RIVERRUN MOVIE FESTIVAL 2024, #1 (Cheri)

I mentioned this Festival, held in Winston-Salem, last year. 

I meant to discuss the films that we saw last year.  It didn't happen then, but this year I am. 

Since by virtue of this being a film festival the movies haven't been widely-released, you may never see them, but if you do, you may remember our/my thoughts on them.  (I'm watching some virtually that Mark isn't interested in.  Tickets for virtual screening may still be available here.)

Future Sleeper Hit: "The Magic Hours"  (picture above)

Summary:

  "When Alice and Jean first meet, they think the only thing they have in common is a
shared love for The Kite String Chronicles, the legendary novel by famously reclusive author Norman Bettinger [think J.D. Salinger]. Alice claims to own a drawing that inspired the book, and she enlists Jean’s help to return it to the writer. The pair embarks on a day trip to
Bettinger’s hometown, retracing the footsteps of the novel’s fictional hero along the way.
When their journey takes an unexpected turn, Alice and Jean find themselves penniless,
lost, and challenging each other’s notions of who they are and where they are going."

The movie's executive producer was Peter Fonda, and his appearance as Bettinger may have been his last.  (Accounts vary.)

Beautifully shot, almost certainly in the hills of San Luis Obispo or Ventura County, this movie provoked pangs of home-sickness.  The town that the characters stroll through mid-movie seemed so much like San Juan Bautista, where Mark and I ate in a plaza every pre-pandemic weekend, working through the agendas of office-related decisions that we needed to make.

The music was enjoyable and varied; it would be worthwhile picking up a soundtrack, if it exists.

Though the movie was mainly nostalgic, a little philosophical, there were some laugh-out-loud lines and moments.

Interestingly, this movie was "released" just over three years ago, yet it doesn't even have a Wikipedia page.  Possibly the lack of activity had something to do with Fonda's death, or the pandemic?

I'm thinking it had something to do with their personalities, and the fact that they are multi-platform performance artists.  Here is a description from their production company's web site:

Dosshaus is a duo made up of Zoey Taylor and David Connelly. They first met in late 2010 and formed Dosshaus in October of 2011. “David Connelly has perfected the art of casual lounging and can look quite comfortable in a wide array of environs. In his spare time,
David enjoys listening to electrical saws and hunting wild chimera. Zoey Taylor is the only
two-time recipient of the prestigious Ian Brockwell-Casey International Spy of the Year award. When not embroiled in intrigue abroad, Zoey enjoys imaginary haberdashery and
tending to a small family of miniature sheep.”

I love the sublimely absurd!

I could not find anything on how they had connected with Peter Fonda.

My Sailor, My Love

Summary:

Acclaimed Finnish director Klaus Härö makes his poignant, heartfelt English-language
debut with this Ireland-set drama about a retired sea captain whose late-in-life romance
with a comely widow is threatened by his adult daughter’s staunch disapproval.

Viewing Ireland is of course a treat.  The movie became meaningful about two-thirds of the way through, leading to some interesting post-movie discussions.  Before that it seemed like a very atmospheric Lifetime movie.

Every Man for Himself

Summary:

A reformed ex-convict with a debt to repay picks up his former cellmate from prison and
drives him wherever he wants to go. As they travel through the desolate landscape,
both men seek redemption and a second chance.

Lesson learned:  Never spend time on a movie about reprobates until you get trusted recommendations.  Also, see lesson learned under The Grotto, which also applies here.

I do have to admit, however, that actor Nicholas Logan did some outstanding here (unless he is actually a psychopath).

The Grotto

Summary:

In her directorial debut, actress Joanna Gleason creates a poignant, funny film about
Alice Kendall (Betsy Brandt), who after the death of her fiancé, inherits half ownership of
The Grotto, a struggling desert nightclub where she discovers eccentric performers
and a heartbreaking secret.

Lesson learned:  Don't spend money on a movie set in the desert until you get trusted recommendations.