Man, it’s hard to believe that the 13th annual Independent Film Festival Boston is actually winding down…the last week has been filled with tons of great films, and the word of mouth from this year’s fest has been the best I’ve ever heard coming out of it. It’s clear that this year’s crop pleased practically everyone.
Tonight and tomorrow night, the festival moves to the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline for it’s final three films. Two of them are screening this evening; here are the descriptions and info direct from the official IFFB site at http://iffboston.com:
I’ll See You In My Dreams – 7:00 PM
After the death of her beloved dog, Carol (Blythe Danner) finds the everyday activities that have given her life structure—her regular bridge game, gardening, a glass of wine or two—have lost their luster. With the support of three loyal girlfriends (June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place), Carol decides to embrace the world, embarking on an unlikely friendship with her pool maintenance man (Martin Starr), pursuing a new love interest (Sam Elliott), and reconnecting with her daughter (Malin Akerman). Director Bret Halsey is in the house for a Q&A directly after the film!
The Wolfpack – 9:45 PM (Rush tickets only)
Locked away from society in an apartment on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Angulo brothers learn about the outside world through the films that they watch. Nicknamed “The Wolfpack,” the brothers spend their childhood re-enacting their favorite films using elaborate homemade props and costumes. With no friends and living on welfare, they feed their curiosity, creativity, and imagination with film, which allows them to escape from their feelings of isolation and loneliness. Everything changes when one of the brothers escapes, and the power dynamics in the house are transformed. The Wolfpack must learn how to integrate into society without disbanding the brotherhood. Armed with unprecedented access into the subjects’ world, as well as their vast archive of home movies, director Crystal Moselle (appearing after the film for a Q&A) crafts a captivating portrait of an extraordinary family and inquires into the true nature of identity and creativity. By fully immersing herself into their world, she allows their remarkable story to naturally unfold without judgment.
Both of these films are critically acclaimed, and the demand is high for both of them. As is the closing night film, which we’ll have in detail here tomorrow!