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Film schedule is subject to change.
Absolute Wilson
 USA, 2006, 103 min.
Director: Katharina Otto-Bernstein
Writer: Katharina Otto-Bernstein
Producers: Katharina Otto-Bernstein and Penny CM Stankiewicz
Cast: Arnold Aronson, William Burroughs, David Byrne, Philip Glass, Harvey Lichtenstein, Susan Sontag, Tom Waits (archive footage) and Robert Wilson
“Absolute Wilson” chronicles the epic life, times and creative genius of Robert Wilson, intimately revealing for the first time one of the most controversial, rule-breaking and downright mysterious artists of our era. More than a biography, the film becomes an exhilarating exploration of the transformative power of creativity itself and the inspirational tale of a boy who grew up as a troubled and learning-disabled outsider in the American South only to become a fearless artist with a profoundly original perspective to share with the world. The probing yet playful narrative reveals the deep interconnections between Wilson's childhood experiences and the haunting beauty of his monumental works, which include the theatrical sensations "Deafman Glance," "Einstein on the Beach" and "the CIVIL WarS." Along the way, the film introduces an array of admirers, friends and critics who add insight as the film peels back layer after layer to get to a raw, forthcoming and uniquely moving view of how Wilson's work emerged from an extraordinary life and a ceaseless yearning to communicate.
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 11:30 a.m., Trustees Theater
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Avenue Montaigne (Fauteuils d’orchestre)
 France, 2006,106 min.
Director: Danièle Thompson
Writers: Christopher Thompson and Danièle Thompson
Producer: Christine Gozlan
Cast: Cécile de France, Valérie Lemercier, Albert Dupontel, Laura Morante and Claude Brasseur
Directed and co-written by Danièle Thompson (“La Bûche,” “Jet Lag”), and selected as France’s official entry for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, “Avenue Montaigne” centers around Jessica, (Cécile de France) a beautiful young woman from the provinces who comes to Paris and lands a job waiting tables at a chic bistro on fabled Avenue Montaigne, the city’s nexus for art, music, theater and fashion. Jessica’s customers include a popular TV actress (Valérie Lemercier) who is courting a major Hollywood director (Sydney Pollack) for her first serious film role, a wealthy art collector (Claude Brasseur) who is about to liquidate a lifetime’s worth of treasures at auction, and an illustrious classical pianist (Albert Dupontel) who is at odds with his manager/wife (Laura Morante) about where his career is headed. Because Jessica doesn’t know how celebrated these people are, her guileless and completely unintimidated engagement in their lives has a transforming effect on them – and ultimately her.
Friday, Nov. 3, 2:30 p.m., Trustees Theater
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Babel
 USA, 2006, 142 min.
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Producers: Steve Golin, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jon Kilik
Screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga
Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gale García Bernal, Koji Yakusho, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi and Elle Fanning
A tragic incident involving an American couple in Morocco sparks a chain of events for four families in different countries throughout the world. Tied by circumstance but separated by continent, culture and language, each character discovers that it is family that ultimately provides solace. In the remote sands of the Moroccan desert, a rifle shot rings out, beginning a chain of events that will link an American tourist couple’s frantic struggle to survive, two Moroccan boys involved in an accidental crime, a nanny illegally crossing into Mexico with two American children and a deaf Japanese teen rebel whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo.
Separated by clashing cultures and sprawling distances, each of these four disparate groups of people are nevertheless hurtling towards a shared destiny of isolation and grief. In the course of just a few days, they will each face the dizzying sensation of becoming profoundly lost — lost in the desert, lost to the world, lost to themselves — as they are pushed to the farthest edges of confusion and fear as well as to the very depths of connection and love.
Saturday, Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m., Trustees Theater/Lucas Theatre
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Before the Music Dies
 USA, 2006, 84 min.
Director: Andrew Shapter
Writers: Joel Rasmussen and Andrew Shapter
Producers: Brian McNulty, Lisa McWilliams and Joel Rasmussen
Cast: Erykah Badu, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, David Hidalgo, Branford Marsalis, Dave Matthews, Bonnie Raitt, Herbert Sumlin and Forest Whitaker
With outstanding musical performances and revealing interviews, “Before the Music Dies” takes a critical and comedic look at the faceless machinery of the American music industry and the increasingly bland mediocrity it produces. Talents such as Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, Branford Marsalis and Eric Clapton join industry commentators and the music fans to creatively pull back the curtain and expose the sad truth behind today’s music stars.
Thursday, Nov. 2, 11:30 a.m., Trustess Theater
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Bringing Balanchine Back
 USA, 2003, 80 min.
