closed curtain ( persian : pardeh – پرده ) is a 2013 iranian docufiction film by jafar panahi and kambuzia partovi .

it was shot secretly at panahi 's own beachfront villa on the caspian sea .

panahi stated that he began shooting the film in a state of melancholy but managed to recover by the film 's completion .

closed curtain is panahi 's second film since his 20-year ban on filmmaking after 2011 's this is not a film .

the film was selected as the closing film of the 2013 hong kong international film festival .

closed curtain

closed curtain v . o . st ang : summary , production year , showtimes , casting about closed curtain v . o . st ang
a scene from jafar panahi ' s ' closed curtain . ' ( berlin film festival )
closed curtain , by jafar panahi , was created despite its director’s house arrest in iran .
my cinema selection : closed curtain . all showtimes for closed curtain . find the latest movies in cinema in luxembourg , thionville , metz , trier , arlon . program your movie night on cinéma luxweb
closed curtain , opening on wednesday , stars kambuzia partovi as a writer in hiding with his dog .
looking for movie tickets ? enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing closed curtain near you .
jafar panahi ' s closed curtain showcases the difficulties of making art and being an artist in a troubled world .
a closed curtain doesn ' t mean the production is over . . . the curtain has to close to set up for the next scene . . . get ready !
closed curtain is the most opaque and sombre of the pictures to have emerged so far from panahi ' s confinement .
“closed curtain” starts as one type of movie and turns into something else . what was the genesis of this idea ?
“closed curtain” can be read on several levels , not a few of them suggest the film is a cautious cry for help .
boy and writer ( director / actor kabozia partovi ) sit and reflect on life in
closed curtain .
( celluloid dreams )
' closed curtain ' . a screenplay so darn good i ' m still smiling ear to ear . personal , existential genius by panahi !
real talk kim on twitter :
a closed curtain doesn ' t mean the production is over . . . the curtain has to close to set up for the next scene . . . get ready !
unlike “this is not a film , ” “closed curtain , ” now screening at the digital gym , is a darker , less linear piece .
we’re still waiting for the official scoop . beat us to the news by messaging closed curtain llc to learn specifics about their style and services .
a closed curtain doesn ' t mean the production is over . . . the curtain has to close to set up for the next scene . . . . get ready ! | pinterest | head tables , head tabl…
the co - director and star of iranian dissident film - maker jafar panahi ' s berlin prizewinner closed curtain have had their passports confiscated by officials .
closed curtain enfolds its politics within what i believe will go down as one of cinema ' s finest , most complex acts of self - portraiture .
i don’t know . it’s just a heartbreaking situation . see closed curtain if you can – or his others . offside is a ton of fun !
iranian director jafar panahi is under house arrest but , a testament to his ingenuity , closed curtain is the second in a trilogy of films shot clandestinely .
kambuzia partovi , a co - director of “closed curtain , ” is a writer at a seaside villa with his dog , boy , dealing with unwelcome guests .
closed curtain
is richly allegorical , but the film succeeds even more as an exiled artist ' s reassurance that the law can ' t stamp out art .
we don‘t know closed curtain llc ‘s story by heart , but we can assure you it‘s pretty awesome . message them to get to know more about their business .
ragam theatre music - - curtain raiser - - thrissur - - nisha rapheal . wmv
the response to “closed curtain” has been interesting . while it has puzzled some critics , the film has won wide acclaim in festivals throughout europe and the u . s .
unfortunately , closed curtain also indicates there ' s only so much an artist can say about his own oppression before he winds up in a creative cul - de - sac .
“closed curtain” begins with a man ( kamboziya partovi , the credited co - director ) who’s gone into hiding with his dog after the government bans the animals from the streets .
closed curtain
is now playing at the digital gym on el cajon boulevard . it screens thursday , july 24 , at 7 pm . please see their website for more information .
i always keep my curtains closed . these blackout drapes are great for watching movies at any hour .
“closed curtain” is one of the most important movies out right now – because of all of the things you just said in your comment . it’s not a representation of a struggle – it is the struggle .
“closed curtain” is an odd film . unlike most of panahi’s films , it may be difficult to follow the allegory that floats just below the surface like seaweed without some background in iranian film and panahi’s current situation
to an artist like panahi , self - expression is like the air we breath , and closed curtain finds himself gasping just above the water . and yet jafari panahi lives . he continues to create , despite great political odds , and he makes this creative process the subject of his films . and as the contemplative bookends of closed curtain show , panahi will not let his situation silence him . he remains defiant despite his despair .
yes , a huge burden . and one he probably had no idea he would have to carry when he started making movies . going after cacciato , closed curtain on the list . manhunt is actually on my dvr .
a version of this review was published during the 2013 berlin film festival . “closed curtain” opens at new york’s film forum tomorrow and will expand to other cities in the u . s . and canada in the coming weeks .
“we’re disappointed too . with consternation we see the curtain closed , the plot unended . [ … ] there must , there must , be some end that would fit . ladies and gentlemen , help us look for it ! ”
“closed curtain” contrasts with earlier panahi films such as the exuberant “offside , ” a movie following girls who disguise themselves as boys to sneak into a football match in tehran . it won berlin’s runner - up silver bear in 2006 .
those twisty , fecund films form bookends to the less digestible closed curtain . a forbidding narrative exercise , the film intersperses moment of great humour and power with indulgent follies that will strain the patience of all but the most resilient viewers .
thanks so much closed curtain for being the life or our wedding reception ! everyone had an awesome time using all of the props from the photobooth taking tons of pictures and even dancing with the baby - head props on our dance floor ! ! the closed curtain staff were so fun and friendly and i loved the guest book they put together for us that included all of our guest photos ! i didn’t have to worry about any of their set up or break down , they took care of absolutely everything themselves and they were extremely responsive during the entire planning process . they were super flexible and even made the most of the small space that our venue could allot them . thanks so much closed curtain !
but it wasn’t his last : next week , variance films will release “ closed curtain , ” which renders the literal frustrations of “this is not a film” in abstract terms . the movie begins with the story of a criminal on the lam with his trusty canine and taking refuge in a large home by the sea , where he encounters two other desperate characters . but eventually panahi himself enters the scene , contemplating his story from afar and eventually overtaking it , quietly turning “closed curtain” into a poetic meditation of his commitment to filmmaking against impossible odds . shot within the constraints of the director’s vacation home , “closed curtain” is informed by the limitations placed on its maker , but also a remarkable approach to defying them .
following the condemnation of jafar panahi ' s
closed curtain
and its reception at the berlin film festival , iranian government officials have seized the passports of the film ' s co - director , kambuzia partovi , and actor maryam moghadam .
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pardé ( closed curtain , 2013 ) , by jafar panahi and kambuzia partovi , is an irresolute allegory . its basis is a set of exaggerated metaphors . the camera remains imprisoned within panahi ' s beach house , while the cryptic narrative unfolds .
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in his printed statement , panahi wrote that “ ' closed curtain ' uses shifting genres and stories within stories to highlight why filmmaking is a necessity in a filmmaker’s life : it is the imperative need to show the reality of the world we live in . ”
“it’s difficult to work , but not being able to work is even more difficult , and especially at the height of your career , ” said kamboziya partovi , who co - directed and starred in “closed curtain , ” panahi’s new work that premiered tuesday at the berlinale .
closed curtain is a devastating experience when you are aware of panahi’s reality and yet it is also a loud clarion call declaring his freedom . why are we here on this earth ? if we are artists , then we must make our art . limitations have been placed on panahi , limitations that would crush the majority of people . he has not been crushed , although one can only imagine the toll placed on his psyche and soul by his situation . there are moments in closed curtain that are as bleak , personally , as anything i have ever seen .
there is a lot of expectation and anticipation going into the critically acclaimed “closed curtain” . when you add the novelty of being the closing film of 37th hong kong international film festival 2013 and a full house cinema , everything is essentially skyrocketed . however , “closed curtain” not only disappoint , but is rarely engaging , borderline snooze like and ultimately insignificant . i am a big fan of slow burn and art house cinema , but this film goes too far and the result is an extremely personal film for banned iranian director jafar panahi , that can hardly relate to the audience .
our guests really enjoyed the photo booth ! there were so many props for them to choose from ! i love the fact that the photos were immediately made available to our guests through text , as well as on closed curtain ' s website . and our photo album was so beautiful !
since being banned from making films by the iranian government four years ago , director jafar panahi has produced two works of artful defiance . the latter of the two , the self - reflexive , semi - confessional drama
closed curtain ,
finds panahi weary yet resourceful under severe creative constraints .
there are multiple levels it all works ( and that is often the case with iranian film , where one cannot be too direct ) . the “closed curtain” of the title refers to the practical desires of iranian citizens to have some privacy in their own damn homes . the “closed curtain” is also indicative of fear of the outside world , where you are not allowed to have a dog as a pet , and so the gentleman we see has gone into hiding to keep his beloved dog safe . the “closed curtain” could also be seen , though , as an ominous reminder that panahi’s life as an artist may very well be coming to a close . that the curtain is about to fall on his career . i couldn’t get away from that thought as i watched the film . is this a good - bye ? is this panahi taking a final bow before disappearing ? please , god , no . but how long can he go on ? how long can this standoff remain ? how long will the authorities tolerate his rebellion ? what is going to happen to him ?
what we are seeing is an artist grappling directly with his own reality . i mean , artists do that all the time . personal work is personal work . but if you didn’t know that closed curtain was being filmed despite the ban , what would it look like ? if you didn’t know that this was a film made by a man whose livelihood and artistic expression has been denied him ( for all intents and purposes for good : he’s 50 years old . a 20 - year ban is practically a death sentence ) , what would you think of closed curtain ? the woman sitting behind me was openly and sometimes loudly confused .
