Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Denver Intl. Film Festival recommendation for lovers of art film and history!!!

The Denver International Film Festival is soon on the horizon, and a stunning film that stands to get overlooked is "El Perro Negro: Stories from the Spanish Civil War." This is a must for all lovers of image and editing, not to mention history. More of an abstract documentary, the film works on many levels but is most appealing as a masterpiece of montage and sound design. This treatise on the Spanish Civil War eschews textbooks for a more a dreamlike representation of events that relate to a significant time in world history. The film is composed of seemingly lost footage of early auteurs who found solace in their daily lives through a movie camera to create a view into the past that is simply mesmerizing, alongside narration that provides the historical context for the life and times depicted. Like many classics of cinema, the film makes you question current politics and contemplate basic views of life, leaving a lasting impression. It is a rare and spectacular film that's the perfect fit for a festival audience. Visit http://www.denverfilm.org for information, tickets, and a full schedule of screenings and events for this year's festival.