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Friday 7.28 Southgate House Ballroom
7 p.m.: Brothers of the Head
Filmmaking duo Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe’s faux rockumentary is remarkably authentic in its rendering of time (1975) and place (England), a haunting, emotionally claustrophobic tale of two men who can’t help but be one. Tom and Barry Howe are conjoined twins and frontmen for the British Punk/Glam band The Bang Bang. Perversely compelling, Brothers of the Head‘s is no Spinal Tap. “We wanted to make it a stranger kind of faux documentary,” says Fulton. Mission accomplished, guys. See page 29 for an interview with Fulton and Pepe.
11:30 p.m.: The Haircut
Local artist and filmmaker Kendall Bruns is back with his latest self-reflexive project, a documentary about getting his hair cut. The premise is simple, penned by the man himself: “Contestants will create proposals for Kendall’s next haircut. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges, a winner will be chosen, and then Kendall will receive … The Haircut.”
The lighthearted, surprisingly suspenseful, sometimes insightful 36-minute film comes off like a well-oiled episode of a reality television program and features cameos from local art-world peeps Sue Spaid and Matt Distel. See page 32 for an interview with Bruns.
Southgate House Parlour
7:30 p.m.: The Films of Dog Day Productions
Local filmmaking duo Ryan Lewis and Michael Maney specialize in playful, sleek entertainments that are remarkably cohesive given the restraints of the 48 Hour Film Festival format, for which many of their short films have been created. Look for Glorious, a humorous tale of a federal agent who goes undercover inside a mysterious religious cult.
1 a.m.: Short Works by Hal Hartley
Though his star has dimmed in recent years, filmmaker Hal Hartley’s singular ’90s films (The Unbelievable Truth, Amateur, Henry Fool) remain as oddly penetrating as the day they were released. In this collection of six short films (created between 1994 and 2004), Hartley continues his playful investigation in what it means to be alive today. The films range from a wordless argument about a math problem to what appears to be an unedited, Parker Posey-driven piece that revels in the director’s signature heightened dialogue.
Saturday 7.29 Southgate House Ballroom
7 p.m.: Not a Photograph: The Mission of Burma Story
This intriguing look at the “most influential band you never heard” centers on the band’s 2002 reformation after 20 years of inactivity and features some killer archival live footage of Burma at their early-’80s peak. Though their story doesn’t contain the melodramatic narrative drive of the recent Rock doc Dig, it’s nevertheless a fascinating peek behind the scenes, one that proves beyond a doubt that Mission of Burma remains a vital music-making unit. See page 26 for an interview with MoB’s Roger Miller.
Southgate House Parlour
7 p.m.: My Mummy
We don’t know much about this feature from Coen brothers storyboard artist J. Todd Anderson, but the premise sounds promising: An ancient mummy attempts to make himself whole after years of sleep. Anderson will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A.
Sunday 7.30 Southgate House Ballroom
6:30 p.m.: Dead On
Local musician and filmmaker John Parker’s documentary shines a light on the Tristate’s fertile music scene via appearances by more than 40 area bands and musical personalities. Parker’s visual approach is often impressionistic, melding sound and image in hypnotic ways. But the lasting impression is of the musicians themselves, who describe the ups and downs of making original music in our often fickle environs.
This article appears in Jul 26 – Aug 1, 2006.
