Seraphine - International Film Festival - Civic theatre

NZ International Film Festival - Auckland 9-26 July 2009
http://nzff.co.nz...

Date: Sun 12 Jul 2009
Meetup time: 2.30pm
Meetup place: I'll wait in Stark's bar http://www.starks.co.... (next to Civic theatre) between 2.30-3.00pm or txt me 0272750083
Film start time: 3.15pm

Seraphine – 3.15pm Sun 12 Jul
In French and German, with English subtitles
Director: Martin Provost
Year: 2008
Running time: 126 mins
Festivals: Toronto 2008
Best Film and Best Actress (Yolande Moreau), César Awards 2009
SYNOPSIS
This movingly dramatised, beautifully mounted portrait of the French ‘naïve’ painter Séraphine de Senlis (1864–1942) was the deserved winner at France’s César Awards this February, sweeping up the prizes for Best Film, Actress, Original Screenplay, Photography, Score, Costumes and Production Design. The marvellous Belgian actress Yolande Moreau vanishes into the role of the awkward small town housemaid who believed God had told her to paint. We first encounter her furtively gathering soil, animal’s blood and the run-off oil from church candles to mix the paints she has invented for herself. She’s like a pagan spirit, trapped in her heavy body and the cumbersome skirts of a century ago. But when she paints, that spirit flies free in ecstatic celebration of flowers, fruit and fertility itself. The intensity of these paintings, now considered masterpieces of modern primitivism, can still be experienced in galleries around the world.
Martin Provost’s film focuses on her relationship with her ‘discoverer’, the German art critic Wilhelm Uhde, who was a friend of her employer. His patronage saved her life but also catapulted her to an art world prominence she was ill-equipped to handle. Ulrich Tukur is excellent as the conscientious Uhde, enthralled by the wild talent of his protégée, intent on realising the monetary value of her work and frightfully aware of her unworldliness. — BG
“Provost’s fictionalized portrait of this forgotten painter is a revelation… A testament to creativity and the resilience of one woman’s spirit, Séraphine is a marvel – a celebration of art and nature and an acknowledgment of the costs involved.” — Piers Handling, Toronto Film Festival

Payment options
I plan to see at least 9 festival films and will be pre-paying all of them (Option 1). As usual, the seats are allocated and there is the potential to miss out if not booked/paid for in advance. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Book before July 9 and pay $14.00 for adult tickets to A-coded sessions. (normal price $15.00). Ticketing service fees will apply. Check out the festival site for the cheap parking special deal.

I will be setting the RSVPs for Friday 3 July with the following payment options: Option 1: RSVP & Pre-purchase all films (and get a discount). Meet me outside the main entrance of the Civic theatre on Saturday, 4 July and we can purchase tickets to all the films from the theatre’s ticket counters – this way we can be seated together! I thought some time after 1.00pm but I’m flexible so long as everyone can agree on the time.
Option 2: RSVP & make your own payment arrangements. There are a number of payment options set out in the NZFF guide e.g. via internet. You’re more than welcome to take this option – chances are that we won’t be seated together but you can still meet me at the specified meet up time and place prior to the start of the film.
Option 3: Don’t RSVP and show up on the day. Can’t decide or don’t want to plan ahead? No problem! Meet me at the specified meet up time and place prior to the start of the film and see if there are still tickets available – you’ll probably be seated elsewhere in the theatre though.

Please let me know which option you are going for when you RSVP, thanks.