Reality international: A world of finely crafted documentaries awaits festival-goers
• Hawaii International Film Festival
• HIFF 'Ohana memberships
• Golden Maile nominees
• Jurors at this year's festival
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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| "Magnifico," which makes its U.S. debut at the Hawai'i festival, is about a Filipino boy as he grows up amid family and friends.
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| "Goodbye Dragon Inn," set in Taipei, Taiwan, is minimalist in story line but eloquently examines the concept of going to the movies.
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Lots, actually. The Hawaii International Film Festival, which opened last night and continues through Nov. 9, boasts a number of fascinating and relevant documentaries.
Sure, the big cards will be feature films. But reality-based products provide enlightenment and entertainment, often with poignant impact.
We previewed a handful of documentaries and recommend most.
"Anonymously Yours" (United States).
- Directed by Gayle Ferraro.
- Burmese with English subtitles.
- At 3:30 p.m. today, Doris Duke Theatre.
It's a provocative theme: Four Southeast Asian women are exploited as youths to work as prostitutes — essentially a way of life and a means of survival amid daunting odds. Tragically, the girls are sold as sex objects by close family friends or family members as a means of making money.
With wrenching honestly, the women — one sold as a slave at age 10 — share intimate details of gang rapes, living in squalor, and working behind family establishments ... to provide a service condoned by society and questioned by Westerners.
The despair is real and the images unsettling, but the film loses punch with its predictable, repetitive style of formulaic interviews juxtaposed with images of street life.
"Go Further" (Canada).
- Directed by Ron Mann.
- In English.
- At 3:30 p.m. today, 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Signature Dole.
Woody Harrelson shows up in this quirky, slightly goofy film that takes a show on the road, a 1,300imile trek by bus along the Pacific Coast Highway.
An off-camera activist, Harrelson here is peddling SOL (Simple Organic Living), using the motorized Mothership as the launching pad to bring a message of environmental responsibility and awareness to the masses, from Washington state to California.
Oh, what fun!
Along the way, you meet glimpses of a yoga guru, a chef who prefers raw food, a milk lover who is told — true or untrue — that you get blood and pus with that white stuff (it becomes a running gag).
The picaresque tale taps plain folks along the way: students, fellow activists, farmers, even druggies. And notables, like the late Ken Kesey, the celebrated author; Anthony Kiedis, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; and Natalie Merchant, the pop singer.
"Los Zafiros (The Sapphires) — Music From the Edge of Time" (United States).
- Directed by Lorenzo DeStefano.
- Spanish with English subtitles.
- At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, 6 p.m. Nov. 7, Doris Duke Theatre.
Los Zafiros were known as Cuba's Beatles, though they come off more like the Four Aces in harmony and in style. Before Menudo and Gloria Estefan, this ensemble was wowing audiences with its Spanish melodies.
Thus, this is a fond, fun examination of a popular phenom, mixing vintage footage of live performances with reactions from fans and peers. Each band member has a different take on the appeal and complexity of Cuban and Spanish sounds.
Like the earlier "Buena Vista Social Club," this film uses music as a metaphor of life and depicts its indelible and lasting imprint on society and culture.
"Be Good, Smile Pretty" (U.S.).
- Directed by Tracy Droz Tragos.
- In English.
- At 3 p.m. Sunday, 3 p.m. Wednesday, Signature Dole.
Yet another tale of personal pain and discovery, about a woman's quest to find out a little about the father she never knew. Lt. Donald Glenn Droz, a commander of a Navy patrol boat, was killed in a rocket attack while on a routine patrol in the waterways of the Mekong Delta in 1969.
He met his baby just once, when he was on R&B in Hawai'i, and remarkably, Tragos was able to find footage of this encounter.
The need for closure propels Tragos into a mission that embraces her father's family, his GI buddies and a trek to the Vietnam War memorial.
The bravura effort, of interviewing survivors with razor-sharp memories, yields beaucoup tears and an surge of emotions that blends sadness, rage, hope and love.
"Is the Crown at War With Us?" (Canada).
- Directed by Alanis Obomsawin.
- Mi'gmaq with English subtitles.
- At 6 p.m. Monday, Doris Duke.
This is a wrenching glimpse at how government tries to solve one problem and creates two in the process. At issue: the rights to fishing (the game is lobster here).
