2006 Hell's Half Mile Film Festival

FULL LENGTH FEATURES & DOCUMENTARIES

THE NOTORIOUS BETTY PAGE Rated R; 90 minutes; 2006 FEATURE FILM Gretchen Mol, Lili Taylor, Jonathan M. Woodward Picturehouse; Directed by Mary Harron Bettie Page is one of the lasting images of the 1950s pin-up models with her then risqué nude and bondage shots still appearing on clothing and posters today. We are taken from her religious upbringing to her free wheeling attitude about being photographed naked to her being called to the Senate floor during their infamous pornography hearings.

THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO Rated PG; 2006 FEATURE FILM Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern Dreamworks Pictures; Directed by Jane Anderson Based on a true story, Evelyn Ryan is a Midwestern housewife who is just barely holding her family together, battling poverty and her husband's drinking. She finds success by entering contests for ad slogans and jingles sponsored by consumer product companies. She won many of these contests and brought home enough money and prizes to keep her family afloat.

DEEP BLUE Rated G; 87 minutes; 2005 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Narrated by Michael Gambon Miramax Films; Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Andy Byatt This documentary on the natural history of oceans takes us to amazing locales such as Bermuda, the Azores; and the Cayman Islands. We get a stunning view of undersea life made even more eye-popping given the wide-screen filming format which captures the expansive grandeur of the oceans and provide unprecedented close-ups. This high-seas ride is set to the amazing score of composer George Fenton.

ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS Rated R; 112 minutes; 2001 FEATURE FILM Anders W. Berthelsen, Anette Stovelbek, Peter Gantazler, Ann Eleonora Jorgensen Miramax Films; Directed by Lone Scherfig In a small suburb in Denmark several lonely hearts take a beginner's course in Italian as a way to jump-start the romance in their lives. This group - which includes a young pastor, a hothead short order cook, a nerdy hotel clerk and a clumsy girl from the local bakery - find that their actual vocabulary is less important than the emotional communication they learn on a visit to Italy.

GREENER Not Rated; 89 minutes; 2005 FEATURE FILM Matt Socia, Mike Leonardo, David Nicksic, John Kapelos, Shemar Moore Solefilms; Directed by Stephen Anderson In a small Michigan town, lifelong friends, "family man" Mark, "the leader" Jason, and "dependable" Rich, reunite at their childhood safe-haven, the train bridge. They quickly find that as much as they struggle to re-live the past, life has forced them to grow apart. When damaging and hurtful secrets are revealed and the unthinkable happens, the friends are left to reconsider the significance of life and the power of love as they face uncertain futures

DISTRICT B13 Rated R; 85 minutes; 2006 FEATURE FILM David Belle, Cyril Raffaelli Magnolia Pictures; Directed by Pierre Morel In the near future the worst ghettos of Paris are walled off and ruled by crime. A young rebel named Leito is determined to bring down the biggest crime lord in District B 13. He and an undercover cop named Damian barrel their way through the underground using action moves developed from the sport known as Parkour giving a fresh look to the action genre.

BLIND LOVE Not Rated; 60 minutes; 2006 FEATURE FILM Austin Ku, Paulabianca Hattar Directed by Troy Choi A cheap apartment is offered for rent with an unusual catch, the room is leased for only half the day. A professional killer rents it by night while a young prostitute working nights, rents it by day. Despite never meeting, the two develop affection for one another through the belongings and scents left behind and they find themselves longing for more than what life has given them. Circumstances may tear them apart before they ever meet.

AS SMART AS THEY ARE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE PBNOJ Productions; Directed by Joe Pacheco "As Smart As They Are" traces the collaboration between One Ring Zero, the Brooklyn house-band for McSweeney's Publishing, and an ensemble cast of award-winning authors, each of whom contributed original lyrics. Original lyrics they are. Author Myla Goldberg torments guest singer Syd Straw with tongue twisting, five star vocabulary words. Paul Auster riffs on the ills of Cincinatti and the Iraq war. The film's title, in fact, comes from the inspired dialogue of a talking cockroach.

THE WORLD'S BEST PROM DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Directed by Ari Vena & Chris Talbot An American rite of passage taken to the extreme. The film focuses on two very different girls and one boy who provide an all-access pass to the days and nights leading up to their unbelievable prom night. A revealing epilogue catches up with Tonya, Dori, Ben and six more of the film's teenage subjects four years later, allowing us to see whose hopes and dreams are coming true, and whether prom is still the greatest night of their lives.

