SIFF, Week One: City of Life and Death (China, 2009, 129 mins)

In the book The Rape of Nanking, the late Iris Chang lamented the fact that Hollywood had not made a single film about this event, one of the worst atrocities of World War II, even though it was prime material for a movie ala Schindler's List.  Hollywood has still not made a film on this …

My First SIFF movie: I Am Love (Io Sono l’Amore) (Italy, 2009, 120 mins)

As often happens in Seattle, it was raining as I got on the bus to go see my first SIFF film, the Tilda Swinton vehicle I Am Love (she also served as an executive producer on the film).I planned to get there at 6:30, since the movie started at 7.  Then I saw the crowd from …

SIFF Opening Night Gala, Part Two (Text)

Now that you've seen some pictures from the May 20th Opening Night Gala, it's time for the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey would say). It all started with a transfer.  I had just grabbed an issue of The Stranger, Seattle's free alternative newspaper, which had a full SIFF guide inside, along with synopses …

SIFF Opening Night Gala, Part One (Photos)

SIFF officially started tonight with an opening night gala at Benaroya Hall in Downtown Seattle.  Here's a photo of us volunteers during a lull in the action.The movie playing tonight was The Extra Man, starring Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, Katie Holmes, and John C. Reilly.  The directors are Shari Springer and Robert Pulcini (who did American …

The Seattle International Film Festival

373 Films.  Three weeks and three days.  Seven main venues.  Shorts.  Features.  Documentaries.  And Edward Norton. The 36th Annual Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) starts a week from last night and ends on June 13th.  I will be there, volunteering.  I will be there, watching.  I will be there, at my first film festival, soaking …

Book Review: The Classic Tradition of Haiku: An Anthology (Dover Thrift Editions)

I have just finished a wonderful book for those wishing to buy an inexpensive collection of haiku from the masters of the form, or looking for a good starting point for reading haiku. The Classic Tradition of Haiku: An Anthology does five things very well.  For one, it includes the original poems (in romaji, which means …