seeconrun's posterous

sex, drugs and photography. the artsy fartsy film

High_art

I'm taking a little break from food and writing about films. Might I say that the San Francisco public library hosts a mighty fine collection of independent films, and not to mention television series (I've watched a lot of the L Word although all out of sync becuase they never have the next episode I need shelved).

The film, High Art appealed to me. A photography magazine's recently promoted editor (or more like intern as she's treated), knocks on her upstairs neighbor's door one day to confront a leaking ceiling. As she tries to fix the leak herself (while her neighbor and friends are snorting coke next door), she becomes entranced in the cluster of portraits hanging throughout the room. Back at work she tries to sell the idea of publishing her neighbor's photos to her jackass of a boss. He doesn't seem to care much, but one of the higher ups listens in on their conversation and gives it a go. Turns out that the photographer was a huge hit back in the day before she retired into a world of drugs and more drugs. Although both in relationships, she and the assistant work together and not surprisingly develop a passionate romance driving upstate to "work." Totally artsy fartsy about the sorta artsy fartsy. It's a film of curiosity and addiction I'd recommend. 

another korean film critique

301-302-dvd

301, 302 was difficult to watch although I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. The film follows two women living next to each other (301 and 302 being their apartment #s)--both with an obsession with food. One loves to cook it, and the other, a writer, can't consume it. Every day, the cook will bring over a dish as a friendly gesture to her neighbor, later to discover that none of it was ever consumed. The writer accepts the dishes, but can't hide feeling repulsed and running to the bathroom every time her neighbor walks in with a cooked dish. Flashbacks of the writer's childhood appear. Her family lived above the butcher shop that her mom and dad ran. What explains the story is her flashback of her dad raping her in the middle of the night. I really felt for her-- for her feeling of powerlessness as a child and and her lack of feeling and desire as an adult. It was sad because nothing seemed to make her feel better. The story was interwoven with an artistic nuance, making it a film like no other and an ending that surely caught me by surprise. 

my new obsession: korean indie films

Take_care_of_my_cat

 

This was such a somber film, but in the most illuminating way.  A tale of five friends who graduate from high school and depart their separate ways. I found myself falling in love with some characters more than others, and that's because I sympathized with two who were responsible for supporting their families. The other, although I could also relate, would drop her friends as she prioritized work and getting ahead in the corporate world. One of the friends worked really hard to bring everyone together, making phone calls and once even saying, "You call me when you're bored, why can't I do the same thing?" after her friend asked why she was calling seeming annoying. That was refreshing to hear because I'm always hesitant to call my friends not wanting to burden or bug them, and yet, I'd gladly pick up any of their calls.

I really enjoy Korean films. The characters are flawed, the stories are dark and they're much more sexual, but not in the fashion of American objectification. It's raw and real. This one wasn't very sexual, but the next film, "301, 302" was. More on that later.

I love Oakland

I love Oaland and so does Jennifer Pae, who's running for Oakland City Council as a representative for District 2. 

Jenn's quite young for all of her accomplishments, some of which include serving as the former president and executive director of USSA, the largest national student advocacy organization, an organizer for the Obama campaign and the youngest Korean American delegate selected to attend the Democratic National Convention. She sits on a number of boards and also used to work at my organization, PowerPAC as a project director. Jenn is very progressive, driven and compassionate. She has the experience and the energy needed to run our beloved community that is Oakland.

B and I made this video in support of her campaign.

We wish Jenn all the best. B says go vote! 

tuesday movie day

i just watched samaritan girl.
if you watch it, please let me know because i would love to talk about it. right now i don't have words to say. i'm stunned. a lot of mixed feelings and still in shock and frankly, taking cardio kickboxing this morning was a big mistake.

i don't recommend watching samaritan girl during the day. it's really heavy and depressing and so much that i wish i could say. it's a very very powerful film and i cried at a moment that really struck me and made me think about my dad. and i don't know why exactly but i'm not feeling very good.

before that i watched the housekeeper. it's much more lighthearted and cute and funny in some parts. really my emotions from samaritan girl are overpowering thoughts on the housekeeper.

i think i need to take a walk..
perhaps to the city library to get more films. :)