The two movies shown earlier in the day on Thursday did not inspire much enthusiasm on my part, as you can probably tell since they went unmentioned in my first post about day 2. Man Push Cart was unrelentingly depressing. While the filmmaking was fine, the slow pacing and repetitive nature made for a forgettable experience that was not saved by the inevitable climax. I thought the premise for the film was suggested by The Bicycle Thief, and yet that film was never mentioned during the after-film discussion. More interesting to me was the discussion. The director was more impressive than the film, which is actually a common occurrence at the festival. Some directors would have tried to exploit the post 9/11 events for a movie, but instead he touched upon that theme while keeping the focus of the story on the main character.
Duane Hopwood was a mediocre movie with scenes of drama and comedy that went together about as well as oil and vinegar. Going all the way back to The Lost Weekend I have never cared much for alcohol addiction movies, and this movie brought nothing new to the table.
