Film
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Film, Free Shit The Will to Survive
Posted by Ed M. Koziarski on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Working on Walmart commercials in Savannah, Chicago advertising executives Al Hawkins and Kathleen M. Humphries became intrigued with the Gullah/Geechee people who live on several islands on the south Atlantic coast, retaining the closest linguistic and cultural ties to Africa found in the U.S.
Hawkins and Humphries spotlight Sapelo Island, off the coast of Georgia, site of the most intact Gullah/Geechee culture, in their documentary The Will to Survive: The Story of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
It screens for free, Tuesday 2/9 at Noon at Kennedy King College.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Film Cuba: An African Odyssey
Posted by Ed M. Koziarski on Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 10:20 AM
- Che Guevara in "Cuba: An African Odyssey"
In her 2007 documentary Cuba: An African Odyssey, Egyptian-French filmmaker Jihan El-Tahri follows Cuba's role in African anticolonialist campaigns, from Che Guevara's failed 1965 bid to oust Belgium from the Congo, to the 450,000 troops Castro committed to take on Portugal, South Africa, and the CIA in Angola.
The second half of Cuba: An African Odyssey screens Monday 2/8 at Biblioteca Popular.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Chicagoland, Food Chain, Film, Music, Food & Drink, Performing Arts Dinner & a Show: Saturday 2/6
Posted by Whet Moser on Sat, Feb 6, 2010 at 2:36 PM
- James Blackshaw
Show: James Blackshaw A 12-string guitar can be an unwieldy thing, but in the right hands it's a peerless source of rich sonorities. Young Englishman James Blackshaw has such hands, and he puts them to good use on the splendid live album Waking Into Sleep (Kning), a solo performance recorded in Sweden in 2006: the stirring melodies of "Spiralling Skeleton Memorial" and "Sunshrine" billow into kaleidoscopic patterns of swirling tones.
10 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, 773-276-3600 or 866-468-3401, $8, $5
Dinner: Big Star Unlike Paul Kahan's other ventures (Blackbird, Avec, the Publican), Big Star is a bar. But you may have to remind yourself of that, because it's got probably the tastiest Mexican menu of any bar in Chicago. Both food (by Justin Large, formerly of Avec) and drink (by Michael Rubel of Violet Hour) are pitched to a very agreeable price point, making the place a surefire, low-cost, high-value good time.
1531 N. Damen, 773-235-4039
Friday, February 5, 2010
Film Separated at Birth
Posted by Ed M. Koziarski on Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 2:58 PM
- Armand Scott in "Separated at Birth"
Born in Chicago and raised in Monrovia, Liberia, Armand Scott was a production assistant for Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Devil in a Blue Dress, and Panther, before returning to Chicago and spending 10 years as a substitute teacher in the public schools.
Scott distills his teaching experience for his feature film directorial debut Separated at Birth, the story of twins raised in divergent economic circumstances, who reunite as adults on opposites sides of a carjacking. It premieres Saturday 2/6.
Chicagoland, Food Chain, Film, Music, Food & Drink, Performing Arts Dinner & a Show: Friday 2/5
Posted by Whet Moser on Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 2:58 PM
- Megan Holmes
- Explode Into Colors
Show: Explode Into Colors "All-female Portland trio Explode Into Colors are big faves in their hometown, both with basement-party punks and on the outre-dance scene," writes Jessica Hopper. "They're killer live—with Claudia Meza on baritone guitar and vocals, Lisa Schonberg on drums, and Heather Treadway on percussion, keys, and more vocals, their setup is full sounding and for-real funky."
9:30 PM, Subterranean, 2011 W. North, 773-278-6600 or 866-468-3401, $10, 17+.
Dinner: Birchwood Kitchen There’s not a cheap shortcut to be found at this ambitious sandwich shop from former Pastoral cheeseman Daniel Sirko and partner Judd Murphy (also of Pastoral).
2211 W. North, 773-276-2100
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Film This Week's Movie Action
Posted by J.R. Jones on Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 6:59 PM
- Fish Tank
If you call sitting down and staring at a screen action, that is.
This week we review Beeswax, the third feature by the sure-handed indie filmmaker Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha, Mutual Appreciation). The movie screens all week at Gene Siskel Film Center, and Bujalski will attend the 8 PM screening on Friday, the 5 and 7:45 PM screenings on Saturday, and the 3 PM screening on Sunday.
Chicagoland, Food Chain, Lit & Lectures, Film, Food & Drink, Performing Arts Dinner & a Show: Thursday 2/4
Posted by Whet Moser on Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Music
Show: Lights This peculiar Brooklyn band's second full-length, Rites (Drag City), combines throbbing disco, warbling folk, chill psychedelia, and Laura Nyro-style pop (thankfully not all in the same track), an unwieldy hodgepodge that hangs together largely on the strength of the beautiful but sturdy harmony singing of guitarist Sophia Knapp and drummer Linnea Vedder. The Entrance Band headlines; Lights and White Mystery open.
9 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western 773-276-3600 or 866-468-3401, $10, $5 (limited).
Dinner: Mr. Brown's Lounge "While the menu is mostly Jamaican fare, concessions to the bar crowd like chicken tenders and onion rings also make appearances. So I was little surprised to discover that the food is top-notch," writes Julia Thiel.
2301 W. Chicago Ave., 773-278-4445
Film Skin
Posted by Ed M. Koziarski on Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 11:52 AM
- Sophie Okonedo in "Skin"
Born to white parents but bearing African features, Sandra Laing was the subject of a legal battle over her racial classification when she was barred from white schools in apartheid South Africa in 1965.
Sophie Okonedo (an Oscar nominee for Hotel Rwanda) plays Laing in the 2009 biopic Skin, part of ICE Theaters' Truth Be Told: A Celebration of Black Heritage screening series.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Film Going Underground
Posted by J.R. Jones on Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 3:04 PM
The Chicago Underground Film Festival is now accepting applications for its 2010 edition, to take place in late June at the Gene Siskel Film Center. According to festival organizer Bryan Wendorf, early deadline is March 1, and the final deadline is March 15. To look at an entry form, check out the CUFF web site.
Chicagoland, Food Chain, Lit & Lectures, Film, Music, Food & Drink Dinner & a Show: Wednesday 2/3
Posted by Whet Moser on Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 12:59 PM
- Tony Buck
Show: Magda Mayas The Berlin pianist plays in Projekt Transmit, a group led by Necks drummer Tony Buck that's a four-piece for the occasion, with bassist Nate McBride and percussionist Steven Hess.
9:30 PM, Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 773-227-4433 or 866-468-3401, $8.
Dinner: Jane's inhabits a cozy converted house in Bucktown. The reasonably priced Cal-American fare is innovative, eclectic, and especially friendly to vegetarians.
1653 W. Cortland St., 773-862-5263