“closed curtain” is co - directed by panahi and his fellow iranian filmmaker and longtime friend , kamboziya partovi . panahi , who has won awards at several major film festivals in the past , was sentenced to house arrest and a 20 - year ban on filmmaking in 2010 after being convicted of “making propaganda” against iran’s ruling system .
while “closed curtain” leaves audiences without the satisfaction of a narrative ending , it also reminds us of how much is at stake for everyone involved in the making of this film . indeed , in the film , suicide is discussed often in reference to moghadam’s character , and both she and panahi are seen walking into the sea at one point .
britain evacuated all diplomatic staff for their own safety and closed its embassy in tehran , and france , germany , italy and the netherlands all withdrew their ambassadors in protest .
in a certain way , the closed curtains represent an interrupted spectacle , like a theater whose curtains are kept closed , with no confrontation against the prohibition imposed by censorship . in this sense , when melika takes down the curtains and throw them on the ground , the film is proposing a metaphor for the continuity of spectacle , despite the power of censorship .
once the house becomes a metaphor for the mind , the english title closed curtain takes a thought - provoking polissemy . curtains are literally what allows the writer to try to close himself , as well as he dog , to the world . in the metaphorical drift of the symbology which goes through the film narrative , curtains become allegorical signs whose dramatic itinerary is invested with political meanings .
it is impossible to watch this is not a film and closed curtain and not be in awe of everyone who agrees to be onscreen ( and behind the camera ) to make it happen . it is also impossible to watch these films and not be destroyed emotionally . i was destroyed by this is not a film , which i saw first at a press screening at the new york film festival . i was sitting with my friend keith , and when the credits rolled ( all of the credits were blank , to protect the small skeleton crew involved ) , i burst into tears , and keith sat with me , in tears himself , saying , “so so good . ” and i was destroyed by closed curtain , which i saw yesterday at the cinema village .
all in all , “closed curtain” is easily one of the most over - hyped film of the festival and definitely unworthy of being a closing film . sure , there may be obvious hints and notions of messages about the iranian government , but a message alone does not make a movie . in fact , by the time the old man appears on screen again in the final moments , the audience just cannot wait for the film to finish as the directors jafar panahi and kambuzia partovi again indulge into their own slowness without reason . i wouldn’t call this a bad film by all means , but one thing is definite , it will never be worthy of its critical acclaimed . shoot me all you like , this “closed curtain” just isn’t my cup of tea . ( neo 2013 )
there is more that we need to know to process closed curtain , the latest film from jafar panahi , the talented iranian director who recently was imprisoned and given a 20 - year ban on making films because he was accused of developing a film about the green movement that was critical of the current regime in iran . panahi’s troubles made headlines worldwide . you can read some background here . i’ve written about panahi a lot . he is one of my favorite directors and his situation has been heartbreaking , and an outrage . despite the ban , he has continued to make films , amazingly , heroically , two since the ban came down , this is not a film ( which was smuggled out of iran on a zip drive buried within a cake ) and now closed curtain .
the german government petitioned the iranian government that panahi be allowed to travel to berlin for the premier of
closed curtain . ” it was denied , but panahi was visible in other ways at the festival . outside the berlinale’s palast cinema , a group from the independent peace film prize brought a life - size cutout of panahi . a sign on it read : “i ought to be here . ”
closed curtain is a 2013 iranian drama film by jafar panahi and kambuzia partovi . it premiered at the 63rd berlin international film festival on february 12 , 2013 where panahi won the silver bear for best script . it was shot secretly at panahi’s own beachfront villa on the caspian sea . panahi stated that he began shooting the film in a state of melancholy but managed to recover by the film’s completion .
a noticeably bigger production than “this is not a film , ” beautifully composed and patiently told within the confines of yet another restrictive set , “closed curtain” rigorously translates the literal despair of “this is not a film” into pure symbolism . though technically co - directed by partovi , panahi’s central role in the movie ( in addition to his editing credit ) make it evident that this is his sorrowful tale alone .
iran ' s authorities berated berlin organisers for rewarding panahi , the celebrated director of the white balloon and offside , earlier this month . closed curtain is the second movie he has made ( following 2011 ' s this is not a film ) since his government ban .
making these films is illegal ,
said iranian cinema chief and deputy culture minister javad shamaqdari , according to the isna news agency .
closed curtain did such a fabulous job at our wedding ! ! the modern enclosure not only looked awesome , but added such a unique touch to the reception . the line for the photo booth never let up throughout the night . the props were awesome and the people running the booth were so sweet and professional . i am so glad to have found them and to have had them at our wedding !
the secluded house near the sea seems an idyllic setting for closed curtain , the film’s first and third act being largely made up of a lengthy static shot of the seascape view from the villa’s largest window , lasting approximately 4 minutes in length . with the inclusion of dialog only occurring nearly 17 minutes ( and 45 seconds to be precise ) into the film , quickly turning full circle in a largely unmoving plot .
i cannot imagine what it is like for this man to continue to try to work under these conditions . every time he picks up a camera he puts his life in danger . and yet he continues to do so . what he was able to accomplish in closed curtain , filming in secret , with people who are probably now in trouble for appearing in it , represents the best of who we are , as a people .
panahi explored similar ground in his 2012 feature this is not a film — both works explore the artistic possibilities and limitations available within the confines of the director’s domestic space—though closed curtain feels much more stifled , somber and pessimistic . the characters he has half - created disappear before our eyes , and their absence shows how little of the world outside panahi has to work against . once a social realist , panahi’s eye has been forced inward .
“closed curtain” follows an unnamed writer ( partovi ) as he sequesters himself in a seaside bungalow . at the start of the movie he unpacks a prized possession - - a small and affectionate dog . the dog is the one on the run , we learn , declared unclean and sentenced to extermination . so the writer builds an interior life for the two of them , behind locked safety gates , tightly pulled curtains and layers of dark cloth .
acclaimed iranian filmmaker jafar panahi bravely defies his 20 - year ban on filmmaking yet again with closed curtain . in a secluded house by the sea with the curtains shut , a screenwriter hides from the world with only his dog as company . the tranquility is abruptly broken one night by the arrival of a young woman fleeing from the authorities . refusing to leave , she takes refuge in the house . but come dawn , another unexpected presence will change everything .
even so , there’s an uneasy quality to watching another of panahi’s beautiful movies , since there’s no telling how much longer he can keep it up . but the director has certainly embraced the challenge , even managing to pick up the phone for an interview with indiewire this week . sounding alternately weary and determined , panahi spoke through a translator as he explained the genesis of “closed curtain” and why he continues to make movies in spite of the risks at hand .
diehard panahi fans will rejoice at the filmmaker’s commitment to expressing his ideas despite the tremendous risk , but “closed curtain” requires immense patience and shows its seams at every step of the way . less a finished movie than a cry for help , its enigmatic trajectory allows viewers to empathize with panahi exclusively through his ideas . “there’s more to life than work , ” a visiting colleague tells him . “yes , ” he mutters in reply , “but these things are foreign to me . ”
panahi himself arrives later , though his relationship to the screenwriter is unclear : is the latter a product of the former’s imagination ? are they aware of their side - by - side presences ? who’s the specter and what’s real ? closed curtain repeatedly worries and rearranges these relationships and ambiguities . it’s both dazzling and suffocating : as it becomes clear that what’s going on could be infinitely / indefinitely tweaked , it’s hard not to want panahi to wrap it up and settle on a takeaway .
