AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910) will be hosting the 12th annual New African Film Festival, showcasing African films from ALL corners of the continent. Below is info re: the 2 films that I’m MOST interested in seeing. (FYI: Opening Night films usually sell out quickly, so try to get tickets early!) I may have to go see it SUN.
Friday, March 11 – Opening Night/Reception (7:15 PM) & Sunday, March 13 (4:45 PM)
Yared Zeleke’s remarkable feature debut tells the story of young Ephraim, a half-Jewish Ethiopian boy who is sent by his father to live among distant relatives after his mother’s death. Ephraim uses his cooking skills to carve out a place among his cousins, but when his uncle decides that his beloved sheep must be sacrificed for the next religious feast, he will do anything to save the animal and return home.
Saturday, March 12 (7:15 PM) & Wednesday, March 16 (7:15 PM)
A recovering addict, Teddy drives his cab across the sprawling Addis Ababa, in the hopes of making an honest living. But when Teddy picks up the beautiful prostitute Fere, just as she’s escaping an abusive john, he’s thrust back into the world of trouble he tried to escape. After an act of retribution, which leaves Teddy’s cab stolen, he joins forces with Fere in the hopes of saving both their lives. As romance blossoms between the two outsiders, they learn the hard way that love comes with a price.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock (5599371dv) Kerry Washington 88th Annual Academy Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, America – 28 Feb 2016
Kerry Washington
The star of ABC’s hit Scandal was one of the FEW high profile black actresses who didn’t boycott the Oscars this year (#OscarsSoWhite); however, at least one fashion critic said that this gown may actually be a sort of protest (noting that the leather top reminds the viewer of Beyonce’s Formation performance at the recent Super Bowl). We know that a woman w/ Kerry’s figure and confidence can wear almost anything and pull it off, BUT this dress is NOT quite worthy of the red carpet.
Rachel McAdams
Hmmm… I LOVE this color, but the Spotlight actress’ gown comes off as too skimpy (on the sides) and simple for the Oscars. And that train could’ve been hazardous!
Cate Blanchett
We know that the star of Carol ALWAYS has interesting gowns (made by Armani), BUT the color is too light (for her complexion). A few style experts commented that there is a BIT too much going on- feathers made into flowers AND the sparkly beading. I thought it looked good from afar.
Rooney Mara
I liked the intricate leaf detail on this gown, BUT that’s about it. The exposed stomach and the lower half of the dress are NOT working for her; but, the Carol actress is still young.
Charlotte Rampling
The 45 Years actress (who hails from England) was recently in the press for her controversial comments re: the lack of diversity at the Academy Awards. However, you can’t deny her talent and beauty (though NOT conventional for Hollywood standards). Rampling is tall, wiry, and has the type of face that commands attention (often rivaling her male co-stars). You can see her in the 2nd season of UK series Broadchurch (now available on Netflix). She recently turned 70, and this simple/conservative gown suited her well (esp. in close-up).
Charlize Theron
I LOVED what one fashion expert said of this simple gown: “This is a case where fitness trumps fashion.” It seems TOO simple for the Oscars, but the now 40 y.o. statuesque actress can wear anything and look fierce (as we saw in Mad Max: Fury Road).
Jennifer Lawrence
This is a GREAT dress- I esp. love the top! Jennifer’s film Joy may NOT have been seen by a very wide audience, BUT this dress is spot on for the Oscars.
Brie Larson
Everything about this gown is PERFECT- the cut, color, and embellishments! Plus, she won Best Actress- the best accessory!
Mindy Kaling
I saw this dress on Mindy’s Instagram, and it looked elegant. One the red carpet, it comes off as too plain. I like her simple hairdo and the makeup is great (as usual). I LOVE how Mindy has created opportunities for herself in Hollywood- she’s obviously a hard worker and funny lady, BUT this is TOO serious of a gown.
Priyanka Chopra
The star of ABC’s Quantico was the MOST Googled celeb of the night- WOW! This dress looks FAB on the Indian actress; it reminded me of Halle Berry (back when she was a red carpet darling). Recently, I reviewed Priyanka’s latest Bollywood film, Bajirao Mastani.
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
Did you know this director now has 2 Oscars (for A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (2015) and Saving Face(2012)!? I need to see these docs still. Sharmeen is wearing a simple dress w/ a long, intricate jacket over it (she is Pakistani); at formal desi events all over the world, you will find styles similar to this one. Her Oscar is the perfect accessory!
Actors: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, & Alan Alda
I watched this w/ my mom (On Demand); my dad lost interest after a few scenes, but saw it the next day. It’s a more slower film than I expected, but it DOES have it’s moments (patience gets you the payoffs). Tom Hanks is VERY good (in a low key manner), BUT it’s Mark Rylance (known across the pond for his work in theater) who captures the viewers’ curiosity. His character is lean, mostly still, and deeply haunted. I really liked the music (by Thomas Newman) and cinematography (by Janusz Kaminski, a frequent collaborator of Spielberg).
Room (4 Oscar noms)
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Actors: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, & William H. Macy
Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay star in “Room.” (Ruth Hurl/Element Pictures)
I’d heard a LOT of praise about this film on various podcasts, and finally went to see it last weekend w/ two of my gal pals. We ALL liked it (even given the VERY difficult subject matter); the small audience seemed to agree. You will be in tears, or close to it (like I was), several times during the story. Jacob Tremblay is in a league of his own among child actors! The director said that he didn’t need much directing to do his scenes. And the lovely/relatable Brie Larson is NO slouch either- hope to see more of her in the near future.
Spotlight (6 Oscar noms)
Director: Tom McCarthy (also dir. of the MUST-SEE film- The Visitor)
Actors: Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci, Billy Crudup, John Slattery, Brian d’Arcy James, Jamey Sheridan, & Paul Guilfoyle
Someof you may know of dir. Tom McCarthy from his work as a character actor; he really hit it out of the park w/ The Visitor in 2007 (starring Richard Jenkins- the voice of the former priest turned psychologist here). With this (fact-based) film, he reaches an even higher level of acclaim- MUCH deserved! The people are NOT glammed up or overacting- they are simply telling a VERY important story. I esp. enjoyed Michael Keaton (Robby Robinson, editor of the Spotlight investigative team) and Stanley Tucci (hardworking Armenian-American plaintiffs’ lawyer- Mitchell Garabedian). I wanted to see MORE of Tucci, but who doesn’t!? Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) was the newbie managing editor of The Boston Globe in 2001; unlike most of the (Catholic) staff under him, he was Jewish. Mark Ruffalo (lead writer Michael Rezendes, of Portuguese heritage) was going through a separation; he loved his work and threw himself into it (esp. after meeting Garabedian).
Ayad discusses Disgraced (on Broadway), Aasif Mandvi, etc. w/ NYC theater critics. This convo goes from the 2:00 min mark until 17:10.
This is a lengthy, yet V interesting vid! Ayad is in convo w/ a Lebanese writer (Rabih Almeddine- never heard of him before) while Indian writer (Amitava Kumar) serves as moderator. There is a smart/funny Q&A section w/ interesting points made by BOTH the audience & writers!
Aasif played Amir in Disgraced at Lincoln Center Theater. Josh played Isaac on Broadway (opposite Hari Dhillon). These guys are ALL friends- pretty cool!
WARNING: This next 2 videos contain SPOILERS for Disgraced.
Another long, yet very recent, interview (January 14, 2016)- it includes the meaning of the title, which is explained by Abe, the young nephew of Amir (who has “legitimate historical anger,” as Akthar comments in the vid).
For 300 years, they’ve come to out part of the world, made- drawn new borders, taken our land, made us want to be like them, look like them, and marry their women. They disgraced us. They disgraced us. Then they pretend they don’t understand the rage we’ve got.
This is my favorite Shakespeare tragedy; I love it even MORE than Hamlet! In this production Othello will be played by a Pakistani-American actor- Faran Tahir. VERY exciting… I’m going to be seeing it SUN, FEB 28 (7:30PM).
Some of you will recognize him from the first Iron Man movie and the J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot films.
I’m VERY excited to go see this play; one of my gal pals and I got tickets as part of a package! Actor-turned novelist and playwright, Ayad Akthar (who I blogged about before) won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for this play, which was also his first.
This play is being produced in 40 different theaters in the 2015-2016 season- WOW! In some ways, it looks to be a simple domestic play, as it has only one set and five actors. The play is set in the Upper West Side Manhattan apartment of South Asian American corporate lawyer, Amir, and his artist wife, Emily. They hold a small dinner party w/ Amir’s work friend Johri, an African-American woman, and her secular Jewish husband, Isaac. As the night goes on, more and more alcohol is consumed, the conversation gets heated- the mood of the play turns serious. Amir, who seems to have totally separated himself from his Pakistani and Muslim identities, is revealed as a complex and troubled man.
I read this play less than 2 years ago, after seeing clips about the Lincoln Center production (which starred The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi). One of my acquaintances saw it when it premiered on Broadway; Hari Dhillon (an Indian-American of Sikh heritage) played the lead role. The PBS Newshour piece (see video below) features Dhillon and How I Met Your Mother actor Josh Radnor (who played Isaac).
Akthar said that he wrote this play “for the global Muslim audience” (many of whom will never see it, given restrictions on freedom of speech) and the “typical (mostly white) theatergoing audience here in the U.S.” Something important to keep in mind- the major influences for Disgraced were Othello and Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller.
The Who & The What(Round House Theatre – Bethesda: MAY 25 -JUNE 16)
“The Who & the What” (the title of Zarina’s novel)… explores intergenerational and interfaith conflicts with fluid eloquence and intelligence. Mr. Akhtar writes dialogue that, while often funny and always natural, crackles with ideas and continually reveals undercurrents of tension that ratchet up the emotional stakes. -Charles Isherwood (NYT) re: 2014 Lincoln Center production
I read this play soon after Disgraced. It focuses on an upper-class Pakistani-American family in Atlanta, which includes the father, a widower and religious Muslim- Afzal (who runs successful donut shops) and his two daughters- complicated and intellectual Zarina and the more simple and beautiful Mahwish. Since his younger daughter is almost done w/ grad school and unofficially engaged to her (father-approved, Pakistani-American) beau, Afzal is eager to find a husband for Zarina, who is around 30 at the start of the story. (It may remind you a bit of The Taming of the Shrew.) Like MANY people, Afzal turns to an online platform for Muslim singles; he meets a smart and caring man who is a white convert. Eli, who grew up in Detroit with liberal parents and many Muslim friends, is the imam of a small and humble masjid. Zarina decides to give Eli a chance, but her main focus is a book on the life and times of Prophet Muhammad. The topic of this book is VERY controversial- it could jeopardize her closest relationships!
Knightleyemma 