cinematic ecstasy
“Date Movie” caused you to flatline? Rolan understands your frustration, and their Spring Euphoria Festival, screening the not-so-mainstream gems of recent times, wants to resuscitate your faith in celluloid. Here’s element’s guide to seven nights of cinema.
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April 7 “Mrs. Henderson Presents” Director: Stephen Frears (“Dirty Pretty Things,” “High Fidelity”). Plot breakdown: Two minutes after the interment of her departed husband, 1930s British socialite Mrs. Henderson (Dame Judi Dench) announces that’s she bored with her widowhood. With a pile of money to burn, she dabbles in philanthropy — “building a home for future bastards” — before finding her true passion: theater or, more specifically, nude dancing revues. Mrs. Henderson gets her groove back fighting for the rights of burlesque art. Bob Hoskins co-stars as manager Vivian Van Damm, who, erm, quickens the healing process for the widow. Reminds you of: “The Full Monty” with posher accents. What critics say: “Stephen Frears seems constitutionally incapable of making an uninteresting movie.” (Gene Seymour, Newsday) April 8 “Breakfast on Pluto” Director: Neil Jordan (“The Butcher Boy,” “The Crying Game”). Plot breakdown: Flamboyant cross-dresser Patrick “Kitten” Braden (Cillian Murphy, pictured), abandoned at birth, leaves his small 1960s Irish town for swinging London, where his biological mother is said to live. Despite repeated hard knocks by a cruel world, Kitten maintains his/her irrepressible spirit, and God ultimately protects children, drunks and transvestites. Liam Neeson co-stars as the priest who rescues Kitten as a babe and continues to be weirded out by the whole dressing like a girl thing. Reminds you of: “The Crying Game’s” Irish transvestitism in Wonderland. What critics say: “An offbeat fairytale populated by colorful characters and spot-on performances.” (John Wirt, Advocate) April 9 “The White Countess” Director: James Ivory (“The Golden Bowl,” “Howard’s End”) with longtime collaborator, producer Ismail Merchant, in his last work. Plot breakdown: After the Bolshevik Revolution, countess Sofia (Natasha Richardson) flees to Shanghai, where she makes ends meet as a sometimes-dancer, sometimes-prostitute. Todd Jackson (Ralph Fiennes), an American diplomat touched by the plight of this fallen woman — “She knows that history has no place for her kind anymore”— installs her as the head act in his emigre nightclub. Real-life relations Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave co-star as ungrateful members of Sofia’s family, who accept financial support while shaming her for its source. Reminds you of: A new “Casablanca,” with the lavish cinematography, WWII Asian locale and prostitution of “Memoirs of a Geisha.” What critics say: “A worthy entry in the duo\\\'s oeuvre and a solid end to Ismail Merchant\\\'s productive and successful career.” (Matt McKillop, filmcritic.com) April 10 “Romance & Cigarettes” Director: John Turturro (actor in “The Big Lebowski,” “Miller’s Crossing”). Plot breakdown: A “down and dirty musical about love” starring a working-class New York family. Nick (James Gandolfini) has a wife, Kitty (Susan Sarandon), and a girlfriend, Tula (Kate Winslet), and it all hits the fan when they find out about each other. Christopher Walken co-stars as, what else, creepy cousin Bo, and shows off the fancy footwork that made his appearance in Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice” music video such an unexpected hoot. Reminds you of: The ‘80s version of “A Little Shop of Horrors,” minus the horrors plus dancing Walken. What critics say: “[A] frequently outrageous film that’s sure to find a good home among fans of cult movies.” (Stella Papamichael, BBC) April 11 “Mary” Director: Abel Ferrara (“The Addiction,” “Body Snatchers”). Plot breakdown: Actress Marie Palesi (Juliette Binoche), playing the Virgin Mary in a cheesy biblical drama, becomes a bit too immersed in her role, and heads to Jerusalem to sort her head out. Producer Ted Younger (Forrest Whitaker), filming a religious television series and wrestling with faith issues of his own, follows Marie on her quest. The trio of questioning characters is rounded out by director Tony Childress (Matthw Modine), supposedly an Abel Ferrara-Mel Gibson amalgam. Reminds you of: An ambivalent modern reply to “The Passion Of The Christ.” What critics say: “A sincere grapple with faith and redemption in cynical times.” (Leslie Felperin, Variety) April 12 “Vdokh-Vydokh” (The Breath Exhaled) Director: Ivan Dikhovichniy (“Prorva,” “Kopeika”). Plot breakdown: Seven years into their happy relationship, a couple, played by Igor Mirkurbatov and bald Yekaterina Volkova, uncover a big secret that shakes the foundation of their union. Loneliness instead of understanding, chaos instead of harmony — erm, the plot description is pretty vague but it’s seems that the pair has ten hours to undo seven years worth of duplicity? It’s the only homeland offering in the festival’s lineup, so let’s give it some credit. Reminds you of: Pick a Russian melodrama? What critics say: Not much. It’s appearance at the festival is a sneak preview before its official release May 4. | 
