Tidbits April 3, 2008

CHINA IS BEAUTIFUL.
On Tuesday night I went to the first film in a new series presented by the Austin Film Society called Ascending Dragon: Films of Greater China.   The film was RIDING ALONE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES and was quite wonderful.  Chale's screening notes:

A Japanese father decides to follow his dying son’s dream of filming a particular Chinese masked dancer in a remote area of China. Despite enormous bureaucratic roadblocks and a complete lack of understanding of Mandarin, Takata finally tracks down the dancer…in prison. Li refuses to dance for the camera until he can see his young son. Takata goes off to an even more inaccessible region of the huge country to try to bring the little boy to his father. In the process Takata learns more about fathers and sons than he ever knew when he lost contact with his own son. This beautiful, sensitive film contains wonderful portrayals and breath-taking imagery.

Indeed, the film made me long for the exotic landscape and hidden rural cultures of China as much as it reminded me to "go home and call your father" as Chale half-joked the film would make everyone want to do.  I absolutely must do more traveling.  I'm excited about the rest of the series, as it is full of contemporary gems I would never otherwise see.

We're going to New York.
We're starting to gear up for the screening in New York.  I met with Tracy and Kristina this morning to plan the three day trip, do some publicity stuff, and drink coffee.  I you live in New York City, come see our movie April 16th!

Coffee is good for you.
Much to my relief, I now know that I am very, very unlikely to get dementia thanks to my daily cup of joe.

YouTube Bliss
Last but certainly not least, Robert DeNiro is intense.  Even if you don't know it: