Shoplifters

As the movie opens we see three generations of a family living together in very cramped quarters. The son and his father have a very unique way of shoplifting to support the family. But suddenly a young girl joins the family and it isn’t until the son is caught stealing that we realize we haven’t been watching a “normal” family at all. When the background of the various characters is revealed you have to question what a “family” really is. It was a good movie and that little girl tore my heart out from the moment I saw her.

Becoming Astrid

The movie opens with the elderly character of Astrid Lindgren (author of the Pippi Longstocking stories) opening birthday cards from children. She is surrounded by bags and bags of what we can only assume is fan mail. But the movie reverts to a much younger Astrid and details parts of her life from a teenage pregnancy through to her finally claiming and bringing home her illegitimate son. The movie was well done but it ends before she even begins her writing career.

Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes

I knew going into this that I probably wouldn’t enjoy it much but this first film of the festival came with an opening night gala – entertainment, snacks and booze. I don’t enjoy jazz and I admit I snoozed through some of the film. It wasn’t all for naught though. One of the scenes showed a photo of a man wearing a knitted sweater and the pattern looked to me like the Tumbling Block quilt pattern I intend to make for Dylan. Sure enough, when I googled it at home I found an afghan pattern for tumbling blocks!

I was looking forward to this movie and, even though it was a dark and rainy night, I headed out alone to see it. I arrived fifteen minutes before showtime and the box office line-up was out to the sidewalk and up the hill. I’ve never seen that except during the film festival when they have a line for pass holders, a line for ticket holders and a general admission line.

I couldn’t help but compare this screening to the 1976 version with Barbra Streisand/Kris Kristofferson; I’m afraid this one came up short. I didn’t sense any chemistry between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, although I have to say Cooper looked as good in the role as Kristofferson did. Perhaps I don’t remember the ’76 version as well as I should but the plot in this seemed rushed. There were no memorable music numbers to compete with Evergreen.

It has been so long between movies I entirely forgot that I should be telling you what we’ve seen.

A father, a Vietnam veteran, and his daughter are living in a tent in a park in Portland. They are very self-sufficient, foraging for food and making a trek (by foot) to the city once a week for additional supplies. The father runs periodic drills teaching his daughter how to hide, leaving no tracks that could lead to discovery. One day a hiker spots the daughter and the authorities eventually catch up with them. The film focuses on the difficulties both the father and daughter have adapting to a “normal” life.

The movie is based on a book (that critics say is reminiscent of The Room) and I’ve added it to my list.

These Cinematheque movies seldom disappoint.

This had an all-star cast and I think it should have been better than it was, but maybe that’s just me. I’m not a Diane Keaton fan and her character was all Diane Keaton. Although I really like Jane Fonda I’ve come to see that she isn’t a great actress. I’ve not seen much with Mary Steenburgen but I don’t think she was extraordinary in her role here. The one that gets all the stars, for me, was Candice Bergen. I hadn’t realized before going into the move that the book they were reading was Fifty Shades of Grey (and the sequels); that added a bit of fun to the mix.