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by Lina Zeldovich on September 29, 2010
Zaritsas: Russian Women in New York – a life-changing documentary by Elena Beloff will be screened on Oct 24 at the Astoria/LIC Film Festival.
Elena Beloff, a graduate of the New School University where she had studied film production, wanted to make movies since she was a little girl in her hometown in Tatarstan, Russia. When she was in high school she came to the USA as an exchange student and returned later to pursue her dreams. While living in New York Elena came across the infamous phenomena of the Russian women stereotype as materialistic gold-diggers and mail-order brides so she decided to make a film to explore the alleged stereotypes. As she was composing her student version of Zaritsas, she worked as an extra on the set of Law & Order where she met Vincent D’Onofrio who also starred in Men in Black and produced The Whole Wide World, and who became interested in her work and sponsored her film.
Elena’s documentary tells the stories of five Russian women in New York. Sasha, an exchange student loved the city and decided to stay. Katya’s dream is to quit her prestigious job at La Perla and become a photographer. The rapper Elena Ouri lives and breathes her songs and music – many about her vision of God. Tatiana rebuilt herself from rape and loss of her husband. Irina, an exotic dancer, takes refuge at a spiritual retreat to rebuild herself, and finds a job in the New York Jewelry district – with the emotional support of all the other women in the film.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on September 29, 2010
AHEAD OF TIME
Ruth Gruber didn’t just report the news. She made it.
See the trailer:
New York Times Arts & Leisure Article on the Film
Jewish Journal Interview with Ruth Gruber
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Brooklyn Heights Cinema 70 Henry Street Brooklyn NY 11201
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by Anne Jordanova on September 29, 2010
If you don’t yet recognize this face yet live in New York City, you may as well be living under a rock.
This week I am featuring one of my favorite young actors, Jesse Eisenberg, because he is just incredible, and should be mentioned in every hot topic column regarding film actors.
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by Anne Jordanova on September 20, 2010
I left a screening late last night of “I’m Still Here” disturbed, alarmed, and literally unable to sleep afterward. The ‘documentary film’ directed by Casey Affleck centers around the retirement of actor and brother in law Joaquin Phoenix, and his decision to descend into a downward spiral into the world of hip hop. After two years of speculation, the film ultimately was not real, and more along the lines of films like “Don’t Look Back” and “This is Spinal Tap”. However, I am not sure where that leaves us.
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by Anne Jordanova on September 16, 2010
“Picture Me- A Model’s Diary” is the new documentary following the rise of high fashion model Sara Ziff, over the course of several years, by her then filmmaker boyfriend Ole Schell.
It first premiered at the 2009 Gen Art Film Festival in New York, and it is shocking, honest, and disturbing.
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by Lina Zeldovich on August 21, 2010
In Poligamy – a Hungarian indie feature film to be screened at the Astoria/LIC International Film Festival Oct 22-24, 2010 Dénes Orosz, a Hungarian director and producer,explores the ever-controversial subject of polygamy from the surprising angle of what would happen if someone’s coveted wish was miraculously fulfilled.
A young Hungarian couple, Andrash and Lilla, have been in a loving relationship long enough for a commitment. As a typical woman, Lilla wants marriage and children. As a stereotypical man, Andrash doesn’t know what he wants, but he feels he hadn’t played around enough and he wishes he would’ve. Then Lilla breaks the news of being pregnant and strange things start happening.
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by Anne Jordanova on August 18, 2010
I don’t ordinarily feature films in the ‘De Profil’ section on THM, but I figured this is a grand exception. As I walked past the Aneglika today in Manhattan, I saw a film poster for “The Concert” starring a wonderful French actress named Melanie Laurent. I decided to check it out, and was blown away by this amazing, little film that came out of nowhere!
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on August 11, 2010
If the name Mae West means nothing to you, then you should come up and see me some time . . . and I’ll fill you in. My knowledge of this woman – her life, her career, her philosophy – is so encyclopedic that a friend once suggested I teach a college course on her.
It’s been thirty years since her death but I can remember the details as if it were yesterday. True, I was just a child, but the effect she’d had on my short life at that point was already indelible and I morned her death on Nov 22, 1980 with as much grief as the rest of the world morned John Lennon just a few weeks later.
But like so many iconic celebrities, Mae West continues to live on and on . . . as evidenced by the stronghold her image still has on pop culture. In fact, there’s going to be a Mae West Birthday Bash happening this upcoming weekend, hosted by The Gaudy Girls! I got a chance to chat about Mae, Sophie Tucker, the joys of celebrating strong women, and the importance of keeping the torch going when I caught up with Maggie Worsdale who embodies Sophie Tucker (“The Last of the Red Hot Mamas!”) and Anne Marie Finnie who channels Mae West. Together, they are The Gaudy Girls.
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by Anne Jordanova on June 10, 2010
If you live in the New York City area then you have heard of DavidJr.Com. If you haven’t, you must have been sleeping.
A trademark within himself, David (Bates) set up his franchise with only one thing- himself. As a filmmaker, one of a million in New York, he needed to stand apart from the rest, and market himself, since no one else would listen. Oh boy, did he. The DavidJr bling belts he made out of thin air, have become available for purchase on his website, as well as t-shirts bearing his face image only.
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by Sarah V. Schweig on June 3, 2010
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“I’m scared.”
“Me too.”
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“I’m confused.”
“Me too.”
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“What just happened?”
“Liza Minnelli dance number.”
“Why?”
“….”
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