The kind of place where you know everyone and everyone knows you — that’s how the residents of Butte, Montana describe their sleepy hometown in “Zulu Summer.” A lot of towns fit that description, but not too many have hosted foreign delegations from the Zulu tribe. Joseph Litzinger and Eric Michael Schrader’s documentary, which just had its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, follows the stranger-than-fiction story of Prince Siboniso Zulu’s quest to learn more about America by visiting the heartland all the way from his own home of Nongoma, South Africa — a summer-long stay made even more notable by how long it took his eventual hosts to realize he was being serious about it.
Neither location jumps out as either a tourist destination or cultural hotspot, with Butte’s residents being the first to tell you that few visit the town of 34,000 unless they...
Neither location jumps out as either a tourist destination or cultural hotspot, with Butte’s residents being the first to tell you that few visit the town of 34,000 unless they...
- 2/13/2019
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 34th edition, which takes place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. Sixty-three world premieres will debut at the California fest, which is also hosting 59 U.S. premieres from 48 countries. “Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy” will open the festival, with “Spoons: A Santa Barbara Story” closing it.
Sbiff also serves as an awards-season stop, and this year’s honorees include Viggo Mortensen, Glenn Close, Melissa McCarthy, Yalitza Aparicio, Sam Elliott, Elsie Fisher, Claire Foy, Richard E. Grant, Thomasin McKenzie, John David Washington, Steven Yeun, and Michael B. Jordan.
Here’s the lineup:
Babysplitters, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Sam Friedlander
Better Together, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Isaac Hernández
The Bird Catcher, Norway, UK – World Premiere
Directed by Ross Clarke
Cemetery Park, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Brandon Alvis
Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy,...
Sbiff also serves as an awards-season stop, and this year’s honorees include Viggo Mortensen, Glenn Close, Melissa McCarthy, Yalitza Aparicio, Sam Elliott, Elsie Fisher, Claire Foy, Richard E. Grant, Thomasin McKenzie, John David Washington, Steven Yeun, and Michael B. Jordan.
Here’s the lineup:
Babysplitters, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Sam Friedlander
Better Together, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Isaac Hernández
The Bird Catcher, Norway, UK – World Premiere
Directed by Ross Clarke
Cemetery Park, USA – World Premiere
Directed by Brandon Alvis
Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy,...
- 1/12/2019
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Movies based on plays always face the same judgment: Does the movie actually feel like a movie, or does it just feel like a filmed play?
Interestingly, the short film Uncorked, directed by Eric Michael Schrader, is not based on a play, but it faces the same issue. Essentially just a 40-minute long rant by a character played by Phil Hall, the film barely breaks out of its strict confines of having the main character sitting on a park bench for its full runtime.
As the only speaking role in the entire movie, Hall is superb, able to maintain a consistent, oftentimes very funny, persona. Mostly known as a writer — as a regular columnist for Film Threat and the author of several books about film — Hall also wrote the monologue. More than that, though, he has crafted a very detailed backstory for his character, allowing him to flow freely from one cranky anecdote to another.
Interestingly, the short film Uncorked, directed by Eric Michael Schrader, is not based on a play, but it faces the same issue. Essentially just a 40-minute long rant by a character played by Phil Hall, the film barely breaks out of its strict confines of having the main character sitting on a park bench for its full runtime.
As the only speaking role in the entire movie, Hall is superb, able to maintain a consistent, oftentimes very funny, persona. Mostly known as a writer — as a regular columnist for Film Threat and the author of several books about film — Hall also wrote the monologue. More than that, though, he has crafted a very detailed backstory for his character, allowing him to flow freely from one cranky anecdote to another.
- 3/22/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.