i don ' t want any trouble .
so says the unnamed apparent protagonist of closed curtain ( pardé ) . played by kambuzia partovi - - who co - directs the film with jafar panahi - - this fellow is doing his best to quell the chaos that ' s just walked into the house . but as soon as he makes this announcement to the intruders melika ( maryam moqadam ) and reza ( hadi saeedi ) , you know that he ' s got just that , trouble .
at first , “closed curtain” takes the form of a more conventional narrative , following the experiences of an apparent man on the lam ( filmmaker and panahi screenwriter kamboziya partovi ) , who arrives at an isolated beach house and hides himself from the world . two other refugees come and go before panahi himself quietly becomes a part of the story while hovering outside of it , his characters commenting on his loose control over their existence . even as they fade from view , however , the director can’t shake them .
closed curtain ( also known as parde ) tells the tale of a group of people trapped in a house by a lake , a predicament critics have suggested represents a thinly veiled critique of the repression suffered in iran by panahi and other artists . both its directors also appear in front of the camera . the film , now without either of its main creators nor its central star , is due to continue its festival run next month with an appearance as the closing film of the hong kong film festival .
perhaps , with this in mind , the film appears more interesting from the viewpoint of the background of the film’s directors then the actual finished film , the film appearing more as a cry for help by panahi then an expertly crafted film , in some places heavy handed . in many instances breaking the fourth wall , coupled with the directors’ somewhat unnecessary on - screen presence , it seems that closed curtain is above anything else an expression of panahi’s personal odyssey than demanding any critical appreciation from the larger film market .
so . basically if you go into closed curtain not knowing all of this , it might be a confounding and puzzling and frustrating experience . so yes , i would suggest educating yourself , and i would also suggest seeing the film . i would suggest seeing all of panahi’s films , pre - and - post ban . he’s marvelous . and here he is , making a movie he is not supposed to be making , about a man hiding out from the regime because he wants to keep his dog safe …
a noticeably bigger production than “this is not a film , ” beautifully composed and patiently told within the confines of yet another restrictive set , “closed curtain” rigorously translates the literal despair of “this is not a film” into pure symbolism . though technically co - directed by partovi — whose own passport was revoked after his involvement with this production , as was one of his co - star’s — panahi’s central role in the movie ( in addition to his editing credit ) make it evident that this is his sorrowful tale alone .
metaphor and allegory cross the film ' s plot and entail a symbolic regime of interpretation . yet , its meaning is not closed and its senses are not fully revealed . the spectator faces the impossible task of deciphering the irresolute code which guides the film .
at first , “closed curtain” takes the form of a more conventional narrative , following the experiences of an apparent man on the lam ( filmmaker and panahi screenwriter kamboziya partovi ) , who arrives at an isolated beach house ( actually panahi’s vacation home ) and hides himself from the world . two other refugees come and go before panahi himself quietly becomes a part of the story while hovering outside of it , his characters commenting on his loose control over their existence . even as they fade from view , however , the director can’t shake them .
closed curtain official trailer ( 2015 ) jafar panahi movie hd an unnamed screenwriter ( kambozia partovi ) arrives at a secluded three - story villa on the caspian sea . he secretly brings along his pet dog named
boy
. dogs are considered unclean under islamic rule and the writer intends to hide
boy
from authorities as he tries to get some writing done . the writer shaves his head to disguise his identity and covers all the windows in the villa with black , opaque material . releasing into uk cinemas 4th september 2015 .
we hired closed booth for our wedding , on 9 . 23 . 17 , and i am so glad we did ! our guests absolutely loved it ! ! ! they were always prompt and professional in any communications i had with them . highly recommend ! ! !
he may even want it . after all , he ' s participating in a film being made by an artist whom the government of iran has banned from filmmaking for 20 years . ( and indeed , once closed curtain was completed and smuggled to the 2013 berlinale , where it won the silver bear , both partovi and moqadam had their passports revoked . ) still , his declaration of reluctance sets in motion a series of events that resemble a plot , but more effectively showcase the difficulties of making art and being an artist in a troubled world .
once the curtains come down , panahi abruptly steps into the scene , gazing wistfully at posters of his earlier movies that dot the walls . clearly , he can’t keep his career away . without overstating that revelation beyond the transparent metaphor of the title , the arbitrariness of the preceding hour takes on new meaning . essentially a sequel in the saga of panahi’s inhibited career , “closed curtain” finds him in a much darker state of mind than before , at one point contemplating suicide as “the only way out” ; he even includes a fantasy sequence envisioning that possibility .
dogs have been banned as pets in iran , providing the starting premise for jafar panahi’s closed curtain . a screenwriter ( kambozia partovi , also the co - director ) has a dog smuggled into his seaside villa by friends . once the animal’s inside , the man systematically draws the curtains over windows on all three floors . the opening of jafar panahi’s closed curtain fictionalizes the necessary circumstances of its production : working in secret , the director was forced to draw the curtains for as much of the shoot as possible to make sure no one could see what was going on inside . there are echoes of recent scenes in tsai ming - liang’s face and ursula maier’s home — both films whose subjects methodically use tape to black out windows , an action meant to seal out a presumably threatening world . here , the self - imposed isolation has a different intent : in order for an indoor theater to flourish , curtains reluctantly have to be drawn to keep the outside world outside , and the audience ( along with the camera , which can’t go beyond the porch ) is trapped in the theater along with the players .
getting a photobooth was a bit of a last minute decision for our wedding and closed curtain did not disappoint ! the photobooth was hopping all night and they had so many props , our guests had a blast getting their pictures taken . the staff was so friendly and efficient and i loved that our package included digital copies of all the pictures so that we can see how much fun everyone was having with the photobooth . the price was well worth every penny and then some and we may have to do a vow renewal sooner than later to book them again ! : )
filmed in panahi’s caspian sea vacation home ,
closed curtain
at first seems a very different kind of film . a middle - aged writer ( partovi ) arrives at a seaside villa bearing luggage , and immediately begins covering the house’s many picture windows with heavy black curtains . one of his bags contains the reason for his secrecy : his dog boy ( played by a personable pooch who gives the best canine performance in recent memory ) , a pet the man is determined to keep hidden from the authorities who have declared dogs “impure” in islamic law and therefore subject to confiscation and slaughter .
most films require little or no knowledge on the viewer’s part of the filmmaker’s likeness or personal history . but folks who walk into “closed curtain” unfamiliar with iranian director jafar panahi and his recent travails are sure to find themselves utterly baffled and confounded . a kind of “film a clef , ” the movie ( co - credited to kambozia partovi ) is essentially a psychological self - portrait that depends on the viewer’s knowledge of panahi’s past work and the strange limbo he has existed in since the iranian government banned him from working for 20 years—and then tacitly allowed him to go on making films “in secret . ”
some of that mixture of defiance and whimsy is present in “closed curtain , ” but it is also edged with melancholy and fatigue . when mr . panahi , who turns 54 this week , does show up on screen — it’s his villa , after all , decorated with european posters advertising his films — he looks wearier and older than he did in “this is not a film , ” suggesting that several years of legal struggle and professional limbo have taken a toll . but his creative intelligence is undimmed and may even be thriving under the constraints of having to work in secret with a tiny crew .
grant and his team is awesome ! i used closed curtain for my wedding at the hilton oceanfront sept 2016 . grant was very accommodating in creating a package that fit my needs / wants . all my guests loved the photo booth and it was a big hit ! they all loved that they received a physical copy and a text to post to social media right away . i requested the modern booth since our wedding was formal / semi - formal and it fit right in with the theme . for the services that we received and the price we paid , we definitely got the best deal in town .
about this time you expect panahi himself to make an appearance , and he doesn’t disappoint . the “closed curtain” opens to reveal a mirrored box . as in “this is not a film , ” panahi alludes to his previous movies . in particular , the opening and closing scenes of this film evoke those in “crimson gold . ” they are long shots of the outside as seen through a security gate . in “crimson gold , ” the view is of a chaotic street in tehran . here , it is the empty sea . this difference demonstrates what panahi has been deprived of , and what the world has lost because of it .
panahi’s problems came in the aftermath of his 2000 drama the circle which tackled a number of the complicated issues regarding the oppression of women in contemporary iran , a social critique continued in his 2003 drama - thriller crimson gold which resulted in his ban in 2009 . despite this however , he continues to make films in secret , closed curtain representing his second film made under these restriction . his latest 2015 film named taxi which won the golden bear at the 2015 berlin film festival will be his third . it should be noted however that since the films release , co - director kambuzia partovi and main actress maryam moqadam have been banned from travelling .
but before it burrows into his problems , “closed curtain” provides a reminder that panahi can still tell a compelling story . starting with a wordless prologue and a lengthy opening shot , panahi draws us into the travails of partovi’s paranoid fugitive , who slinks into the vacant home and unleashes his adorable peppy dog from a duffle bag . a silent greek chorus to the struggles surrounding him , the canine bears witness to his owner’s frantic behavior with a tranquility captured in astute closeups ; meanwhile , partovi ventures from one floor to the next , draping each window in black . the task is futile , of course : we can still see him . panahi’s filmmaking continues .
kambuzia partovi flairs well as lead actor and taking up the majority of the screen time . his gandi like appearance helps the film retain attention and even a good 40 minutes as the audience questions and reflect on what he can possibly be doing . however , the moment kambuzia partovi is off the screen , the film falters and eventually fails , as the core and purpose of watching the film seems to be gone . when the best thing in the film is the pouting cute antics of the dog , you know the film lacks character and strength . sometimes , being different and slow doesn’t exactly converts to art house and “closed curtain” feels far too unimportant and uninvolving .
subscribe to trailers : urltoken subscribe to coming soon : urltoken subscribe to indie & film festivals : urltoken like us on facebook : urltoken follow us on twitter : urltoken closed curtain official trailer 1 ( 2013 ) - jafar panahi movie hd an unnamed screenwriter ( kambozia partovi ) arrives at a secluded three - story villa on the caspian sea . he secretly brings along his pet dog named
boy
. dogs are considered unclean under islamic rule and the writer intends to hide
boy
from authorities as he tries to get some writing done . the writer shaves his head to disguise his identity and covers all the windows in the villa with black , opaque material .
‘closed curtain’ touches on similar meta - artistic themes as ‘this is not a film’ . panahi once again appears as a version of himself , and his entrance is breathtaking in the way it both shatters and reconfigures the story we thought we were watching . this is the tale of a man – the writer – who lives so completely with his muses and characters that he slips between reality and fantasy without an anchor to hold him . he’s not even necessarily played by the same person from scene to scene : identity is one of this bracing movie’s most malleable facets . the journey is often challenging , but the rewards – heady , emotional , provocative and invigorating – are endless .
with his extraordinary 2011 documentary ‘this is not a film’ iranian director jafar panahi tackled his house arrest under the repressive iranian government . ( legend has it that the doc was smuggled out of iran on a hard drive baked in a cake . ) now he’s made another masterful , multi - faceted feature under similarly draconian conditions . ‘closed curtain’ begins with an absolutely stunning long shot looking through the barred window of a seaside home . a car pulls up , and two men get out . only one of them ( co - director kambuzia partovi ) enters the house , where he unzips a bag and lets out his pet dog ( a scene - stealer ) , to scamper around .
this could be the start of a mystery , and that word would not be completely out of place as a description of “closed curtain . ” but the narrative puzzles that might animate a more conventional film — who is this woman ? why is she here ? what is the writer hiding from ? what will happen between them ? — soon give way to other , more complicated enigmas . one of these is precisely what kind of movie this is , a question that has special piquancy because jafar panahi , who is credited as a writer and director ( with kambuzia partovi , who plays the writer ) , is under a 20 - year filmmaking ban imposed by the iranian government .
soon a mysterious pair shows up - - a moody young woman ( maryam moghadam ) with a man who might be her brother . they’re on the run from authorities for participating in a beach party . he leaves her to wait with the writer , but she ends up being more ghost than guest in the closed - up house .
in 2011 , shortly after he was banned by the iranian government from making movies for 20 years , jafar panahi pulled off the impossible with “this is not a film , ” a bold , diary - like production shot in the confines of his apartment . given the circumstances , “this is not a film” looked like the only legitimate means that panahi could still manage to produce work . instead , his restless mind has yielded an even more ambitious achievement with the cryptically self - referential “ closed curtain . ” tough to categorize but weighted with meaning , panahi’s latest fascinating defiance of the constraints placed on him illustrates his deep commitment to the art form at all costs — including , perhaps , his own sanity .
berlin announced nine more competition titles today , filling out the official line up for the 63rd berlinale . in addition to the u . s . titles , berlin ' s 2013 competition includes new films by oscar winner danis tanovic , french auteur bruno dumont and , perhaps most astoundingly , a new work from imprisoned iranian filmmaker jafar panahi . panahi ' s closed curtain , co - directed with cafe transit helmer kambozia partovi , will have its world premiere in berlin , as will tanovic ' s an episode in the life of an iron picker and dumont ' s biopic camille claudel 1915 , which stars juliette binoche as the famed french sculptor with jean - luc vincent playing her brother , the poet and diplomat paul claudel .
for all that could be said to be wrong about this film it still holds an impressive runtime . a quiet film , largely devoid of descriptive dialogue , it is most likely that you won’t rate closed curtains highly , nor will you remember it amidst the huge number of films to be released this summer alone , but any followers of panahi and partovi should not deny that closed curtains represents a return from panahi that is more indulgent then ever , transforming the film into an aggressive political comment on the creative restrictions under which he lives , as well as serving as a symbol of his unrelenting perseverance to battle against them , despite lacking the gallantry that can be seen in the circle and crimson gold .
then again : she might be a figment of his imagination , unless both of them are figments of the directors’ . these things might both be true , if the writer is working on a version of the scenario we are watching , and mr . panahi is putting it on film . and yet the director ( if that is what he is ) seems completely oblivious to the other occupants of his house and too preoccupied with mundane matters ( eating lunch , supervising the repair of a broken window ) to be making a film . he is not allowed to do that , anyway , and so he allows “closed curtain” to unfold in an intriguing limbo of deniability , subverting both its own existence and its officially mandated nonexistence .
in 2010 , the iranian government deemed panahi ' s work anti - government propaganda and imposed a 20 - year ban on his filmmaking . panahi , however , carefully circumvented the ban in 2011 with his
this is not a film
( a nod to magritte ' s
this is not a pipe
) and followed it with
closed curtain ,
a film about a group of people being persecuted by government officials . the movie , largely considered to be a critique of the iranian government , incensed iranian officials after it won best screenplay at the berlin film festival . iranian cinema chief and deputy culture minister javad shamaqdari said ,
making these films is illegal ,
according to the isna news agency .
we here at closed curtain dare you to find a company with the amount of diverse props that we offer . we have glasses , hats , wigs , boas , signs , masks , head dresses , chains , guns , blow up radios , pop up sharks , stand up celebrities , noses , stick props for every theme and the list goes on and on . you could literally fill a warehouse with the props that we offer and we only use them one time . we buy them in bulk so you don’t ever have to worry about who wore that mask last or used that fake cigar . we are so obsessed with finding new props that it has literally become a daily task in finding new creative ones . it is also one of our favorite things to do .
closed curtain
starts with a writer ( kambozia partovi ) arriving at a beach house . hidden in his luggage is a dog which the regime in iran is taking a very hard line against . that is depicted by some very graphic news footage , so the writer takes the batteries out of the television so the dog will not be traumatized any more . he also puts up curtains all around the house . that however does not stop siblings reza ( hadi saeedi ) and melika ( maryam moghadam ) from knocking on his door while on the run from the authorities . so , while reza looks for a way out , he leaves behind his sister , while warning about her suicidal tendencies .
closed curtain
is proof positive that you can ' t keep a good man down or a good director from making movies . and it ' s especially impressive considering what jafar panahi has concocted here , a story told on two separate levels of reality , and without an effects shot either . ( i mean yes there are sound effects used in order to emulate action just off camera but those don ' t really count . ) that is done in the most playfully meta way possible to show the iranian authorities and the world at large what kind of movies panahi could make if only he were allowed . except that is exactly the kind of movie he has made , with an emphasis on such iranian taboos as dogs , suicide and unrelated men and women inhabiting the same space . and just remember that it is not showing off if you are this good .
sometimes i ' m not sure which type of audience irritates me more , the typically apathetic popcorn - munching , texting and talking blockbuster crowd , or the clueless art film crowd . while waiting for jafar panahi ' s latest film closed curtain to begin , somewhere behind me off in the distance , in terms both spatial and divorced from reality , i heard someone tell their friend
you know , this was made at a time when filmmaking was banned ,
to which her friend replied ,
yeah i know , this should be interesting .
i wanted so bad to turn around and correct them , to let them know that filmmaking in general is not banned , that the ban was exclusive to panahi , but the dimming house lights made my decision for me . …
“closed curtain , ” as its title suggests , draws on theater as well as film for inspiration . as soon as he arrives , the writer drapes the window in heavy dark cloth , blocking views of sand , sky and water , and turning the house into a black box stage set . the outside world intrudes first in the form of a television news report about the grisly enforcement of a prohibition on dogs in public — the government has declared them “un - islamic” — that may explain the writer’s worry that his pet will slip out the door . then the woman ( maryam moqadam ) arrives , and she and the writer begin an awkward , riddling , asymmetrical cohabitation . he wonders who she is and why she is there , while she seems to know quite a lot about him .


