Grammy-nominated singer Somi stars in co-production that will travel the U.S.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) will launch its electrifying 2021-22 live theatre season with the world premiere production of Dreaming Zenzile, Based on the life of Miriam Makeba, written and performed by Grammy-nominated international music sensation Somi Kakoma. The musical is the first show announced for The Rep’s 2021-2022 live theatre season.
Under the direction of Lileana Blain-Cruz, the rolling world premiere production of Dreaming Zenzile, Based on the life of Miriam Makeba, will journey from the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis to the McCarter Theatre Centerto ArtsEmerson to a New York City collaboration with the Apollo Theater, National Black Theatre and New York Theatre Workshop, all in partnership with Octopus Theatricals. The soul-stirring production includes a live jazz band playing original music and reinterpretations of Makeba’s remarkable catalog.
The arts organizations came together as a collective to bring Dreaming Zenzile, Based on the life of Miriam Makeba, back to life after the initial production and world premiere scheduled for April 2020 at The Rep was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These esteemed theatrical companies joining forces for this shared production marks a long-awaited return of live theatre after the most challenging time for both artists and patrons of the arts.
“As the daughter of Rwandan and Ugandan immigrants, this show is personal because Miriam Makeba paved the way for artists like me,” said Somi. “This work is about uplifting her legacy as a conscious revolutionary who brought Africa to the world’s center stage.”
Performances of Dreaming Zenzile, Based on the life of Miriam Makeba begin at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis onSeptember 10, 2021. The show runs September 10, 2021 to October 3, 2021 at The Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.
Somi
Somi, whose jazz music and social consciousness has drawn comparison to Nina Simone, was nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award and received an NAACP Award for her album, Holy Room: Live At Alte Oper. Her 2017 album, Petite Afrique, won a 2018 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album. Her new album honoring Makeba, titied Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba, will be released in July and can be pre-ordered here.
Somi, who wrote and stars in the musical, takes the audience to Makeba’s final performance where she raises the conscience and the consciousness of a people. The ancestors are calling – transporting her through the music and fractured memories of her past on a spiritual journey of reconciliation.
Born in Johannesburg in 1932, Makeba called attention to apartheid in South Africa, where the white-led government forced racial segegration from 1948 to 1991. In 1968, Makeba married Black Panther and civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael and soon fell out of favor in the United States.
“It is an incredible gift to open our season with Somi’s incomparable portrayal of the beauty and complexity of Miriam Makeba’s journey.” said Hana S. Sharif, Augustin Family Artistic Director at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. “I am delighted that St. Louis audiences will be the first to experience this stunning production after 18 months of anticipation. It is a great joy to work with my colleagues across the country to support the launch of Dreaming Zenzile.”
Following the premiere at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Dreaming Zenzile, Based on the life of Miriam Makeba will receive additional productions at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, N.J., and New York Theatre Workshop in New York City , in partnership with National Black Theatre and Octopus Theatricals.
The production stars Somi Kakoma as Miriam Makeba. It will be directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, Hervé Samb will serve as musical director, with Marjani Forte-Saunders (choreography), Ricardo Hernandez (scene design), Mimi Plange (costume design), Yi Zhao (lighting design), and Justin Ellington (sound design). Special thanks to The Miriam Makeba Estate, The Mama Africa Cultural & Social Trust, and The Miriam Makeba Foundation for their support and permission to create this work.
Dreaming Zenzile, Based on the life of Miriam Makeba is developed by Octopus Theatricals and the National Black Theatre, co-commissioned by Joe’s Pub at The Public and ArtsEmerson, Boston, and developed with the support of The Apollo Theatre. It was further developed at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2019, and received residencies with SEI Innovation studio at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Clarice Smith Center’s Artist Partner Program, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Rauschenberg Residency/Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and UCLA Center for the Art of Performance. The original music and arrangements of Dreaming Zenzile were made possible through the French American Jazz Exchange, a joint program of FACE Foundation and Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with generous funding from Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, SACEM, Institut Français and the Ministere de la Culture et de la Communication.
About Somi
Somi Kakoma was born in Illinois to immigrants from Uganda and Rwanda. Known in the jazz world simply as ‘Somi’, she has built a career of transatlantic storytelling, and is the first African woman ever nominated in any Grammy jazz category (2021, Best Jazz Vocal Album for Holy Room; 2021 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Vocal Album). Somi’s previous albums include Petite Afrique (2018 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album) and her major label debut The Lagos Music Salon feat. special guests Angelique Kidjo and Common. Both albums earned her ECHO Award nominations in Germany for Best International Jazz Vocalist. Somi recently announced a new studio album honoring the great South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba, to be released in July 2021. Somi is a Soros Equality Fellow, a USA Doris Duke Fellow, a TED Senior Fellow, a Sundance Theatre Fellow, and a former artist-in-residence at Park Avenue Armory, Rauschenberg Residency at Captiva, Baryshnikov Arts Center and UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance. Somi holds undergraduate degrees in Anthropology and African Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s degree in Performance Studies from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and is the founder of Salon Africana, a boutique cultural agency and record label.
About The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
The Rep is the St. Louis region’s most honored live professional theatre company. Founded in 1966, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is a fully professional theatrical operation belonging to the League of Resident Theatres, The League of St. Louis Theatres and is a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Inc., the national service organization for the not-for-profit professional theatre. Visit www.repstl.org for more, and find The Rep on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Premieres Include Films Featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, Billie Eilish and Chris Paul, and the Hopeful Future of Ferguson, MO
For the first time ever, the Tribeca Festival, presented by AT&T, announced today the launch of its virtual hub, Tribeca At Home, an online platform to offer audiences, unable to attend the live, in-person events taking place June 9-20 across New York City this year, a flexible option to join in the fun from the comfort of their couch.
The new Tribeca Online Premieres section will invite festival-goers from around the country the opportunity to share and engage in making the festival experience even more dynamic and accessible to everyone. With a robust lineup of exciting new films, shorts and documentaries planned, the hub will also include an immersive showcase of 14 VR selections, various podcasts and games programming. The carefully curated films listed below will be exclusively available to online audiences in the U.S. only. Podcasts and gaming details to be announced at a later date.
Movie-goers will also be able to purchase tickets to special online encore screenings of features and short films following their premieres at New York City venues. Exclusive virtual festival-style Q&As with the creators and cast will follow many of the feature films where online audiences can tune in to the panel discussions.
“Tribeca at Home allows us to bring the heart of our festival to even more communities around the country,” said Tribeca Enterprises and Tribeca Festival Co-Founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal. “While we are excited to gather in person this year with our live screenings reaching every corner of NYC, festival-goers and the at-home audiences will have more access to a diverse lineup of storytellers than ever before.”
“Tribeca first brought the festival experience into audience’s homes in 2011 with the launch of our Tribeca Online Film Festival, and again as the first festival of 2020 to announce virtual programming,” said Cara Cusumano, Festival Director and VP of Programming. “Now as we celebrate a return to in-person events in 2021, we are excited to also continue to cultivate our nationwide festival family with this new evolution of virtual programming into a permanent festival section.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu in ‘Mission: Joy’
The Tribeca Online Premieres line-up will showcase 35 films including 24 features and 11 shorts. Select features and three previously announced shorts screening in person as part of the Juneteenth program will also be included within the Tribeca Online Premieres focusing on music, health and civil unrest. Academy Award®-winner Louie Psihoyos’ Mission: Joy documents the friendship between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They’re Trying To Kill Us, executive produced by Billie Eilish and Chris Paul, explores the disproportionately higher rates of chronic disease in the African American community while examining the intersections of food, disease, race, poverty, institutional racism and government corruption. Ferguson Rising, directed by Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, brings to light a new portrait of the community of Ferguson, the family and friends of Michael Brown, and a message of hope, love and renewal.
