The Central Standard
Film Festival
Paging through the Central Standard
Film Festival catalogue, I was
overwhelmed by the number
of film synopses that drew me
in - there are plenty of wants
(\"Want\"), wayward girls (\"Wayward
Girls: a Story of Survival\"),
memories (\"White of
Winter\") and Americana
(\"Kwik stop,\" \"Prom Night in
Kansas City,\" \"This is
Nowhere\" - hear the sound of
American suburban life?).
My own nostalgia lures me
to \"Easy Listening,\" set in
1967, about Burt and Linda
who play together in an easygoing orchestra.
These good kids lead quiet, drowsy lives in a
middle-American town but yearn for their
era\'s jazzy beatnik cool; (Burt tries out sleek
black turtlenecks and Linda has a taste for pot
brownies.)
Or how about \"Jesus Freak,\" - a bad
girl\'s tale of coming to Jesus (literally).
\"White of Winter\" is sheer cinematic poetry.
It takes the viewer on a road trip through the
psychological and physical winter of Montana.
Leading lady Rachel searches for a lost childhood
photograph in this bittersweet and
haunting tale.
The film festival isn\'t limited to flicks,
though, there\'s also plenty of photos to see
(like the tribute to the late Gus Gustafson, the
beloved Warehouse District photographer) in
the lobby of the St. Anthony Main complex (at
212 SE 2nd St., Suite 129, by Vic\'s Restaurant).
There are also opening and closing night parties
at the Depot Hotel, 225 3rd Ave. S., and
The Lounge, 411 2nd Ave. N.
Tip: Catch Downtown on film in Charles
Bowe\'s locally-produced \"New
World Symphony\" featuring
local thespians Carolyn Hauck
(Bill\'s Gun Shop) and Ron
Menzel (Eye of the Storm, Jungle
Theater) in the lead roles.
Not to mention, local rockers
Work of Saws provide the
riotous background music.
The national film festival airs in
local theaters, including the
St. Anthony Main Theater,
115 SE Main St., Wednesday
through Sunday, Sept. 17-21.
All-access pass $35, festival
four-pack $20. For further information, visit
www.centralstandardfilmfest.com.
For information on films playing at St. Anthony Main
Theater call 331-4723.
_ \"New World Symphony\":
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Oak Street Cinema, 309 SE Oak St.
(near the University of Minnesota)
\'Making Porn\'
\"Making Porn\" contains nudity and strong
language (read the fine print in the playbill). It
probably isn\'t a \"to-do\" for the whole family.
(\"Hey, Mom, can we go see \'Making Porn\'
together?\" \"What\'s it rated, man?\") Despite
the racy sound of it, \"Making Porn\" isn\'t one of
those shocking documentaries on The Learning
Channel. It\'s a play (does that make you
feel better?). I know, I know, will the business
stop at nothing, swallowing up everything in
its path, magazines, videos, the Internet -
now, even the stage?!
Porn isn\'t a topic I like to contemplate. I\'ve
definitely never considered its literary possibilities.
But that\'s actually where the theater
steps in. The idea of mouthy actors baring
themselves onstage (or off-) isn\'t so unusual.
Luckily, comic relief rescues the touchy-feely
subject from becoming too personal.
\"Making Porn\" cannibalizes the X-hibition
industry - it\'s a performance about performance
about performance. Actual gay porn
star \"Caesar\" plays a gay porn star. We learn
about the pros and cons of gay porn star life
(whether we wanted to or not), but despite the
premise of the show, making porn, it strips
away the fantasy. It dresses the undressed.
Still, it\'s very revealing: We learn about the
funny lives of six porn stars, not just their controversial
day/night jobs. They\'re not making
porn - they\'re making the audience laugh.
That\'s really the ecstasy of it.
This unabashed look at lives in the sweaty
basement business is worth your scrutiny (and
laughs).
_ Mixed Blood Theatre
1501 S. 4th St.
$25-$30. 338-6131 or 866-468-3399.
\'Josh & Sandi\'
Shot in Minneapolis
What are you doing this Saturday night? Are
you going to meet Josh and Sandi at
Grumpy\'s Bar and Grill, like usual? I\'m sure
you must know \"Josh & Sandi.\" They live in
Minneapolis. When they can\'t pay their rent,
they get creative. They hold telethons. They
host \"Facts of Life\" theme parties (we can\'t forget
the old sitcom, \"The Facts of Life.\" Neither
can they). Josh and Sandi also play Twister, get
interrupted by Jews for Jesus and return home
completely different people
after worldly travels. See, I
knew you\'d recognize them.
The \"Josh & Sandi\" show is a
locally produced cable sitcom
about people you know - you
like their quirky musings, and
their ridiculous mishaps remind
you of your own. Not to
mention, they go to the same
places you do, all the way to
Grumpy\'s.
_Saturdays, 10 p.m.
Grumpy\'s Bar and Grill
1111 Washington Ave. S. Free.
Anna Pratt can be reached at