Director: Richard Blanshard
Producers: Earle I. Mack and Christopher Ramsey
Cast: New York City Ballet
“Bringing Balanchine Back” tells the story of New York City Ballet’s historic visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, to perform at the famed Mariinsky Theatre for the 100th anniversary of the birth of NYCB co-founder George Balanchine, who was born in St. Petersburg and received his training at the legendary theater. Included is rare performance footage of several of Balanchine’s most acclaimed works, as well as a number of fascinating backstage dramas such as famed Russian conductor Valery Gergeiv’s disappearance with the theater’s orchestra during the opening-night intermission for an unscheduled rehearsal, leaving everyone waiting for nearly an hour for the performance to resume. Through interviews with NYCB dancers and artistic staff, Russian audiences and performers, and the sights and sounds of an extraordinary city, “Bringing Balanchine Back” is a beautiful and unforgettable look at Balanchine’s birthplace and his legacy — the New York City Ballet.
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m., Lucas Theatre
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Director’s Choice
USA, 2006, 120 minutes
The Savannah Film Festival is pleased to premiere a special surprise screening of a highly anticipated film due out this fall.
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m., Trustees Theater
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Everything is Illuminated
 USA, 2005, 106 min.
Director: Liev Schreiber
Screenplay: Liev Schreiber
Executive producer: Matthew Stillman
Producers: Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub
Cast: Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Boris Leskin
Based on the critically-acclaimed novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, "Everything is Illuminated" tells the story of a young man's quest to find the woman who saved his grandfather in a small Ukrainian town that was wiped off the map by the Nazi invasion.
What starts out as a journey to piece together one family's story under the most absurd circumstances turns into a surprisingly meaningful journey with a powerful series of revelations — the importance of remembrance, the perilous nature of secrets, the legacy of the Holocaust, the meaning of friendship and most importantly, love.
Monday, Oct. 30, 2:30 p.m., Lucas Theatre
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Geronimo: An American Legend
 USA, 1993, 115 min.
Director: Walter Hill
Writer: John Milius
Producers: Neil Canton, Michael Glick and Walter Hill
Cast: Wes Studi, Jason Patric, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall and Matt Damon
This sweeping epic tells the story of the final months of the U.S. Army’s Geronimo campaign of 1885-86 and the events that led to the surrender of the legendary Apache Geronimo. Wes Studi stars as the title character and heads up an all-star cast in a movie that will educate as well as entertain.
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2:30 p.m., Lucas Theatre
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Illeanarama
 USA, 2005, 22 min.
Directors: Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache
Screenplay: Illeana Douglas and Teresa O’Neill
Producer: Illeana Douglas
Cast: Illeana Douglas, Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley Jr., Jane Lynch, Justine Bateman, Greg Proops, Elisa Bocanegra, Baba G and Jerry Mathers as "The Beaver"
“Illeanarama” is the hilarious follow up to “Supermarket”(2004), written and directed by Illeana Douglas. As we left off, Illeana is forced to find work in a local Hollywood supermarket only to find other Hollywood actresses are already working there. Illeana adjusts to life in this supermarket of the stars. Jeff Goldblum performs a showcase in aisle three, Ed Begley Jr. is the store
manager, and Justine Bateman wins the coveted cart assignment. Friction with coworkers and a lucrative offer from Bateman’s agent may lure her back into show business.
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2:30 p.m., Trustees Theater
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Little Children
 USA, 2006, 130 min.
Director: Todd Field
Screenplay: Todd Field and Tom Perrotta
Executive producers: Ken Alterman, Toby Emmerich and Patrick Palmer
Producers: Albert Berger, Todd Field and Ron Yerxa
Cast: Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson and Jennifer Connelly
Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, “Little Children” centers around a handful of individuals whose lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community in surprising and potentially dangerous ways.
Thursday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m. Trustees Theater
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Lonely Hearts
 USA, 2006, 108 min.
Director: Todd Robinson
Screenplay: Todd Robinson
Executive producers: Danny Dimbort, Randall Emmett, George Furla, Manfred Heid, Gerd Koechlin, Josef Lautenschlager, Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Andreas Theismeyer and John Thompson
Producers: Boaz Davidson, Holly Weirsma
Cast: John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Salma Hayek, Jared Leto and Laura Dern
Based on a true story, two homicide detectives track Martha Beck (Salma Hayek) and Raymond Martinez Fernandez (Jared Leto), a murderous pair known as the "Lonely Hearts Killers" who lured their victims through the personal ads.
When they were arrested, Martha and Ray confessed to 12 killings, although it is believed the actual number is closer to 20. At their sensational trial, Martha and Ray cooed, held hands and seemed as though they could not get enough of each other. Their plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was rejected, and Aug. 22, 1949, the homicidal lovers were sentenced to death. After numerous appeals, they were electrocuted March 8, 1951, side-by-side in Sing Sing prison.
Friday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m., Trustees Theater
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Pittsburgh
 USA, 2006, 84 min.
Directors: Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache
Executive producers: Keith Addis and Bernie Cahill
Producers: Jeff Goldblum, Ryan Magnussen and Patrick Bradley
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Illeana Douglas, Ed Begley Jr., and Moby
What happens when an international movie star "goes rogue," turns his back on his manager and follows his heart to star in a two-week run of “The Music Man” in his hometown of Pittsburgh? This is precisely what Jeff Goldblum did and filmmakers Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache documented the whole hilarious process — from auditions through rehearsals to an opening night finale worthy of a Christopher Guest movie.