Narrative selections include: Creation Stories charting the dazed, confused and drug-fueled life of music mogul Alan McGee, whose label, Creation Records, catalyzed the Britpop sound of the 90’s by signing era-defining bands including Oasis, Primal Scream, and My Bloody Valentine; Mickey Reese directs Agnes in which a church dispatches a pair of priests to a convent where one of the nuns is possibly under the control of a demon; and the sci-fi thriller, Settlers, is set on a desolate Mars homestead, where young Remmy finds herself the prisoner of a mysterious and murderous stranger.
2021 Tribeca Online Premieres:
*The below selections will be available exclusively for online audiences in the U.S. only.
FEATURE NARRATIVE FILM LINEUP
Agnes, directed by Mickey Reece, written by John Selvidge, Mickey Reece. Produced by Jensine Carr, Jacob Snovel. (United States) – Online World Premiere. The church dispatches a pair of priests to a convent where one of the nuns is possibly under the control of a demon. For one particular nun, their arrival signals an intense crisis of faith. With Molly Quinn, Jake Horowitz, Sean Gunn, Chris Browning, Ben Hall, Mary Buss.
Asking For It, directed and written by Eamon O’Rourke. Produced by Kiersey Clemons, Lee Broda, Ezra Miller, Luke Daniels. Executive produced by Kevin Beer, Savoy Brummer, Lisa Yaro, Sol Guy, Seema Thakker (United States) – Online World Premiere. After a chance encounter with an acquaintance takes a dark turn, a traumatized young woman teams up with a group of tough female renegades whose thirst for justice empowers them to take on belligerent frat boys, corrupt police officers, and a dangerous alt-right group with a noxiously charismatic leader. With Kiersey Clemons, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, Ezra Miller, Radha Mitchell, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Stratton, Casey Camp-Horinek, Leyna Bloom, Lisa Yaro, Casey Cott, Demetrius Shipp, Jr., with Luke Hemsworth, and David Patrick Kelly.
Creation Stories, directed by Nick Moran, written by Irvine Welsh and Dean Cavanagh, produced by Shelley Hammond, Hollie Richmond, Nathan McGough and Ben Dillon (UK) – Online US Premiere. Creation Stories charts the dazed, confused and drug-fueled life of music mogul Alan McGee, whose label Creation Records catalyzed the Britpop sound of the 90’s by signing era-defining bands including Oasis, Primal Scream, and My Bloody Valentine. With Ewen Bremner, Suki Waterhouse, Jason Isaacs, Jason Flemyng, Thomas Turgoose, and Steven Berkoff.
Alan McGee “Creation Stories”
Dating and New York, directed and written by Jonah Feingold. Produced by Joaquin Acrich. (United States) – Online World Premiere. After meeting on the dating app Meet Cute and having a one-night stand, two New York millennials draw up a “Best Friends with Benefits” contract to avoid the pitfalls of a relationship, but complications ensue. With Jaboukie Young-White, Francesca Reale, Catherine Cohen, Brian Muller, Jerry Ferrara, Sohina Sidhu, Eva Victor, Arturo Castro, Taylor Hill, Alex Moffat, Hallie Samuels, Yedoye Travis, Sondra James.
Glob Lessons, directed by Nicole Rodenburg, Produced by Reilly Myklebust, Nicole Rodenburg, Colin Froeber, Written by Colin Froeber, Nicole Rodenburg (United States) – Online World Premiere. In this charming road trip comedy, two strangers are thrown together to perform in a traveling theater troupe across the Midwest, and the tests and triumphs of their journey lead them to form the first genuine friendship of their adult lives.
Peace by Chocolate, directed by Jonathan Keijser, written by Jonathan Keijser, Abdul Malik. Produced by Jonathan Keijser, Martin Paul-Hus, Catherine Legar. (Canada) – Online World Premiere. When a Syrian family immigrates to a small Canadian town, the son is torn between his dream of becoming a doctor and helping his father to rebuild his chocolate business. With Hatem Ali, Yara Sabri, Ayham Ammar, Mark Camacho, Catherine Kirkpatrick, Najlaa Khamari.
The Perfect David (El Perfecto David), directed by Felipe Gómez Aparicio, written by Leandro Custo, Felipe Gómez Aparicio. Produced by Pablo Ingercher, Ramiro Pavón, Fiona Pittaluga, Martín Cuinat, Felipe Gómez Aparicio. (Argentina, Uruguay) – Online World Premiere. Felipe Gomez Aparicio’s unsettling The Perfect David explores with atmospheric visual precision the toxic dynamic between a teenager obsessively training to become a bodybuilder, and his controlling mother—a renowned artist who is directly involved in her son’s pursuit of physical perfection. With Umbra Colombo, Mauricio di Yorio. In Spanish with English subtitles.
See For Me, directed by Randall Okita, written by Adam Yorke, Tommy Gushue. Produced by Matt Code, Kristy Neville. (Canada) – Online World Premiere. When blind former skier Sophie cat-sits in a secluded mansion, thieves invade for the hidden safe, and her only defense is army veteran Kelly who plays first-person shooters online and now lives out her fantasy as Sophie’s eyes. With Skyler Davenport, Pascal Langdale, Joe Pingue, George Tchortov, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Laura Vandervoort, Kim Coates.
Settlers, directed and written by Wyatt Rockefeller. Produced by Julie Fabrizio, Joshua Horsfield, Johan Kruger. (UK, South Africa) – Online World Premiere. In this compelling sci-fi thriller set on a desolate Mars homestead, young Remmy finds herself the prisoner of a mysterious and murderous stranger. Escape seems impossible, but an unlikely friendship might prove her deliverance. With Sofia Boutella, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Brooklynn Prince, Nell Tiger Free, Jonny Lee Miller.
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY FILM LINEUP
Bebe Zahara Benet
Being BeBe, directed by Emily Branham. Produced by Emily Branham, Marc Smolowitz, Jonathan Goodman Levitt. (United States, Cameroon) – Online World Premiere. In 2009, Bebe Zahara Benet was crowned the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race. But the franchise hadn’t yet achieved notoriety, so without an infrastructure to support her next steps, Bebe is confronted with the fickleness of fame… With BeBe Zahara Benet (aka Nea Marshall Kudi Ngwa). In English, French, Pidgin with English subtitles.
ClayDream, directed and written by Marq Evans. Produced by Tamir Ardon, Marq Evans, Nick Spicer, Kevin Moyer. (United States) – Online World Premiere. This warm-hearted portrait of the charismatic pioneer and “Father of Claymation” Will Vinton, follows the rise and fall of his Oscar® and Emmy® winning claymation studio, giving the viewer a front row seat to the battle between art and commerce. With Will Vinton, Bill Plympton, Bob Gardiner, Melissa Mitchell, Chuck Duke, Craig Bartlett.
Explant, directed by Jeremy Simmons. Produced by Jeremy Simmons, Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey. Executive Produced by Michelle Visage, David Case. (United States) – Online World Premiere. Over the past six decades, thousands of women across the globe have become sick with an amalgam of mysterious and severe autoimmune disease symptoms. The common denominator in many of their cases? Breast implants.
