Day Two - Saturday (March 8)

Les Thermes de pierre

Director: Richard Copans

France/2007/26 min/French

Guest review by Jonathan

Located in Vals, Switzerland (and as incorrectly indicated in the catalogue in Vals-les-Bains, which is in France), Thermes Vals is a hotel/spa complex created by German investor Karl Kurt Vorlop in the 1960s. Mr. German Investor eventually filed for bankruptcy, and in 1983 the village took ownership of the 5 hotels circling the hot spring. In the mid-90s, the cantonal administration had Peter Zumthor design the main spa complex atop said spring. This is a wet, very darkly lit film that fully showcases the mood and light of this beautiful aquatic complex devoted to relaxation and contemplation. Well, that and a few older German ladies in swimsuit. Das ist gut?

La chocolaterie Menier

Director: Danielle Schirman

France/2007/26 min/French

Guest review by Jonathan

Originally built in 1870, La chocolaterie Menier - a chocolate manufacturing plant - was a commercial success in its heyday. The whole thing started of as a small water mill, which later grew and grew and grew to become the biggest in the world at the time. But the depression of the 1930’s would put a final stop to this growth and the company eventually folded. Years after, Nestlé France bought the site to house its French corporate headquarters. Unfortunately, most of the buildings, save a few, are considered heritage sites, and after a major restructuring and downsizing episode, Nestlé France is now trying to sell the site. It’s a bit of a sad story to see these beautiful buildings (the mill, the “Eiffel Hall” and the “Cathedral”) empty and unused. A sad fate for great architecture.

Darkroom

Director: Peter Bebjak

Slovakia/2007/28 min/English

A film adaptation of choreography by Yuri Korec, set in a dark, abandoned public bath/pool complex. Think of the homoerotic-ness of the orginal Tap Dogs without the tap dancing. Think of lean, young men, impassioned, silently (for the most part) lusting for each other with such force that the line between pleasure and violence sometimes seems to blur. For those who might get the ‘in joke’, a Cazzo film with clothes on, and without graphic penetration. Oh, and a young man, who is channeling for Vicky Pollard from Little Britain. Is he the first-timer at the “tea-room”, and he’s so nervous that he can’t abide by the unwritten rules of public sex encounters?

George Michael: I’m your man

Director: Gerald Fox

United Kingdom/2006/48 min/English

Hrmmm..interesting segue into this film from the last line of the previous review... Being of a “certain age”, I remember Wham! from the 80’s, and even have a couple vinyl LP’s and CD’s of George’s oeuvre, but I’m not a fan. George gave this interview for the South Bank Show as the only interview marking twenty-five years in his career, and offers up his side of the story on where he is in his life, as compared to the vilification he’s been subjected to for daring to go up against Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. Filmed during rehearsals for and concerts of his first tour in fifteen years, without the “blemishes” of interviewing airbrushed away, it’s a rare treat to see one of the few openly-gay major pop singers in his element, and one of the few who disdains the “public celebrity” persona. However inarticulate George may be in formulating his feelings, his voice and song-writing skills still keep them singing.