Seattle International Film Festival is about to enter its second week, so its time to start marking calendars and getting tickets for this weekend and beyond. Here are selections for each day of week 2 of SIFF to provoke thought and dialog, including a full afternoon of an historic film trilogy this Sunday.
Friday May 22: Elephant Song @ SIFF Uptown @ 3 PM
A disturbed psych-ward patient manipulates his therapist in an engaging thriller about murder and deception.
Director: Charles Binamé
Principal Cast: Bruce Greenwood, Xavier Dolan, Catherine Keener, Carrie-Anne Moss, Guy Nadon
Country: Canada (Québec)
Year: 2014
Running Time: 110 minutes
Saturday May 23: Atlantic @ AMC Pacific Place @ 1 PM
A restless young Moroccan windsurfer sets out on an open sea adventure to challenge his predetermined reality.
Director: Jan-Willem van Ewijk
Principal Cast: Fettah Lamara, Thekla Reuten, Mohamed Majd, Boujmaa Guilloul, Hassna Souidi
Premier Status: US Premiere
Country: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Morocco
Year: 2014
Sunday May 24: The Apu Triology @ AMC Pacific Place @ 11 AM, 2 PM, 4:30 PM
The Apu Trilogy is known as one of the most important series in Indian film history. The narrative follows the life of a young Apu and the challenges he faces growing up in the caste system, and its three films (Song of the Little Road, The Unvanquished, The World of Apu) will be screened in succession on this rare occasion.
Director: Satyajit Ray
Country: India
Monday May 25: The Cut @ The Egyptian @ 4 PM
A historical narrative about an Armenian blacksmith who is kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Director: Fatih Akin
Principal Cast: Tahar Rahim, Simon Abkarian, Makram J. Khoury, Hindi Zahra, Kevork Malikian
Country: Germany, France, Poland, Turkey
Year: 2014
Running Time: 138 minutes
Tuesday May 26: License to Operate @ SIFF Uptown @ 8 PM
A documentary that follows some of Los Angeles’ most violent former gang members and their attempt to turn their lives around and create a better future for the youth in their community.
Director: James Lipetzky
Principal Cast: Aquil Basheer, Kenneth Jones, Alfred Lomas III, Reynaldo Reaser, Stinson Brown
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Running Time: 103 minutes
Wednesday May 27: Do I Sound Gay? @ Harvard Exit @ 7 PM
A documentary surveying how gay men struggle with the social stigma of the sound of their voices. This riveting film feature’s Seattle’s very own Dan Savage.
Director: David Thorpe
Principal Cast: Dan Savage
Country: USA
Year: 2014
Running Time: 77 minutes
Thursday May 28: Cartoonists: Foot Soldiers of Democracy @ AMC Pacific Place @ 6:30 PM
A documentary explaining the political impact of the cartoon and the cartoonist’s role in shaping political commentary.
Director: Stéphanie Valloatto
Principal Cast: Nadia Khiari, Michel Kichka, Baha Boukhari, Rayma Suprani, Jeff Danziger
Country: France
Year: 2014
Running Time: 106 minutes