The First Step, directed by Brandon Kramer, written by Lance Kramer (United States) – Online World Premiere.In this revealing observational portrait black progressive activist and political commentator Van Jones navigates increasingly tense and isolating political and racial divides in his attempt to become a “bridge builder” during the Trump administration.
Mission: Joy,directed by Louie Psihoyos, Written by Doug Abrams, Produced by Peggy Callahan (United States) – Online World Premiere. Building from the bestseller The Book of Joy, Academy Award®-winner Louie Psihoyos documents the friendship between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama—two men who’ve faced immeasurable adversity with an indestructible jubilance.
No Ordinary Life, directed by Heather O’Neill, Produced by Heather O’Neill and Rich Brooks. (United States) – Online World Premiere. With revealing access, the gripping documentary No Ordinary Life spotlights the esteemed careers of five courageous camera women who thrust themselves into dangerous circumstances—wars, calamities and uprisings—to bear witness and give a platform to the most vulnerable. O’Neill’s thoughtful portrait of these five resilient women brings their sense of purpose—and the risks they took throughout their assignments—to the forefront.
The Phantom, directed and written by Patrick Forbes. Produced by Mark Bentley. (United States) – Online World Premiere. The Phantom takes us on a searching examination of another dark tale of American injustice, delving deep into the details surrounding a Texas murder to determine whether or not an innocent man was put to death, and exploring the prejudice and discrimination that persists today in America’s Hispanic community.
Primera, directed by Vee Bravo, produced by Vee Bravo, Catherine Gund, Kevin Lopez. (Chile) – Online World Premiere. The highly-charged documentary Primera brings the audience into the volatile circumstances that led to the student uprisings in Chile in late 2019, and how a rising resistance movement—led by student protesters, activists, street artists & community leaders—fought back against the Chilean government’s oppressive policies and militaristic implementation of force. With kinetic flair, the narrative immerses itself in the exploits of activists that took to the streets to reclaim their country and advocate for a just society.
Tigre Gente, directed by Elizabeth Unger. Produced by Elizabeth Unger. (United States) – Online World Premiere. A Bolivian park ranger and a young Chinese journalist risk their lives to go undercover and investigate a new, deadly jaguar trade that’s sweeping South America. Along the way, they grapple with questions of empathy, responsibility, and bridging a cultural gap to prevent the jaguar trade from spiraling out of control.
Turning Tables: Cooking, Serving, and Surviving in a Global Pandemic,directed by Matthew Miele, Produced by Katie Couric, Geoffrey Zakarian, John Molner, Berry Welsh, Jaret Keller, Anne Chertoff-Tavelin, Keelin Ryan. Restaurants are the beating heart of any community. Even in the best of times their business models require operation at 100% capacity and service perfection. New York’s Michelin-starred chefs Eric Ripert, Geoffrey Zakarian and Daniel Boulud and its beloved neighborhood eateries Melba’s, Hearth and Keens Steakhouse, among others, were at their most vulnerable since the start of COVID-19. Their determination to survive and serve their communities becomes a love letter to New York City focused on hope and resilience, while cooking and serving through a global pandemic. With Michael Anthony, Daniel Boulud, Anne Burrell, Marco Canora, Graydon Carter, Loycent Gordon, Eric Ripert, Niki Russ Federman, Marcus Samuelsson, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Melba Wilson, Geoffrey Zakarian
SHORT FILM LINEUP
Almost a Year, directed by Jamieson Baker. Produced by Katie Holmes and John Mesner. Written by Jamie Baker and Katie Holmes. (United States) – Online World Premiere, Short Narrative. As the coronavirus pandemic progresses, the overlapping routines of three New Yorkers (Eve Lindley, Emilio Vitolo, Mitzi Akaha) change unexpectedly. With Eve Lindley, Emilio Vitolo, Mitzi Akaha.
David, directed and written by Zach Woods. Produced by Kevin Chinoy, Francesca Silvestri, Zach Woods, Andrew Porter. (United States) – Online World, Short Narrative. David (William Jackson Harper) needs help. So does David (Fred Hechinger). With Will Ferrell, William Jackson Harper, Fred Hechinger, Corey Jantzen, Sebastian Vale.
Desert Dogs, directed by Samuel Morris. (Switzerland) – Online US, Short Documentary. Aya and Ibrahim both live from one moment to the next, far away from Moroccan conventions. They’ve figured out what makes them the happiest: a wooden board with wheels on it. In Arabic with English subtitles.
Last Meal, directed and written by Daniel Principe, Marcus McKenzie. Produced by Daniel Principe, Marcus McKenzie, Danielle Tinker. (Australia) – Online World, Short Documentary. The final feasts of death row inmates are served up in this investigation of capital punishment. With Hugh Ross.
Milk Toffee, directed and written by Pulkit Arora. Produced by Rigved Siriah. (India) – Online World Premiere, Short Narrative. Bound by Christ to tell the truth, a Goan school teacher (Tanvika Parlikar) is about to report an erring child (Mohammed Huzef). But a revelation forces her to choose between the moral and the human. With Tanvika Parlikar, Shaurya Neer, Mohammed Huzef, William Rodrigues, Bertha & Joey. In English, Marathi with English subtitles.
Namoo, directed and written by Erick Oh. (United States) – Online US Premiere, Short Animation. A narrative poem brought to life and an ode to a grandfather’s passing, this story follows the journey of a budding artist—and his tree of life—from beginning to end.
No Plan A, directed and produced by Linda G Mills, written by Rinnie Mills Goodrich. (United States) – Online World Premiere. An intimate and comic portrait of one family’s drive across the country to see their 99-year-old grandfather diagnosed with cancer at the height of the pandemic. With Linda G. Mills, Ronnie Mills Goodrich, Peter Goodrich, Harold Mills, V.
Rise Up, directed by Bryan Buckley. Produced by Tina Densmore Bell. (United States, Brazil, Kenya) – Online World Premiere, Short Documentary. Who is the definitive modern role model for mankind? Is it a politician? A writer? A scientist? Twelve remarkable children from around the world give their answers.
JUNETEENTH LINEUP
Ferguson Rising
This program is continuing this year’s Festival-wide celebration of Black stories and storytellers at Tribeca.
Features
Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase the Blues Away, directed by Devin Amar, Charles Todd, Matt Mitchener. Produced by Sheira Rees-Davies, John Beug. (United States) – Online World Premiere. A music-filled profile of guitar legend George ‘Buddy’ Guy, whose unique, intense style, forged from years of gigging in Chicago clubs, inspired generations of blues musicians. With Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Carlos Santana, Gary Clark Jr, Kingfish.
Ferguson Rises, directed by Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, written by Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, Bradinn French, Jeff Striker, Kai Bowe, Daisy Mo. Produced by Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, Daisy Mo, Tanayi Seabrook, TJ Odebunmi, Lisa Smithline, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, Nick Moon, Tamika Lamison. (United States) – Online World Premiere. Before George Floyd, before Breonna Taylor, before Black Lives Matter, there was Michael Brown, Jr. Six years after the fatal shooting of an unarmed Brown by a white police officer, and the subsequent days of protest, filmmaker Mobolaji Olambiwonnu brings a new portrait of the community of Ferguson, the family and friends of Michael Brown, and a narrative from within the city of hope, love and renewal. With Michael Brown Sr., Susan Ankenbrand, Ank Ankenbrand, Rev. Renita Lamkin, Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, Montague Simmons
No Running, directed by Delmar Washington, written by Delmar Washington. Produced by Eric B. Fleischman, Maurice Fadida. (United States) – Online World Premiere. With Skylan Brooks, Taryn Manning, Shane West, Diamond White, Rutina Wesley, Bill Engvall. When a young Black man’s girlfriend mysteriously disappears, he’s forced to go on the run, staying one step ahead of suspicious police to clear his name and to find out if otherworldly forces are to blame.