teddy bears ' picnic is a 2002 american comedy film written and directed by harry shearer .

it was released in may 2002 to limited audiences .

shearer has a small role in the film .

it is also kenneth mars ' last film before his death .

teddy bears ' picnic ( film )

annual cheo teddy bears’ picnic june 23 8 a . m . to 2 p . m .
looking for movie tickets ? enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing teddy bears ' picnic near you .
there are no featured audience reviews yet . click the link below to see what others say about teddy bears ' picnic !
ted 2
is no teddy bears ' picnic . and that ' s a big part of its rude charm .
the comic genius of “this is spinal tap” fame talks about corporate corruption , the art of the american apology and his new film , “teddy bears’ picnic . ”
a beyond - lame satire , teddy bears ' picnic ranks among the most pitiful directing debuts by an esteemed writer - actor .
teddy bears picnic was filmed entirely on location in the rural woodlands of the english northampton countryside . the film is produced by hodge , natalie dorn and lauren parker .
teddy bears picnic covers an annual encampment of prominent male leaders at the zambezi glen , a thinly - veiled reference to the bohemian grove .
it ' s fitting that the sociopolitical comedy
teddy bears ' picnic
should arrive in theaters the same day as
national lampoon ' s van wilder ,
as it could carry its own possessory credit :
national public radio ' s teddy bears ' picnic .
[ screenwriter , , film director , , actor , , film producer . ]
bears picnic re - envisions the childhood song as a nightmarish fable that twists the concept of childhood innocence .
inspired by the 1907 melody of the same name , teddy bears picnic re - envisions the childhood song as a nightmarish fable that twists the concept of childhood innocence .
a fun - filled day of family activities awaits you on the grounds of rideau hall during the annual children’s hospital of eastern ontario ( cheo ) teddy bears’ picnic .
hodge has now turned his attentions to the director’s chair with teddy bears picnic , a proof - of - concept short film selected to premiere at this year’s fright fest in london . the film will then be released online shortly after for everyone to see .
bratton , john w . and saddler , frank . and state theatre ( sydney , n . s . w . ) . teddy bears ' picnic [ music ] 1900
bratton , john w . & saddler , frank . & state theatre ( sydney , n . s . w . ) . ( 1900 ) . teddy bears ' picnic .
bratton , john w . & saddler , frank . & state theatre ( sydney , n . s . w . ) . 1900 , teddy bears ' picnic [ music ]
it’s fitting that the sociopolitical comedy “teddy bears’ picnic” should arrive in theaters the same day as “national lampoon’s van wilder , ” as it could carry its own possessory credit : “national public radio’s teddy bears’ picnic . ” written and directed by the indefatigable harry shearer , pic is such a rapid - fire current - events assault — taking sardonic potshots at [ … ]
“there’s nothing approaching ‘saw iii , ’ ” mr . beckman noted , “but if you’re coming to see something freaky and bizarre , you’re not expecting ‘the teddy bears’ picnic . ’ ”
but now tom is now proud to present his first stint in the director ' s chair with ' teddy bears picnic ' , a proof - of - concept short film selected to premiere at this year ' s fright fest in london .
teddy bears ' picnic ,
which shearer wrote , directed and executive produced , opens friday in limited release . he recently spoke with salon about his film , jimmy swaggart , starbucks , linda tripp and the general state of the world .
this is not your kids ' animated teddy bear film . adults will grin and
bear
it , though .
teddy bears ' picnic
is a song consisting of a melody by american composer john walter bratton , written in 1907 , and lyrics added by irish songwriter jimmy kennedy in 1932 . it remains . . . see full synopsis »
teddy bears ' picnic
offers a bleak picture of things . these powerful white men who make a mess of everything - - they ' re not going anywhere , right ? they ' ll have their clubs and groups and continue to make a mess of companies and people ' s lives .
recognizing the potential for parody , shearer wrote and directed
teddy bears ' picnic ,
a low - budget indie set in the fictional zambesi glen . shearer , 58 , shot the film for half a million dollars on high - definition video and cast a bunch of his fellow comics ( michael mckean , fred willard , john michael higgins ) as the glen ' s well - heeled habitues .
{ { citation | title = teddy bears ' picnic [ music ] | author1 = bratton , john w . ( john walter ) , 1867 - 1947 | author2 = saddler , frank | author3 = state theatre ( sydney , n . s . w . ) | year = 1900 | language = no linguistic content } }
stamped : spencer ' s theatrescope co . ; union theatres ltd ; film house library .
dramatic music . | instrumental music - - scores and parts . | silent film music .
set at the fictional zambesi glen resort in the redwood forests of northern california , “teddy bears’ picnic” is inspired by the real bohemian grove resort , a summer camp - style retreat for the super - elite that reportedly has played host to every republican president since herbert hoover ; it’s even credited by some as being the birthplace of the manhattan project .
teddy bears ' picnic
is a limp satire of the bohemian grove , the northern california summer retreat that attracts some of the most powerful men in politics , business and entertainment . harry shearer , who wrote and directed , brings together a host of talented comic actors but never finds much to do with them . the satire is unfocused , while the story goes nowhere .
it’s a pretty common occurrence for actors to go from in front of the camera to being behind it in the director’s chair , but a movie poster artist ? that’s exactly what thomas ‘the dude designs’ hodge , the man behind the most iconic one sheets of the last decade , has decided to do with his directorial debut teddy bears picnic . with a world premiere at horror channel
teddy bears picnic is the first filmmaking venture for hodge , who is also a massive fan of horror and exploitation films from the last four decades on top of being an ace artist . there ' s not a lot of information about the film available , however , the song on which it ' s based features the line ,
if you go down in the woods today / you ' re sure of a big surprise
, which has inspired many a nightmare over the years . hodge expands on this open ended horror in his director ' s statement about the film here :
as a legalistic opening text takes hilarious pains to make clear , harry shearer ' s improvisational satire ' ' teddy bears ' picnic ' ' is in no way concerned with this group of wealthy , potentially litigious individuals . instead , it is about the purely fictional rich and powerful men who gather each year at zambesi glen , a private campground in what looks a great deal like sonoma county , calif .
' ' teddy bears ' picnic ' ' was shot on high - definition video , a medium that invites unrestrained shooting - - why not , when the stock is so cheap and lab work nonexistent ? it is easy to imagine mr . shearer faced with a mountain of wonderful material , and easy , too , to imagine the tremendous labor required to turn it into this fitfully entertaining molehill of a movie . dave kehr
kids can bring their teddy bear for the annual grande parade , starting at 10 a . m . from burlington drive ( by city hall ) and winding up to coquitlam town centre park via pinetree way . and , from 11 a . m . to 4 p . m . , check out the teddy bear picnic with its storytellers , puppet shows and entertainers . admission is free . visit urltoken ( see map below ) .
the uk ' s premiere genre film festival is , without a doubt , horror channel frightfest . a year round series of events that spread the love and passion for horror , frightfest is the place to be for film fans across the united kingdom . frightfest has always been notable for the wildly creative new talents it has introduced to the genre film world , and with the recent announcement of this year ' s shorts film program - curated by our own mistress of the macabre , shelagh rowan - legg - a familiar name among genre film fans takes his first baby steps into filmmaking .
festival coquitlam ' s annual grande parade starts at 10 a . m . on sunday , june 11 on the west side of coquitlam town centre park . grab a seat along pinetree way or town centre boulevard . the teddy bear picnic follows at 11 a . m . in the park .
the tomatometer score — based on the opinions of hundreds of film and television critics — is a trusted measurement of critical recommendation for millions of fans . it represents the percentage of professional critic reviews that are positive for a given film or television show .
the stamped marking on the material indicates the film distribution companies or theatres that owned , used , or distributed the music to other cinemas .
the festival also comprises film workshops , a 50 - year french animation retrospective and discussions with directors . and while the only festival film with an announced theatrical run is “the secret of kells” ( opening in new york next friday ) , mr . beckman said gkids might release others .
