Sunday, May 4, 2008

GLORIOUS GLORY

http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/blog/2008/04/glorious-glory.php#comments
One of the hits of this year's SXSW was the 25-minute short, Glory at Sea. Set in a magically real, emotionally honest post-Katrina New Orleans, the film is something of a mini-epic, a grand tale of outsized, heartbreaking ambition set against both a devastated city and the boundlessness of the open waters. The story of Ben Zeitlin's film, unfortunately, did not end with its triumphant Austin premiere. Zeitlin and members of his crew were injured in a serious car accident on the way to a screening. The uninsured Zeitlin broke his hip and pelvis and has two sprained ankles. So, the upcoming New York screening this Saturday is not only your chance to see a great film but also your chance to help Zeitlin pay his medical bills, as proceeds will go towards defraying his $80,000 worth of expenses. There's also an Austin screening on April 29 that is also a medical-bill fundraiser. (And if these screenings sell out, which I'm sure they will, please consider donating.)In case I haven't been convincing enough, I'll quote here Michael Tully from an email he sent around urging people to attend the screening:
Glory at Sea should be taught in film schools from this point forth. In only 25 minutes, it has the emotional gravity and impact of a feature four times its length. On a production level, I consider it to be more Herzog than Herzog. On an emotional level, is spiritually transcendent and indescribably powerful. It also has one of my favorite scores of all-time. Do yourself a favor and buy a ticket for this special screening of Glory at Sea. If there's a way for me to be there, I will be. For now, I will simply watch it again and succumb to its reckless, daring, brilliant magic.

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