They’re Trying to Kill Us, written, Produced & Directed by John Lewis, Keegan Kuhn, Executive Produced by Chris Paul, Billie Eilish, Keegan Kuhn, John Lewis, Greg Anzalone, Jay Karandikar. They’re Trying To Kill Us, executive produced by NBA All-Star Chris Paul and Grammy winning artist Billie Eilish, is the follow-up feature length documentary to the award-winning film What The Health, focusing on food (in)justice told through the lens of Hip Hop. Audiences journey with co-director John Lewis as he crosses the country seeking answers to why Americans of Color suffer from disproportionately higher rates of chronic disease than their European American counterparts, while examining the intersections of food, disease, race, poverty, institutional racism and government corruption.
Venus as a Boy, directed and written by Ty Hodges. Produced by Ty Hodges, Gian Franco, Roya Rastegar, Sanjay M. Sharma. (United States) – Online World Premiere. Fresh off a heartbreak, enigmatic starving artist Hunter and alluring, confident Ruby have a whirlwind romance in Venice Beach, but can it survive the harsh realities of her glitzy NYC art world? With Ty Hodges, Olivia Culpo, Trace Lysette, Bai Ling, Estelle, Gilles Marini, Daniel Bonjour, Stacy Barthe.
Shorts
Cherry Lemonade, directed and written by Aisha Ford. Produced by Jane Hare, Katie Pyne, Nadine Nadoo, Tema L. Staig, Allison Vanore, Jeff Vespa, Annika Hylmo, Uzma Xina Kang. (United States) – Online World Premiere, Short Narrative. On a hot summer day in the hood, a Black girl (Eris Baker) learns to take the lead on her own terms. With Eris Baker, Skylan Brooks, Chance Harlem Jr, Alexander Jones III, Skyler Priest, Meagan Harmon.
Enough, directed by Caleb Slain. Written and produced by Rick Stevenson. (United States) – Online World, Short Narrative. A dream, a nightmare, a musical. Ten years in the making, welcome to the stormy inner world of one boy (Nathan Nzanga) growing up in America. With Nathan Nzanga, Max Losee.
Waves, directed and written by Agazi Desta. Produced by Miles Alva, Anabel Iñigo. (United States) – Online US Premiere, Short Narrative. A Black, deaf teen (Omete Anassi) wants “Waves” for prom night, but his haircut falls into the hands of an inattentive, rookie barber (Jason Dalhouse). With Omete Anassi, Jason Dalhouse, Larry Banks, Eric Davis, Dameon Victorian, Barry Wilkins, Derrick Stephon Miller, Terrell Wilds.
A: A watch window is how long you have to watch a film once you press ‘PLAY’.
Q: How long are watch windows?
A: Most films have a 72 hour watch window. Some films in the festival are scheduled at specific times with shorter watch windows. Be sure to check each film’s dedicated page in the film guide for details.
Q: Can I pause or rewind during the watch window?
A: Yes, you have complete access to the entire program during your watch window.
Q: When can I watch movies?
A: Many films are available to watch from June 9 – June 23, 2021. Films with an in-person premier, will be available to watch on the At Home platform the evening following their live screening – at 6:00 pm EST and remain available to watch through the 23rd of June. Films premiering on the At Home platform exclusively will be released daily, remaining available for five days each. See the festival schedule and individual film pages for At Home premiere dates and times. Please note that a small number of films will have specific At Home premiere dates with shorter watch windows; these details will be listed on each film’s dedicated page in the film guide.
Q: How many times can I watch a film with my At Home Festival Pass?
A: Passholders may watch films ONE (1) time each. If a film has a watch window of 72 hours, and the PLAY button has been pressed (i.e. the film watch window has begun), 72 hours later the film’s availability will expire – regardless of whether or not the film has been watched in full. Passholders will not be able to start the film again once the watch window has expired.
Q: Can I watch the films from anywhere in the USA?
About the Tribeca Festival
The Tribeca Festival, presented by AT&T, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, VR, gaming, music, and online work. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is a platform for creative expression and immersive entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices; discovers award-winning filmmakers and creators; curates innovative experiences; and introduces new technology and ideas through premieres, exhibitions, talks, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. Tribeca will celebrate its 20th year June 9 – 20, 2021. www.tribecafilm.com/festival
In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems, a private investment company with locations in New York and Mumbai, bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.
About the 2021 Tribeca Festival Partners
The 2021 Tribeca Festival is presented by AT&T and with the support of our corporate partners: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Audible, Bloomberg Philanthropies, CHANEL, City National Bank, CNN Films, Diageo, DoorDash, FreshDirect, Hudson Yards, Indeed, Montefiore-Einstein, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, P&G, PwC, Roku, Spring Studios New York.
By Lynn Venhaus Every family face challenges, and especially when roles are reversed – when children must care for their parents.
The new documentary, “It’s Not a Burden,” hits close to home. Filmmaker Michelle Boyaner, an Emmy nominee for “Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson” in 2016, tells a very personal story without losing her wit or determination.
Subtitled “The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents,” the documentary explores the time in life where we become our parents’ caretakers. Boyaner featured more than 20 families from different parts of the country who are caring for their aging loved ones, including her own experiences with her mother and father.
People of a certain age will glimpse themselves here – or at least their loved ones – as the circle of life doesn’t leave any of us out.
Boyaner’s parents divorced and her mother, after converting to Mormonism, moved to Utah and left her eight children with her ex-husband. When she returned after remarrying, she had to repair those relationships. Boyaner shows her mother Elaine in an assisted living facility and her dad Morris has a hoarding problem.
She uses a copious amount of family photos to share her experience, and any Baby Boomer will recognize the era of growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. Comparing the journey to an amusement park outing is very funny – and rings true.
As candid as she is, Boyaner’s other subjects are just as revelatory about their struggles and trying to do what’s right when it’s hard. And no matter how much we wish things would not change, that’s not what happens when time marches on. These universal feelings are expressed by Cecelia and Manuela in California, Maxine, Sally and Esther in Pittsburgh, and Brother Kenneth.
The personalities of these seniors in their 80s and 90s, so colorfully depicted, are what’s memorable. The interaction with their adult children or caretakers have warmth, humor and – let’s face it, exasperation.
It’s difficult when loved ones experience the cruel decline of dementia or physical challenges inevitable with aging.
But something happens when those roles are reversed. And that’s what’s noticeable here. We have richer relationships – whether it’s a child taking care of a parent or a friend supporting a friend. And the sense of communities coming together is good to see.
The film, above all, conveys a lot of love. And with the laughter, the no-frills documentary is a journey that you will identify with, no matter what stage you are in life. We all experience loss — it’s the love and laughter that will get us through it.
After the year we’ve had, a new appreciation for family and what we take for granted has surfaced. This film reminds us to hang on and be there for others. We’re all just trying the best that we can.
“It’s Not a Burden” is a 2021 documentary by Michelle Boyaner. It is not rated and runs 84 minutes. Lynn’s Grade: B. The film is available Video on Demand.
With the support of the City of St. Louis Health Department, The Muny announced today that the previously shared reduced capacity restrictions have been lifted for its 103rd season. The outdoor theatre will open at full capacity, utilizing each of its nearly 11,000 seats, including the 1,500 free seats offered nightly on a first come, first served basis.
