Sundance Journal

The Most Important Film at Sundance?

...and Vera makes her mark!

by Ilene Marder, January 23, 2011

SUNDANCE JOURNAL DAY THREE-

 I haven’t been able to file as often as I’d like because our schedules have been jammed packed with films, receptions, and yes, a few cool parties (but truthfully, not as many late-nighters as in past years).

 But I have seen some absolutely amazing films the past couple of days, which I hope all of you will be able to see either at the Woodstock Film Festival, or soon at a theater near you!  I’ll start with the last two:

 - THE LAST MOUNTAIN, directed by Bill Haney. For my money, the most important film of the Sundance Festival. This exceptional documentary focuses on the devastating effects of mountaintop coal removal in West Virginia’s Coal River Valley, including the dedicated grassroots campaign against it (helped by the heartfelt efforts of Bobby Kennedy), the often fatal health impacts of a very poorly regulated industry, and the resulting damage done to the national and global environment.


The film GASLAND, which WFF screened last year, served as a siren call about natural gas exploitation involving East Coast communities, sparking  a huge grassroots movement against “fracking”; THE LAST MOUNTAIN (subtitled A FIGHT FOR OUR FUTURE), will do the same for mountain top removal coal mining,  but I think can be seen as even more urgent because of its immediate impact on global warming.

 Contaminated air, soil and water, cancer-causing coal dust that knows no state or national boundaries, brain tumor clusters, barren moonscapes replacing lush eco-systems, and millions of gallons of toxic sludge contained in poorly designed giant holding ponds, are only a few of the horrendous by-products of the industry. 

This beautifully shot and researched film  also follows the citizen-led effort to replace mountaintop mining with a series of health and natural resource saving windfarms.

This is a David and Goliath battle, and David, again, must win.


*** Find out more about it: http://thelastmountainmovie.com

- HIGHER GROUND, directed by Kerhonkson–based actress Vera Farmiga. I really loved this film based on Carolyn S. Brigg’s memoir THIS DARK WORLD, which follows her immersion into a fundamentalist faith and her decision 20 years later to leave it all behind.  Marking Farmiga’s directoral debut, the film was shot in the Hudson Valley with the help of the Woodstock Film Festival’s sister organization, the Hudson Valley Film Commission (the first organization she thanked after the screening!). Vera rocked the film world beginning with DOWN TO THE BONE, received a 2009 Academy award nomination for best supporting actress for UP IN THE AIR, and now, with HIGHER GROUND, has shown an articulate intelligence and vision as director, not to mention a whole lotta talent. A beautiful, moving, very human film, which explores the crossroads of faith and doubt. And hey, our roommate Reagan Leonard plays one of the fundamentalist followers and it was thrilling to see her on screen!

 

 

Sunday morning also brought another of WFF/HVFC's Sundance Breakfast parties at the New York Lounge, sponsored by the NYS Governors Office of Motion Picture and Television Development. Located in the heart of Main St., Park City, it was attended by a couple of hundred movers and shakers and was a great success! Here’s a shot of me with Meira, NYS Film office director Pat Kaufman and Nik Quaife representing the Culture Ireland films at Sundance (he is also Bard College's Speigeltent Master!) , for more pics, go to  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=277605&id=713922549&fbid=498594607549.

Tomorrow… reviews of BUCK (one of my favorites) and Kevin Smith’s RED STATE!  Stay warm!

Have something to say?

Login or register to leave a comment.