| PAGES FROM A WARM ISLAND : Izola Film Festival day five |
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| Tuesday, 31 May 2005 | |
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official site : KINO OTOK the second Izola film festival Slovenia, 25th - 29th May 2005 Sunday 29th May 15.26 At 11.46 this morning I am lying in bed, hung over, having slept about four and a half hours, deciding whether or not to get up and quickly cycle into the town for the noon screening of (Richard Linklater collaborator) Clark Lee Walker's skateboarding picture Levelland. I do so, but it's very much a hair-trigger decision as my body would prefer to slumber on through the afternoon. A decisive factor is that this is going to be my last full day in Izola and spending it in my room isn't an optimal use of time. Last night was very much a late one. Went out to "la Punta" headland after midnight with the Ljubljana lot. Sun came up (weirdly hot) some time around six, seemingly not very far from where it had gone down the night before. I now have indistinct memories of talking with various people. Friends, journalists, directors, festival staff. Alternating between the two Slovene lager brands, Union and Lasko... I effectively "drink myself sober" so feel tired rather than drunk when I finally head home. Levelland [7/10... generous?!] (Clark Lee Walker, USA 2003, 107 mins) proves to be worth getting out of bed for. Some variable acting and stagey scenes, but heart very much in right place and improves throughout to moving finale. Tale of late-teens Zach (Matt Barr) and his skating pals in the small, dullsville Texas town of Levelland (fictional name? seems too convenient to be true). Avoids melodrama and the plot doesn't conform to expectations (i.e. the conclusion of Zak's illicit affair with one of his teachers) and has a pleasant, open vibe about it which wins me over. Outstanding 80s-punk-heavy soundtrack includes Pixies' Where is my mind? (used better than in Fight Club) etc. Strongest performance comes from Lathan McKay as Zak's rebellious/unstable older bro Nick, who is unfortunately hors de combat in a mental hospital for much of the running-time. Afterwards have "breakfast" at 2pm, ie lunch at the highly-rated Gust on the main street just opposite the Odeon cinema. I share a (fine) pizza with Jan Cvitkovic who is also hung over and also coping with hay-fever. Speaking of ailments, I discover that my retching, sleep-disturbing neighbour at the apartment-hotel was suffering from a bad case of food poisoning. Apparently even had to avoid daylight. Feel guilty about (semi-politely) asking him to "keep the noise down" the other night. No such problems in the upset-stomach dept for me (so far). But the after-effects of last night's excesses are still being felt. Futebol kicks off in just over an hour. I need a shower first (time pressures meant I hit the road without one this morning), and will make my mind up nearer the time. My ankle swelled up again last night, also I got an insect bite on the same foot which looks a bit ugly. And I have an ingrowing toenail on the other foot. And haven't played footy for the best part of 20 years. Apart from that all is fine... PS: To nobody's surprise, the audience award (which is accompanied by distribution around Slovenia's arthouse network) goes to Pjer Zalica's Days and Hours which I saw and liked last month in Linz. Zalica is a gruff-looking bear of a man with 'collar length' hair - but genial enough when I introduce myself. At Izola, no excuse for not getting to know the 'talent'. Neil Young click here for Monday's report further reviews of skateboard-related films: * Slovenia's finest : Mitja Okorn's Not Sponsored and Not Sponsored II * Stacy Peralta's hit documentary : Dogtown and Z-Boys * Liked Dogtown? - this one is better : Stoked - the Rise and Fall of Gator * Overrated? We think so : Larry Clark's Kids |
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