he has recently released a documentary about new orleans ,
the big uneasy .
jason berry of aol wrote the following about that film :
mark wahlberg is back as john , the grown - up whose teddy bear grew up , too , and proved to be a real , ahem , bear . not that ted is , ahem , unbearable . macfarlane ' s ted , thanks to superb cgi animation , retains the teddy bear
cuddleability
factor even as ted is spouting foul - mouthed humor .
here at screen anarchy we ' ve been friends and fans of hodge for many years and his enthusiasm for genre films as well as a documented deep understanding of what makes them work makes this a very exciting project for us . we can ' t wait to see it . teddy bear ' s picnic premieres at frightfest on august 28th with an online release to follow .
these frat - boy frolics , as enacted by some of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world , ought to make an ideal target for mr . shearer , who has made a long and fruitful career of combining deadpan comedy and political commentary - - his weekly radio program , ' ' le show , ' ' is now in its 17th year . but while ' ' teddy bears ' picnic , ' ' which opens today at the quad ( 34 west 13th street , greenwich village ) , is occasionally quite funny , too much of it feels unfocused and underdeveloped .
most of the film feels conceived and shot on the fly - - like between lunch breaks for shearer ' s radio show and his simpson voice - overs .
“i ' m very excited to announce my first film project at long last ! ” says tom who has kept the project behind guarded doors during its production . he adds , “it’s great the film is also showing at fright fest in london on the 28th august and with a world - wide online release to follow i hope it’s possible to develop it into a feature” .
21st century genius music production music library track available for licensed use . license quality music for tv , film , advertising , video , broadcast , corporate , trailers , documentary , drama and gaming .
“i can’t tell you how huge this is , ” mr . beckman said in an interview . he praised the nominators for “embracing an independent film” over one “with 20 times the production budget . ”
children ' s tennis , basketball , archery & football competitions , pond dipping , entertainment and 70ft inflatable assault course . fun fain will be open from 3pm village green . bring your own picnic and ice cream van and refreshments will be available .
shearer directed and narrated the documentary feature the big uneasy , which revealed the reasons why new orleans flooded during hurricane katrina . the film received stellar reviews for shearer and his team of experts and whistleblowers .
a : well i can ' t vouch for the authenticity of the source , but i ' ve heard that we ' ve had feelers at our production company saying ,
maybe we should have a showing of the film up there .
i sort of thought ,
eh , maybe later .
i didn ' t want that to be one of the early venues for the film ' s showing .
henri - georges clouzot ' s the wages of fear rolls at 7 : 30 p . m . in the inlet theatre ( 100 newport dr . , port moody ) courtesy of the port moody film society . the french flick scooped the grand prix at the cannes film festival in 1953 . entry is $ 5 for society members ( annual membership of $ 5 is available at the door ) . visit urltoken .
a scene from “the secret of kells , ” a hand - drawn animated film from the irish director tomm moore . an oscar nomination for best animation , it has an unusual hero — a medieval monk trainee .
one of the most intriguing features in the new york international children’s film festival is all about oz . but this place has no dorothy , no wizard , no emerald city . and it’s even farther from kansas .
your film is about a bunch of white men and the havoc they can wreak . it seems pretty timely , given the state of thing like enron , k - mart and global crossing . did you see this all coming ?
midlands movies speaks to local legend thomas hodge aka the dude designs who for years has been respected as one of the best alternative poster designers out there but who now has taken his first steps into making his very own film .
with a world premiere at horror channel frightfest this weekend take a look at the poster below and eerie teaser series . as well as appearing in the short film showcase there will be the chance to experience another layer to the story with a 360 vr experience that combines analog vhs techniques . serving as a proof of concept keep an eye out for the project on the film festival circuit and other spaces as the tale takes root with the intention of expanding to a feature .
if you own a greyhound dog , be sure to join the great global greyhound walk at 11 a . m . in the green space opposite the washrooms by the main parking lot at colony farm regional park in coquitlam . the 4k walk will be followed by a picnic lunch . visit urltoken .
gkids , which recently distributed the acclaimed animated film “sita sings the blues , ” is dedicated to giving other creative choices because , mr . beckman said , “there is an appetite and demand for provocative cinema . ” even for 8 - year - olds .
“ticket sales are up 60 percent over last year , ” said eric beckman , who founded the festival in 1997 with his wife , emily shapiro . “i don’t know why . it’s a good film selection , but i hadn’t expected quite that big a leap . ”
in a weekend in which more than one children’s film festival opens ( see spare times , page 35 ) , mr . beckman’s offers numerous options for those over 10 . in addition to “heebie jeebies” it presents the adolescent shorts programs “flicker lounge” and “girls’ pov . ”
part of the state theatre collection of cinema scores and parts , mainly used for silent movies , but including musical materials associated with talking pictures ca . 1900 - 1950 , used by the state theatre and various film distribution companies throughout australia . some items include performance annotations .
harry shearer , famed voice of the simpsons , saturday night live cast member , radio host of le show , and star of the film this is spinal tap , will accuse the national press of perpetuating media myths in major news coverage at a national press club luncheon on march 14 .
i wanted to take that classic character driven horror concept and develop it for more contemporary tastes , with a strongly stylised visual approach , it was great being able to explore visual metaphors and themes in a new art form ( film ) that i truly love and have always aspired to work in .
“typically , a film plays our audience and then is sucked into a hole because no distributor will handle it , ” he said . the american business model , he added , favors $ 100 million children’s films “that are considered failures if they do under $ 200 million at the box office . ”
written , produced , directed and financed by tom himself , the film stars us actress abby miller ( justified , aquarius & the sinner tv series ) and laurence r harvey ( human centipede 2 + 3 , abcs of death 2 & the editor ) yet was shot entirely in the midlands at welford in northampton .
that is “the secret of kells , ” a feature from the irish director tomm moore . a hand - drawn animated film with an unusual hero — a medieval monk in training , seeking to save the ancient book of kells — it had its american premiere in july as part of the festival’s year - round programming . when the movie’s american distribution deal fell through , gkids , the festival’s film - distribution arm , acquired it and mounted an academy awards campaign , resulting in a nomination for best animated feature . although the festival has shown oscar contenders ( and winners ) before , this is the first time it has owned the rights to one .
many coastal and inland cities in america share sub - sea level status , notes shearer , who was flying out the next day for a screening of the film in ireland .
the new orleans defense system broke because the army corps of engineers , which had charge of the levee system , failed and failed again .
the film revolves around a mother and daughter playing games in the forest but unbeknownst to them there is somebody watching their every move . filmed entirely on location in the rural woodlands of the english northampton countryside , tom describes the short as
a year - long trip in terms of production but seven years of work in total” .
perhaps revealing the sentimental side that draws him to broadway show tunes , macfarlane gives seyfried a nice moment around a campfire as she strums a guitar and sings
mean ol ' moon ,
written by macfarlane and walter murphy , the film ' s composer . macfarlane choreographs a silly dance scene in a library for seyfried et al .
review : at first , it ' s hard to know what to call actor - writer - director harry shearer ' s bizarre film : it doesn ' t meet the minimum number of laughs to qualify as a comedy  two would have clinched it  and it ' s far too asinine to be taken seriously . but if… ( more )
* the milkshake live show will feature 2 milkshake ! presenters . jen , derek , kemi , amy , olivia , curtis and sita may only appear at certain venues . © channel 5 broadcasting limited 2017 . all rights reserved . ©2017 dreamworks distribution limited . all rights reserved . bob the builder™©2017 hit entertainment limited and keith chapman . fireman sam™©2017 prism art & design limited . “little princess” derived from the television series by the illuminated film company and based upon the books by tony ross ( published by andersen press ) . © 2017 the illuminated film company . all rights reserved . © chf pip ! plc 2013 - 2016 , all rights reserved . © wissper ltd . ©winduna enterprises ltd . 2017 . © 2017 viacom international inc . all rights reserved .
denis knows how to film a sex scene for maximum erotic effect , placing the camera close up , an inch or two away from the skin , where a lover ' s eyes would be . but here the love scenes all end in someone screaming . maybe there ' s a metaphor here , but figuring it out wouldn ' t make
trouble every day
any better .
i tried to be . some things are personal . i tried to tell everybody what was going on as much as possible . and to hear their feedback . i can only run things measured by the way i ' d like them run if i were a cog in the machine . i think that whatever people think of the film , most of the people who worked on the film had a nice experience . that ' s not the ultimate measure , but it ' s something you ' d like people to do . especially with comedy . i ' ve never understood people having a bad time making comedy . why would you do that ? one of the prerequisites to making people laugh , it seems to me , is kind of being in an easy , jocular mood yourself .
