#yfvba2016

[olearysreellife]

This year the #DirectedbyWomen ongoing global celebration involves appreciating the work of women film directors on their birthday. Today on Gillian Greene’s birthday, my sweetie and I chose to stream Gillian’s film Murder of a Cat (2014) on Amazon Prime.  Found its overt silliness genuinely funny.  I laughed a lot.  Have you seen it yet?  

[olearysreellife]

Meru DIRECTED BY Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin Visually stunning and emotionally draining.  A documentary of extreme mountain climbing...  Meru is up for the Cinema Eye Honors 2016 Audience Choice Prize along with 9 other powerful nonfiction films.  Still time to cast your vote...  #YFVBA2016 #DirectedbyWomen #DirectedbyMen

[olearysreellife]

Mad Hot Ballroom (2005) DIRECTED BY Marilyn Agrelo

Although my main area of film viewing emphasis this year is focused on films from the past 10 years (2007 and beyond), I circled back the other day to see Marilyn Agrelo’s Mad Hot Ballroom.  I tend to like to watch dance films and movies about children competing in dance competitions constitute a sub genre that particularly intrigues me. I danced a lot when I was a girl.  Films like this one stir up a lot of conflicting emotions for me.  The emphasis on competition always saddens me. The scene I loved most was the group dialogue partway through where the children evaluate the experience of being judged. Such clarity! Have you seen Mad Hot Ballroom?  It’s streaming on Netflix. Also available on Amazon and iTunes.

#YFVBA2016 #DirectedbyWomen

[olearysreellife]

Day 1 of A Yearlong Film Viewing Balancing Act (#YFVBA2016) I began with Kimberly Levin’s feature film debut Runoff, streamed on Netflix, It is also available on iTunes, Amazon or Vimeo on Demand. 

The film started off at a leisurely pace, but down the stretch I was grateful to be able to hit the pause button as the film’s climax triggered a deep sense of dread at the intense, emotionally charged dynamics unfolding on screen.   

I’m looking forward to seeing what Levin brings into being next. Definitely will have my eye out for more.  If the film passes the Bechdel-Wallace Test, I missed that aspect, but the film is definitely woman centered.   #DirectedbyWomen