One can't really say that filmmaker Guy Maddin has burst onto the mainstream scene. His work still falls heavily in the esoteric film club category. Every once in a while chances pop up for the general public to be awed by his one-of-a-kind work. In 2000 critics took notice when his short film Heart of The World, actually a promo for the Toronto Film Festival, preceded the film festival screenings.




I was introduced to his work in film school with the unparalleled Careful. Like all of Maddin's films, Careful was shot on a single sound stage in his native Winnepeg, Canada. It hearkens back to the days of early European films. Maddin still uses silent film techniques, like tableau style acting, in-camera effects, forced perspective, and hand colors the film. An homage to the German Mountain Film genre of the 1920s, Careful veers off its narrative track into a much more dark place examining censorship, sexual repression, and incest. The color scheme is haunting, the faces of the actors unforgettable; in fact every film of Maddin I've seen I've walked away with several strong images in my mind and been unable to shake them. I dare anyone to copy the vampire's kiss in Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002) or Isabella Rosellini's beer filled glass legs from The Saddest Music in The World (2003).




Now Maddin has a new masterpiece, and his first film shot outside of Winnipeg. Taking liberties with his own childhood, Maddin has re-created a silent film era spectacle. Brand Upon the Brain is meant to be a live show, with a narrator, full orchestra, and Foley artist all on stage while the movie plays along. The show comes to the Egyptian Cinematheque this weekend. So far two celebrity narrators have jumped on board: cult -fave '60s vampire babe Barbara Steele on Friday and Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snickett) on Saturday. More will be announced soon on the Brand Upon The Brain myspace page. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity as DVDs don't do these films the justice. Abstract and antique, melodramatic for sure, messy and meticulous all at once; once you've seen a Guy Maddin film you won't really be the same, or at least not have the same affinity for color talkies.


Brand on The Brain Live Show
Egyptian Cinematheque
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, 90028
Advance Tickets: $25
General Admission at the door: $30, $22 Students & Seniors

Friday, Jun. 8 7:30pm - Narrated by Barbara Steele

Saturday, Jun. 9 7:30pm - Narrated by Daniel Handler
10:00pm - Narrator TBA

Sunday, Jun. 10 7:30pm - Narrator TBA

Monday, Jun. 11 7:30pm - Narrator TBA

Labels: events, film