Cinetopia International Film Festival: Michigan Theater.
May 31-June 3. This first annual Michigan Theater film festival features more than 30 films screened over 4 days at 3 venues (Michigan Theater, State Theater, and Angell Hall). The films include narrative feature-length films and documentaries that recently premiered at international festivals such as Sundance and Berlin. Also, 3-D, classic, and silent films.
May 31:
“Hello I Must Be Going” (Todd Louiso, 2011). A 35-year-old divorcee moves back in with her parents and falls for a bold teenager. Michigan Theater, 8 p.m. Preceded at 6 p.m. by an “Opening Night Party” ($75; members, $60) with food and an interactive display of information about the festival’s various films.
June 1:
At the Michigan Theater: “Jig” (Sue Bourne, 2011). Documentary about hyper-competitive Irish dance. 2 p.m. “The Ambassador” (Mads Brügger, 2011). Filmmaker Brügger pretends to be a diplomat and schemes to gain access to African diamond reserves in this documentary about corruption, power, and exploitation. Danish, English, & French; subtitles. 4:30 p.m. “The Freshman” (Harold Lloyd, 1925) stars Lloyd in his masterpiece, a silent comedy, at once hilarious and touchingly pathetic, about a college student desperate to be the most popular man on campus. With accompaniment by organist Stephen Warner. 7 p.m. “Louder Than Love” (Tony D’Annunzio, 2011). Documentary about the Detroit Grande Ballroom where many great rock bands got their starts. With footage of Iggy & the Stooges, Alice Cooper, the Frost, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Rod Stewart, and others. 9:30 p.m. “The Stewardesses” (Allan Silliphant, 1969). Skin flick about a crew of lustful mod stewardesses. The most profitable 3-D film in history. 11:59 p.m.
At the State Theater: “Elena” (Andrei Zvyagintsev, 2011). Domestic thriller about a former nurse who has to choose between her husband and her adult children. Russian, subtitles. 2 p.m. “Bran Nue Dae” (Rachel Perkins, 2009). Australian musical about a young man who rebels against his Catholic boarding school and heads for his homeland 1,500 miles away. Stars Geoffrey Rush. 4:30 p.m. “Your Sister’s Sister” (Lynn Shelton, 2011). Iris invites her friend Jack to stay at her famly’s island getaway after the death of his brother. Jack’s drunken encounter with Iris’s sister kicks off a revealing stretch of days. Stars Emily Blunt. 7 p.m. “Bonnie and Clyde” (Arthur Penn, 1967). Iconic crime film starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty as Depression-era gangsters. 9:30 p.m. “Juan of the Dead” (Alejandro Brugués, 2011). Cuban zombie comedy. Spanish, subtitles. 11:59 p.m.
At Angell Hall: “Bestiaire” (Denis Côté, 2012). Impressionistic documentary about the mutual regard between humans and animals. 5 p.m. “Headhunters” (Morten Tyldum, 2011). Thriller about a corporate recruiter who supports his wife’s expensive habits by stealing art. Norwegian & Danish, subtitles. 8 p.m.
June 2:
At the Michigan Theater: “Hugo” (Martin Scorsese, 2011). 3-D Oscar-winning tale of a 1930s Paris orphan who lives at a train station. Stars Ben Kingsley & Sacha Baron Cohen. Tickets $5. 11 a.m. “Short Films, Long on Laughs.” Several Harold Lloyd short silent films, including Bumping into Broadway (1919), Billy Blazes, Esq. (1919), Number, Please? (1920), Ask Father (1919), and High and Dizzy (1919). With live organ accompaniment. 2 p.m. “The Lie” (Joshua Leonard, 2011). Drama about a young dad who tells a really big lie to get out of work. 4:30 p.m. “The Queen of Versailles” (Lauren Greenfield, 2012). Documentary about a billionaire couple who live in a 90,000-square-foot mansion inspired by Versailles. 7 p.m. “I Am Not a Hipster” (Destin Cretton, 2012). Drama about a singer-songwriter who’s uncomfortable with the indie scene he’s a part of in San Diego. 9:30 p.m. “Bullhead” (Michael Roskam, 2011). Oscar-nominated dark crime film about a cattle farmer who’s approached by a vet to make a deal with a notorious beef trader. Dutch & French, subtitles. 11:59 p.m.
