To celebrate the 10th Annual Calgary International Film Fest, the team at GetDown.ca have decided to publish a series of articles showcasing the films you need to see. We’ll be posting the top four films from each of our writers throughout the week so check back each day. Next up is Michelle Wood’s Documentary Picks.
45365 - If you liked Jesus Camp.
There is something strangely captivating about middle America. Be it the unsettling religious fervour, the unexpected beauty of bare crops or the lush storytelling tradition, the geographic heart of the Land of the Free has always been a favourite for documentary filmmakers. 45365 documents the happenings of Sidney, Ohio, and its residents over the course of nine months. Through the voyeurism of documentary film, 45365 presents us with a reminder that not everything is as it appears. | More Information
Hello. I am the ghost of Daniel Johnston. Many years ago, I lived in Austin, Texas, and I worked at McDonalds. It is an honour and a privilege to speak to you today to tell you about my condition, and the other world.
Thus begins the 2006 documentary, The Devil and Daniel Johnston. At times heartbreaking, at times exhilarating, the film offers a portrait of the artist/singer/songwriter as a young man. But above all, it is a celebration of both his music, and the inextinguishable nature of the human impulse to create. (more…)
It’s a great idea. From July 28 until August 8 at Olympic Plaza, dozens of young actors take to the stage to showcase their talent in a production of one of the most popular Broadway musicals of our time. Calgary’s only open-air theatre is the perfect venue. The energy of the show is aptly uncontained, and its youthful spirit easily finds its way to the audience.
The production is Rent: School Edition, and the organization behind it is Summerstock. Based out of Westmount Charter School, Summerstock is a not-for-profit organization which gives young Calgary performers theatrical training, as well as a venue in which to exhibit their skills. (more…)
In the beginning, the earth was a formless void. God saw that it was so, and he created a bunch of animals and puddles and some kind of dimmer switch. And then one day in the late 20th century, working through the Remus and Romulus of our generation (Joel and Ethan Coen), his divine hand guided the creation of The Greatest Movie Ever Made.
Have you always wanted an excuse to stay downtown later than is contractually required by your employer? Does the thought of returning to the muted suburbs at 4 o’clock in the afternoon have you pallid with ennui?
Luckily, we can prescribe the cure for the suburban blahs. The energy, aesthetic and charm of Calgary’s very own Art Central is sure to inject colour and life into your veins. Established in 2004, Art Central is the definitive destination for Calgary’s visual arts community and their adoring public. (more…)
