Got up around 8 to get ready for a breakfast get-together at an apartment Roger and Chaz were staying at. We FFC were told to meet at the front of The Illini Union before getting there. And who did I see there? Lo and behold my dear friend Wael Khairy.
How odd it is to say that. I had met him just last night, but feel that I've known him all my life. I gave him a big brotherly hug, exclaiming, "You made it!" All week each of us kept on mentioning with each memorable moment, "If only Wael were here to see this." But everyday we would here from Chaz that there was still a chance he could make it. Last night we were told he would, and we were really happy that the far flung correspondents would all be here.
At last night's party, I asked him if he had gotten any sleep, as my own journey to get here involved 19 hours of travel time and 10 hours of stop over time. He told me that he hadn't slept in more than 24 hours and was exhausted. But it didn't show. I'm sure he was happy, but he looked more in stunned disbelief. I could only smile knowing how much happier it was going to get for him.
Only a select few were invited for breakfast, but it felt just as packed as last night's party. Though there were people all around, it felt a lot more intimate. Something about mornings seem to bring out the warmest among us during Ebertfest. Probably because we had our rest.
Grace and I would chat more about Asian cinema with David Bordwell. Two other Michaels, Barker and Tolkin, seemed to be wheeling and dealing. Two Kims, Morgan and Voynar, both immensely readable film bloggers, were seen chatting it up (the former showcasing one of her beautiful coats). Tom Dark got a chance to mix it up with Charlie Kaufman, and told me a very nice story revealing just how nice a man Mr. Kaufman really is. Carol Iwata, Roger and Chaz's, personal assistant, got to showcase her "Midwestern Japanese" with Mr. and Mrs. Takita and their translator, with funny results.
I got to meet AP film critic Christy Lemire for the first time, and told her how very much I admired her moviegoing efforts involving her very first three month old son Nicholas. We compared notes, noting that when me and my wife had our first born, we stopped going to the movies completely for 2 years. I also got to meet Betsy Hendrick, Roger's very close friend and one of the major patrons of his film festival. She's very a warm and kind lady, frequently chatting with us whenever she had the chance. I'd say her enthusiasm for the FFC was as deep as Roger's. Without her, none of this would would have been possible.
It was nice seeing my fellow FFC mingling around. Picture-taking abounded. Vincent P. Falk's wordplay even more so. Ali Arikan was working the room like a pro, making a naughty photo-op remark that left me in stitches. Roger introduced his sketching prowess by showing his illustration for this year's Ebertfest logo as well as another used in for the Hawaii Film Festival. But the highlight of the morning was seeing Wael finally meeting Roger. I felt so much for him.
So it was time to go for the day's first of four screenings. Four. All I could think was whether I would be able to get through all of them. I was intent on doing so, since tomorrow only had one screening and I could get my rest then. As Chaz started the day's proceedings we knew what would come next. Wael got introduced to the audience who knew of his quest to attend Ebertfest. The crowd roared, Wael was enraptured, the circle was complete.
We started off with I CAPTURE THE CASTLE, an adaptation of Dodie Smith's novel of the same name, which tells the tale of an eccentric family, struggling with 1930s life in an old English Castle, as seen through the eyes of its protagonist, Cassandra.
It didn't work for me. I consider myself an anglophile, but something within me just kept on seeing it as contrived, a quality that kept me from fully buying into its emotional conflicts. It isn't a bad picture, and many times it can be entertaining and even touching, but I couldn't fully accept it having seen many works of the same nature yet better telling. Perhaps it would have worked better for me if I had read the novel.
Fortunately, the film's Q&A gave me some hope. IndieWire film critic Lisa Rosman mentioned how much she loved the film, noting that it shows a teenager actually dealing with love for the first time. So many film these days tend to show young people knowing exactly how to deal with this important moment (or not knowing how to deal with it all), but very few try and show those who are unsure, and how they navigate its questions. Listening to her, I think I need to see CASTLE once more.
Nell Minow, also known as Beliefnet's Movie Mom, moderated the panel. She's another wonderful movie soul that I've met here. For the past day or so she has sat in the same row that me, Omer, Omar, and Seongyong sit at, and she's always been game when we all start sharing our opinions. She's also a real blast when she really dislikes a film. Don't get her started on LOVE HAPPENS.
The next film shown was VINCENT: A LIFE IN COLOR which chronicles the life of Vincent P. Falk, Chicago's literally "colorful" character known for his striking suits, stealing the spotlight from TV shows to the Chicago marathon.
I saw Vincent at the Illini Union a day before the festival started. I recognized him right away and told the hotel manager, "That's the suit guy!" When I was introduced to him at our Meet N' Greet two days ago, I have to admit that I was a bit uncomfortable. He was always popping corny jokes and shouting "Oooooooh!" with some witty retort. But then I had already pre-judged him, thinking he was mentally challenged.
Then I saw the film, which completely changed the way I feel about him now. The film's director Jennifer Burns goes to remarkable lengths to show his background, profiling his upbringing, family, friends, work, and love of showmanship, revealing someone who has found, as Billy Crystal would say, "that one thing" to being happy. Despite being totally blind in one eye, and near as much with the other, he made his living comfortably as a programmer, which explains how he can afford all of his suits.