LONESOME JIM Rated R; 91 minutes; 2006 FEATURE FILM Casey Affleck, Liv Tyler, Mary Kay Place, Seymour Cassel IFC Films; Directed by Steve Buscemi Jim is forced to move back to his hometown in Indiana and back into his parent's house. Jim is severely depressed and his angst-ridden brother, useless father and naive mother don't help. He continues to struggle with life until he finds purpose in a relationship with a local woman and her son, who sees him as a father figure.

DOWN IN THE VALLEY Rated R; 125 minutes; 2006 FEATURE FILM Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse ThinkFilm Inc.; Directed by David Jacobson Stetson wearing Harlan Caruthers wanders into the life of 18 year old Tobe, much to the chagrin of her father. Harlan seems like a cowboy straight off the silver screen but stolen horses and impromptu shooting lessons belie his seemingly ""aw shucks"" demeanor.

BRICK Rated R; 2005 FEATURE FILM Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Nora Zehetner, Noah Zeruber, Focus Features; Directed by Rian Johnson Though this film takes place in a high school it's style is that of a hard-boiled noir mystery. Teenage outsider Brendan investigates the murder of his girlfriend and his dangerous journey takes him through the world of the school's richest, toughest and most vicious students in this unique thriller.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Rated PG; 98 minutes; 2006 FEATURE FILM Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hutchinson, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel Walt Disney Pictures; Directed by Kenny Ortega During a karaoke contest basketball star Troy Bolton and shy, bookish Gabriella discover that they both have the same love for music. They decide to audition together for their high school musical. This odd couple starts tongues wagging all over campus in this high-energy family musical.

HARD CANDY Rated R; 103 minutes; 2005 FEATURE FILM Patrick Wilson, Ellen Page, Sandra Oh, Jennifer Holmes Lions Gate Films; Directed by David Slade Patrick finds himself in a modern day nightmare when he meets an underage girl after chatting with her online and she persuades him to take her back to his apartment. She spikes his drink and Patrick wakes up tied to the bed and in danger of becoming the recipient of some unwanted at-home surgery if she doesn't get the answers she wants in this controversial thriller.

LOVE ME IF YOU DARE Rated R; 93 minutes; 2004 FEATURE FILM Guillaume Canet, Marion Cotillard, Thibault Verhaeghe Paramount Classics; Directed by Yann Samuel Childhood friends Julien and Sophie had always dared each other to commit outrageous acts. As they grow older they find themselves unable to stop the game because it would mean that they had grown complacent and they prefer their crazy, if destructive, relationship to one that would make them admit that they mighty be truly meant for one another.

JOHNNY WAS Rated R; 93 minutes; 2005 FEATURE FILM Vinnie Jones, Peter Bergin, Eriq La Salle, Samantha Mumba, Lennox Lewis,Roger Daltrey Nordisk Films; Directed by Mark Hammond Trying to escape a violent past in Ireland, Johnny hides out in Brixton, London in the least-safe safe house sandwiched between a Jamaican drug dealer and a pirate radio station run by a Rasta DJ. When his former comrade escapes from Brixton prison determined to derail the Irish peace process, Johnny faces being dragged back into violence and away from his new love. Questions of race, morality and loyalty play out against a great sound-track of reggae, rock and soul.

CUBAN HIPHOP Not Rated; 75 minutes; 2006 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Directed by Vanessa Diaz The development of HipHop culture in Cuba and how rap has become the primary art form by which Cuban youth make their voices heard and express their frustrations with life in Cuba. This documentary traces the development of Cuban HipHop step by step in a way that has yet to be formally recorded or published.

NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD Rated PG; 103 minutes; 2005 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Directed by Jonathan Demme This special concert film features songs by Neil Young that he sings in public for the very first time at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This film features performances by Emmy Lou Harris, Wayne Jackson of the Memphis Horns and Carl Gorodetsky and the 12-piece Nashville String Machine.

