News

Hello everyone, and welcome to the new web-schedule for Boston independent films! Each week you will find the listings for independent film in the Boston area. In addition, we will announce the Chlotrudis Monday Night Movie of the Week here. Join Chlotrudis members as they see a new indie release each Monday Night. This week, join us at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Monday, May 24, for the 7:45 p.m. show of Jim Jarmusch’s Coffee and Cigarettes. Seventeen years in the making, this film revolves around two of our favorite vices, coffee and cigarettes. And who can resist Cate Blanchett in a luscious dual role as herself and her cousin! And of course, Monday night is Chlotrudis night at the Coolidge. Show your membership card and get a discounted admission!

Coffee and Cigarettes

dir. Jim Jarmusch, w/Roberto Benigni, Steven Wright, Joie & Cinqu’ee, Steve Buscemi, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Alex Descas, Isaach de Bankol’Cate Blanchett, Meg White, Jack White, Alfred Molina, Steve Coogan, GZA, RZA, Bill Murray, Bill Rice, Taylor Mead, 1h36m
Mon, May 24

Legendary indie director Jim Jarmusch (GHOST DOG) brings together his favorite actors for a series of conversations over coffee and cigarettes. From smoky cafes to four star hotels, from coffee breaks to luncheon meetings, these people come together and discussing subjects as diverse as caffeine popsicles, Abbott and Costello, Elvis conspiracy theories, Paris in the twenties, and the use of nicotine as an insecticide. The series started in 1986, when the director brought together the wry comedian Steven Wright and Italian actor Roberto Benigni (then fairly unknown to American audiences, but about to break through as the co-star in Jarmusch’s DOWN BY LAW), for an improvised short of sipping, smoking and chatting. Over the years he continued to make shorts with his favorite actors and cultural icons, each film riffing on the same topics, but with a delightful new wrinkle. Steve Buscemi is a annoying waiter to Joie & Cinqu’ee (all of whom were then appearing in MYSTERY TRAIN); musicians Iggy Pop and Tom Waits meet in a bar, don’t seem to know each other very well, and have little to talk about; Bill Murray drinks coffee straight from the pot as the RZA and GZA (from rap group Wu-Tang Clan) drink tea and discuss healthy living; Cate Blanchett rips it up in a dual role as a movie star meeting her trashy doppelganger cousin; British actors Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan play themselves meeting for the first time, and hilariously vying for psychological dominance; and, in the most recent (and moving) installment, aging underground legends Bill Rice and Taylor Mead sip terrible vending machine coffee backstage at the opera and ruminate on the life they’ve left behind. The charm of COFFEE AND CIGARETTES is not only the eccentric characters, but also Jarmusch’s subtle humanity, using simple gestures, a couple of mundane props, and some conversation to show just how absorbing the obsessions, joys and addictions of life can be.
Official Site

The big news this week is over at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Zhang Yimou is coming to town! That’s right, the heralded Chinese director of such films as Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, To Live, and the upcoming Hero, will be in town to accept the first annual Coolidge Award. Tickets are only $25, $20 for Coolidge members, and Zhang will be on hand on Wednesday night to accept this honor. Unfortunately, the screening of Hero on Thursday night is sold out.

For a change, that’s not the only new release I’ll be trying to catch this week. Strayed is the latest film directed and co-written by Andr”in’Alice & Martin, Wild Reeds). This film also happens to feature the latest work by cinematographer Agn’Godard, who Chlotrudis members got a chance to meet this past March at the 10th Annual Chlotrudis Awards Ceremony. Look for an e-mail from me later in the week if you’d like to come along.

The Brattle Theatre has a special treat this weekend: the Exclusive Engagement of The Big Animal, a charming Polish film co-written by Krzysztof Kieslowski. Sunday Eye Opener attendees got a chance to see this film last fall. Do consider checking it out!

And plenty of great films are still at the theatre: Super Size Me at the Coolidge, and held over for another week at the Kendall is Guy Maddin’s The Saddest Music in the World.

See you at the movies!

