Sundance 2001: Day 3 (& 4)
By Paul Fischer in Park City, Utah
Special to iofilm
23/01/2001

Only one screening today, plus the chance to catch up with a few famous folk here in Park City.

It was understandable that writer/director David Seltzer's Nobody's Baby would enjoy a mixed-to-chilly reception at a festival such as this. Despite a typically charming performance by Radha Mitchell, Seltzer's script is more than a tad derivative. The pic tells of a dim-witted criminal whose having broken out of jail accidentally rescues a baby from a burning car, much to the chagrin of his oafish mentor, played excessively by Gary Oldman (a major problem).

A kind of poor man's Raising Arizona, the films goes to pains to lampoon, yet again, America's south, and diminishes any sense of subtlety. It's a silly, oafish comedy, packed with undue sentiment, though does contain some slight, comic touches. It's harmless enough, but out of place at this festival.

Doing the rounds

From that screening, I headed for the bottom of Main St, a veritable festival hub and centre of much interviewing activity. It was there that I met acclaimed French director Patrice Chereau, who directed the lavish Queen Margot.

His latest film is the sexually graphic Intimacy, his first English-language film, and starring New Zealand's Kerry Fox and Britain's Mark Rylance in a story of an initially sexual relationship that develops into something deeper.

From Chereau, I chatted to vet actress Jacqueline Bisset (I still remember her in The Deep, but she was reluctant to talk about that). Bisset, in town with Sleepy Time Gal, still looks good and remains outspoken and vibrant.

Then there was magnificent Scottish actress Tilda Swinton, who took three days to get to Sundance, she told me. She describes her Sundance offering, The Deep End (right), as a modern day "Mildred Pearce", where she plays a single mother dealing with the drowning of her teenage son's boyfriend - it represents another fine performance by this actress - or 'performer' - as she prefers to define herself.

Thus endeth day 3.

Off to my hotel to forget Sundance and the enjoy the less profound Golden Globes.

Day 4

Sex, love, gender and spirit

Another 8.30am screening, and a great film to start a busy day at Sundance.

The film is the shattering documentary feature, Trembling Before G-d. Directed by a hugely talented Sandy Dubowski, this heartbreaking film tells of a group of orthodox Jews, who also happen to be gay and lesbian. Shot over a five year period in New York, London, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and Jerusalem, Trembling Before G-d is a powerful and emotionally charged study of faith, spirituality and sexuality. Beautifully and meticulously crafted, this is a profoundly human work, that is uncompromising and heartfelt. A remarkable film.

Sex, love, gender and rock 'n' roll

Sexuality is also a dominant theme in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, undoubtedly the most cinematically brave film seen thus far at Sundance. Based on the hit off-Broadway musical by John Cameron Mitchell, the film, also directed by Mitchell, is a musical odyssey unlike anything we've ever seen.

Structured as a series of live performances by a strange rock group that performs in dingy strip-mall seafood restaurants across America, lead singer and "internationally ignored song stylist" Hedwig Schmidt flashes back through her unique life story in song.

After fleeing East Germany in 1961 with a G.I. lover, Hedwig discovers heartbreak and deception in America after a botched sex-change operation leaves her with an "angry inch". So she forms a band, The Angry Inch, out of her Kansas trailer which grows to include her second husband Yitzhak (Miriam Shor).

Hedwig thinks she's found her elusive other half after she falls in love with teenage Jesus freak Tommy, whom she rechristens Tommy Gnosis. However, he ends up stealing Hedwig's songs and embarks on a sold-out cross-country arena tour. Hedwig retaliates by launching an Angry Inch tour in Tommy's shadow, thinking she can steal back some of the limelight she helped create.

This poetic and exhilarating film is thoroughly original, and poetically, stylistically and thematically audacious. As well as directing Mitchell is a unique and dynamic talent in the lead role. Watch more of him in the future - and his striking debut.

Swede gem

Finally today, is the wonderful Swedish film, Together, from director Lukas Moodysson, who made the unforgettable Show me Love. Together chronicles the lives and ideals of life in a commune. The year is 1975. Franco is dead, ABBA reigns supreme and the world is changing. But in the small commune, ideals are shattered, shy children grow up, and the wife of an abused husband learns forgiveness, love and independence.

Together is a film about isolation, family and growing up. It has a sharp sense of irony with the adults painted as being often obsessed with the trivial, while the children learn about love and acceptance.

Both funny and deeply emotive, Together is a multitextured work, with a deftly drawn collage of intricate characters. Beautifully realised, this is one of the finest films to come out of Sweden in years.

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