SHORTS FILMS & DOCUMENTARIES

21 CARBS (Docs & Shorts Program #2) Illinois Directed by Ian Bonner This short comedy about low carb diets spoofs the visual style of the movie 21 Grams. A woman goes on a diet to win the affections of her superficial sister. Miraculously, she starts losing weight until an "accident" changes everything. Shot by cinematographer Lon Stratton (Standing in the Shadows of Motown) and featuring Second City Detroit alumni and a cameo by 8 Mile's Chloe Greenfield, 21 Carbs is a hilarious, multi-layered satire. Received the "Audience Award" at Planet Ant 2006
ANTICIPATION (Docs & Shorts Program #2) Ohio Directed by Greg Sawtell Dramatic lighting and sound bring an eerie feeling to this clay puppet animated short.
TWO MEN AND A MANNEQUIN (Shorts Only Program) Michigan Directed by Chris Csont A mannequin appears at the apartment door of two roommates to inspire good times and teach the true meaning of friendship.
NIGHT AND DAY LOSERS (Shorts Only Program) Michigan Directed by John Kerfoot A solitary truck driver is cajoled into hanging out with a driver "wannabee" coworker. The driver learns an important life lesson from his coworker. Received "Best in Show" at Moving Media 2006.
THE DAILY PLANNER (Shorts Only Program) Massachusetts Directed by Max Coniglio This animated film illustrates how organizing to find time to have a life can envelop your life.
UNFISNISHED BUSINESS (shown with feature film Broken) Australia Directed by Jason Kempnich Old ghosts are stirred when a man returns to a house he's never been to before. A short tale with karmic implications.
WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS (Docs & Shorts Program #2) California Directed by Anthony Dominici Edited by Erica Kraus This short film proves that there is one thing that Hurricane Katrina did not completely destroy in the Gulf Coast, the human spirit.
DRIFTING ON THE WIND (Docs & Shorts Program #1) England Directed by Matthem Ridha A restless spirit longs to return home. After the removal of Saddam, Ali, an Iraqi exile is invited to return to Baghdad. As the moment of his return draws closer, it re-ignites a series of memories that Ali had long forgotten and reawakens anxieties.
HOW HENRI CAME TO STAY (Docs & Shorts Program #1) California Directed by Elia Petridis This period black and white short plays like film noir with a modern twist. Set in a boarding house in London after WWII, a little girl's gift helps the police solve a murder mystery.
WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS POLKA BAND (Docs & Shorts Program #2) Minnesota Directed by Sonya "Sonny" Tormoen This film follows a trio of immensely likable senior citizens who have been performing at Nye's Polonaise Room in Minneapolis for over 25 years. This film is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
YELLOW HAMMER (Shorts Only Program) California Directed by Paco Farias The aftermath of a designer drug called "Yellowhammer" threatens a third string college wrestler's chance to make the game. This film is a hilarious trip through the eyes of a hang-over.
24 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL (Shorts Only Program) California Directed by Paco Farias This short is a companion piece to "Yellowhammer." It show the making of the short film in the context of a 24 hour film festival –from writing to shooting to completion the whole film has to be completed in 24 hours!
THE REEL PRESIDENT (Docs & Shorts Program #1) New York Directed by Amy Sharp This film explores the long standing relationship between the White House and Hollywood. The use of Hollywood films, political debates and press coverage illustrates the political climate and role of still and moving images in the portrayal of the Presidency and the blurry line between acting presidential and being presidential.
NOW DREAM THEN (Shorts Only Program) Oregon Directed by Autumn Andel An experiment in the collective unconscious, where each participant read a poem by Steve Kilbey and responded to it immediately afterwards. Discovering that we share similar nostalgia reminds us that we are not so alone in a world that may seem indifferent at times.
DETROIT: NOT FOR WIMPS (Shorts Only Program) Michigan Directed by Leigh Reichert Wedgies, bullies, spitballs and monsters. It's tough being a pair of kid brothers in Detroit during the late 70's. Especially when you hate each other. This is a light hearted comedy that is sure to bring back childhood memories for everyone.
SOLDADOS: CHICANOS IN VIETNAM (Docs & Shorts Program #2) New York Directed by Sonya Rhee & Charley Trujillo "Soldados" shows that in a war that both exposed and exacerbated America's racial conflicts, Chicanos in the ranks found themselves uniquely caught in the middle- between whites and blacks, whos clashes dominated the era, and between U.S. society's contradictory views of them as loyal citizens and as alien migrants.
DO YOU WANT THE ELEPHANT MUSIC (Docs & Shorts Program #1) California Directed by Leslie Dektor The circus ring allows us to see the lives and feelings of circus performers and how they mirror our own lives. Shown at the 2006 L.A. Film Festival.
FAT CAKE (Docs & Shorts Program #1) California Directed by Leslie Dektor A film as much about music as the people who play it. One wonders if the fact that these musicians could express themselves musically allowed them to get away, at least momentarily, from the violence around them. Shot in South Africa during Apartheid.
BROKEN (Shorts Only Program) California Directed by Paco Farias This "date gone bad" is a comedic look at one encounter that goes painfully wrong.