Aug 9, 2011
SFFILM
Aurora, (Romania/France/Germany/Switzerland 2010, SFIFF 2011), Cristi Puiu’s remarkable story about a deeply conflicted man, whose motives remain a mystery, opens Friday, September 16 at the San Francisco Film Society’s new theatrical home, San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema (1746 Post Street).
Romanian filmmaker Cristi Puiu destroys all notions of crime as entertainment in this painstakingly realistic anatomy of a crisis, delivering a chilling character study of an ordinary person driven to extremes. Playing protagonist Viorel himself, Puiu presents an intelligent, literate and penetrating reinvention of the traditional crime drama. Meanwhile, as in his acclaimed The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005), black comedy creeps into unlikely places. The result is an unflinching and haunting investigation of what compels a person to commit the ultimate act. -Gustavus Kundahl
Written by Cristi Puiu. Photographed by Viorel Sergovici. With Cristi Puiu, Clara Voda, Valeria Seciu, Luminita Gheorghiu, Catrinel Dumitrescu, Gelu Colceag, Valentin Popescu, Ileana Puiu. 181 min. In Romanian with subtitles, Distributed by Cinema Guild. Note: Aurora will be shown on Blu-ray September 20-21.
Thursday, September 22 the Film Society will celebrate the official Grand Opening of Film Society Cinema with an evening of special screenings and an open house reception. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.
For screeners contact hilary@sffs.org
For photos and press materials visit: sffs.org/pressdownloads
At Film Society Cinema, the supremely stylish state-of-the art theater located in the ultra-contemporary New People building at 1746 Post Street (Webster/Buchanan) in Japantown, the San Francisco Film Society will offer its acclaimed exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events on a daily year-round basis for the first time in the organization’s storied 54-year history. For complete up-to-date information on all Film Society Cinema programming, including buying tickets, visit sffs.org.
Upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs
Opens September 2: Film Socialisme Legendary director Jean-Luc Godard returns to the screen with a magisterial essay on the decline of European civilization.
Opens September 9: Puzzle A middle-aged housewife, cherished by her husband and two sons but nevertheless taken for granted, discovers an aptitude for jigsaw puzzles in this beautifully modulated character portrait from Argentina.
September 23-25: Hong Kong Cinema New in 2011, presenting recent works from one of the world’s most exciting film industries.
September 26: The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan Private McKinley Nolan vanished 40 years ago on the Cambodian frontier. In 2006, his younger brother travels from rural Texas to Vietnam to try to unravel the story in this moving documentary.
September 27: Film Arts Forum Bimonthly information-sharing, discussion, networking, professional development jamboree for the Bay Area film community.
September 28-29: Shaolin With a superstar cast including Andy Lau, Jackie Chan and Nicholas Tse, and the participation of a group of real Shaolin monks, this is an action-packed story of a ruthless warlord’s rehabilitation through Buddhist practice.
Opens September 30: Passione John Turturro’s tuneful exploration of the musical roots and traditions of Naples, Italy, as well as its influence on the rest of the world.