The 2021 season lineup includes:
Smokey Joe’s Cafe | July 26 – Aug. 1
The Sound of Music | Aug. 3 – 9
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers | Aug. 12 – 18
On Your Feet! | Aug. 21 – 27
Chicago | Aug. 30 – Sept. 5
The two shows originally slated for the seven-show lineup that will move into the 2022 season are Sweeney Todd and Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins.
Current season ticket holders for the 2021 season will receive their season tickets later this month. New season subscriptions for the 2021 five-show season will be available beginning June 7, with single tickets becoming available July 12. Tickets can be purchased online at muny.org or by phone by calling (314) 361-1900 ext 1550. Currently, the box office in Forest Park is closed for walk-up service until July 5.
Patron Masking Fully vaccinated patrons are not required to wear masks at The Muny. Patrons who are not yet fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times on campus, unless actively eating or drinking.
Staff Masking For the safety of our patrons and our employees, our event staff will wear masks.
Cashless Transactions Concession stands, kiosks and other retail transactions made on The Muny campus will be cashless and only offer credit, debit or Muny gift card payment options.
Express Ingress The Muny campus has deployed new, state-of-the-art metal detection scanners. These new devices will allow a continuous stream of physically-distanced patrons to pass through security checkpoints without the delays typically associated with bag checks and handheld metal detection devices (or “wands”).
Hand Sanitizer For patron convenience, hand sanitizer dispensers will be widely available throughout the Muny campus.
Patron Communication, Online and On Campus All Muny Patron Policies and Sanitation Guidelines will be available on The Muny website. Policies will also be communicated in preshow emails to patrons. Campus signage will be located at entrances and throughout public spaces to encourage proper hand sanitation, face covering policies (when necessary) and safety guidelines.
To stay connected virtually and to receive the latest updates, please follow The Muny on their social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Emerson is proud to be The Muny’s 2021 Season Sponsor. ###
The Muny’s mission is to enrich lives by producing exceptional musical theatre, accessible to all, while continuing its remarkable tradition in Forest Park. As the nation’s largest outdoor musical theatre, we produce world-class musicals each year and welcome over 350,000 theatregoers over our summer season. Celebrating 103 seasons in St. Louis, The Muny remains one of the premier institutions in musical theatre.
For more information about The Muny, visit muny.org
The 26th Annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival will be held virtually this summer, from June 6 through June 13. The Festival will present a selection of 13 documentary and feature films from around the world. While all films depict a piece of the Jewish experience, the themes are universal and meant to be appealing to all, regardless of faith.
Breaking Bread, Beth Hawk’s award-winning documentary about Jews & Arabs cooking together is the perfect recipe to satiate hungry film audiences.
Thought-provoking, and sometimes disturbing, Antisemitism delves deeply into the insidious origins of antisemitism in France from the Middle Ages to the 1894 Dreyfus Affair to the present day.
Ma’aborat reveals the discrimination and harsh conditions which awaited Jewish refugees from the Middle East and North Africa when they came to Israel in the 1950s.
More than just a sports film, Aulcie candidly tells the story of the rise and downfall of one of Israel’s greatest sports legends.
Two documentaries, Love It Was Not and The Good Nazi, present somewhat different views of the typical Nazi officer.
Lighter films that entertain include Kiss Me Kosher and Howie Mandel: But Enough About Me.
In addition to these compelling films, the Festival offers discussions with filmmakers and others associated with the films. A complete list of films and discussions, go to www.stljewishfilmfestival.org.
Films will be available for viewing throughout the festival and screened virtually through the film platform, Eventive. An all-access Festival pass can be purchased for $95. Individual films are $14 each. View the complete Film Festival schedule and buy tickets at stljewishfilmfestival.org starting April 9.
The 2021 Jewish Film Festival co-chairs are Marilyn K. Brown, Jeffrey Korn and Paula Sigel. The Jewish Film Festival is a program of the Jewish Community Center.
ABOUT THE J: The J is an interactive, multi-generational gathering place that offers a variety of programs and services to both the St. Louis Jewish community, and the community at large. The Jewish Community Center provides educational, cultural, social, Jewish identity-building and recreational programming and offers two, state-of-the art fitness facilities, all designed to promote physical and spiritual growth. Everyone is welcome at the J.
Israel | English and Hebrew with English subtitles
Director: Beth Elise Hawk
Documentary: 86 minutes
Availability: Viewable within Missouri and Illinois
Exotic cuisine with a side of politics…
Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel was the first Israeli Muslim Arab to win the top prize in Israel’s MasterChef TV competition. She went on to found the A-sham Food Festival in Haifa, a celebration of Arab cuisine inspired by traditional dishes from the Levant food culture. A film about hope, synergy and mouthwatering fare, the film illustrates what happens when people focus on the person, rather than religion; on the public, rather than the politicians.
Film Conversation: Available On-Demand
Local, award-winning chef and restauranteur, Ben Poremba, interviewed by Ellen Futterman, editor of the St. Louis Jewish Light
Inspired by a true story, it’s 1967, and Eli Rosenberg has a problem… only one medical school in the country will accept him: Meharry, a historically black medical school in Tennessee, a considerable distance from his life in Brooklyn. Michael Dubois has a problem… only one medical school will suffice for him: Meharry, his father’s alma mater. Eli and Michael have another problem: they are outsiders from different backgrounds inside the pressure cooker of medical school. They battle the mysteries of medicine, demanding professors and each other.
Film Conversation: Available On-Demand
Led by Marylen Mann, Chairman Emeritus at OASIS Institute, with Dr. Ira Kodner and Dr. Will Ross.
A Nazi officer falls in love with a Jewish concentration camp prisoner, a forbidden romance with decades-long repercussions. Beautiful Helena Citron is among the first inmates to confront the dehumanizing conditions of Auschwitz. There, she captures the attention of Franz Wunsch, a high-ranking SS officer smitten by her singing voice. Risking execution if caught, their forbidden liaison continues until Helena’s miraculous liberation. The pair don’t meet again until Helena is a witness at Wunsch’s war crimes trial 30 years later.
Film Conversation: Available On-Demand
Film Director, Maya Sarfaty, interviewed by Warren Rosenblum, PhD, History, Politics and International Relations at Webster University
Canada/France/Israel | French with English subtitles
Director: Ilan Ziv
Documentary: 80 minutes
A vitally important film covering a universal and unfortunately ongoing issue…
Tracing the insidious origins of antisemitism in France from the Middle Ages to the 1894 Dreyfus Affair to the present day, this film delves deeply and intellectually into the depiction of “the Jew” in society and how that image established an ideology of hate that eventually led to the Holocaust. In the aftermath of the war, a devastated France continued this ideology of antisemitism that set the stage for a modern wave of anti-Jewish sentiment and attacks.
Film Conversation: Available On-Demand
Led by Karen Aroesty, Director ADL Heartland, and Dr. Mara Cohen Ioannides, Missouri State University
USA/Israel | English/Hebrew with English subtitles
Director: Dani Menkin
Documentary: 72 minutes
The meteoric rise and fall of a legend…
One of Israel’s greatest athletes captures the spirit of a nation. Recruited from the basketball courts of Harlem, Aulcie Perry joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1976, established himself a leader, and helped defeat the heavily favored Soviets to give team Israel its first European Championship. He adopted a Hebrew name, converted to Judaism, and dated an Israeli model. But the dark side of fame led to a stunning downfall. Returning to Israel after time in prison, Aulcie shares his story of redemption. Featuring electrifying game footage and insightful interviews.
