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Strasbourg International Film Festival, September 16-22, 2008

THURSDAY: Flight to Stuttgart was easy. Train to Strasbourg however, a mini nightmare. First train cancelled. Second train late so missed all my connections. And the countryside is featureless under a dull grey sky. Not how I imagined. But you could easily shoot a scene on this train. Finally made connection at Karlsruhe. ICE train very fast…and very crowded. Found a seat but someone else trumped me. They had a seat reservation, a “sitzplatz.” I didn’t.

Settled in hotel. Room is plain but decent. Looked for the Art Gallery where everyone was supposed to be meeting after the last screenings. But got my streets mixed up so headed back for the hotel in defeat. Then someone yelled my name. The hotel clerk happened to be pedaling by and gave me a phone message with the correct address. Had had no dinner but there was wine and cheese and bread – very satisfying. Watched some short films. Met everyone. Wondered what I was doing there. And why wasn’t I more tired?

FRIDAY: Glorious morning. Street noise early but discovered I’d left the window open. I’m in FRANCE! Found a perfect cup of coffee and croissant and watched everyone pedaling by on tall bicycles. Very dignified. Not all hunched over like in the states. They’re not pretending to be racers. They’re traveling about their business. Wandered the city, including the huge cathedral. Found a little gallery where a sweet old woman showed me around and went into intricate detail about a painting by Moillard (1955) I even understood most of it as she spoke slowly and used lots of gestures. Only E18,000. My screening of Underground at four. It was fine. Projection good. Everyone chuckled at the grocery scene. Got the usual questions about shooting in the subway and, as usual enjoyed answering them.

SATURDAY: Horror film this afternoon - 2 million budget – a decent premise but the characters always made the stupidest choices available to them. I couldn’t make it to the end. Then quite a brilliant film tonight called FIX. The director, Tao Ruspoli was also the cameraman and put himself in the film as one of the characters (with the camera). As a device, it was sometimes in danger of wearing thin, but the film kept refreshing itself in such an engaging way and at the same time kept finding a deeper resonance. Editing was fabulous.

Meeting some interesting people. Francois, a version of one my friends in NY. Quiet and intelligent, unassuming – a cartoonist. Melanie who’s going to work for Luc Besson in Paris when this is over. I’ve been shooting video all over the city. Hung out till late, seeing more short films, drinking Alsatian wine and talking talking talking. Navigating half in French half in English. Filmmakers here from Australia, Ireland, USA, Berlin, France. I’ve been using the internet café and even got some sides printed for an audition when I return.

SUNDAY: Well it’s my last day. That went fast. Crossed the river in the morning and
walked all around the center city shooting video. Found a church where the organist was giving a tour of the great instrument. And found a shop where one afternoon twenty years ago, I’d bought a pot of jam. More wandering. Lots of shops. Plain streets and dead ends. A girl leaning from a balcony on a telephone. The river! Ordinary, but interesting and photogenic for me. Lit a candle in the cathedral for a friend that had recently passed.

Later: several films from ridiculous to sublime. The former, Yeast, opened at SXSW, so I can see what they’re looking for. Murky and “cutting edge.” Definitely a YouTube baby. Very hard to watch because most of what’s been learned about dramaturgy and cinematography was not in evidence. Half the audience left. To them it just seemed like a stupid film. I stayed to the bitter end. Glad I did. I think the filmmaker is attempting something valid. They’re just not doing it in a very appealing way. I kept asking myself, “is the Continuity Style dead?” The answer is no. Because the only point of it really is to help the audience forget they’re watching a film.

One of the films I missed, Long Road North by a Canadian, Gwendal Castellan documents his 12,000 mile bicycle trip from the tip of South America to the Arctic Circle.

MONDAY: Woke up at 7am just so I could walk around the city once more. Bought a piece of quiche in a little shop. The saleswoman was relentless. Determined to sell me something now. Only irritating encounter I’d had. I realized that I never had an actual meal. Only a croissant, a bowl of soup here, a kebob there. I was just moving too fast. The reverse train was uneventful, as was the flight. It was a great little trip. Now if I can just locate my car in long term parking.

Underground, written and directed by Michael Medeiros
official selection
2008 Strasbourg International Film Festival

Posted on 09/30/08 by: Michael Medeiros 05:19 PM

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