I just read this article on a film called Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which won best documentary feature at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival:
"The film is inspiring, uplifting and is a call to action for all of us", Desmond Tutu, Winner 1984 Nobel Peace Prize. Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the extraordinary story of a small band of Liberian women who – armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions - came together in the midst of a bloody civil war, took on the warlords, and brought peace to their shattered country. The film is compelling testimony to the potential of women worldwide to alter the history of nations.
I think the film sounds very cool and would love to see it. The website has a link where you can put in a request for a screening in your area. Why don't we see if we can get enough requests to have a showing in the Twin Cities?
Click here to demand a viewing of Pray the Devil Back to Hell in St. Paul, MN. I originally started a request for "Minneapolis metropolitan area", but then I noticed that there was already a request for "St. Paul, MN" (someone didn't read my explanation of Twin Cities geography!), so I propose we add our votes to St. Paul. For those not lucky enough to live in Minnesota, just check the list to see whether there's already a request for your city (Washington has 15 requests already; there are 2 screenings booked in New York). I'll also add the request link to my sidebar. E-mail the link, tell your friends!
4 comments:
I'm happy to do this, because I totally want to see this movie, but I can't think of one theater in St. Paul that would screen it. All the indies are in Minneapolis.
I think it's just a glitch that the listing of cities on this website includes both "St. Paul" and "Minneapolis metropolitan area". I'm assuming that the organizers look for a critical mass of requests in a given metro area and then decide on specific venue later. I was only using St. Paul because it was the option that had already been listed by someone else. If you think it's better to specify Mpls now, let me know and I'll revise my post accordingly.
OK, I just came back from the demanding.
(It was easy to get here because the comments window was still open here.)
We saw a movie Thursday night that wasn't wonderful - La Duchesse de Langeois, based on a short story by Balzac. In French with subtitles. We went to the late showing on a last minute whim because it was recommended by a friend who loved it. He's kind of a professional curmudgeon, but very knowledgable about the theater, and I was curious to know what he would think was wonderful.
Depardieu le fils was dreadful. There was no discernable chemistry between the lovers. The story was a soap opera about rich people with untreated bipolar disorder and too much time on their hands. The cinematography was stultifying, and not in a good way, you know? I tried to entertain myself by studying the costumes, which were good, and the locations, which were genuine.
But I know now I never need to agree with the curmudgeon about anything.
I've never even heard of that. I think it's actually "La Duchesse de Langeais", which I'd never heard of either, except it's apparently the title of a Balzac story. Plus, I saw the Château de Langeais on vacation in the Loire Valley last October. The château is nice.
I often find that French films are trying too hard to be Arty, and they should instead try to get over themselves. Of the French films in my Latest Movies Seen sidebar, you should definitely stay away from "Un coeur simple." It's based on a short story by Flaubert and is probably very much in the style of "La Duchesse." "Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas" ("Don't Worry, I'm Fine," in English) is very good. And "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime" ("I've Loved You So Long" in English in Europe; title could be changed for the U.S.) is very lovely (as I've indicated by the *; I go to lots of movies and give out stars very sparingly). The main character is played by Kristin Scott Thomas, who speaks beautiful French, and they've even written a tiny explanation for her British accent into the plot (she's French with a British mother).
And you can trust my opinions on things. I know which way the toilet paper should roll.
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