Film Conversation: Available On-Demand
Director Dani Menkin interviewed by Larry Levin, Executive Director of Ozark Land Trust and former Publisher & CEO of the St. Louis Jewish Light
A touching look at the life of wildly inventive comedian and actor, Howie Mandel…a man who uses humor to cope with a world that terrifies him. This intimate portrait examines one of the most beloved and complex comedians and his invulnerable spirit. Told through his own voice and using a wealth of behind-the-scenes clips, the film examines his extraordinary life and career as well as his painful struggles with mental illness and how he manages a relentless pace in his professional and private life.
Aharon has devoted his life to raising his son, Uri. They live together in a gentle routine, away from the real world. But Uri is autistic and now as a young adult, it might be time for him to live in a specialized home. While on their way to the institution, Aharon decides to run away with his son and hits the road, thinking that Uri is not ready for this separation. Or is it, in fact, his father who is not ready? A story about parental love, about change, and separation; about letting go and moving on.
Germany/Israel | English and Arabic/German/Hebrew with English subtitles
Director: Shirel Peleg
Feature: 105 minutes
Availability: Viewable within Missouri and Kansas
What happens with lovers who don’t fit but do belong together?…
Sparks fly when two families from different cultural backgrounds collide to plan a same-sex wedding. Israeli Shira is in love with Maria, a German. Berta, Shira’s grandmother who is a Holocaust survivor (and happens to secretly love a Palestinian!) vehemently opposes the match. While Shira’s brother eagerly documents the family chaos for a school video project, Shira and Maria discover the road to happiness is more a minefield, littered with booby traps that could detonate at any time.
Canada/Israel | English and Hebrew/German with English subtitles
Directors: Yaron Niski and Ric Esther Bienstock
Docudrama: 52 minutes
The unknown tale of a Schindler-type German…
Nazi Major Karl Plagge arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania with the occupation force during WWII. The SS was determined to murder every Jew, but Plagge decided to save Jews instead. On the surface, he was commandant of the HKP forced labor camp; in reality, he was sheltering hundreds of Jewish families. With today’s government about to tear down the HKP site, scientists arrive to locate hiding places and identify mass graves. The film tracks the stories of a child survivor, an American physician whose mother was saved and Plagge himself.
On the day Hitler comes to power, the German-Jewish family Glickstein has a family dinner. Most of them, however, (like so many other Germans at that time) don’t take the Nazis seriously. When young Leah reveals her plans to emigrate to Palestine, her family starts arguing. Her father can’t see any reason to leave Germany, the country of their ancestors and the country he risked his life for during WWI. But when Leah´s younger brother indicates that he is an ardent admirer of the Nazi movement, the family is on the brink of being torn apart.
The past intertwines with the present as the discovery of a mysterious, yellowed old photograph of a little girl leads Christian and Jewish students on a search for the truth…who is she? Trying to unravel the mystery behind the portrait, the teens embark on a journey retracing a night of horror: the raid on the Roman Ghetto during the Shoah. What they learn inspires them to take a collective stance toward commitment in its many forms, because sometimes indifference is worse than hate.
Set in Norway during WWII, this is the story of 10-year-old Gerda, an intrepid young girl with an adventurous spirit. When she and her more cautious older brother witness the arrest of their parents for their role in the Resistance, the event justifiably shakes the two. Then they meet two Jewish children who are hiding under Gerda’s parents’ protection. Gerda decides the four youngsters should venture into the Nazi-controlled countryside in an attempt to reunite their new friends with their parents.
Jewish refugees from the Middle East and North Africa reveal the discrimination and harsh conditions which awaited them when they came to 1950’s Israel. Arriving during a time of poverty and austerity, Jews seeking shelter in the Promised Land instead were forced into shantytowns known as ma’abarot. Thrown together from different cultures, already demoralized immigrants waited days for food, showers and toilets. The troubling testimony of camp refugees is illustrated with never-before-seen archival materials.
Bonus Film for All-Access Pass Holders
Egg Cream
USA | English
Directors: Nora Claire Miller and Peter Miller
Documentary: 15 minutes
Chocolate syrup + milk + seltzer = an egg cream…
A short film about the enduring meaning of a beloved chocolate soda drink born on the Jewish Lower East Side. The egg cream contains neither eggs nor cream – it was a product of necessity and hardship, but a source of joy and sweetness. Through a tour of egg cream establishments led by a filmmaker and his young daughter, exhaustively researched archival imagery, and even a song by Lou Reed, the film examines the Jewish experience in America and the mythology of a simpler time.
The St. Louis Black Rep rounds up its season of virtual programming with a final mainstage production of an original work. Do I Move You? – based on a collection of poetry by Dr. Jonathan Smith, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Saint Louis University and President of The Black Rep Board of Directors – will stream on Vimeo June 15-30.
Smith’s collection of poetry, music, and dance pulls inspiration from Jazz, religion, love, family, and some of the greatest musicians of our time – Donny Hathaway, Louis Jordan, and Marvin Gaye. Conceived by Producing Director Ron Himes, using devised theatre, Black Rep Director and Choreographer Heather Beal weaves a web of music, dance, and poetry. Themes of betrayal, identity, discovery, and love flow throughout the performance, culminating to answer one very important question, “Do I Move You?”
Produced at the Edison Theatre on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, the production features the Black Rep’s Acting Intern Company Kentrell Jamison, Christian Kitchens, Theorri London, Brian McKinley, Tyler White, Jesmelia Williams, and Christina Yancy. Also featured are local Vocalist and Musical Director, Amber Rose, Dancer Samantha Madison, Percussionist Bernard Long Jr, Bass Player Jeffrey Anderson, and Lead Guitarist Dennis Brock. With scenic and projection design by Peter and Margery Spack, lighting design by Sean Savoie, costume design by Ellen Minch, sound engineering by Kareem Deanes, editing by Avatar Studios, and Kasey Dunaski as Stage Manager.
Tickets for Do I Move You? are available at theblackrep.org or by calling our Box Office at 314-534-3807. Streaming free on demand, a suggested donation of $25 will directly help support the theatre company and its artists.
By Lynn Venhaus A cheeky live-action prequel that delves into the down-and-out origins of one of Disney’s iconic villains, “Cruella” is a dark tale of dueling divas hell-bent on revenge.
That’s an unexpected underdog twist – and this glossy reimagining bursts with a bold, brassy attitude.
Estella de Vil (Emma Stone) wasn’t born to be bad, but she was a nonconformist at an early age.
Born with the unmistakable two-tone hair, Estella’s a creative but mischievous child (a spunky Tipper Seifert-Cleveland) who is a handful for her mother (Emily Beecham).
When she strikes out on her own on the streets, that begins her relationship with Jasper and Horace, who are rakishly played by character actors Joel Fry of “Yesterday” and Paul Walter Hauser of “Richard Jewell” as adults — good-hearted blokes. They survive as grifters.
But the future fashionista has a dream and is singled out by superstar designer The Baroness (Emma Thompson), who likes her style – and appropriates it for her collections. Haughty and vain, the Baroness has destroyed everyone in her way – but has she met her match in Cruella? The rebellious alter ego of Estella, Cruella’s punk rock outfits are redefining fashion in 1970s London, and it is game on!
The story, long in the works, was first drafted by screenwriters Aline Brosh McKenna, Kelly Marcel and Steve Zissis. McKenna wrote “The Devil Wears Prada” and you see those fingerprints all over this latest chapter in the “101 Dalmatians” oeuvre by co-screenwriters Dana Fox and Tony McNamara.
