24 Days

And now, for my #1 pick to see at Sundance... (drum roll optional)

#1 A Film Unfinished (World Cinema Documentary)
yael Hersonski's powerful documentary achieves a remarkable feat through its penetrating look at another film--the now-infamous Nazi-produced film about the Warsaw Ghetto. Discovered after the war, the unfinished work, with no soundtrack, quickly became a resource for historians seeking an authentic record, despite its elaborate propagandistic construction. The later discovery of a long-missing reel complicated earlier readings, showing the manipulations of camera crews in these "everyday" scenes. Well-heeled Jews attending elegant dinners and theatricals (while callously stepping over the dead bodies of compatriots) now appeared as unwilling, but complicit, actors, alternately fearful and in denial of their looming fate. Hersonski relentlessly screens each reel as ghetto survivors and (amazingly) one of the original cameramen recall actual events, investing the cryptic scenes with detail, complexity, and authority. Rigorous in its regard for human tragedy and the power of images, A Film Unfinished indicts both the evil and astounding narcissism of the Nazi state.

Some movies are meant to be hard to watch. Like the first 15 minutes of Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List. But just because a movie is hard to watch, doesn't mean it shouldn't be seen. I have always been interested in WWII and to have actual footage from that time period of things that most people have never seen, is remarkable and fascinating. I look forward to this movie not because of how I'm sure I will feel during and after, but because it's going to be powerful and I'm curious to see the actual reel of what the Nazi's filmed. It will give a more accurate picture of what they're really like, more so than most books can give. I'm sure I will be disgusted at what it shows the Nazi's doing, but I'm hoping to gain some insight into their lives.

This concludes my top five choices that I want to see at Sundance. I won't for sure be able to see all of them because of the ticketing process and other things, but I am confidant I will see at least one of my top films. We will see a total of 12-15 movies throughout the week which equals 2-3 everyday. It will be a busy schedule, but I'm definitely excited for it. I'll be talking about other films in Sundance and perhaps movie reviews of ones I've seen recently until I actually leave for Sundance.