Welcome to the party!

After havin' set up the scene of this little event (the film club), maybe it's time to move on to somewhat more provocative titles. The next film will be a very European shot, one which managed to create a whole new directing canvas and embedded this into a tradition of anti-Hollywood art. It came as a suggestion from Marc's side, and I must admit that the photography and the cutting style were missing links regarding my personal cinematographic understanding. Thanks!

The two friends - Thomas Vinterberg and Lars von Trier - together with some other directors swore allegiance to a “vow of chastity” aimed at jolting filmmakers around the world who had become stuck in the mire of slick, emotionally manipulative, high-concept, and bombastic movie productions. They named their philosophy “Dogme95,” and its tenets demanded a return to the basic core of filmmaking: the use of natural lighting and a hand-held camera, and the refusal to use special effects, a soundtrack of any kind (only natural sounds found on location were acceptable), and movie sets (all shooting was to take place on location).

Maybe you think that any movie which complies to this manifest would automatically become an amateur flick with a bizarre plot accompanied by massive headaches due to the bad sound and the shaky camera. Well - if you do think this - than I definitely recommend joining the next screening. Yes, the film turns out to be quite minimalistic when compared to the incredible pictures which have their origin in California - but this exactly IS the point. Most of what is produced oversees is quite incredible; incredible as in unreal, fake, fast-food: shiny and gross. And all that is left behind after peeling the onion is a delicate display of talented actors, intelligent writers and an excellent understanding of what it takes to create an awesome film.

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When: Monday 20th of June 18:30 (After the BCCN Talks)
Where: The GSN Seminar room (ground floor)
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IMDB page: here

We're only in it for the money!

Looking already forward for the second screening I thought of continuing the line of humoristic and engaging cinema. This time, the title chosen has long gained the status of a classic picture and can be regarded as setting the scene for a new film genre: the mockumentary. Well, yes...it's Woody Allen's "Take the Money and Run", a chaotic and very funny succession of almost dada-like scenes. Although maybe some of you have already watched this one, I think that certain movies have a whiskey-esque quality: the more often you taste them, the more richer you perceive 'em.
Since the next Monday (12th of June) is a legal holiday we can discuss the date and time of the next screening. Sadly there will no longer be free drinks and snacks offered by the GSN, but I'll promise to arrange them at supermarkt prices, so we can enjoy this classic in the company of a perfect beer. ;)

Have a nice and productive week!
Dinu.

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Update: We decided that the next screening should be on the 16th (i.e. the next Thursday) evening at 19:00.0. We have a class until then, so in the case that the door is locked it means that our colleagues where really keen on presenting their assigned paper and we'll be there in 5 minutes. :D
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Take the Money and Run

Director: Woody Allen
Release Year: 1969
Language: English

IMDB: here

Quote: He had no conception of the instrument.
He was blowing into it.
He loved his cello.

GSN Film Club Opening

I've been thinking for quite a while now to arrange some kind of a get together where me and my friends could watch selected movies and then chat and exchange impressions regarding different issues which don't necessarily have a scientific focus. Of course, the living room of one's apartment is most probably an obvious choice, but then again you need something bigger than a laptop screen; some decent speakers; sufficient seating possibilities for all those willing to join, and the list could go on. You can buy of course most of those things (but then again - the student status is somehow in the way) and if you have the room to store everything in the mean time while it's not being used then you've only solved half the problem - the really tough part is to synchronize the timetables of all of your friends and get them in your living room at that time and date. If you didn't try to arrange something like this (and I'm not talking about some random film-night at a gone-wrong birthday party) then believe me - it's a pain in the arse.

The solution?!...Well...here I propose a shy attempt to get things going in this direction. I spoke to Catherine, and she was very enthusiastic about the idea of forming a weekly film club within the GSN. The necessary gear is there anyway - including projectors, sound systems and loads of chairs - and the fact that most of us are orbiting around the bio-center makes is a very good choice in terms of synchronizing everybody. Having the film club as a public event linked to the uni has also other positive aspects - get to know people from different groups in a non-scientific framework and if none of this works, maybe a good film sometime in the evening after a hard and long day looking though the microscope will do it.

The films that will be show will be announced ever so often though this blog and there will be also a link from the GSN/GRK calender from each of the dates of the screening. The list of films is still an open thing, any suggestions are welcome. We might even end up voting for one or the other title - everything is still pretty much in the air - which is not a bad aspect. The major guideline which I'm hoping for this club is that the films shown should be artistic or philosophical or "hard" - the kind of movies which spark discussions and are much more enjoyable when watched as a group. I'm really sorry for Terminator, Sex and the City, Ghost Busters and Titanic.

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The first screening will be on the

6th of June, 19:15 in the GSN seminar room

, after the BCCN talk!

***Most probably there will be some free beers and snacks offered kindly by the GSN.

Les triplettes de Belleville (2003)

Genre: Animation, Comedy
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Production Countries: France | Belgium | Canada | UK

IMDB page: here