by Larry Richman
March 11, 2008 11:15 AM
Monday at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival would add four more films to my tally. As I always try to see as many of the official competition films as I can, the World Premiere of
The Lost Coast kicked off my fourth day. It's a tale told in real time of a trio of high school friends who reunite one Halloween for a night of good cheer. Memories of an unspoken sexual past come back to haunt them as night turns to day and each must confront his or her own fears and beliefs. What may have been typical teen experimentation at the time is now an obstacle to continued friendship. The film's slow pace reminded me of
Mean Creek, one of my all-time favorite indies.
I then traveled down to the Alamo South Lamar for the World Premiere of
Cook County, part of the Lone Star States section focusing on Texas filmmakers. Anson Mount and Ryan Donowho are cousins traveling down a path of drug-fueled self-destruction. The difference is that one wants out while the other is too far gone to care. This is a true character-driven piece that can be difficult to watch at times but is hard to turn away from, like a wreck on the highway.
Cook County is absolutely unpredictable and kept me guessing right until the end.
Readers of this blog know of my fondness for Ronald Bronstein's
Frownland, a landmark work from last year's festival. Now wife Mary Bronstein has a competition entry in
Yeast. The World Premiere was held at the Ritz downtown with many friends of the unscripted style of films made so popular at SXSW in attendance. Shot on Mini DV, this mostly-improvised film follows a few days in the lives of three women struggling to keep friendship alive in the face of a huge challenge -- they know each other too well. It's a universal dilemma and is painful at times but fascinating nonetheless.
My day ended with another film in the documentary feature competition. The World Premiere of
FrontRunners was held at the Austin Convention Center, site of last year's competition winner
Billy the Kid, which was also my #1 Top Pick of the festival.
FrontRunners is another reminder of just how powerful a good documentary can be. Director Caroline Suh followed four teams of candidates running for Student Council President and Vice-President at New York's Stuyvesant High School, one of the most selective and prestigious in the nation. The kids couldn't have been more endearing if this came out of the top casting agency in the city, but they are very real.
FrontRunners is what other films of its ilk aspire to be -- funny, poignant, and totally engaging.
