Talk:A Useful Life

Edits in Aug 11

Synopsis

After twenty-five years, Cinemateca Uruguaya's most devoted employee, Jorge (real-life Uruguayan critic Jorge Jellinek), still finds his inspiration in caring for the films and audiences that grace the seats and screen of his beloved arthouse cinema. But when dwindling attendance and diminishing support force the theater to close its' doors, Jorge is sent into a world he knows only through the lens of art - and suddenly forced to discover a new passion that transcends his once-celluloid reality.

Global Lens 2011 Series

The film is featured in the Global Lens 2011 film series, sponsored by The Global Film Initiative. Global Lens is an annual program comprised of 8-10 narrative films from around the world. Each year, the series premieres at MoMa and then tours throughout the United States and Canada. Global Lens 2011 includes eight other award-winning narrative feature films from Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, India, and Iran.Check Global Lens 2011 film calendar for current screenings throughout the United States.

Reviews

• “The sensitivity in this segment is a mark to Veiroj’s keen eye towards material and architectural detail surrounding his film, as well as the humor and pleasingly, gently inert humanity embodied in Martínez Carrilo’s affably schlumpy, rarely emotive and entirely effective performance. Definitely one of the festival’s finest films, which I was count my blessings I was able to see in an actual theater, albeit a multiplex and not a cinematheque” –The Daily Notebook

• “I strongly encourage anyone in love with cinema not to miss the opportunity to watch this droll film at any festival where it's programmed.” –The Evening Class

• “Shot in luscious black and white, "A Useful Life" illustrates the difficulties of maintaining cultural institutions in developing countries.” –Indiewire

• “What begins as a seemingly dry work directed purely at cinephiles evolves almost invisibly into a droll romantic comedy, and marks a clear step forward for Veiroj.” –Variety

• “Federico Veiroj’s thoughtful and delicate second feature contemplates the value of outmoded occupations with this evocative (and alarming!) depiction of life at the end of a cinematheque. It marks a departure from his celebrated debut Acne, but for anyone who loves cinema in its purest form, this film will be a revelation.” –Toronto International Film Festival

Awards

• Istanbul Film Festival - Special Jury Prize ex-aequo
• Valdivia International Film Festival - Best Director
• San Sebastian International Film Festival - Special Mention, Kutxa New Directors
• Havana Film Festival/New Latin American Cinema of La Havana - Coral Grand Prize, Best Film
• Warsaw International Film Festival - Special Mention
• Goya Awards - Nominated Best Foreign Film, Spanish Language
• San Sebastian International Film Festival - Films in Progress TVE Award

I've moved them here, as I think there's some useful info worth adding. Lugnuts (talk) 08:17, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

References