Twilight Samurai/Everyday People Party

Friday, May 21…started out by seeing The Twilight Samurai at the Egyptian. Helen L proudly announced it was SIFF’s first sellout screening. She also said she’d tried to get it into last year’s SIFF and when it didn’t make the cut she was in “in tears for a week.” The film was released in Japan in 2003, directed by Yoji Yamada, and has since picked up a host of Japanese Academy Awards (Best Film, Director, Actor, Actress…). This is a slow, thoughtful, film about a poor samurai struggling to make ends meet in 19th century Japan; he’s newly widowed, has a senile mother, two young daughters, and a mountain of debt. But he’s also a good-hearted, decent fellow, as seen in such scenes as one where he explains to his daughter why it’s just as important to educate one’s self as it is to have a useful skill (in the daughter’s case, needlework). His daughters (especially the youngest) are absolutely adorable. It definitely tugged at the heartstrings (especially at the end), but without the overbearing sentiment that you often get in American films.

Afterwards, it’s party time! I rendezvous’d with Diana Adams, owner of the Aftermath Gallery (www.aftermathgallery.com) and a photographer herself, and headed for D.A.R. House (Daughters of the American Revolution) for a party in honor of Jim McKay’s Everyday People. I missed this film, but had seen a previous effort of Jim’s, “Girls Town,” at SIFF, and interviewed him then. We spoke again this night; he said his new film screens on HBO in June, so check it out then if you missed the SIFF screenings. His t-shirt, which read “Bush Must Go,” attracted a lot of favorable comment. I said he probably didn’t wear it when he had to fly, and he agreed, saying when he was younger he probably would have, just out of defiance, but now he just didn’t want the extra trouble.

I asked him his thoughts on SIFF in general, and he said one thing he liked was that you were very well taken care of, and the staff was friendly, offering passes to whatever film you wanted to see, letting you know about parties, and just generally taking care of you. I’d thought a visiting director would naturally get such treatment everywhere, but apparently not; Jim mentioned festivals where staff wouldn’t even say “Hello” to you, much less offer you tickets, etc. Seems a strange way of doing business to me, but I guess if you’re a big enough, or an “important” enough fest, you don’t have to care. Nice to know we’re different in that regard, as that can only benefit the festival in the long run.

What else…ran into the Pottingers again. Tracy was wearing black: “I took your advice,” she said (see my Opening Night entry). Todd took over as piano man for much of the night, tinkling the ivories most pleasantly. Tracy said that their mail from SIFF came with the name of the film after their own names, and it was a little embarrassing to keep getting envelopes addressed to “Big City Dick.” Todd was pleased to tell me the film is already three-fourths of the way sold out, so if you’re thinking of getting a ticket, don’t delay.

Nice food spread, lots of interesting cheeses, and individual chocolate fondues (chocolate syrup in a little cup, with fruit, cake, and marshmallows to dunk in); very classy. The delightful bartender who made many of my opening night drinks was on hand serving again, her name’s Joy, and her glittery necklace revealed that she’s a Scorpio. I told her Hillary Clinton is as well, and she was pleased. Saw Helen L, told her the drinks had been nice and strong at the opening party; “That’s the way I like it!” she replied. A woman after my own heart.

It was decidedly low key compared to opening, but that was fine. Passed out more slips with the address of this blog (feel free to pass it on yourselves…the more the merrier!), spreading the gospel of Tablet. Thus the evening wound down to a pleasant conclusion.