This is where Emma Thompson takes over, commanding every frame she is in, with personality and pizzazz, as she forges Estella/Cruella’s identity.
A chance encounter with The Baroness von Hellman, the prima donna of haute couture, puts Estella on the path to realize a career as a designer. As played by Thompson, the wickedly evil Baroness is a despicable human and corrupt fashionista. As Cruella learns more, she stakes her claim as “The Future” of fashion. She takes swinging London by storm.
This is when the movie explodes with fresh and fun outfits in a swirl of black, white and red — the notorious colors associated with all things Cruella. Jenny Beavan’s costume designs are marvelous, a big loud rebel yell of punk-inspired outfits and gorgeous evening garments perfect for dramatic entrances. Beavan’s won Oscars for “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “A Room with a View,” and her use of different fabrics and textures is stunning.
These costumes are worn with flair by two of our best actresses, Oscar winners Stone and Thompson, who have a ball with the campier aspects of their roles — but also vividly create their characters’ dead-serious nature.
As for the Dalmatians that first created the Disney franchise all the way back to 1961, three mean ones appear as the pets of the Baroness. Hence, Cruella’s aversion to the spotted creatures. Estella’s own pet dog is a beloved mutt named Buddy.
Stay past the credits to find more on Anita and Roger, a nod to Pongo and Perdita’s future family.
The source material for all of the successive movies, including the live-action “101 Dalmatians” in 1996 and the 2000 “102 Dalmatians” starring Glenn Close as the imperious villain, has been Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel.
She turned a character’s last name from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” Count de Ville, into this greedy villainess, driving a Rolls Royce and barking orders to her henchman, to fill her insatiable need for animal fur.
Where the franchise is headed after “Cruella” is anyone’s guess – because how would Stone’s character turn into the menacing de Vil that steals the dogs for their fur?
Well, that discussion is for another day, but it’s a logical question – where does it go from here after Cruella takes over Hell(man) Hall?
As for a stand-alone movie, “Cruella” is a vibrant creation with a banging period soundtrack and a game cast.
Just as he did with “I, Tonya,” director Craig Gillespie zigs when you expect him to zag.
The Baroness’ actions are too frightening for young children, so parents be aware. There is nothing remotely cute about this movie.
But as it is Disney, expect lots of merchandise, tie-ins and another one in the works. That’s about the only predictable element to this film.
“Cruella” is a 2020 comedy-drama directed by Craig Gillespie. Starring Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Mark Strong. Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements and the run time is 2 hours, 14 minutes. It is available in theaters and on Disney Plus for a one-time premium access fee on May 28. Lynn’s Grade: B+
In theaters and on Disney Plus with Premier Access one-time additional fee May 28
By Lynn Venhaus For a pulse-pounding 97 minutes, “A Quiet Place Part II” delivers a satisfying sequel that broadens the original story with clever moves and adds to its superb cast.
Writer-director John Krasinski, who directed and co-wrote the original, has built more tension-filled sequences and delivered well-timed jump scares. He maintains what made the 2018 film uniquely scary when any noise would attract the monsters.
The Abbotts – Evelyn, her children Regan, Marcus and infant, leave their home to try to find a safer haven in the outside world. With the creatures who hunt by sound still wreaking death and destruction, it is a precarious journey – and they discover these creepy aliens are not the only threats lurking on their post-apocalyptic path.
Now, after a 14-month delay because of the coronavirus pandemic, the film has eerie parallels to what we went through in quarantine – but had been completed for a March 2020 opening.
It may be the first movie to entice people back to the local multiplexes, kicking off the traditional summer movie season. It’s comforting to share the suspense with others in a communal setting, as we emerge from our isolation to be frightened by a vastly different world.
With masterful editing from Michael Shawver, the fear is palpable, and the importance of keen sound design magnified by what may be waiting for the humans if detected. Every snap, crackle and pop are excruciating.
For the first scene, we are taken back to the Before Times – an ordinary Saturday afternoon in the small town where kids and parents are on the local ball diamond, when the sky fills with a mysterious visual as something hurtles towards earth. Quickly, parents grab their children and attempt to head home when the invading aliens pounce. The danger escalates, which leads to the events of the first film. In this flashback, Krasinski returns briefly as Lee, trying to herd his family to safety.
Part II takes up at Day 474, when the surviving Abbotts venture from their farmhouse cocoon to explore the outside world, in hopes of finding people at bonfire encampments while not attracting the marauding predators.
While the first film was stingy in its reveal of the grotesque beasts, which are giant fast-moving spidery lizard-like forms whose lethal big bite is as sharp as knives, this time they are often shown up-close. Their ferociousness is on full display, which ratchets up the terror.
The smart and resourceful Abbotts get out of numerous jams but are never far from being dinner.
Daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), who is deaf, hatches a plan after suspecting Bobby Darin’s song, “Beyond the Sea,” heard repeatedly on a radio station, is a signal. She takes off to save her family – and humanity – while mom Evelyn (Emily Blunt) implores their former friend and neighbor Emmett (Cillian Murphy) to go after her.
The casting of the Irish actor is genius. Almost unrecognizable with a shaggy beard and blue-collar wardrobe, Murphy convincingly plays a grieving husband and father whose undercurrent of sadness provides an emotional depth, and his expressive eyes aid in the nonverbal acting.
Emmett has made a solitary fortress in an old steel mill that he reluctantly shares with the Abbotts. Haunted by losing his family, he spends his days drawing photos of his little boy and protecting his turf. He has a pessimistic view of civilization.
As Regan’s protector on their journey to find an oasis, Emmett is challenged as well – but fights like hell to survive as his strength builds. When the pair reach a coastal island, Djimon Hounsou – in a small but pivotal role — plays a helpful resident.
Because of widening the scope, Krasinski has less for Blunt to do, but she is effective as the panic-stricken mother trying to protect her children at all costs.
The child actors stand out, particularly Millicent Simmonds as the deaf girl who is very intuitive. Her lack of hearing is crucial to the story, as in the first, and so is her cochlear implant.
While you can be cynical about that plot device, and think the film resembles M. Night Shyamalan’s “Signs” from 2002 because of another plot twist, I think the characters are worth following. Original co-screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods had helped create memorable characters that we cared about and still engage three years’ later.
Krasinski counts on moviegoers to remember key elements of the first film without too much rehashing and gives a few hints. He keeps the film moving at a good clip.
The film leaves us wanting more and is set up for a third installment. What happens in that bubble could still intrigue because of the ensemble’s outstanding work.
“A Quiet Place Part II” is even more unsettling than the first as we can really feel the uncertainty based on our own COVID-19 experiences.
“A Quiet Place Part II” is a 2020 sci-fi, horror film directed John Krasinski, starring Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Noah Jupe, Millcent Simmonds and Djimon Hounsou. Rated PG-13 for terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images, the run time is 1 hour, 37 minutes. Only in theaters May 28. Lynn’s Grade: A.
By Lynn Venhaus The movie shows its cards right away: “This story does not in any way claim to be the truth,” we read on the screen. “Nonetheless, it is inspired by actual events.”
Washington D.C. social climber Ulrich Mott (Christoph Waltz) has conned his way into the upper echelons of politics and society, including marrying wealthy and much-older widow Elsa Brecht (Vanessa Redgrave). When she is found dead one evening after a triumphant dinner party, her daughter Amanda (Annette Bening) suspects foul play. The police investigation will uncover a large web of deception.
As we’re immersed into D.C.’s political maneuvering, we see the slick grifter Mott ingratiating himself with movers and shakers. The charming Mott is being hailed as “Lawrence of Arabia with a Blackberry,” regaling stories of his diplomatic exploits to the doyens of society.