On one side, the population of the Mi'gmaq tribe, fighting for fishing rights to sustain a livelihood, a privilege sanctioned by law.
On the other, nonnative commercial fishermen, who confront, harass and fire upon the Mi'gmaq.
For Hawai'i viewers, the parallels of government intervention and native rights will have a familiar ring. The film handily depicts distrust of bureaucracy and raises issues about justice and access.
"Burning Dreams" (Taiwan).
- Directed by Wayne Peng.
- In Mandarin with English subtitles.
- At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 4 p.m. Nov. 7, Signature Dole.
Liang Yi is a near-70, selfitaught dance teacher who expects his students to achieve the dreams he couldn't: to be like Gene Kelly.
At the Shanghai Dreams 52 School, Yi toils and torments, inspiring aspirants such as Yang Yang, a young woman who wants stardom, and Li Chuan, a man who challenges rigidity and authority.
Shot in black and white, "Dreams" is a portrait of an unorthodox slice of Shanghai life; the school defies tradition and instructs students in hip-hop, jazz and tap dance, not taught anywhere else. There's sense of time warp, since Liang Yi uses choreographic styles and methodology that seems dated, with swing music dominating. What comes through is passion.
"Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity" (Canada).
- Directed by Mina Shum.
- In Cantonese and English with subtitles.
- At 7 p.m. Thursday, Signature Dole; 1:30 p.m. Nov. 9, Doris Duke.
How does luck and spirituality play in one's life?
This Canadian-Chinese endeavor charmingly showcases relationships underscored with hope and belief. It deals with a working single mother (Sandra Oh) struggling to maintain a decent life for her 12-year-old daughter (Valerie Tian).
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
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Hawaii International Film Festival
- Through Nov. 9
- Screening sites: Signature Dole Cannery Theatres, Hawai'i Theatre, The Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Queen's Surf Beach (Sunset on the Beach).
- Information: HIFF box office at Signature Dole Cannery, 528-4433; Hawai'i Theatre, 528-0506; Doris Duke, 532-8768.
- Ticket sales: At sites, on day of screenings; in advance at HIFF box office at Signature Dole Cannery; via fax at 521-5425; online at www.hiff.org.
- Ticket prices: $8 adults, $7 children; free for HIFF 'Ohana members (additional tickets, $6); $7 military, students, seniors with ID; $10 for opening-night benefit screening Thursday.
- Where to get the program guide: Blockbuster Video stores, HIFF box office at Signature Dole Cannery, screening sites such as the Hawai'i Theatre and The Doris Duke Theatre, and Starbucks locations; also online at www.hiff.org.
- Neighbor Islands: Nov. 4, 7-9, depending on the island
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- Students: $35 — six tickets now, one ticket to spring film festival.
- Individual: $50 — six tickets now, one ticket to spring festival.
- Premium: $100 — 12 tickets now, two tickets to spring festival.
- Bronze: $250 — one O'ahu Flash Pass (admits one) or 20 tickets now, with priority admittance at screenings; four tickets to spring festival, invitation to reception with filmmakers.
- Silver: $500 — two O'ahu Flash Passes (each pass admits one) or 40 tickets now, with priority admittance; six tickets to spring festival; invitation to reception with filmmakers.
- Gold: $1,000 — two statewide Flash Passes (each admits one) or 60 tickets now, with priority admittance; eight tickets to spring festival, two O'ahu Flash Passes for spring festival; invitations to HIFF receptions.
- General information: Phone 528-3456.
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For Best Feature:
- "Don't Cry" (U.S. premiere): A film by Amir Karakulov. Nonactors improvise their way in a riveting, honest documentary focusing on life in Sat Jol village, with generational implications tapping an opera singer, her grandmother, and a 7-year-old. In Kazakh, with English subtitles. 7 p.m. Monday and 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Signature Dole.
- "Goodbye Dragon Inn" (Hawai'i premiere): A film by Tsai Ming-Liang. Minimal in story line but eloquent in delivery, where the experience of movie-going is beautifully rendered; set in Taipei, as lonely souls watch King Hu's film "Dragon Inn," with elements of ghostly splendor. In Mandarin, with English subtitles. 6:45 p.m. Tuesday and 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Signature Dole.