Playing this week, May 20-26

Brattle Theatre, Cambridge
Ozu: a Celebration
Early Spring (Thu.)
Exclusive Area Premiere! Screenplay by Krzystztof Kieslowski!
The Big Animal (Fri – Sun.)
Special Engagement
NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness (Sat.)
Von Sternberg: Dietrich & Beyond – Co-Presented with the Goethe Institut:
Shanghai Express (Mon.)
Morocco (Mon.)
Sex & Death & God: Controversy on Screen:
Henry & June (Tue.)
Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (Tue.)
Recent Raves (Chlotrudis Discount Honored!)
City of God (Wed.)

Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
Coffee and Cigarettes (starts Fri.)
The Rage in Placid Lake (starts Fri.)
Morlang (starts Fri.)
Super Size Me
Goodbye Lenin (Thu.)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Thu.)
Power Trip (Thu.)
My Architect (Thu.)
Spike & Mike’s Festival of Twisted Animation (Fri. & Sat.)
Once Upon a Time in China 4 (Sat.)
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Zhang Yimou Retrospective Screening: The Turandot Project (Mon.)
COOLIDGE GALA AWARDS CEREMONY
HONORING ZHANG YIMOU (Wed.)

Harvard Film Archive, Cambridge
Beautiful Music: Michel Legrand on Film
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Fri. & Sat.)
The Young Girls of Rochefort (Fri. & Wed.)
Lola (Sat.)
Atlantic City (Sun.)
The Thomas Crown Affair (Sun.)
F for Fake (Mon.)
Eva (Tue.)
The Go-Between (Tue.)
Bay of the Angels (Wed.)
Masterworks of Modern Cinema
And Life Goes On (Mon.)

Hollywood Hits Theatre, Danvers
— starting Friday —
Bon Voyage
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Connie & Carla
Good-bye Lenin!
Godsend

Landmark Theatres
Kendall Square, Cambridge
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer
Strayed Cinematography by Agn’Godard!
Games People Play: New York
With All Deliberate Speed (Thu.)
The Saddest Music in the World
Young Adam (Thu.)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring
Bon Voyage
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Good Bye, Lenin!
The Triplets of Belleville (Thu.) *Nominated for a Best Movie Chlotrudis Award!
Monty Python’s Life of Brian

Embassy Cinema, Waltham
Strayed Cinematography by Agn’Godard!
Super Size Me
I’m Not Scared
Good Bye, Lenin!
Intermission (Thu.)
Touching the Void
Troy (Just for you Diane!)

Loews Theatres
Copley Place, Boston
Super Size Me (starts Fri.)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Martin & Orloff
Connie & Carla
Still We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie (starts Fri.)
The Passion of the Christ
Intermission (Thu.)

Harvard Square, Cambridge
Coffee and Cigarettes
Super Size Me
I’m Not Scared
Kill Bill vol. 2

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
French Nouveaux Cineastes
Try to Remember (Thu. & Sun.)
Seaside (Wed.)
Since Otar Left (Wed.)
The 20th Annual Boston Gay & Lesbian Film/Video Festival
Cowboys and Angels (Thu.)
No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon (Fri.)
Women’s Short Films (Fri.)
Tipping the Velvet (Sat.)
Don’t You Worry, It Will Probably Pass (Sat.)
Father & Son (Sat.)
Eating Out (Sat.)
Put the Camera on Me (Sun.)
Straight-Jacket (Sun.)
Art on Film
Louvre City (Thu.)
Pavel Jur’k: New Wave Master Rediscovered
Case for a Rookie Hangman (Sat.)
Every Young Man (Sun.)
Cinema Tropical
Bajo California: El limite del tiempo (Thu.)
Te Busco (Sun.)
Youth Films
Animated Artifacts

The Newburyport Screening Room, Newburyport
Goodbye Lenin! (Thu.)
My Architect (starts Fri.)

Michael R. Colford
Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film, President

The sixth annual Provincetown International Film Festival, June 16-20 in Provincetown, will screen more than 50 adventurous, original, independent films. Director and writer Jim Jarmusch is the 2004 Filmmaker on the Edge: his cinematic achievements span 3 decades, from STRANGER THAN PARADISE, winner of the Camera d’Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, to his upcoming release COFFEE AND CIGARETTES. The Festival features sneak previews, intimate gatherings with industry luminaries, parties galore, a Night at the Drive-in, Sing-A-Long WIZARD OF OZ, Youth and Diversity Film Program, and film workshops. Discounted Festival passes are on sale now at www.ptownfilmfest.org or by phone at 508.487.FILM

Several Chlotrudis members will be on hand to report on the festival, hit some parties, review some films, and hopefully spend some time on the beach. If you’re going to be in P-town for the festival, contact us and we’d love to say hello!

