IV: Wild Strawberries

Screened April 7, 2011 at Shanan's House.

From wikipedia:


Wild Strawberries (1957) is a Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, about an old man recalling his past. The original Swedish title is Smultronstället, which literally means "the wild strawberry patch", but idiomatically means an underrated gem of a place (often with personal or sentimental value). The cast includes Victor Sjöström in his final screen performance, as well as Bergman regulars Bibi Andersson, Ingrid Thulin and Gunnar Björnstrand. Max von Sydow also appears in a small role. Bergman wrote the screenplay while hospitalized. Because it tackles difficult questions about life, and thought-provoking themes such as self-discovery and human existence, the film is often considered to be one of Bergman's most emotional, optimistic and best films.

Club #3: MASH

For the third meeting of Film Club, we eventually settled on MASH. There was a lot of interest in TRON, but also a lot of disinterest too. Quick Change was rejected!

Says Wikipedia:

MASH juxtaposes gory operating-room procedures with anti-establishment humor. Occasionally, these two elements coexist within the same shot. For example, while Hawkeye is amputating a patient's leg, he asks a nurse to scratch his nose, when all the while the sound of the saw cutting the bone is audible.

The film, the plot of which is episodic, is marked by Altman's trademark editing style, in which many scenes contain several simultaneous or overlapping conversations, as well as his frequent use of zooms.

Film Club Rules, which were discussed but not ratified last night are:

* Host gets veto power over a movie.

* We should have some sort of voting system

The Spanish Prisoner

Screening #2: The Spanish Prisoner. Thursday, July 29 at Sara's House.

Says wikipedia:

The Spanish Prisoner is a 1997 American suspense film, written and directed by David Mamet and starring Campbell Scott, Steve Martin, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ben Gazzara and Ricky Jay. The film tells the story of an elaborate confidence game, known as the Spanish Prisoner.

Nominations for Screening #2

David Mamet:
* Spanish Prisoner
* Heist
* House of Games
* State and Main


Steve Martin
* The Jerk
* LA Story
* Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Take the Money and Run

Screening #1; Take the Money and Run

Take the Money and Run is a 1969 comedy film co-written by, directed by, and starring Woody Allen. It is an early mockumentary, chronicling the life of Virgil Starkwell, a bungling petty thief. His entry into a life of crime at a young age, his crime spree, his first prison term and eventual escape, the birth and growth of his family, as well as his eventual capture at the hands of the FBI are some of the notable events depicted. Allen initially filmed a downbeat ending in which he was shot to death, courtesy of special effects from A.D. Flowers. Allen's editor, Ralph Rosenblum (in his first collaboration with Allen), reputedly convinced him to go for a lighter ending.

This film was the first to be directed solely by Allen. (He had wanted Jerry Lewis to direct originally; when that didn't work out, Allen got the notion to direct it himself). Woody Allen's decision to become his own director was partially spurred on by the chaotic and uncontrolled filming of Casino Royale, in which he had appeared two years previously. This film marked the first time Woody Allen would perform the triple duties of writing, directing and acting in a film. The hysterical and almost slapstick style is similar to that of Allen's next several films, including Sleeper and Bananas.


Founding members: Sara, Nick, Dave, Megan, Shanan.

The San Francisco County Film Club is open for business.

We are a small group of friends who get together monthly to view a notable film. Responsibilities for choosing the film are rotating.

First screening is in May 2010.