- "Magnifico" (U.S. premiere): A film by Maryo J. Delos Reyes. About Ikoy, a Filipino lad, at the time of his birth and during his childhood, and the role of family and friends in this cultural sliver. In Tagalog, with English subtitles. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Signature Dole, 8:15 p.m. Nov. 7 at Doris Duke Theatre.
- "The Twilight Samurai" (Hawai'i premiere): A film by Yoji Yamada. A samurai saga, set just before the the Meiji Restoration, about a low-ranking swordsman who works as an office clerk and struggles to support his two young daughters and senile mother. In Japanese, with English subtitles. 7 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 8, Signature Dole.
- "Blind Shaft" (Hawai'i premiere): A film by Li Yang, winner of the Silver Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival. A tale of the Chinese coal miners who risk life and limb for menial wages at the hands of corrupt mine owners; a political and social commentary. In Mandarin, with English subtitles. 10 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday, Signature Dole.
For Best Documentary:
- "Burning Dreams" (U.S. premiere): See above. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and 4 p.m. Nov. 7, Signature Dole.
- "Dream Cuisine" (Hawai'i premiere): A film by Li Ying. About Sato Hatsue, one of the last chefs of the Shandong cuisine lost in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and her quest to re-establish the ways of preparing Shandong food among young chefs; ultimately, food is a metaphor about the place of tradition amid the reality of aging. In Chinese and Japanese, with English subtitles. 6:45 p.m. Monday and 12:45 p.m. Nov. 8, Signature Dole.
- "Is the Crown at War With Us?" (Hawai'i premiere): See story on Page 31 and above. 6 p.m. Monday and 3:30 p.m. Nov. 8, Signature Dole.
- "Refugee" (Hawai'i premiere): A film by Spencer Nakasato. Three buddies embark on a visit to Cambodia to see the sights, have fun and reunite with the father and younger brother of one; it's a homecoming of mixed emotions. In English. 6:45 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. Tuesday and 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Signature Dole.
- "Be Good, Smile Pretty" (Hawai'i premiere): See above. 3 p.m. Sunday and 3 p.m. Wednesday, Signature Dole.
Awards
- The First Hawaiian Bank Golden Maile Award: To the film that best promotes cultural understanding, reflects unique artistry and technical excellence.
- The Blockbuster Video Audience Award: To the feature film, documentary and short film, based on viewer choices.
- The Cades Schutte and Cades Foundation Hawai'i Film & Videomaker Award: To local filmmakers whose works reflect a passion for movie-making.
- The Film in Hawai'i Award: Presented by the state to the film or television entity that has significantly contributed to promoting the local film industry. This year's recipient will be James MacArthur, former co-star of "Hawaii Five-O."
- The Kodak Vision Award for Cinematography: To the cinematographer whose works exemplify outstanding performance and aptitude in his craft. This year's recipient is Dean Semler, whose credits include "Bruce Almighty."
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Jurors at this year's festival
Roger Garcia: Former director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, associated with numerous other film festivals, has edited books on films, and producer of a host of films; recently completed a "Chinese Box" film project with director Wayne Wang.
Lalitha Gopalan: Teaches film studies at Georgetown University, where she is an associate professor in the School of Foreign Service and Department of English; writes on South Asian films; now involved in a project exploring the shape of landscapes in popular and alternative cinemas of India.
Kirk Honeycutt: Chief film critic for the Hollywood Reporter; has written about films for New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Cosmopolitan, Christian Science Monitor, and American Film; his "Final Judgment" screenplay was made into a film in 1992.
Merata Mita: A respected indigenous activist, actress, feminist, filmmaker and teacher, involved in film and video for more than 20 years; she is of the Ngati Pikiao tribe from the Bay of Plenty and is recognized as a significant filmmaker in the history of film in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and in the field of post-colonial studies.
Mark Rydell: A veteran Hollywood director, who has been nominated 26 times for an Academy Award and 31 Golden Globe nominations; best known for his "On Golden Pond" achievement (which won Oscars for actors Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn) and Best Picture laurels; other popular works include "The Reivers," "Harry and Walter Go to New York," "The River," "For the Boys" and "The Rose."
Barry Sabath, alternate juror: A senior lecturer at the American Film Institute Conservatory, where he supervises the mentor program for graduating directors and producers, and also oversees thesis film productions; active in other AFI endeavors.
