SIFF SIFF 2007: Wednesday Highlights
posted by on June 6 at 12:19 PM
We’re officially halfway there—only twelve days (4 to 6 movies per) left to go! The Stranger’s recommendations for every damn slot in the festival continue below and at www.thestranger.com/siff.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 6
Skip the early afternoon matinee—the awkward Almost Adult—and eat something.
Egyptian, 4:15 pm. Your last chance to see the nutso Dasepo Naughty Girls.
Early evening. This is one tough choice, with a lot of seemingly ordinary movies that break the rules. Do you see the delicate and absorbing Israeli film Sweet Mud (Neptune at 7 pm), about coming of age in the ’70s on a suffocating kibbutz?
… or the excellent sports movie White Palms (Pacific Place at 7:15 pm), which addresses the pervasive influence of coaches from former Communist countries on Western gymnastics clubs today?
Then there’s Tugboat Annie (SIFF Cinema at 7 pm), the only showing of the MGM blockbuster from 1933 that was shot on location in Seattle (including extensive footage of the Pike Place Market back in the day). Decisions, decisions.
Late evening. For urbanites: Agua (Pacific Place at 9:30 pm), another sports movie, this time about a doping scandal in swimming. For those who sleep on the Eastside: Northern Light, a simple but beautiful film set in Amsterdam. Charles loved it.
Has anyone else noticed the enormous amount of projection problems at the festival this year? I've counted nearly ten for the screenings I've been to. What's wrong with the picture?
I'd say Tugboat Annie.
I think the projection issue has to do with the fact that they run so many films in such a short time, and it's pushing them a bit far.
There are definitely projection problems this year, at the Egyptian especially. Inexcusable stuff, whether the projectionists are dealing with a high volume or no. I honestly think projectionists have been spoiled by new technology—from platters to digital—and they'll continue to get worse every year until consumers make a fuss.
True, the Egyptian has been the main culprit, but also my favorite theater. Admittedly, some of that has to do with someone AT that theater, but ...
I think it begs the question though, can the festival continue to grow if these kinds of problems consistantly also grow? It seems like its more than just volume. I've experienced problems at Pacific Place, The Harvard Exit and The Egyptian. Is it worth seeing so many great films, if the quality of the projection isn't also great? I mean, I expect to see the end of the film without waiting 45 minutes for the technical glitch to be fixed. I also would hope that during the reel changes, the screen didn't go black everytime. Don't you agree!
I've seen a film burn three times now (all at the Pacific Place, all just before the end of a reel), and can't recall that happening at SIFF since 1982! I was blaming it on the venue, but I'm sorry to hear that there are problems all over. I've been lucky enough not to encounter it elsewhere.
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