Dec 22, 2011
SFFILM
Sleeping Beauty (Australia 2011), novelist and first-time director Julia Leigh’s fascinating depiction of a young woman’s reckless decent into a shocking world of erotic desires, plays January 27-February 2 at SF Film Society Cinema (1746 Post Street).
Acclaimed Australian novelist Julia Leigh’s debut feature is a kinky and elegantly filmed portrait of a pretty college student named Lucy who takes a very strange job. Answering an ad for comely females, she ends up serving dinners to wealthy seniors while clad only in skimpy undergarments. When her skills are deemed worthy, she graduates into a more troublesome position where she is given a potion that puts her in a deep sleep while men are permitted to do what they like with her unconscious body. No penetration is allowed, but what does go on is disturbing and strange. Leigh films in long takes and the elegant settings provoke an erotic and sensually heightened mood. While provocatively riffing on the eponymous fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty also references classic works by Buñuel and Georges Bataille. Written by Julia Leigh. Photographed by Geoffrey Simpson. With Emily Browning, Rachael Blake, Ewen Leslie, Peter Carroll, Chris Haywood. 101 min. Distributed by IFC Films.
Showtimes 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:15 pm (note: no 7:00 pm show on Monday, January 30)
Tickets $9 for SFFS members, $11 general, $10 senior/student/disabled. Box office opens December 26 online at sffs.org and in person at SF Film Society Cinema.
To request a screener contact bproctor@sffs.org.
For photos and press materials visit press.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. For complete up-to-date information on all SFFS Cinema programming, including buying tickets, visit sffs.org.
Upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs
Opening December 23: Silent Souls The myths and traditions of a vanishing culture are beautifully woven into Aleksei Fedorchenko’s lyrical, sensual and dreamlike film about love and loss.
December 23 (late show): Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale It’s the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an archeological dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town! DVDs and poster giveaways for lucky winners-great last-minute stocking stuffers!
December 25: It’s a Wonderful Life Frank Capra’s beloved classic starring Jimmy Stewart as a man whose faith in life is restored by his guardian angel.
January 1-2: Buck and Bill Cunningham New York Back by Popular Demand! Double-feature return engagement of two SFIFF favorites, both on the Academy Awards short list for Best Documentary.
January 3-5: Paul Goodman Changed My Life Jonathan Lee’s documentary chronicling the life and work of multidisciplinary thinker Paul Goodman.
Opening January 6: King of Devil’s Island Marius Holst’s true-story drama about a historic uprising at a Norwegian boys’ reform school.
January 13, 15: The Best of Annecy A dynamic and entertaining array of shorts from one of the most important animation festivals in the world.
January 16-17: Summer Pasture Lynn True, Nelson Walker and Tsering Perlo’s remarkably intimate documentary about the uncertain future of Tibetan nomads.
January 18-19: Samurai Classics Harakiri, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Seven Samurai Four of the most popular and influential Japanese films ever made.
Opening January 20: Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos Kazuya Murata’s highly imaginative tale of two brothers in an alternate world where alchemy is a highly sophisticated scientific application.