SIFF 2016 Opening Night Gala: Café Society

After the latest round of Woody Allen molestation claims from his own children, SIFF probably wishes they weren’t opening with the director’s latest film Café Society. But that bed is made. Jesse Eisenberg (the only natural and logical nebbish stand-in now that the director is finally too old to play the Woody roles) stars as James, young man that moves to Los Angeles during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He’s taken in my his big shot uncle Aaron (Steve Carell), and soon falls for Aaron’s assistant, Theresa (Kristen Stewart). So maybe think of it as Woody Allen’s 1930s Adventureland? Adding a dash of local connection, the film comes our way via Amazon Studios

Screening: May 19 at 7, McCaw Hall, $50–$250

Weiner

Anthony Weiner was a politican on the rise... then he tweeted out a photo of his junk. Weiner follows the disgraced New York Congressman's failed attempt to bounce back from the scandal and run for mayor. The hot-tempered Weiner gave directors Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg full behind the scenes access to document the disastrous campaign in all its awkwardness and unintended hilarity. The resulting film has already earned the U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize winner at Sundance.

Screenings: May 20 at 4:30, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $11 | May 22 at 6, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $13

Horizons

While its subject matter may be Cuban ballet, Horizon is really a movie about strain. The Cuban/Swiss documentary follows three generations of ballerinas in Cuba: aspiring teen Amanda de Jesús Pérez Duarte, National ballet of Cuba principal Viengsay Valdés, and the legendary 94-year-old matriarch of Cuban ballet Alicia Alonso. Ballet holds an elevated position in Cuba, making Alonso a Communist hero. Her spirit hangs over everything in Horizons like a ghost, thanks to gorgeous black and white archival footage intercut throughout the film. But when jumping from these past dream scenes to the current reality, things get rough.

All three dancers can't hid the emotional and physical toll—the strain—that their art creates. Amanda has wide-eyed youthful optimism, but since her parents gave up their jobs and moved so that she could follow her dreams, every dance exam carries immense pressure. Alonso is hard to watch. Tired in both body and spirit—and all but blind (since the age of 19)—she often seems like she's being ushered around Weekend at Bernie's style to various gatherings, dance classes, and on stage for one particularly excruciating dance routine. But the heart really goes out to Valdés, a world class dancer whose expressive face can't hid the exhaustion and isolated and internalized doubt she feels. When Alonso "watches" Valdés practice and offers harsh criticism—despite having to ask an assistant who is dancing because she can't see—it's downright crushing. Horizons might not be fun, but it shows the price Cuban dancers are willing to pay in pursuit of their beautiful movements.

Screenings: May 20 at 3:30, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $11 | May 24 at 7, AMC Pacific Place 11, $13

The IF Project

Looking for an emotional cry or two and don't mind if an SPD officer guides you to the tears? Then The IF Project might be the SIFF pick for you. The documentary details the creation and implementation of The IF Project, a writing program at the Washington Correction Center for Women that asks inmates to ponder if there was something specific that could've helped them not end up behind bars.

Stretching over more than seven years, the doc focuses on SPD detective Kim Bogucki who planted the idea for the program that became a reality when inmate Renata Abramson started collecting her peers' letters for Bogucki. Viewers witness numerous emotional releases for these women that have pent up their feeling for years. And while the film follows certain inmates paths through the program and back into civilian life, it doesn't shy away from showing that sometimes well-intentioned letter writing isn't enough to fix some broken people..

Screenings: May 21 at 3:30, AMC Pacific Place, $13 | May 22 at 11am, AMC Pacific Place, $13

Kedi

It's been a while since a documentary has delivered as much pure, instant joy as Kedi does. The Turkish doc shines a light on Istanbul's street cats, which are so prevalent that they've become one of the city's calling cards. Terrific cinematography gets viewers down on the cats' ground level and darts around as they venture throughout town.

The free form storytelling essentially becomes a series of vignettes about specific cats told by the people that love them. The diverse feline personalities include protective mothers, rat catchers, polite food beggars, brawlers, one female lovingly referred to as the "neighborhood psycho," and more (and the humans tell the stories are colorful characters in their own right). Kedi offers a delightful cinematic experience that will warm your insides, and is an absolute must see for any cat people.

Screenings: May 21 at 11am, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, $13 | May 28 at 3, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $11 | May 30 at noon, SIFF Cinema Uptown, $13