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Show D6 DAILY , HERALD Saturday, January 19. 2008 Sundance Continued from 01 actresses in this country," Mer-o- n said. "She completely reinis no remnant of Clair Huxtable, which n is her most role, and she becomes a profoundly moving actress. I mean, people in New York know that because they've seen her stage work, but I don't think the rest of the country is prepared for the depth and the complexity, and the warmth and the magnitude of her talent. It's really a sight to behold. People that have seen the film that had had no idea were completely blown away." Here are some other movies that touch on religious themes: vents herself . There "Durakovo: Village of Fools": This docu- well-know- Star and the Sudanese Twins' 'The Art Is international adoption a form of modern colonialism? Good question. That's precisely the theme of Pietra Brettkelly's documentary, "The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins." To make the film, Brettkelly's followed provocative performance artist Vanessa Beecroft's attempts to adopt, twins from an orphanage in Sudan. "One of the main issues of the film is colonialism and its many forms," said New Zealand's Brettkelly in an interview. "Vanessa, through the art in South Sudan, was exploring the Catholic Church's role as a colonial entity, and reflecting that intention, the film also enlarges on that theme to consider: 'Is international adoption a form of modern colonial- mentary captures guru Sundance Film Festival Filmmakers sit down to dinner with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf in "Dinner With the President: A Nation's , Journey." and this comes out in the film. He advised Vanessa that the people need to be supported in their ow,n communities if those communities are to grow. He talked about the Lost Boys of Sudan and how horrified he still is about that situation, when as he described it, the strongest were removed from repairing their country. He had strong views and didn't shy away from telling Vanessa his opinion. And though she didn't agree with everything he said, she was willing to hear him." Brettkelly said the artwork Beecroft produced in Sudan is definitely reflective of Catholicism. It can be viewed at www.vanessabeecroft.com frameset.html. Click on South Sudan. Catholic Bishop in the province " where the twins live to discuss 'Dinner With the the possibility of adoption, President: A Nation's "The Catholic Bishop in that Journey' province has a lot of influence Ever wonder what it would and Vanessa realized that if be like to sit down to dinner she was to proceed with the adoption, she was going to need with your nation's leader and his support challenge him on some of his politically and policies? So did filmmakers emotionally," Brettkelly said. Sabiha Sumar and Sachithana-ndaSathananthan. Unlike the rest of us, however, they actually had the opportunity to do just that and make a film out of their discussions. In an interview in which they sent joint answers, -Sumar and Sathananthan said they were drawn by the striking difference in President Pgrvez Musharraf's policies noting that he was the coun- try's first leader, after founder Mohmmad Ali Jinnah, to openly and emphatically challenge the Islamists. "If President Musharraf's rejection of Islamists was the seed of the film, the idea grew as we watched him successfully resist the Bush administration's pressure to back its invasion of Iraq, and relentlessly expand relations with China and Iran in the teeth of American displeasure," the filmmakers said. The religious overtones to the movie are important because "they indicate'a turning point in the history of the couna choice between modtry ernism and obscurantism." And what do they most hope viewers learn from their -- movie? "The film questions the validity of a democracy in which about half the population women has little or no participation," they said. "This in turn throws doubt on the democrelevance of ballot-bo- x in the absence of ground racy conditions for genuine broad-base- d people's participation. "The viewers may perhaps learn that Pakistan is not a country of 'fundos'; that on the contrary, it is a society in ferment where progressive and regressive forces are locked in mortal combat." II it Kg ftfe 5 s TRW If themselves from the shackles of democracy. "It's this interesting convergence of politics and religion that's taking place under this guy," said Caroline Libresco, a senior programmer with the Sundance Film Festival. "This kind of Christianity is very, when I say it 's a nationalist vision that exright-wincludes foreigners and is sort of using Christianity to support these ideas, unfortunately, ... It's not a pretty picture, but it's an important film. It's very relevant to us as Americans because there's more than 