Monday Films

We Live in Public (USA) - Slightly creepy guy makes millions on internet in a time when they seemed to hand out $100 million for saying the word "inter" and "net" in the same sentence. In part this money came about for building a business delivering video content before the broadband infrastructure was really ready for it. Then he lost all the money by acting sort of crazy, part of which involved doing expensive "experiments" where people lived every waking moment of their lives online, and not slowing their burn rate until the (fairly well known and obvious) problem of broadband penetration had resolved itself. That last part seems particularly ungenius like even though he also founded one of the famous internet market research firms. But this isn't supposed to be business genius I suppose. Occasionally he lived his life online as well - right down to every last detail being filmed and broadcast. Turns out that can be hard on a relationship. Who knew? Anyway - genius may be debatable, but you won't be bored at this doc - so I guess I technically should recommend it. The filmmakers focus mainly on the one personality and no real time delving into the other, broader examples of folks wanting their 15 minutes in public ranging from "The Real World" to "Survivor." Unfortunately I scrammed to another film in place of what could have been a great Q&A. Mainly I wanted to ask if anyone had pointed out to the subject who seemed to live a lot of his life based on a model based on Gilligan's Island that the show always ended the same way - plans falling apart at the last minute?

One point that I do think it true but is easy to miss is how even if you don't volunteer to be filmed 24/7 the digital footprint nature of the net does mean more of your life is online than most people over the age of 14 are probably comfortable with. Video is largely besides the point for most folks.

Unfair film note: on the way out someone tried to sell me a shirt to promote their film. In the lingo of the kids - WTF?

Alright - if it got me this torqued up it's probably worth seeing. ;-)

Laila's Birthday (Palestine) - my favorite film of the day. A judge is invited back to the Palestinian territories. Once there the job falls through so he drives a taxi while he patiently comes to the ministry of justice each day to check on things (as they work on other issues such as changing ministers and curtains). We follow what appears to be a mostly typical day in his life. Other than it's his beloved daughter's birthday and he needs to home by 8. Preferably with a cake and gift. Understated simplicity, interesting and entertaining.

Melodrama Habbibi (France) - The Stranger describes it as a French/Lebanese version of 'Lost in Translation.' Which is a stretch beyond it involving an entertainer past his prime and having some attraction to a younger woman. But this one doesn't have Scarlet in it. Oh - and the stories are completely different. The wife of a wealthy food businessman loves the one hit of a French crooner. He's imported (well past his prime) for her birthday party. Then stuff happens - mainly of the melodramatic variety. Hard to dislike strongly it didn't make a huge impression beyond a few parts. Thankfully the song they sing over and over isn't hard to listen to - at least not if you like the sound of French.

Opium War (Afghanistan) - American soldiers found by a bunch of boys that seem to be growing poppy fields (badly) with a smattering of adults around. Sort of a version of Lord of the Flies mixed with some sort of commentary on American military intervention. Not much seemed to happen and what happen I didn't much understand. I believe it's been listed under black comedy both at SIFF and Palm Springs. I didn't get it - so if the message is Americans are stupid they may have a point. Be warned there a good number of fans of this film so your mileage may vary.