I was quite moved by the movie and mentioned to Jennifer afterwards that I thought her film was such a gift. I also told her I was guilty of the very biases which the film brings up, and greatly appreciated what she and Vincent did. When I got the chance to see Vincent, I told him the same, said that I was sorry, and that I'd never pre-judge anyone like that again. We chatted a bit and he told me that he specialized in COBOL. I told him I used to program in that language too. What are the chances of two COBOL VIPs at Ebertfest?
Two down, two to go. The third film was James Mottern's TRUCKER, which tells the story of Diane, a lady truck driver, played Michelle Monaghan, who hauls sixteen-wheelers for a living. She prefers to live a solitary life, with responsibility solely to herself, which clashes with the realities of her dying ex-husband, her estranged son, and a blossoming relationship with a longtime friend. Next to Tilda Swinton's portrayal of JULIA, Michelle's performance was the most fearless of last year.
There are a lot of pretty girls in Hollywood who need to play the same tired old roles mainstream Hollywood expects of them. Very few are willing to take on challenging parts which can possibly spoil their marketability and eventual financial success. Which makes Michelle Monaghan's turn here all the more remarkable. One of Hollywood's loveliest ladies, most people remember her for roles in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3 or MADE OF HONOR, yet miss out on her work in NORTH COUNTRY and GONE BABY GONE. Though she has done impressive work in the last two I mentioned, they both give no inkling of her range and depth which she displays in TRUCKER. She's earned one more fan in me.
Finally a dinner break, but no food for me just yet. I've just been informed that there'll be a "Post-fest" party, so I might as well eat there instead. I get to interact with Omar Moore a bit more and realize how much energy he has. Before Roger named him one of the FFCs, he was already blogging movie reviews at his website The Popcorn Reel, while maintaining law and photography practices. I find him a valuable resource when it comes to the inner workings of Hollywood since he has the insider access. Did I mention that though he works in L.A., he resides in S.F.? Which means his daily air-commute takes more time than it has to. Yet, talking with him reveals no such weariness. His accent is James Bond suave but his gestures are demonstrative. This is one dude I'll miss once this event is over.
Ah, the final screening of the night: BARFLY. A semi-autobiographical film about a few days in the life of poet/author Charles Bukowski. It's a truly American film in that it captures the grungy, booze-filled aura of seedy bar towns of Los Angeles, a subculture of America that I am quite unfamiliar with. The sunken, desperate air which permeates the film cannot sink Mickey Rourke's character of Henry (the Bukowski persona), whose intoxicated outlook feels strangely blissful.
The film has to be seen to be believed, as most films about alcoholics I've seen tend to be depressing. And to some extent BARFLY is depressing, but not in Henry's company. Its director Barbet Schroeder, who thankfully made it to Ebertfest, was a great admirer and eventual friend of Charles Bukowski, and it shows in his loving yet unflattering light of his protagonist. Henry is bloodied, intoxicated, and sometimes lost, but at the same time, wistful, content, and yes, happy.
After the Q&A it's one final stop to Betsy Hendrick's home for the final Ebertfest party, and of all the gatherings we've had, it was the most packed. And the throng was of course nearest the dining table, where those small burgers were heavenly (Angus beef!).
I met a couple who were trying to get their documentary film made about a World War 2 veteran who served in the Pacific. I offered them my contact details in case they needed any help finding resources in the Philippines. A met Troylene Ladner and her husband Aaron who also helped sponsor the Festival. But mostly I hung around my FFC friends, feeling most comfortable around them. I had a nice long chat once more with Tom Dark about family, kids, and his horses. Yes, he raises horses on his ranch (he's got the hay in his 4x4 to prove it).
I got the chance to catch Betsy and thank her for her hospitality, before I headed back to the hotel at around 3am. God bless her for helping this day become a reality.
Michael,
I'm speechless at how thoughtful you are. I'm touched and it's an honor to have you as a friend. As usual, your Ebertfest blog entries are pitch-perfect.
Whenever one of you tells me how I'd come up in your conversations as in "if only Wael were here to see this" or Chaz updating you with my progress, I can't help but feel this circle of friendship that was formed may very well be the best thing that happened to me all year.
Meeting you and chatting about everything from the films on your laptop to the history of Egypt from Nasser to Sadaat, and your lovely tales about how you saw your first Miyazaki film, as well as the many background similarities suddenly connected during our conversations was simply an honor.
I hope we meet again soon. It simply has to happen.
Best Regards,
Wael Khairy
Mike: Damn right! :)
You're a top notch writer, Mr. Mirasol!
I second Tom's comment, and I eagerly await the conclusion. In fact, these remembrances are so good, I think I'm suffering from Ebertfest withdrawal, and I didn't even go!
That will be corrected next year. Otherwise, I have a feeling that Wael will kidnap me and bring me to Ebertfest in his carry-on. ;-)
Literary Dreamer is coming to Ebertfest. Whether he likes it or not :)
COBOL, COBOL, COBOL.... that takes me back to middle(or grammar) school years where I learned extremely little about computer languages including Linux and C language and others..... That was the time when I was a....
We all had a great time during Ebertfest, Michael, and I'm waiting for your next writing.
P.S.
1. I checked your Twitter page out of curiosity: thank you.
2. My thought on what you said about Trumph Tower: you didn't see UIC buildings on Halstead St. At least Trumph tower can be regarded as an excessive eyesore.
LMAO! Wael, you're a funny man. :-)
Now I've completely forgotten what I was going to write about....
Oh right! Is Christy Lemire wearing a Hartford Whalers sweatshirt? If so, is she originally from Connecticut?