50 million fundamentalist Christians in America and they do have an influence on the government." v "Vanessa had never allowed cameras such access before," ism?'" Brettkelly said. "But I've been flattered by her willingness to The twins were taken by be honest their father to an orphanage usually brutally run by nuns when their mother so creating a film of incredible intimacy and revelation died in childbirth. Beecroft that will hopefully provoke used the twins in a series of further discussion, not just on photographs, fell in love with international adoptions, but them and wanted to adopt them and take them home with on the license of creatives, of a genius at work, of notions her. All types of entanglements of family. And where family ensued. stems from." Beecroft sought out the v "Though she doesn't say she is Catholic herself, Vanessa very much respected his opinion. He was against adoptions, though, businessman-turne- Mikhail Morozov and his cadre of initiates who flock to a castle outside Moscow to free ." Sundance Film Festival "Be Like Others": Iran accepts male and "puujee" is a spiritual film about a family of female but nothing in between. Homosexu- Mongolian sheepherders. ality is punishable by death in Iran. But operations are just fine and dandy. "What's so interesting here is the way they we never get to see. However, that part of solve this 'problem' is they say if you become the world is at a crossroads of capitalism and a woman then you're no longer a homosexual communism." if you sleep with a man," Libresco said. "So "The Drummer": In his attempt toscape there's this movement ... where scores of from the mob in Hong Kong, the main charyoung men are having the operation to become female so there won't be any homosex- acter enters the witness relocation drumming uals in Iran. It's a very interesting solution to program. OK, we jest. He does slip away to what they consider to be a 'problem.' " rural Taiwan, however, where he encounters a Zen drumming troupe. "He's actually a Mafia kid, but the experi"Sugar": "Is this heaven?" . ence of being in this sacred community really "No, dog, it's Iowa!" transforms who he is and he becomes a masWhat is it about baseball movies and The ter drummer," Libresco said. "In this case, it's Hawkeye State? This fictional film follows the exploits of a baseball player, Miguel sort of that convergence of arts and religion where it's kind of that artistic discipline. You Santos, from the Dominican Republic playing minor league baseball for a farm team in know how sometimes monks ... like the art of calligraphy becomes a sacred discipline? Iowa. What begins as a young man chasing his dreams of playing baseball and saving In this way it's the same thing, it's Chinese his family back home from poverty instead sacred dnirnming. It's so beautiful." turns into a more complex examination of his life and struggles to adapt to the new world "Megane": An uptight Japanese woman around him. seeks respite at an island hotel and expects to be left alone. Instead she is forced into learn-in- g At one point, Santos boards with a Christian f amily, which is where the religious something about her hosts and, in the angle filters in. process, a lot about herself . "I think this movie might really resonate "It's very much a Buddhist film," Libresco for your readers," Libresco said. "It's a really said. "It's about letting go of attachments, and about giving into the moment, and quiet wonderful portrayal It's very humanizing. and silence. ... A spiritual film, really beautiThey're really wonderful people, they just ful." happen to be very devout Christians." sex-chan- "puujee": The pivotal character in this documentary about a family of sheepherders in the wilds of Mongolia is a young girL The film follows her and her family for a period of five years, with a keen insight into the encroaching change in China and how it affects those living there. One of the main characters dies in the film and the family delivers a traditional Mongolian ritual at the funeral. "For me, it's a very spiritual film," Libresco said. "And it's just a fascinating glimpse at a wonderful character in a part of the world lock "Fields of Fuel" and "Flow: For Love of a r KT I r . f Wa- ter": These two films highlight the usual slate of environmental-base- d projects which can also espouse a religious twist. "I kind of think, in terms of Christian values, the values of love, of loving each other, and doing unto others and loving the Earth, there are a lot of films in here that are really coming from that place," Libresco said. "Especially living in Provo, where it's so beautiful. And more and more, everyone is aware of how endangered our planet really is." m t J win fct rr.v. .. riftii We've got a new look.... check it out. www- - h e ira I d eirt ra .com i, ; Mi!'! :; |