CHRISTMAS, AGAIN ****
It’s that time of the year again, when everybody gathers to celebrate and exchange gifts. Although the season represents a joyful and pleasant time, the holidays will be tough for a young guy working as a Christmas’ tree salesman. The emotional disturbance on his behavior, the melancholy in his eyes and his careless attitude is evident since the opening, and clarified when one of his eccentric customers announce that the holidays will be “even harder without his partner”. The partner is an unknown woman, with whom he worked before, but clearly is the reason for his solitude. This aspect of loneliness is demonstrated with a quiet anxiety by actor Kentucker Audley, turning out to be a breakthrough performance, highly affectionate and sensitive. It’s impossible not to be compassionated about his character, although not much is revealed about his past, it’s evident he’s trying to put together the broken pieces while he’s parked on his trailer somewhere among the crowds of New York City. He spends the hours informing several Christmas’ trees buyers of their importance, as a metaphoric form of guidance for people seeking their way out; he also must deal with his not-so-enthusiastic co-worker who’s been taking over all the space in the trailer with his fiancée, making things a bit harder for the heartbroken protagonist. Somehow, unexpectedly, he finds a woman passed out in a park bench and brings her home; when she recovers, she returns to show gratitude and they develop a tender friendship while delivering Trees in the area, which will bring enlightenment to the people the young pair visit and to themselves. An acclaimed selection at this year’s New Directors/New Films Festival, New Jersey-born First-time writer-director Charles Poekel tasteful and fresh narrative emerges as both hilarious and efficiently dramatic. The story of a lonesome youngster trying to avoid the joy of the holidays, works perfectly as a form of resurrecting Christmas significance. Director Poekel captures moments of urbane sensibility through his protagonist, with incredible honesty, rarely seen in portraits about the streets of New York. It’s an accomplished and utterly compelling debut. (Runs December 3-9 at MoMA-Museum of Modern Arts, NYC)
JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE ****
Director Amy Berg and producer Alex Gibney delve into the amazing and troubled life of one of the greatest iconic figure the world has ever seen- and listened to. Born in Texas, Janis moved to San Francisco early in the 60’s, escaping from her family and bullying community and started pursuing her singing aspirations. She became the voice for The Big Brothers Band, and got a record deal with Columbia in New York 1968, conquering fame and also drug-addiction, which lead her to her death in 1970. Energized by her humble determination and brilliant musical performances, the film gathers pieces of her diary, interviews with family members, collaborators and rock stars, to recount the journey of a rock legend amidst a period of revolution and self-awareness. (Opens Friday in NYC and December 4th in LA)
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