cinequest's blog

California TheatreHalfdan HusseyWednesday, February 27, 2008 – “I guarantee the next 12 days and nights of Cinequest will be a cabaret,” Cinequest Co-founder and Executive Director Halfdan Hussey promised upon greeting the opening night crowd.

Hussey urged festival-goers to connect with each other—and to discover films and forums that matter, Maverick legends and fun.

“A whole lot of fun, because we need that, too, as we’re stimulating our minds and our souls,” Hussey added.

More than 1,000 people flocked to the world premiere of Paul Leuer’s “Eden Court” at the gorgeous California Theatre in San Jose, California. The beautifully restored 1927 movie palace is one of three downtown venues in which audiences can experience the discovery festival. An estimated 80,000 film lovers are expected to attend the 250 screenings, representing films from 34 countries. Over 80 films will be presented with 40 making their world, North American and U.S. debuts.

Paul LeuerWhen introducing “Eden Court,” Leuer stated that most movies portray the one-in-a-million success story. The indie film that he co-produced, co-wrote and directed takes the opposite approach, focusing on one of the 999,999 who fails to realize his dreams. Although the comedy starring Thomas Lennon (“Reno 911”) and Kimberly Williams -Paisley (“Father of the Bride”) was a disappointment, it didn’t dampen the mood at the opening night gala held at the nearby Paragon Restaurant & Bar in the Hotel Montgomery.

This year’s Maverick Spirit Award recipients are actors Michael Keaton (“Batman,” “Beetlejuice”), Danny Glover (“The Royal Tenenbaums,” “To Sleep with Anger”) and John Leguizamo (“Moulin Rouge,” “E.R.,” “Ice Age”); screenwriter Michael Arndt (“Little Miss Sunshine”); and producer-screenwriter Bobby Moresco (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Crash”).

Film and Technology forums will include Day of Distribution, two days devoted to Sight, Sound & the Dollar Sign, and Day of the Writer.

Cinequest 18 will wrap on March 9 with Charles Oliver’s “Take,” a drama starring Minnie Driver (“”Grosse Pointe Blank,” “The Riches”) and Jeremy Renner (“North Country”).

--Susan Tavernetti
Photo credits: Craig vonWaaden

Eden Court

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/03/2008 - 23:30.

"Eden Court" was thought provoking and provocative. I thought that the protagonist (Thomas Lennon) made me want to go into the picture and talk to the man about his life. He was unhappy with what he did not get but forgot all about what he did get until the end, when he sits on the top of the trailer home and surveys what is around him. Part of the problem seems to be that he lived too much in the past and sleep walked through the present. Because of his mental stance, he almost erased his future.
He had a wife who loved him, a job, and a dream that could have been redirected. He could have been a coach for children, a teacher and taught others love for the game he loved, though he may have not been a star in the world's eyes. He could have used what he did have to fill a part of the hole in his life.
When he retreated to the roof, I thought he grew up and saw that he had a life that was not half bad. He did not make enough money, but who does. He did not have to lower his expectations because his glorious dream did not come true. He still has a lot of living to do.

franc-i nicholson

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