by Anastasia Lin
(The maestro of the “lost continent” continues to astonish those of us “out there in the dark” with the hidden treasures of French film noir. His “keeper” Anastasia Lin captures his latest discovery—the “Goth Girl” of 1940s French cinema getting her centennial close-up at a “one night stand” on Thursday, July 26 at the Roxie in San Francisco.
The first Jewish Film Festival started in San Francisco 38 years ago. Each year has grown as audiences make discoveries filled with controversy, laughter and tears.
EatDrinkFilms is proud to co-present five films at this year’s San Francisco Jewish Film Festival 38, July 19- August 5, 2018 in San Francisco, Albany, Oakland , Palo Alto and San Rafael.
We offer our readers a discount on all regular priced $15 screenings.Use the promo code: EATDRINK38 for $13 tickets.
Niles then and now. Find out more about the making of Chaplin’s THE CHAMPION at Silent Locations.
As is often the case, film lovers in the San Francisco area have tough choices to make the weekend of July 20-22, 2018 as Charlie Chaplin Days celebrate its second weekend in Niles, California.
by Frako Loden
Photo courtesy of Festival de San Sebastian
This past week has been an exhilarating and deeply moving experience for me as I’ve explored the films of French director Jacques Becker for the first time. For my teacher I have another French writer/filmmaker, Bertrand Tavernier (Coup de Torchon, Life and Nothing But, The Princess of Montpensier), whose 2017 documentary My Journey Through French Cinema has been an absolute gift.
In connection with the terrific Tribute to the films of Jacques Becker being presented at the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive, we present a gallery of clips, trailers and posters from his movies.
Followed by several fine long essays about his films.
Action!
By Deborah Kaufman
(As the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival 38 approaches, Founder Deborah Kaufman remembers Aleksander Askoldov.)
It was the time of glasnost and perestroika, the last chapter of Soviet history. Of over 140 films banned by authorities under the Communists, the 1967 film COMMISSAR, directed by Aleksandr Askoldov, was the last film waiting to be rehabilitated. At the 1987 Moscow Film Festival, in a public confrontation with authorities, filmmakers and delegates from the San Francisco International Film Festival demanded to free the film “from prison” after its 20 years on the shelf. Under pressure the officials relented and the film was finally screened to a standing ovation, hailed as a masterpiece, and went on to worldwide distribution and international acclaim.
