover he could possibly get RCA to pay for. If it cost them 50 quid-so what? If it cost them five thousand pounds, now they had to sit up and pay attention."

On a softer note, some of his 60's images like white model with mixed race West Indian cricket team for Town magazine fashion shoot in 1963 and portrait of Sammy Davis Jr hugging May Britt in 1960 must have been ahead of their time.

I will let you discover the rest of Duffy's adventures in photography all by yourself.

(* Quotes from liner notes of 'Duffy' published by ACC Editions in 2011, photos used by permission of the publisher, all rights reserved)

Day of Hope with Films from Pixar's La Luna to Dai Sato's Five Numbers, September 11, Japan Society, NY

On September 11, 2011, the Japan Society in New York marks both the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the U.S and the 6 month anniversary of March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake with a day of hope with films.

The Japan Society is presenting a "one-day festival of animated shorts on September 11, curated by Blue Sky Studios' Justin Leach, highlights include appearances by director Enrico Casarosa presenting Pixar's La Luna and Dai Sato with his latest, Five Numbers! (Norageki!). The day will feature two family-friendly programs followed by two screenings recommended for age thirteen and up, with individual screening tickets and one-day passes available. 50% of all proceedings will go to Japan Society’s Earthquake Relief Fund—all of the films are donated in support of the project."

This will be La Luna NY Premiere and Five Numbers U.S Premiere. 

If you like a rapid fire succession of films, Sector Animauteurs with 18 shorts in 75 minutes (4 to 5:15 PM), is for you.

A few of the 18 bites are food related ones, Caffeine by Danae Diaz and Patricia Luna, Key Lime Pie by Trevor Jimenez and the intriguingly titled Kung Fu Cooking Girls by Jin-Roh.  

Details on Curator from Program Notes:

"Films for Hope is curated by Justin Leach, a 12 year veteran of the animation industry who has worked in on such films as: Bunny, Ice Age, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, The Last Exile, Ghost in the Shell 2.0, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ice Age 3:Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Rio, Ice Age 4: Continental Drift (in production), and The Legend of the Leafmen (In production). Justin spent about three years in Japan, working as a CG Creator at Production I.G."

Screenings will run from 1 to 7 PM.

Tickets for each program
$10/$7 Japan Society members, students & seniors

One-day pass
$34/$24 Japan Society members, students & seniors
(Offer available only at Japan Society Box Office or by telephone at (212) 715-1258)

Check Program Page for full line-up of films and showtimes.

Celebrating human spirit for Tokyo Thursdays # 205

Previously: Cidre Japonais, Japanese Cider from Tateshina in Nagano Prefecture

(* Illustration is image from In a Pig’s Eye © 2010 Atsushi Wada / Tokyo University of the Arts, part of Sector Animauteurs segment of festival)

Some Girls Wanna Make Beer, Love of Beer Documentary Premiere, PDX Beer Fest, August 20

Some brewers are not burly guys with beards and overalls.

Women are staking their claim in the micro-breweries field as well

Alison Grayson trails them in The Love of Beer a, documentary on women in the craft beer industry, which will have its World Premiere on August 20 during PDX Beer Week in Portland (Oregon).

"More than two years in the making, the film examines why women, a small segment of the craft beer industry, do what they do from their everyday lives to their struggles in work. It’s not for feminism or equality, it’s for The Love of Beer.

Thanks to Lisa Morrison aka Beer Goddess, author of Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest (Timber Press, 2011) for letting me know about this premiere.

Stories of Heretics in Italy of Warehouses, Langhe Doc Film by Paolo Casalis

A portrait of the changing Italian food (and wine) landscape, documentary Langhe Doc by Paolo Casalis makes its case through the voices of traditionalists and misfits.

In traditionalists corner, Maria Teresa Mascarello (and her father Bartolo Mascarello who died in 2005) who continues to produce wine in the Cellar of Barolo, "As my father did, and my grandfather"...

The misfits: Mauro Musso whoworked in a big supermarket, until he unexpectedly dismissed.
"First as a joke and for a few friends, then always more seriously, Mauro has begun to make homemade “tajarin”, the traditional pasta of Langhe. Today his “House of Tajarin” of which he is the owner and sole employee, produces several types of pasta, containing ingredients of the highest possible quality."

Synopsis of the movie is:

"Three characters, three stories of "heretics", three food producers who think in a different way to describe the transformation of our Country in what in “Langhe Doc” Giorgio Bocca calls the Italy of warehouses.
We're in Langhe, a unique territory, universally recognized as one of the most beautiful places in Italy, fresh candidate for Unesco World Heritage
but afflicted by uncontrolled economic development, urbanization, overbuilding, abandonment of the less profitable areas.
Those of Maria Theresa, Silvio and Mauro are stories of people who have seen a future they did not like and have refused it. Their challenges are still open, they’re not yet fully met and perhaps they never will: they move in one direction, the world moves in another one, quite the opposite."

Documentary is available on DVD.