the artist describes the short as : “a year - long trip in terms of production but seven years of work in total . i opted to self - fund the film for possible development into a bigger feature . i’ve been hands - on throughout , donning many new creative hats to produce , direct , art - direct and edit for the first time . i spent months making props , building creepy woodlands and creating original costumes . ”
another fantastical realm is the subject of “oblivion island” ( ages 7 and older ) , shinsuke sato’s anime film about a girl’s quest to find a keepsake mirror in a land for abandoned , once cherished objects — a sort of afterlife for lost toys and trinkets . and other films seem to defy specific age recommendations , like “turtle : the incredible journey , ” the british director nick stringer’s documentary following a loggerhead for 6 , 000 miles .
at first , it ' s hard to know what to call actor - writer - director harry shearer ' s bizarre film : it doesn ' t meet the minimum number of laughs to qualify as a comedy  two would have clinched it  and it ' s far too asinine to be taken seriously . but if you ' re at all familiar with the rumors surrounding the closely guarded activities at bohemian grove , . . . read more
there ' s hope and there ' s dismay in equal measure . it ' s not a totally dark view of the world . one of the things i was trying to do - - i feel a little presumptuous at even mentioning my little film in the same context - - but i always admired billy wilder ' s ability to create stories that felt like [ they had ] happy endings until you thought about them , and then they weren ' t , really .
minions ,
pg : the minions , breakout
stars
of the animated film ,
despicable me
( 2010 ) , get top billing in the sequel . supervillain scarlet overkill ( voiced by sandra bullock ) and her husband , inventor herb ( jon hamm ) , have yet another plot to take over the world . the voice talent in the comedy includes michael keaton , allison janney , steve carell , steve coogan and geoffrey rush ( as the narrator ) .
independent projects are the heart of the festival , which follows the pattern of film industry events , from an opening - night gala to an awards ceremony and reception . the festival’s grand prizes are determined solely by audiences’ votes . its adult jury — including the filmmakers gus van sant and michel ocelot ; the actors john turturro , susan sarandon , matthew modine and frances mcdormand uma thurman ; and the producers james schamus and christine vachon — gives its own award for the best short .
small children also have plentiful fare . “shorts for tots” includes “electric car , ” an american animation with music by they might be giants , and “short films one , ” for 5 - to - 10 - year - olds , offers the iranian live - action film “the bird that could tell fortunes , ” about a boy and his amazingly clever pet . the french director dominique monfery’s animated feature “eleanor’s secret” ( it’s in english ) explores a library whose fairy - tale characters come to life .
a : no , for two reasons . christopher guest has sort of made that the trademark of his style ever since we did
this is spinal tap ,
and i ' m not desirous of being in a position of copying a friend ' s style . secondly , to be able to do that you need to be able to shoot a lot of film and have a lot of time in the editing room to do the mining for gold that ' s necessary . and our budget was really too low to allow for that .
perhaps most memorable as heavy metal bassist derek smalls in the 1984 mockumentary classic
this is spinal tap ,
the actor , comedian and satirist is also no slouch when it comes to more serious cultural criticism . there ' s his weekly radio program ,
le show ,
writings for the online magazine slate , commentary for programs like
now with bill moyers
- - public television ' s sleeper hit of the season - - and even a brief column in salon . and shearer ' s list of film and tv credits is endless .
it ' s not so much that i saw it coming , but that i see it being . it doesn ' t change really . there was a period last fall when i would watch the movie at film festivals where i thought , maybe people aren ' t ready to see this view of those in power yet . but thankfully that moment has passed . this was conceived some time ago , when it was a different group of people who were messing around like this . it seems like there are always going to be these folks . the show goes on .
in the annals of contemporary film poster art , the name thomas hodge is huge . better known as the dude designs , hodge is the poster artist behind such films as hobo with a shotgun ( 2011 ) , the innkeepers ( 2011 ) , the heat ( 2013 ) , wolfcop ( 2014 ) , the other side of the door ( 2016 ) , and they live . he’s also the author of vhs : video cover art ( 2015 ) , the first book of its kind to comprehensively bring together the artwork on uk vhs covers from the ’80s to the ’90s .
big trouble
revolves around a suitcase containing a nuclear bomb , smuggled from an arsenal of the former soviet union . the russian mafia sells it to a sleazy businessman ( stanley tucci ) , who is robbed of it by a pair of bumbling crooks . ultimately , the suitcase story ropes in the entire cast - - rene russo as an unhappy wife ; dennis farina as a long - suffering hit man , and tim allen as a journalist turned advertising man . it ' s all in fun , and to be fair , there is some fun . the talented cast and the occasional wisecrack keep the film from caving in .
movies and tv shows are certified fresh with a steady tomatometer of 75 % or higher after a set amount of reviews ( 80 for wide - release movies , 40 for limited - release movies , 20 for tv shows ) , including 5 reviews from top critics .
a comic junket behind - the - scenes of the world ' s most exclusive power - broker retreat . the true story : the richest , most powerful white men in america gather each summer in northern california for a super secret retreat that takes them back to their sophomore year in college . for fifty - one weeks a year they run the country . for one week they run amuck . they ' re there to unwind , but they get really unwound when that secrecy is threatened .
pic lacks the development needed for a full - length feature and , following a hilarious opening sequence , it becomes tiresomely one - note .
it is supremely unfunny and unentertaining to watch middle - age and older men drink to excess , piss on trees , b . s . one another and put on a show in drag .
very much like its title , the movie is too cuddly and frolicking to get a satirical grip on its rich and powerful characters , or their real life targets .
the real shame is that such a talented ensemble cast is so badly wasted in this lame attempt at political discourse .
his take on power and corruption is a nuanced one . to shearer , what ' s most compelling about the enrons of the world is that their corruption is largely circumstantial ; give anyone that kind of wealth and the results won ' t be pretty . from the rich down to the poor , we ' re a partially defective species .
that ' s what ' s funny ,
shearer explains .
we wouldn ' t be able to laugh at shakespearean comedy today if we weren ' t the same flawed people that we ' ve been for a long time .
it ' s all about flouting the rules . doesn ' t it seem like everybody lives by that today ?
most people who don ' t have access to power and large amounts of money . those are the two goads to cheat . i thought , when i first started seeing high - money show business , that it was a sort of iron law that the more money on the table , the worse the behavior . i haven ' t been around that much power but i think people , when faced with huge , insane amounts of money and seductive amounts of power , are weak creatures . and the rest of us who aren ' t so tempted find it easier to say ,
oh , no parking here at 9 , ok . i ' ll move my car .
we ' re just the same people put in different circumstances . that ' s the difference between conventional satire , which says ,
ooh , the powerful are bad people ,
and what i think is a more comedic view , which is , if you or i were faced with these temptations and these seductions , we might act just as badly as these folks do .
i think the difference between a better time and this one - - and it ' s strong in my mind because i ' m a part - time resident of a place where it isn ' t true - - can be found in the relative weakness of community at this point in time . the individualist ethic has so triumphed over the community ethic . they should exist in some sort of balance but nothing exists in a balance in american society . either it ' s too much of one thing or too much of another . so we right now have way too much emphasis on
i got mine ,
and way too little emphasis on things that bind communities together .
as i say , i live part - time in new orleans where there is so much more spirit of community that it puts what goes on in the rest of america kind of in dramatic relief . people aren ' t different but the circumstances that they are in as living arrangements tend to either push them toward more of that or less of that .
you see a yearning to get more of that again in these main street - style malls that are being built , which are trying to summon the semblance or a simulacrum of community without actually the essence of it . so there ' s clearly a feeling that we need more of this but we don ' t know how to get it at this point .
let ' s all read the same book
is as close as we can come .
and wear the same clothes , and drink the same coffee . yet you ' ve bemoaned the lack of a starbucks in an airport when you ' re stuck there for an hour and a half waiting for your luggage .
i sure do . because starbucks is not the problem . the problem is the fact that the only place in town where people sit for any length of time and maybe talk to each other is starbucks . that ' s the problem . the problem is that starbucks filled a hole - - starbucks didn ' t invent that hole . there might not be so many starbucks if there were more plazas , if there were places that older cities discovered were good ideas for people to hang out , where they don ' t have to spend $ 3 to get in .
