Jun 11, 2012
SFFILM
Ballplayer: Pelotero (USA/Dominican Republic 2011), a compelling documentary about teenage ballplayers from the Dominican Republic vying to sign big league baseball contracts, directed by Ross Finkel, Trevor Martin and Jonathan Paley, opens an exclusive San Francisco engagement July 13 at San Francisco Film Society Cinema (1746 Post Street).
For 16-year-old Dominican baseball players, or Peloteros, the only real chance to escape crushing poverty comes every July 2, the day they become eligible to sign professional baseball contracts. Ballplayer: Pelotero provides an intimate portrait of two prospects as they train during the run-up to the most important day of their lives and navigate the calculating, mercenary and often corrupt elements that surround professional baseball’s recruitment of the island’s top talent. Equal parts documentary narrative and investigation, the film is a fascinating study of the global sports industry and the curious case of how the Dominican Republic-the birthplaces of stars like the SF Giants’ Juan Marichal and Felipe Alou to recent superstars such as Vladimir Guerrero and David Ortiz-has become a special farm system for the big leagues in the United States. Photographed by Ross Finkel. Narrated by John Leguizamo. In English and Spanish with subtitles. 72 mins. Distributed by Strand Releasing.
Showtimes 3:00, 7:00 (Fri, Sat, Tues); 5:00, 9:00 (Sun, Mon, Wed); (1:00 pm only on Thursday, July 19)
Tickets $9 for SFFS members, $11 general, $10 senior/student/disabled. Box office opens June 14 online at sffs.org and in person at SF Film Society Cinema.
To request an interview contact hhart@sffs.org.
To request screeners contact bproctor@sffs.org.
For photos and press materials visit sffs.org/pressdownloads.
At SF Film Society Cinema, the stylish state-of-the art theater located in the New People building at 1746 Post Street (Webster/Buchanan) in Japantown, the San Francisco Film Society offers its acclaimed exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events on a daily year-round basis.
More upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs
Continuing on consecutive Saturdays through July 21: The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Through June 14: The Wages of Fear
Opening June 15: The Woman in the Fifth
June 21: Master Class: The Politics of the Cutting Room Floor
Opening June 22: Found Memories
June 22-July 7: KinoTek: Adriane Colburn: Ways, Points and Means
Opening June 29: Corpo Celeste
Opening July 6: Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
Also opening July 13: Bonsái A story of awkward young love told with a supple synthesis of comedy, melancholy and romantic sensuality by writer/director Cristián Jiménez.
July 19 only: Dark Horse – Filmmaker in person – Todd Solondz’s unsettling tale of a 35-year-old man-child who hopes to add a wife to his possessions.
Opening July 20: A Burning Hot Summer The stormy relationship between a painter and an Italian film actress is seen through the eyes of another young couple in Philippe Garrel’s latest exploration of twisted emotional ties.
July 20-August 11: KinoTek: Nate Boyce, video and sculpture
Opening July 27: Sacrifice Chen Kaige’s latest is a character-driven epic of retribution and regret written in the Yuan Dynasty.
August 24: Master Class: Les Blank on Documentary
September 15-October 20: KinoTek: Brent Green, sculpture and animation
December: KinoTek: Kota Ezawa, animation