Headless Woman opens August 19th, 2009 (limited)
After only three features, Lucrecia Martel has firmly established herself as one of world cinema's most distinctive visionaries. Following up on her subliminally atmospheric LA CIENAGA and THE HOLY GIRL, Martel goes even deeper into cinematic obliqueness with THE HEADLESS WOMAN. The story concerns Veronica (Maria Onetto), who accidentally hits something while driving one day. To the viewer, it appears to be a dog, but Veronica is unable to shake the fear that she killed a young boy. As the days wear on, she has trouble recalling even the most basic details of her life, to the point where she appears to be suffering from amnesia. Or is she simply trying to deny the truth about what really happened? All signs point to her being in the clear, yet just when she begins to feel okay another mysterious coincidence arises that makes her doubt herself once again.
Martel challenges viewers in a way that will cause many to scratch their heads, but this is clearly calculated behavior on her part. By using clever sound design and exquisitely framed images, she creates a palpable tension that makes THE HEADLESS WOMAN feel like a most unlikely thriller. She is also driven by a desire to expose the horrific divides in Argentina's class system, making the film as much a work of social commentary as a fine example of thought-provoking entertainment. THE HEADLESS WOMAN is a film that demands multiple viewings to break through its mysterious surface.
Martel challenges viewers in a way that will cause many to scratch their heads, but this is clearly calculated behavior on her part. By using clever sound design and exquisitely framed images, she creates a palpable tension that makes THE HEADLESS WOMAN feel like a most unlikely thriller. She is also driven by a desire to expose the horrific divides in Argentina's class system, making the film as much a work of social commentary as a fine example of thought-provoking entertainment. THE HEADLESS WOMAN is a film that demands multiple viewings to break through its mysterious surface.
Art & Copy opens August 21st, 2009 (limited)
The advertising industry in America exists in a paradox--while it's all but impossible to go a day without being exposed to the work of leading figures in the advertising business, very little is known about the people behind the ads and the process by which they're created. Filmmaker Doug Pray offers a rare look inside the business of advertising in the documentary ART & COPY, in which he profiles a number of the most respected men and women in the ad game as they talk about their work, their motivations, and their views on the creative process. Pray's interview subjects include Lee Clow, who created memorable television spots for Apple's Macintosh computer and later their iPod MP3 player; Rich Silverstein and Jeff Goodby, who gave new life to the dairy industry with the "Got Milk?" campaign; Hal Riney, who helped put Ronald Reagan in the White House with his "Morning in America" TV spot; George Lois, who remade popular culture by coining the slogan "I Want My MTV"; and Mary Wells, the first woman to run a major ad agency and the creator of the "I (heart) New York" campaign. Sponsored in part by the One Club, an organization dedicated to excellence in advertising, ART & COPY received its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Five Minutes of Heaven opens August 21st, 2009 (limited)
DOWNFALL’s Oliver Hirschbiegel directs Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt in this drama about the enduring pain of loss and guilt. Decades ago, a young boy watched his brother gunned down by a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force in Northern Ireland. Now an adult, he (Nesbitt) has the opportunity to take vengeance against his brother’s murderer (Neeson), who has never forgiven himself for his past sins.
X Games 3D: The Movie opens August 21st, 2009 (limited)
Captures the drama and spectacle that play out every year at the X Games events, highlighting the behind-the-scenes stories of the featured athletes and the sacrifices they make in pursuit of glory and the advancement of their sports on the industry's biggest stage.