it ' s this weird cycle . it ' s hard to remember back to the beginning of the ' 90s , oddly enough , when everybody was sort of shaking themselves like wet dogs after the go - go cycle of the ' 80s . the materialist , greed - is - good , michael milken - fueled ' 80s saying ,
whew , we ' re not going to do that again .
then within three years , we did it all again , so much bigger and so much grander , at the loss of so much more money to so many more people .
it just makes you kind of tremble at the thought of what lies ahead for us two years from now , when we ' ve kind of shaken this off and gone ,
whew , we ' re not going to do that again .
i think the four least believable words in american public life are ,
once and for all .
when you hear a politician say ,
once and for all ,
you know he ' s lying . it ' s going to happen again .
well , that is the american gift , you know - - to have a short memory . hence , jimmy swaggart can make a comeback . anybody can make a comeback , anybody can make three comebacks in this country . why i like california is because this is the personal reinvention capital of the world . it ' s got the shortest memory span because it ' s got the least things to remember .
start with ted kennedy , that ' s a favorite of the conservatives . jimmy swaggart , who is now a fairly successful gospel singer . jim bakker gets out of jail and goes right back to a ministry . the guys who don ' t do well in this country are the guys who don ' t figure out that you just have to fall on your knees and go ,
i am so sorry .
and then you get to do whatever you want after that .
that ' s sort of the formula . it ' s why , for example , the protestant clergy who misbehave get it , because this is a formula that sort of comes out of the protestant experience , whereas the catholic pedophile priests don ' t get it and end up being protected for years and then reviled . but they never realize , that - - well , pedophilia is not something you can apologize for anyway . whole different category of event . we ' ll drop that . . .
let ' s get back to politics . how about dick cheney having to hand over documents about his energy task force and policies ? a step in the right direction ?
if you live long enough , one of the rewards is to get the privilege of seeing each political cliché mouthed in turn by partisans from each side . so that the same people who were desperately demanding that we know chapter and verse about hillary clinton ' s top - secret healthcare task force are now saying ,
no , no , no , confidentiality , it ' s an important principle .
and vice versa .
it explains why , or it ' s a consequence of the fact that most of our politicians are trained as lawyers . because that ' s exactly what lawyers are trained to do : take this side , all right , now take this side . that ' s what they do . and anybody who thinks that they ' re doing anything else is welcome to bid for some enron stock certificates on ebay , because that is the game .
one of the things i find so unsatisfying about an awful lot of hollywood formula comedies is that they do feel the need to be hopeful . people learn stuff and people change and people get better and they learn to hear each other and talk to each other and understand one another . i don ' t know what ' s funny about that . i know what ' s funny about that as a premise , which is that it ' s ludicrous . i don ' t know what ' s funny about the resulting work .
to me what ' s funny is how flawed we are , that ' s what ' s funny . and you know , we wouldn ' t be able to laugh at shakespearean comedy today if we weren ' t the same flawed people that we ' ve been for a long time . shakespeare was drawing on a lot of the same stuff as the comedies of ancient greece . it ' s hard to resist the idea that we ' re the same flawed people that we ' ve always been . so to sell fake hope about us changing is the funniest thing of all .
what new york went through , it has this in equal measure . you ' re surprised by the ability of people to just pitch in and help in difficult times , and then you ' re surprised or dismayed by the ability of people to wrangle about ,
well , they ' re getting more money than we are ,
immediately afterwards . and both things are true . it ' s an imperfect view of the species to insist that we ' re only one or the other .
but isn ' t it distressing that not even something of the magnitude of sept . 11 would make us stick with the good and not veer to the bad ?
i think it ' s amazing that in the face of something so bad the good immediately is the first thing to come out . it takes people about a week to figure out , let ' s make t - shirts out of this .
i don ' t think it ' s
poor pitiful us .
as i say , i do think the comedic view of this is that if we were subject to their temptations and their seductions most of us would act exactly the way they do . they ' re us and we ' re them . that ' s what makes it comedy and not stick figure satire in my mind - - it ' s not
they ' re evil and we ' re good and we ' re corrupted by them .
they ' re us in different circumstances . like linda tripp said :
i ' m you !
the people that inspire me more often than not are artists who keep on plugging away despite the lack of great commercial success . i take great strength from the fact that , jesus , if they can keep going , what the hell do i have to complain about ? that functions more as a beacon for me than a guy who runs a company . that ' s so much more of a foreign environment to me . it doesn ' t relate as much to what i have to do every day , so it doesn ' t have exemplary power for me .
the one place where i feel some degree of resonance with them is directing . when all is said and done and you ' ve had all the great ideas , directing is an exercise in management . so people who have interesting ideas about managing people , i relate to that because i think a lot about the task of managing people on a movie set . you have to get a bunch of different people with different crafts and different ways of looking at the world and basically who speak different languages - - all of them stemming from english - - to kind of do what you want them to do most of the time , and also to share with you their questions and their thoughts in a reasonable way . that ' s a management task . that ' s about the most i can empathize with the corporate guys .
in movies , too , there are directors who feel that it ' s important to hold information close and there are directors who feel that it ' s important to distribute information widely . and i think that ' s sort of the template for good and bad managers in corporations . you know , people who jealously guard information and keep little fiefdoms , as opposed to people who believe that , you know . . . george w . bush keeps preaching the idea when he goes abroad , that
we love transparency .
but it ' s more in the preaching than in the doing among his circle , i fear . bob dole used to bellow ,
where ' s the outrage ?
and i used to bellow ,
where ' s the transparency ?
dimitra kessenides is a new york writer and a senior editor at jd jungle magazine .
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for fifty - one weeks a year , they run the country . for one week , they run amok .
i didn ' t catch this in the movie theater - i was discouraged by the slam in the sf paper , and it came and went in the blink of an eye - but i was surprised to find it on dvd yesterday , and took a chance . my friends and i are glad i did - it was a hoot ! . it seems the movie was heavily edited - some potential subplots fizzled out - but what is left is still a funny , fine satire of the news media , of the b . c . . . . and anything with harry shearer is certainly worth 90 minutes . it won ' t change your life - but hey , relax , it ' s a decent movie . . . . just rent it !
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each july , the members of the ultra - exclusive bohemian club - - including captains of industry , leaders of government and major media figures - - gather for an all - male weekend of secret revels in bohemian grove , a private campground in sonoma county , calif . though the proceedings are kept strictly confidential , the weekend is said to offer speeches , seminars , mock pagan pageantry and the highest level networking available on the planet .
mr . shearer ' s zambesians - - who include gifted comics like fred willard as a dimwitted senator , henry gibson as a silver - fox industrialist , michael mckean as the chancellor of a university and george wendt as an air force general in charge of procurement - - do indeed indulge in speeches , seminars and mock pagan pageantry . but they also find plenty of time to throw back brain - rattling cocktails , scamper naked through the woods , strap on their garter belts for the annual drag musical and pay furtive visits to the prostitutes who have set up shop in the motel across the lake .
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“i love horror as a genre for its pure unabashed creativity . it gives you a wider scope to create unique characters and settings . what are nightmares if not essentially creative ? i particularly loved the creativity of high concept horror in the ’70s and ’80s – from the films of charles band to the pulp horror novels of guy n . smith . so i wanted to take classic character - driven horror and develop it to suit contemporary tastes , with a strongly stylized visual approach .
i’m very grateful to have been able to work alongside a very talented group of people to help realise the world of tbp on the screen for the first time . there really are too many to mention here , unfortunately ! but i was particularly honoured to have abby miller come over from the us . i loved her in ‘justified’ playing the role of ellen may . and my friend the truly unique and iconic actor laurence harvey . plus an incredibly young 6 year old actress lorelei winterfrost . i had some apprehensive comments about working with child actors but i can honestly say she was more well behaved than the adults .
i also had the invaluable input of an amazing dp james fox and the help / support from my co - producer natalie dorn , who also sacrificed a year for production . a musical score by sophie galpin ( pins - band ) and sound design by todd freeman ( cell count & love sick ) . along with my co - writer russell norris . ‘
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a mother and daughter , playing games in the forest . somebody ' s watching . somebody ' s waiting . if you go down to the woods today , you ' re sure of a grim surprise .
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this is the directorial debut of thomas hodge better known as ' the dude designs ' poster artist behind ; hobo with a shotgun ( 2011 ) , the innkeepers ( 2011 ) , the heat ( 2013 ) , wolfcop ( 2014 ) , the other side of the door ( 2016 ) and they live . he ' s also the author of vhs : video cover art ( 2015 ) , the first book of its kind to comprehensively bring together the artwork on uk vhs covers from the ' 80s to the ' 90s .
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