Many Chlotrudis members have a soft spot in their cinematic hearts for Canadian director Gary Burns. His third feature film, WAYDOWNTOWN, tied for the Society’s first Buried Treasure Award. Burns and the films co-star (another Chlotrudis fave) Don McKellar, were hosted by Chlotrudis in 2002 at a special preview screening of the film.

Now Burn’s latest feature is playing the Festival circuit. Boston-area Chlotrudis members were lucky enough to have the opportunity to see the film at the Independent Film Festival of Boston 2004 recently, and the five members who were at the screening I attended broke the current trend (the film wasn’t well-received in Canada) laughing uproariously and thoroughly enjoying A PROBLEM WITH FEAR.

To read more about Burns and his work, check out our “>Chlotrudis Spotlight, recently updated to include A PROBLEM WITH FEAR.

This one is a no-brainer for Chlotrudis members in the Boston area. Don’t miss the 2nd Annual Independent Film Festival of Boston running from April 29 – May 2, 2004. With films screening at the Brattle, Coolidge Corner and Somerville theatres, the festival will exhibit 47 films and will give the audience an opportunity to engage the films’ directors, casts, and crews during Q&A sessions following screenings. Attendees will also vote for the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and Short Film. Ballots will be handed out prior to each screening and submitted while exiting the theater. All eligible films will also compete for awards that include: Best Feature Film, Best Documentary Film, and Best Short Film. A jury comprised of industry professionals will determine the winners.

Several Chlotrudis members have joined the fun by volunteering for the festival. Throughout the weekend, look for Michael Colford, Chris Kriofske, Hilary Nieukirk, and Beth Curran in the midst of the throngs of attendees, trying to keep them inline! Visit the Independent Film Festival of Boston website to see the film schedule and to purchase passes online. The line-up is really terrific, filled with incredible documentaries and Canadian films to name a few. Hope to see you there!

Filmmakers connected with fans at the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film’s 10th Annual Awards Ceremony held Sunday, March 28 at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge. Special guest Philip Seymour Hoffman cited the relaxed nature of the Chlotrudis event that allowed him to enjoy himself and laugh out loud.

The highlight of the evening was Hoffman’s induction in the Chlotrudis Hall of Fame. During a live, on stage interview, Hoffman spoke candidly to NBC Film Critic Sara Edwards. He talked about the difference between work on an indie film and a big budget movie. Hoffman admitted to finding something of himself in each character he plays.

Agn’Godard traveled from Paris to accept the Visionary Award, given to a cinematographer whose work represents an independent and creative vision. Godard also won the Chlotrudis Award for Best Cinematography for her work in Vendredi Soir (Friday Night) and was quite moved by the honor. Godard was amazed by the camaraderie the honored guests developed while visiting Boston.

That fellowship was evident at the members party at Noir Restaurant in the Charles Hotel, both sponsors of CSIF. Actress Kerry Washington chatted with writer/director/actor Daniel MacIvor about a future film project she is producing with actor David Moscow. Director Wiebke von Carolsfeld, whose debut feature Marion Bridge picked up a trophy in the Buried Treasure category, confessed to Hoffman that she turned down an editing job for Owning Mahowny so she could work on Bridge. Director Thom Fitzgerald, accepting an award for Excellence in Direction, spun an entertaining yarn about his pet cat to illustrate the need for independence in filmmaking.

Sofia Coppola was the big winner, picking up three ‘Trudies for her film Lost in Translation, including Best Movie, Director, and Original Screenplay. The Station Agent picked up three as well, including Best Cast, Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Clarkson’s second in a row for this category), and Best Supporting Actor for Bobby Cannavale which was shared with Love Liza’s Jack Kehler.

Overall, the 10th birthday celebration of Chlotrudis Awards was an indie chic crowd pleaser. For a complete list of the evening’s winners check out the current nominations page.

All photos courtesy of Brandon Constant.