Fairfax Documentary Film Festival announces the weekend events happening on March 30, 31 and April 1.
FRIDAY MARCH 30 AT 7PM
Thackery's Time The life of a footloose, free-spirited Northern Californian takes a dramatic turn when his mother tells him that the man who raised him is not his biological father. Thackary Grossman, a 39-year-old occasional carpenter and surfer, sets out to discover a new father and define his own identity. How important is it to know your biological father? And what happens when you discover that he isn’t who you thought he was? These are the questions at the heart of Thackary’s Time, a 54-minute documentary by Kathy Klausner and Beni Strebel. Klausner and Strebel, a San Francisco husband-and-wife film making team, offer an intimate look at key events in Thackary’s odyssey of discovery as he grapples with his new reality. A longtime, close friendship with Thackary gave the filmmakers unusual access to shoot the first meeting with his new-found father, Walt Tulecke, a retired Ohio biology professor in his 80s. The film finds its groove in depictions of often awkward encounters during which raw emotions are vividly captured on screen. The characters seem unfazed by the camera, even when discussing the most painful subjects. As Thackary gets to know Walt and listens to his self-justifying New-Age mother, the audience is left wondering how Thackary will deal with the new family dynamics and his role as the love child of a long-ago affair. Thackary’s search for meaning remains enigmatic, a theme underscored by a surprise ending that is one of the film’s most aesthetically powerful and poignant moments.
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After Happily Ever After is Emmy winning filmmaker Kate Schermerhorn’s quirky, funny and moving personal quest for the secret to a happy marriage and for answers to some timely questions about an institution which might just be due for some review.
This engaging doc features an eclectic mix of long married couples - from a couple who dress alike every day; to a pair of nudists and a newlywed pair of mothers, to a feisty English widow. A lively and world-renowned group of marriage experts - including psychologist John Gottman (who can predict divorce with 90% accuracy), marrriage historian Stephanie Coontz, and a Beverly Hills divorce attorney, ground the film in fact as they piece together the history and possible future and motivations for marriage.
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Along the way, Schermerhorn chronicles the joys and heartbreaks of her own marriage and finds that even the best advice can’t always guarantee a happily ever after.
Q& A with the filmmaker Kate Schermerhorn
SATURDAY MARCH 31 AT 7PM ~ Preview screening
Way of Life is a film by local filmmaker, producer and director, David Driver. Spanning more than a decade, Way of Life traverses the world to illustrate how a single altruistic gesture can evolve into a richly satisfying way of life. The narrative follows the extraordinary journey of Michael Daube, a young artist of modest means from small-town America who finds a valuable piece of art while searching through an abandoned warehouse. He sells it at auction and with the proceeds builds a hospital in one of the most remote areas of India.
Following Daube’s path through India, Nepal, Mexico and the US, the film focuses on the extraordinary aspects of his continued philanthropic work with hospitals, schools and similar international aid projects. With intimate and moving camerawork, the film interweaves moments of this incredible journey to illustrate how his simple, ground-level approach to working with marginalized communities transforms the lives of those involved. Ultimately,Way of Life explores the relationships between creativity, life’s work and personal happiness in ways that inspire us to consider and appreciate our own best intentions.
Q&A with the filmmaker David Driver
http://www.kqed.org/arts/movies/article.jsp?essid=74279
SUNDAY APRIL 1st – please check Fairfax Theatre for showing times.
"SCREENING AND RESULTS OF THE FAIRFAX DOC FEST CHALLENGE 2012" a competition featuring short documentaries submitted by local filmmakers of all ages. The Challenge is a favorite event of the Film Festival and is fun for those who participated in making films and for viewers who get to see some remarkable local talent.
Tickets are available at the Theater or on-line through www.cinemawest.com.
STARTING TIMES VARY-PLEASE CHECK SCHEDULE
