Currently in Theaters: The San Francisco International Film Festival
The 56th annual San Francisco International Film Festival is currently on in the Bay Area. Per usual, there are way too many amazing films, and I regretfully have only seen a few. But this is the story of my life: too many fun things and too little time. I was on vacation the opening weekend of the festival, and then returned home only to be under the weather. On Sunday I tried to make up for lost time by seeing two films.
First up was Rick Prelinger's documentary No More Road Trips? at the Castro Theatre. The work in progress is a documentary that explores the very American tradition of cross country road trips. Prelinger uses vintage home movies filmed by people traveling by car between the 1930's and 1960's to explore the idea that cross county road trips are becoming a thing of the past due to high energy prices and greater access to more expediant air travel. My favorite part of the screening was that the film is silent and the audience is encouraged to shout out questions to Prelinger or make comments to their neighbors. Full disclosure: The guys behind me took this a bit too literally and talked loudly throughout the entire film. Prelinger is continuing to work on No More Road Trips? so there will be future screenings.
I then drove back across the bay to Berkeley to see Big Sur at the Pacific Film Archive. The film is an adaptation of Jack Kerouac novel of the same name. I have a soft spot for anything involving Big Sur, so I was prepared to like the film simply based on subject and filming location. The experience of seeing the film on the big screen in a relatively small theater was very intense. I can't quite articulate the experience, but I felt affected by every moment of the film. When I left the theater I felt like something very significant had happened to me. Big Sur is not perfect; Director Michael Polish could have gone in a different (i.e., better) direction in a number of scenes that were too literal for such an introspective work. And yet, I believe it was one of the most engaging films I've seen in recent memory.
Tonight I will continue to my tradition of seeing every production of a vintage silent film screened with a contemporary live score when I see Waxworks at the Castro Theatre.
I plan to spend tomorrow and Thursday evenings at the festival. It will be a hard decision to choose which films I'll see, but I seem to be on the money with my choices so far. On Thursday evening, I will definitely be at the closing film, Before Midnight, as I am a huge fan of the first two films (Before Sunrise and Before Sunset) in this trilogy. If you're local, here are my picks for the remainder of the festival:
- A Conversation with Richard Linklater at 6 p.m. on Wednesday 5/8 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
- After Tiller at 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday 5/8 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
- Before You Know It at 5 p.m. on Thursday 5/9 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
- Fatal Assistance at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday 5/7 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday 5/8 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
- Habi, the Foreigner at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday 5/9 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
- Il Futuro at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday 5/8 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and at 8:50 p.m. on Thursday 5/9 at Pacific Film Archive
- Inori at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday 5/7 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday 5/8 at Pacific Film Archive
- The Kill Team at 6 p.m. on Tuesday 5/7 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and at 6 p.m. on Thursday 5/9 at New People Cinema
- The Cleaner at 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday 5/7 at Pacific Film Archive and at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday 5/9 at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas









I have been thinking a lot about the film, and what a good long life really means. Yesterday a close friend called me from upstate New York asking if I could pick her up from the airport and drive her to Santa Cruz. Her 92 year old grandma had been rushed to ICU and they weren’t sure how long she had to live. My friend booked a last minute flight to make the cross-country trip to see her grandma, maybe for the last time. The end of a loved one’s life, even someone in their nineties, is very difficult for the people left behind. And no one wants anyone to suffer. I feel as if the body’s natural instinct is to keep fighting to live, and at some point that just isn’t possible. But no, I would not want to live for 500 years. It just seems too exhausting! I agree with the idea that knowing that life does end motivates you to make things happen. I will be turning 30 in the fall, and a few months ago I had a moment of panic and thought “I have six months to get my life together. Six months.” As if turning 30 was some sort of an ending point, as opposed to a new beginning. The reality that we don’t have forever helps, me at least, set goals, make priorities, and try to make the most of each day.
Posted by JessicaMosby | July 12, 2011 2:13 AM
Again, thank you for your comment.
I would just to clarify a few points: 1. I have been to a number of other film festivals. 2. I would never review a film that I walked out of; however, one should never spoil the ending of a film in their review. 3. At Sundance, as with the other festivals I’ve attended, you only have to arrive at Press and Industry screenings 5 to 10 minutes before the screening begins to check-in and take your seat. 4. At Sundance, all of the Press and Industry screenings are at the Yarrow and Holiday (at most a two minute walk between venues), and there are generally three films screening simultaneously. So, it is possible to leave a film only to walk for two minutes to another screening.
And I think everyone is against using cell phones during screenings, in addition to talking and arriving late.
I appreciate your comments, but I feel that you have misconstrued my post and comment. I love films (hence I saw 21 films at this year’s Sundance film festival). But I don’t think that walking out of a film is the worst thing in the world.
Posted by JessicaMosby | January 26, 2009 2:00 PM
I must, very respectfully, disagree with your comment. I think it is completely fine to walk out of a film if you’re not enjoying it, especially at film festivals where you can then see another (hopefully better) film. I don’t think that leaving a film represents a “selfishness and ‘screw you, me first’ attitude.” Every film is not going to be universally liked by everyone.
Also, I was specifically referring to Press and Industry screening (for the record, at almost every Press and Industry I attended at least a few people walked out), which never have a post-screening Q&A with the cast and director. I personally think it would be very rude to ask a director during the Q&A why their film was terrible.
I have a great love and respect for everyone involved with film festivals, particularly Sundance. The best thing that someone can do during (and after) attending a film festival is to tell people about the amazing art they watched – and that doesn’t happen if you force yourself to suffer through films you don’t like.
Posted by JessicaMosby | January 24, 2009 10:34 PM
A week after our historic presidential election, PBS (as part of Frontline) will be broadcasting Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.
Posted by JessicaMosby | November 11, 2008 2:22 PM
If you would like more information about the film and the filmmaker, here is a great interview with Joanna Rudnick on Talk of the Nation. Please note, the interview does include a few spoilers.
Posted by JessicaMosby | October 6, 2008 5:15 AM
I am happy to report that Up the Yangtze will be on PBS as part of the POV series on October 8.
I was happy to hear that people who saw the film were so moved that they want to help Cindy Yu Shui's family. If you're interested in helping, you can give her family money through this website.
Posted by JessicaMosby | July 27, 2008 9:16 PM
I really enjoyed reading this article! Your analysis of different international recruiting and training styles is very interesting, especially considering the upcoming summer Olympics!
Posted by JessicaMosby | May 13, 2008 11:09 AM
This is such an inspiring story! Thank you!
Posted by JessicaMosby | May 9, 2008 4:12 PM
This is such an important article, especially in an election year when everyone and anyone goes on the record touting their health care solutions!
I'm wondering how your vision is now? Will you have to undergo more surgeries in the future?
Posted by JessicaMosby | April 8, 2008 6:22 PM
The Grannies are indeed inspiring ladies! Thank you for this post!
Posted by JessicaMosby | March 19, 2008 9:46 PM