The Producer’s Committee Film Picks for June 2009

Theatrical; Opening at the Grand Theater May 29, 2009

GOODBYE  SOLO (2008) 
Written and Directed by Ramin Bahrani @ 91 minutes.
Starring Souleymane Sy Savane, Red West, Diana Franco Galindo, and Mamadou Lam. Synopsis: Solo is an immigrant, a Senegalese cab driver, whose American dreams are still in their infancy. William is an old redneck whose life is rife with regrets. Somehow they forge an unlikely, unique friendship and spiritual bond that illustrates just how the true face of our America is changing. Roger Ebert gave it four stars, and wrote, “Bahrani is the new great American director. He never steps wrong. Wherever you live, when this film opens, it will be the best film in town.”

DVD Choices

THE VISITOR (2007) 
Directed by Thomas McCarthy @ 104 minutes.
Starring Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleimn, Danai Jekesai Gurir, and Hiam Abbass. Synopsis: A recently widowed lonely and bitter college professor keeps an apartment in NYC that he has not been to for a time. Traveling there he is suddenly confronted with a Syrian musician and his Senegalese girlfriend living in it; apparently victims of a real estate scam. He decides to share the apartment with them and an unlikely friendship develops. This is a story torn from today’s events, wonderfully heartfelt–a tale of growth, change, and renewal. Tagline: Connection is everything.

KING OF MASKS, aka BIAN LIAN (1996)
Directed by Wu Tian-Ming @ 91 minutes.
Starring Yu Zhu, Zhou Ren-Ying, Zhigang Zhang, and Zhigang Zhao.
Synopsis: An aging street performer in 1930’s China, is called the “King of Masks”, because of his mastery of the silk masked Sichuan Change Art. Sadly, he has no male descendant to pass this dying art to. One day he is sold an orphaned young boy, and he joyously embarks on the child’s apprenticeship. Things progress well until a secret the child has is revealed and their life becomes much more complicated–based on a true story. Roger Ebert wrote, “This is a new Chinese film of simplicity, beauty, and surprising emotional power.” It was a film pick by TFC member Mohsen Mirghanbari.

GOODBYE SOLO is slated to open at the Grand Theater Friday, May 22nd or May 29th.

THE VISITOR will screen @ CSL Friday, June 5, 2009.

KING OF MASKS will screen @ CSL Friday, June 12, 2009.