At the State Theater: “Superman” (Richard Donner, 1978). The first and (many believe) the best of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies. 11:30 a.m. “Missed Connections” (Eric Kissack, 2012). Rom com about a guy who gets over a traumatic breakup by setting up blind dates with women on Craigslist and then “rescuing” the women when their date doesn’t show. 2:30 p.m. “28 Hotel Rooms” (Matt Ross, 2012). Drama about a one-night stand between a novelist and an accountant. 5 p.m. “Teddy Bear” (Mads Matthiesen, 2012). Drama about a 38-year-old body builder who wants to find true love. Danish, Thai, & English; subtitles. 7:15 p.m. “The Ambassador” (Mads Brügger, 2011). Filmmaker Brügger pretends to be a diplomat and schemes to gain access to African diamond reserves in this documentary about corruption, power, and exploitation. Danish, English, & French; subtitles. 9:30 p.m. “Beyond the Black Rainbow” (Panos Cosmatos, 2011). Trippy dark fantasy about a disturbed girl who’s held captive in an institute where her mind is controlled by sinister technology. 11:59 p.m.
At Angell Hall: “5 Broken Cameras” (Emad Burnat & Guy Davidi, 2011). Award-winning documentary about a Palestinian farmer who, after getting a camera to record his baby, starts filming Palestinian struggles against Israeli settlements. Hebrew & Arabic, subtitles. 2 p.m. “Southern Foodways Smorgasbord.” Screening of several short films about Southern food, including Cured, The Rise of Southern Cheese, Ride That Pig to Glory, Buttermilk: It Can Help, Phát Tài, and Hot Chicken. 5 p.m. “The Infidel” (Josh Appignanesi, 2010). Comedy about an adopted British Muslim who finds out his birth parents are Jewish. 8 p.m.
June 3:
At the Michigan Theater: “Cane Toads: the Conquest” (Mark Lewis, 2010). Irreverent 3-D documentary about the environmental devastation caused by a species of toad introduced to Australia to combat pests. 11:30 a.m. “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (Jack Arnold, 1954). Classic 3-D monster movie about a scientific expedition in the Amazon losing its token female to the amorous, deadly Gill-Man. 1:30 p.m. “Safety Last” (Fred Newmeyer, 1923). Stellar, suspenseful silent comedy about a hapless go-getter determined to make it in the big city that’s highlighted by the famous white-knuckle building-climbing scene. Stars Harold Lloyd. Accompanied by organist Steven Ball. 4:30 p.m. “Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean” (Matthew Mishory, 2012). James Dean biopic. Stars James Preston. 7 p.m.
At the State Theater: “Hipsters” (Valeriy Todorovskiy, 2008). Musical set in 1950s about Russian teens who buck the tide of the drab Soviet Union in favor of poodle skirts and saxophones. Russian, subtitles. 11:30 a.m. “On the Ice” (Andrew Okpeaha MacLean, 2011). The bond between 2 Alaskan Iñupiaq teenagers is tested when a seal-hunting trip goes awry. 2:30 p.m. “Headhunters” (Morten Tyldum, 2011). Thriller about a corporate recruiter who supports his wife’s expensive habits by stealing art. Norwegian & Danish, subtitles. 5 p.m. “Bullhead.” (Michael Roskam, 2011). Oscar-nominated dark crime film about a cattle farmer who’s approached by a vet to make a deal with a notorious beef trader. Dutch & French, subtitles. 7:30 p.m.
At Angell Hall: “What’s Up, Doc?” (Peter Bogdanovich, 1972). Screwball comedy about a kooky woman who sets her sights on a musicologist. Stars Barbra Streisand & Ryan O’Neal. 2 p.m. “Missed Connections” (Eric Kissack, 2012). Rom com about a guy who gets over a traumatic breakup by setting up blind dates with women on Craigslist and then “rescuing” the women when their date doesn’t show. 4:30 p.m. “Putin’s Kiss” (Lise Birk Pedersen, 2012). Documentary about the 19-year-old spokesperson for a nationalistic Russian youth organization who becomes disillusioned with the group. Russian, subtitles. 7 p.m.
Tickets $15 (Michigan Theater members, $12; June 2 Hugo screening, $5; Mogul pass, $500); book of 10 tickets, $120 (members, $96) in advance at ticketweb.com. michtheater.org/cinetopia. [map]
