We were there for the first week of AZIFF and are back home now. You’ll be able to read about our trip and films we saw soon!
In the meantime, I’ve been posting updates on Instagram Stories and Twitter. You can also read short reviews of last year’s documentaries and narrative films I wrote as a Guest Columnist over at The Two Gay Geeks, a fun site (and podcast) that covers a wide range of entertainment topics and highlights work by independent creators.
So have you watched anything interesting recently?
– More AZIFF 2019 Info –
Dates: April 10-21
Location: Downtown Tucson. All screenings are at The Screening Room, except for one at Loft Cinema. There are also a few parties, etc. in nearby venues like Hotel Congress.
Being a good wedding guest is pretty simple: make sure to RSVP, bring a gift, and definitely don’t kidnap the bride.
Radhika Apte as “Samira” in Michael Winterbottom’s The Wedding Guest. Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
In Michael Winterbottom’s new film, The Wedding Guest, the titular character, Jay, does not follow any of that etiquette.
Dev Patel as “Jay” in Michael Winterbottom’s The Wedding Guest. Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
Program
Dev Patel as “Jay” shows up in Pakistan uninvited, his duffel packed with multiple passports, a gun, and really nothing suitable to wear to a wedding. He’s looking for bride-to-be Samira, because has a job to do – and it’s not as a DJ or caterer.
Although Samira, who is played brilliantly by Radhika Apte, does have misgivings about her impending nuptials, she’s (understandably) not psyched about the alternative of waking up with said gun to her head.
We travel with them from city to city, as they they cross the border into India, change identities, hide in plain sight, and try to determine how much each can trust the other.
Jay is meticulous about covering his tracks and wiping his fingerprints. And, yet, when a key contact fails to appear at their rendezvous point, he realizes he’s made a mistake that puts everything at risk.
Photography
Most of the film was shot on location in India, with the production following roughly the same route as the characters.
They were even granted permission to film at the India-Pakistan border crossing. It was rare to get a permit then, but seems impossible now — just a year later — as tensions have escalated between the two countries.
Instead of sets with extras, director Michael Winterbottom used actual city streets, alleys, and markets as backdrops, along with any people who happened to be in the shot (and may not have even realized they were in a movie). Often this guerrilla-style filming would continue for eight hours straight to capture the real-world setting.
Guest List
For as much time as we spend with the film’s principal characters, we barely get to know them.
Jay is particularly opaque, maintaining his stoic exterior and leaving us to wonder about his true motivations and background.
We get a bit more of a glimpse into Samira, her feelings, where she’s from, who she loves, and what’s important to her.
She’s been taken from one situation she didn’t want to be in and put into another one. Over the course of the film, she finds her footing and gradually begins to take back control over her life. I would have loved to see more from her point of view.
Although the pacing is more art film than thriller, The Wedding Guest is a good watch, delivering a steady stream of suspense and some surprising plot twists.
The Wedding Guest will show up in theaters in New York and Los Angeles March 1 with a wider release March 8.
Film preview and photos courtesy of IFC Films. Michael Winterbottom’s The Wedding Guest is an IFC Films Release.
I’m changing up My Photo of the Month series to be more of a recap of the last month, instead of focusing on just one Instagram photo.
1. Getting out of the Holiday Blanket
Getting back into a regular routine at the beginning of January feels like emerging from a holiday cocoon. Or, as Quijote illustrated, peeking out from the snuggly blanket my mom made me (us?) for Christmas.
2. Museum Date Day
Phillip and I had a couples’ counseling appointment (we go periodically — I recommend it!) and decided to make an afternoon of it.
We dropped Quijote off at doggie daycare, went to therapy, got lunch at The Coronado, and then went to the Phoenix Art Museum, so we could see the Teotihuacan exhibition before it closed.
Also, I did a double take on the way to the elevators when I spotted a particular neon color combination that I thought I recognized from the Seven Magic Mountains installation we saw in Nevada. I don’t even know what exhibit it was part of, but, yep, it was a single Ugo Rondinone sculpture — in travel size, I guess!
3. Park Snacks
We’ve been trying to be more consistent in Quijote’s training, practicing things like coming when he’s called at the park. One day, I thought I’d give him a break since I didn’t have his usual reward treats with me, and he seemed (hilariously) annoyed.
If fire engine red screams Valentine’s Day, blush whispers it sweetly.
It’s a romantic yet subtle shade, as lovely on walls as it is on flowers. Although it’s a more traditional choice for this holiday than last year’s black and white, they look fabulous together. Blush is also great with deep blues or teal-y greens.
Like the illustrations, destinations, and DIYs in this post, blush doesn’t even have to be about Valentine’s Day at all.
P.S. Post title is a bit of a nod to Kristin Tovar’s fabulous site, Why I Love Where I Live. Based in Tucson, WILWIL encourages everyone to find things to love wherever they are and get involved in their communities.
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