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Give Rooftop Film Series a Shot
Tonight’s your last chance to do so, after all
A scene from, what else, The Poodle Trainer (Photo: thepoodletrainer.com)
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Tonight at the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus/Park Slope, the Rooftop Film Series is screening its final batch of films of the summer, all with a theme of “ending.” According to a press release, “Films so sharp we call them shots, fired from the roof one last time this year.” Although there will be a few special screenings in September, tonight is being considered the conclusion of the series’ 14th season. How depressing—but still, let’s try and celebrate!
Doors open at 8 p.m., live music at 8:30 p.m., screening’s (see below) begin at 9 p.m. and at 11 p.m., there’s an after party in the courtyard with free open bar. Tickets can be purchased here.
The following short films will be shown tonight:
Centipede Sun (Mihai Grecu | France | 10 min.)
An artist of visual wonder, Grecu returns to Rooftop with a film about the mysteriously barren Altiplano region of Chile, finding mythical creatures who might once have filled the now desolate landscape, a haunting metaphor for a desperate future world.
Old Fangs (Adrien Merigeau | Ireland | 11 min.)
After years away from the ruthless natural world of the woods, a young wolf confronts his savage father (and his own transition from child to adult), in this dark, enveloping animation.
12 Notes Down (Andreas Koefoed | Denmark | 26 min.)
How do you decide when it’s time to let go? For young Jorgis, the star voice of the Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir, the moment is upon him. Just a few weeks before an important concert, his voice has suddenly begun to break, forcing the fourteen-year-old into a state of transition he is not prepared for. He must choose between damaging his vocal cords trying to hit the high notes or dashing his hopes by walking away. This tender documentary is a portrayal of a universal, yet intensely personal, rite of passage that resonates with viewers of any age.
The Poodle Trainer (Vance Malone | Culver City, CA | 7 min.)
In this intimate portrait of destiny, passion, and loss, Irina Markova, a solitary Russian poodle trainer, reveals her transcendent relationship with her dogs, the childhood tragedy that sparked a lifetime of working with animals, and the welcome isolation behind the red velvet curtains of the circus.
Kiss (Kus) (Joost van Ginkel | The Netherlands | 10 min.)
Eight-year-old Bruno finds it interesting that his father, Daan, routinely wants to shave his beard and head before he leaves on a dangerous military mission in a desert country far away. This time, Daan lets Bruno shave him. Along with this intimate way of saying goodbye, we see what happens to Daan on his mission through Bruno’s visions playing with his toy soldiers.
Chainsaw Found Jesus (Spencer Parsons | Austin, TX | 21 min.)
Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund Grantee! A melancholy comedy about two fathers, two sons, and the cocaine sale that brings them all together for an everyday adventure. Far from your standard drug movie, this sad but hilariously bizarre film is about the moment before making a change, and maybe worrying that change just means trading up one sorry addiction for another.
I Without End (Laleh Khorramian | New York, NY | 7 min.)
Two uniquely discarded lovers live out lives of sensual decay, in a literally bittersweet animated film.
Mary Last Seen (Sean Durkin | New York, NY | 13 min.)
A young woman embarks on a road trip with her boyfriend to a place he promises will be beautiful and peaceful. But a series of strange events occur on their journey, and it becomes clear that their relationship is not what she thinks and their destination is not what was promised.
And if you’re still really depressed, listen to these songs about roofs:
“Guns on the Roof” by the Clash (just please don’t bring any)
“On the Roof” by the Feelies
“Up on the Roof” by the Drifters
“If I Were a Rich Man” by the Fiddler on the Roof
“Mansard Roof” by Vampire Weekend