Avenue Montaigne

SIFF's 1st members-only preview at the new SIFF Cinema was held Monday night and it was a smashing success! A full house enjoyed the fast-paced, funny French romantic comedy Avenue Montaigne. For some random thoughts and recollections.....

I arrived at SIFF Cinema about 6:15pm for the 7pm screening and the line already stretched down Mercer Ave. After getting marked off the guest list (and getting my hand stamped) the line quickly moved inside and I immediately grabbed a front row seat in the rapidly filling auditorium. After throwing my jacket down to save my seat I headed back up to the lobby and I could feel genuine excitement and electricity in the air as I went straight for the concession stand line. I bumped into SIFF member Dan H. and by the time we got to the counter we were the last folks to get a large popcorn. WOW. The popcorn was movin' tonight!!!! After I sat down I later overheard the folks behind me saying they waited in line quite awhile and got to the counter, only to be greeted by a sign saying the popcorn was all gone. I felt kinda guilty as I munched my delicious popcorn, drizzled with real butter. Yummmmmmmmmm. I've never seen a crowd in such a popcorn frenzy!

Introductions were presented by SIFF's own Carl Spence, Deborah Person and the always awesome Tara Morgan. The popcorn issue was addressed and we were told that the concession stand was in version 1.0 and would soon undergo an upgrade to version 2.0 which would be more robust, more powerful and have extra features. Of course, the Seattle technology-savvy crowd completely understood! Tonight was a beta test.

Tara Morgan (the ultimate Membership Director) let folks know that through the Janus film series, on Wednesday nights, if you show your SIFF Group membership card you get a FREE bag of popcorn! Now that's cool!!!!!!!

The lights then went down and the film started with the curtains closed. Hey.....it's the first night! The curtains opened during the Studio Canal logo (to a round of cheers) and we were then off on our wonderful cinematic voyage to Paris, France!

The film is a very enjoyable, funny ensemble piece that also prominently features the magnificent Eiffel Tower, the Théâtre des Champs Elysées and the Hôtel Plaza-Athénée.

Released in France in January of 2006, this movie was France's submission for the 2007 Oscars for Best Foreign Film. Valérie Lemercier won the French Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress and she had the SIFF audience laughing heartily (especially in her scenes with Sidney Pollack).

"Avenue Montaigne" played the Portland film festival on February 13th and will open in Seattle on Friday March 23 at the Harvard Exit in Seattle.

The original French title of this movie is "Fauteuils d'orchestre" which I think translates to the Orchestra Seats. That's probably a better title, since the thought of where you choose to sit in an auditorium (or where you choose to sit in life) is at the heart of the film.

After acting in movies since 1947, this film was Suzanne Flon's final film and was dedicated to her. In the final shot of the film, you see "a Suzanne" in the lower right hand corner. Her part as the grandmother is small, but vital.

After seeing quite a few "heavy" Janus films recently, it was wonderful to spend 100 minutes smiling. The packed SIFF crowd laughed quite a bit through this film and it received a nice round of applause at the beginning of the credits and yet another round of applause after the credits rolled (as the lights came on).

Even though the popcorn ran out, all in all it was a great first night for SIFF members-only previews at the new SIFF Cinema. The SIFF team once again threw a great cinematic party. Nobody does it better! Bravo! I got the strong impression that the audience really had a fun time and left looking forward to more evenings spent enjoying the magic of the movies at the wonderful new SIFF Cinema.

And the film festival keeps getting closer...and closer. Yea!

Hope to see you Wednesday at SIFF Cinema for Viridiana, La Strada and free popcorn.

Bry

PS After the screening I ran into a SIFF member and told him that I had found on the Internet the "Orgone Accumulator Handbook" which had instructions on how to build your own human-sized Orgone Energy Accumulator. Since he also saw "W.R. - Mysteries of the Organism"....we both laughed. You can find anything on the Internet!
Anyone have any surplus plywood?