Remarkably, his schtick works – until it doesn’t, but he can sure spin whoppers. In a truth is stranger than fiction way, “Georgetown” looks at the power plays in Washington D.C., where an ambitious German-born swindler can bamboozle the smart and important. And it’s a remarkable story how he got as far as he did – if we are to believe it all.
Based on the 2012 New York Times article, “The Worst Marriage in Georgetown,” by Franklin Foer, the film shows how Albrecht Gero Muth took advantage of Viola Herms Drath, a journalist, author, advisor to public figures and a wealthy widow. Although their names have been changed, the story is a tragic and bizarre true-crime headline.
Playwright David Auburn, who won a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for “Proof,” has adapted the sordid events into a dark comedy but the tone isn’t consistent, and there is little insight into the odd flim-flam man’s schemes and backstory.
In real life, Muth was 44 years younger than Drath and was convicted of her murder in 2014. You can dig deeper into that case on your own if you want more reality context.
As for the marriage, the movie offers a ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ scenario – a couple’s close relationship that disintegrates as more of Muth’s deceit is revealed.
Waltz, winner of two Oscars, and Redgrave, winner of one, delectably tango when she’s done with his charade and he’s not pretending to be devoted. They can make a three-course meal out of scenery chewing – and it’s fun to watch. Waltz also directed.
Not so fortunate is Annette Bening, whose Harvard law professor daughter character is underdrawn and is reduced to glaring at Mott with total disdain every time she’s on screen which isn’t much.
Because Redgrave, now 84, is playing a 91-year-old journalist, we see her sharp mind at work. The legendary actress might have slowed down but she’s still one of the best.
With such a lauded cast, you expect the outcome to be better but the film runs out of gas – maybe it’s because Mott is such an odd, pathetic character. It’s the kind of role that gave Waltz a film career, and he’s good at playing a schuyster. But even this guy can’t drum up any sympathy.
It is funny, however, when he’s donning an eye patch, claiming of service in the French Foreign Legion and as a brigadier general in the Iraqi Special Forces.
The attorneys are practically rolling their eyes over his antics — one of them being the exceptional Corey Hawkins, frustrated by Muth’s grandiosity and his clear-cut motives.
The movie was made in 2018, premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, and is finally out now. Not sure what that all means, and while it has its flaws, the story is intriguing – and just to see Redgrave and Waltz tussle is worth it.
“Georgetown” is a 2019 true crime drama directed by Christoph Waltz and starring Waltz, Vanessa Redgrave and Annette Bening. Rated R for language and brief sexual material, with a runtime of 1 hour, 39 minutes. It was available Video on Demand beginning May 18. Lynn’s Take: B-
In their first collaboration, That Uppity Theatre Company and Alight Theater Guild will co-produce NYC Queer Playback Theater with “Pride in Progress” on Sunday, June 13, at 7 p.m. CDT/8 p.m. EDT in a virtual interactive playback performance to honor Pride. This event is open to all ages and orientations and will run approximately 90 minutes, and is sponsored by St Louis Pride, St Louis Black Pride, #Boom Magazine and the Missouri Arts Council.
During the performance the audience will be invited to tell stories from their lives, then the story will be “played back” with facilitation, improvisational forms, and music by an ensemble, all around the theme of “Pride in Progress.” As we reflect on Pride in the midst of a pandemic and a racial reckoning, “Pride in Progress” hopes to ask what we are proud of individually and collectively, and what progress is left to be gained?
“I am thrilled to be partnering with NYC Queer Playback to share their stories and that of our communities in a live event. Although we may miss gathering in more traditional physical spaces, virtual events like this provide more access for both artists and audiences,“ said Joan Lipkin, the producing artistic director of That Uppity Theatre Company and Playback Now! St Louis. “NYC Queer Playback is one of the only LGBTQ+ specific playback companies in the US, and ideally suited to help explore our theme of Pride in Progress.”
NYC Queer Playback Theater aims to forge connection in the LGBTQ+ communities, whether participants identify within the community or as an ally, by creating a safe and diverse space for personal growth through Playback. Co-founder Jamie Roach said he is excited to collaborate.
“The LGBTQ+ community is hugely diverse, which is one of its biggest assets,” he said. “Playback allows its participants to reach across differences of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, age, country of origin, language, and ability/disability by providing a rare and rich chance to be vulnerable with each other’s stories while learning the true feelings and experiences of this dynamic community. As the many perspectives and identities are better understood, the ever-evolving Queer community is strengthened.”
For tickets, please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-queer-playback-theaters-pride-in-progress-june-13-at-8pm-edt-registration-156443162711, and an event zoom link will be sent out on the day of the performance.
Tickets are priced at $12, with a pay-what-you-like option, including a free ticket choice. We invite all people, those from the LGBTQ+ community and allies, to reflect on our lives within our community, our nation and globally in the space that we are creating to encourage openness, acceptance, respect, and equality regardless of one’s gender identity, sexual orientation, body size, ability, or status. Personal sharing is encouraged and entirely voluntary. Feel free to tell a story or to enjoy the stories of others.
About Playback Practiced in over 60 countries, Playback Theatre is an original form of improvisational theater developed by Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas in which audience or group members tell stories from their lives and watch them enacted on the spot. Used in a variety of settings, Playback Theater provides highly enjoyable theater and promotes dialogue between different voices as audience members have the opportunity to speak and see their stories embodied on the stage. We discover who we are by telling our stories and, as others bear witness and tell their own stories in response, a deep and empathy- building conversation is created through the collective stories brought to the stage.
About Playback Now! St Louis Founded and directed by Joan Lipkin, Playback Now! St. Louis creates work based on the highly developed improvisational principles established by Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas that are practiced in over 60 countries to assist in individual storytelling for collective well-being.
The ensemble has performed at the Missouri History Museum, Monsanto, Webster University, Grand Center, the Monocle, Boeing, Edward Jones, St Louis Zoo, Missouri Botanical Garden, the Theater Communications Group Conference, the Grand Center Theatre Crawl and more as well as private settings.
About NYC Queer Playback Founded in 2016, NYC Queer Playback Theater serves the LGBTQ+ community through open, monthly rehearsals, and since 2020, as a performing, Core Ensemble. Founded by Rick Sanford and Jamie Roach, under the mentorship of Mountaine Jonas, NYC QPT values creating a safe and brave space for belonging and sharing stories about the layers and intersections within the Queer community. They’ve performed in NYC with SAGE (LGBTQ+ Elders) and in collaboration with Village Playback Theater, and have now found a strong connection through virtual programming. They are excited and grateful to collaborate with Playback Now! St. Louis.
Joan Lipkin
About Joan Lipkin
She was commissioned by Luna Stage to write a piece about getting vaccinated. This is available online at https://www.lunastage.org/vaccine.
She is dramaturging and writing the script for “Environmental Injustice”, a dance concert by Ashleyliane Dance Company that will also feature the story of Hazel Johnson, the mother of environmental justice. Joan has written the text about Hazel Johnson. This is a hybrid performance event with two optional parts: Program A on Saturday, June 5 is taped and virtual. Program B on Sunday, June 6 is a live event at the Grandel Theatre in Grand Center with different material and also includes the piece about Hazel Johnson.
3. She is contributing to the script for A Call 2 Conscience’s “Celebration of Survival” featuring the real-life stories of St Louisans around COVID and the pandemic that is scheduled for live presentation Aug. 28-29.