The film stretches the boundaries of the documentary genre: Goldblum’s friends Ed Begley Jr. and Ileanna Douglas gamely join him in the “Music Man” cast, though Begley requires some environmental quid pro quo, while Douglas is getting over a painful, cinematic breakup with Moby. The main event is Goldblum’s wholehearted attempt at a role that he perhaps wasn’t born to play, making “Pittsburgh” a high-wire act in more ways than one.
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2:30 p.m., Trustees Theater
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Smile
 USA, 1975, 117 min.
Director: Michael Ritchie
Writer: Jerry Belson
Executive producers: Marion Dougherty, David Picker
Producer: Michael Ritchie
Cast: Bruce Dern, Barbara Feldon, Michael Kidd, Geoffrey Lewis and Nicholas Pryor
Get ready for a hilarious look at one of America's most beloved institutions — the beauty pageant — in this twisted satire.
Thursday, Nov. 2, 2:30 p.m., Trustees Theater
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The Last King of Scotland
 United Kingdom, 2006, 120 min.
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Writers: Peter Morgan and Jeremy Brock
Executive producers: Tessa Ross, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich
Producers: Andrea Calderwood, Lisa Bryer and Charles Steel
Cast: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Kerry Washington, Simon McBurney and Gillian Anderson
In an incredible twist of fate, a Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) on a Ugandan medical mission becomes irreversibly entangled with one of the world’s most barbaric figures: Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). Impressed by Dr. Garrigan’s brazen attitude in a moment of crisis, the newly self-appointed Ugandan President Amin hand-picks him as his personal physician and closest confidante. Though Garrigan is at first flattered and fascinated by his new position, he soon awakens to Amin’s savagery and his own complicity in it. Horror and betrayal ensue as Garrigan tries to right his wrongs and escape Uganda alive.
Monday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Trustees Theater
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The Lives of Others
 Germany, 2006, 137 min.
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Writers: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Producers: Quirin Berg, Dirk Hamm, Max Wiedemann and Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Cast: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch and Ulrich Tukur
At once a political thriller and human drama, “The Lives of Others” begins in East Berlin in 1984, five years before Glasnost and the fall of the Berlin Wall, and ultimately takes us to 1991, in what is now the reunited Germany. “The Lives of Others” traces the gradual disillusionment of Capt. Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Muhe), a highly skilled officer who works for the Stasi, East Germany’s all-powerful secret police. His mission is to spy on a celebrated writer and actress couple, Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) and Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck).
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m., Trustees Theater
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The Long Riders
 USA,1980, 99 min.
Director: Walter Hill
Writers: Bill Bryden and Steven Smith
Producers: James Keach, Stacy Keach and Tim Zinnemann
Cast: James Keach, Stacy Keach, David Carradine, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine, Christopher Guest, Robert Guest, Dennis Quaid and Randy Quaid
Director Walter Hill teamed up with four sets of real-life brothers to create one of the best Westerns in recent years. The legend of Jesse James and his alliance with the Younger brothers is presented here as an exercise in both historical accuracy and exciting drama. The spectacular cinematography of Ric Waite and the music of Ry Cooder complement the performances of the brothers for a splendid evocation of Western legend within a powerfully realistic framework.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 2:30 p.m., Lucas Theatre
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The Queen
 United Kingdom, 2006, 97 min.
Director: Stephen Frears
Screenplay: Peter Morgan
Executive producers: Francois Ivernel, Cameron McCracken and Scott Rudin
Producers: Andy Harries, Christine Langan and Tracey Seaward
Cast: Helen Mirren, James Cromwell and Michael Sheen
Helen Mirren, James Cromwell and Michael Sheen star in this intimate, revealing and somewhat humorous portrait of the British royal family in crisis immediately following the death of Princess Diana.
Saturday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m., Trustees Theater
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The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
 USA, 2005, 121 min.
Director: Tommy Lee Jones
Screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga
Producers: Luc Besson, Michael Fitzgerald, Tommy Lee Jones, Pierre-Ange Le Pogam
Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Pepper, Julio Cedillo, Dwight Yoakam, January Jones and Melissa Leo
A man is shot and quickly buried in the high desert of West Texas. The body is found and reburied in Van Horn’s town cemetery. Pete Perkins, a local ranch foreman (Tommy Lee Jones) kidnaps a border patrolman and forces him to disinter the body. With his captive in tow and the body tied to a mule, Pete undertakes a dangerous and quixotic journey into Mexico.
Guillermo Arriaga’s dramatic and poetic script weaves past and present as it gradually reveals a great friendship, the lonely subterfuge of an illegal migrant’s life, the cost of a promise made and kept, and culminates in the redemption of a callous if accidental killer.
The U.S.-Mexico border has long been plagued with violence and racism, and many of the events that unfold are accurate depictions of the ongoing abuse of human rights in the region. However, in its conclusion the film offers a pure form of contrition for wrongs committed and a striking note of empathy for the lives so changed.
Sunday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m., Trustees Theater
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