Ellen Page is familiar to Chlotrudis members for her role in MARION BRIDGE. She played the character who was meant to be Marion Bridge; Molly Parker’s daughter. She seemed right at home in the country of Cape Breton Isle. She next appeared in Daniel MacIvor’s WILBY WONDERFUL, as a high school girl living in the tiny island town of Wilby. 
Both young ladies were tough in their own way, but sweet-natured at the core. Get ready for a change.
At Sundance last week, Page emerged as the young actress to watch after giving an authoritative and commanding performance in her latest film, HARD CANDY. In this dark shocker that was made for under $1 million and shot in 18 days, Geoff, a 32-year-old sexual predator, lures Hayley, a 14-year-old girl whom he meets over the Internet, into his apartment. When the two of them are locked inside the house, a series of very bad things unfolds, and not necessarily what you expect. Page plays the difficult role of Hayley (see picture left), an emotinoally draining role that would affect her strongly. In the Toronto Globe & Mail, British director David Slade commented on Page during the shoot. “There were times when she just sat down and cried, but she made it clear to me: ‘This is part of my process and I want to be left alone. Don’t worry about me.’ “
The first public screening of the film seemed to have an even greater impact on Page than shooting it. Page says she has been “a big space case” since the shock of seeing HARD CANDY for the first time with an audience. “People kept coming up to me and saying nice things and I could hardly speak. I’d been warned that the premiere was going to be a big deal and I thought, ‘Okay,’ but it was nowhere near what it actually is. I’m just taking breaths, you know? I know it always sounds like B.S. when actors say this, but I don’t like watching myself that much. It makes me feel a little nauseous. But it was great to hear the nervous laughter, men squirming and women letting out little hoots.”
She had a little extra support in the Sundance audience though, as her former co-star from MARION BRIDGE, Molly Parker, joined her for the screening of HARD CANDY. Page was 15 when she filmed BRIDGE; she’s 17 now. HARD CANDY has just been sold to Lion’s Gate Films, so hopefully we’ll get to see it on the big screen.
Another film receiving general release this week is a Best Documentary Academy Award nominee, BORN INTO BROTHELS. I’ve heard raves about this film from new member Beth Caldwell, and it’s only playing for a week at the Kendall after it’s premiere as opening night at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival at the MFA. Try to squeeze this amazing film where writers/directors Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman offer a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in the red light district of Calcutta, where their mothers work as prostitutes.
Sunday heralds the return of THE SUNDAY EYE OPENER, co-presented by the Brattle Theatre. For a mere $25.00, Chlotrudis members buy a spot in the hippest hangout on a Sunday morning. Each Sunday at 11 a.m. enjoy a sneak preview of a forthcoming film, complete with introduction and discussion led by Ivy Moylan, Co-executive Director of the Brattle Theatre (and Chlotrudis Board Member too!) This week we’ll be previewing the documentary 
As might be expected on a list compiled by film buffs, legendary directors such as Fellini, Bergman, Almod’ and Kurosawa are well-represented with several of each of their films included. What might be more surprising is the showing other more recent auteurs are granted, in particular Hiyao Miyazaki, Japan’s anime director (SPIRITED AWAY, #7), and China’s Zhang Yimou, (RAISE THE RED LANTERN, #12), whose color-saturated style has garnered worldwide attention. The full list is available on the 
It was the Sunday Eye Opener last week (when many of us were in New York City) but I certainly hope to catch RECONSTRUCTION this week when it begins it’s week-long run at the Brattle Theatre. I’ve heard fascinating and positive things about Dutch director Christoffer Boe’s startling debut, which won the Camera D’or (Best Debut Film) at Cannes. It’s such an intriguing film that Ivy has offerred free passes to anyone who attended the Sunday Eye Opener last week to come and see it again! I’m going to try and catch RECONSTRUCTION on Saturday night, so watch your e-mail boxes for an announcement. Hopefully you’ll be able to join me!