The Great Hobnobben Festival Preview Pt. 1 by Ian Maxton

Hobnobben begins Thursday, and since I will be writing up the festival here at the Cinema Center blog, I thought it might be a good idea to offer a preview of the festival.

The trouble with film festivals (and especially ones as stacked as Hobnobben) is that the average filmgoer will likely not have seen, or even heard of, many of the films being shown. And there are a ton of good films at Hobnobben. So where do you even begin?

Right here.

This is by no means the final word on what the festival has to offer. Like most of you, I have yet to see any of these films. So my excitement is based on three things: my previous experience with the filmmaker/cast, the distributor of the film, and word of mouth about the film. So feel free to follow or ignore my advice and, by all means, purchase a festival pass and see everything you can. But if you find yourself lost and wondering what the must-sees are, here is a completely subjective list of what I am most excited for this year.

THURSDAY

Must-See:

Other People is the opening night film for a reason. The film premiered at Sundance and has been picked up for distribution by Netflix. Writer/Director Chris Kelly has worked for SNL and The Onion. Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation) is a producer. Jesse Plemons is fresh off his great performance in the most recent season of Fargo. Oh, and it co-stars living legend Molly Shannon.

Here is the plot synopsis (per IMDB): “A struggling comedy writer, fresh off a breakup and in the midst of the worst year of his life, returns to Sacramento to care for his dying mother.”

It’s rare for a first-year film festival to get something this big for its opening night. You will want to be a part of that.

There is not a trailer for this film yet, but here is a clip of the cast and the director discussing the film at Sundance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFF919bw9Yc

Other People screens at 7:30 at Cinema Center.

Dark Horse:

The Fits is one of the films at the festival I know the least about, but am most excited for. It has been getting a great deal of praise lately from nearly every film writer I know of. The film premiered at Venice, showed at Sundance, and was picked up by Oscilloscope, a distributor whose reliability is unwavering. The praise for the film has been duel focused. Newcomer Royalty Hightower has been getting heaps of praise for her magnetic lead performance in the film. Writer/Director Anna Rose Holmer has done some technical work around Hollywood, but has only one other directing credit to her name, the documentary Twelve Ways to Sunday. However, the film has been singled out for its visual beauty, and dream-like style.

The plot synopsis (per IMDB): “While training at the gym 11-year-old tomboy Toni becomes entranced with a dance troupe. As she struggles to fit in she finds herself caught up in danger as the group begins to suffer from fainting spells and other violent fits.”

This film is tucked away earlier in the day on Thursday, which is a shame, as I have a suspicion it will be one of the best films to screen all weekend. Don’t miss this one.

Here is the beguiling and unnerving trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERCTZL7QPhc

Go ahead and watch it one thousand more times. I can wait.

The Fits screens at 4 at Cinema Center and will be followed by a panel on diversity and inclusion in filmmaking.

FRIDAY

Must-See:

Friday is packed with films that are worth your time, but since I must pick only one absolute must-see, I have to go with Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World. This is entirely due to the fact that Werner Hertzog – the oft imitated, but never surpassed German filmmaker and iconoclast – is a giant of the cinema. Director of such films as Fitzcarraldo, Grizzly Man, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, and Aguirre, The Wrath of God, Hertzog is the kind of director whose voice is unmistakable and his work, unmissable.

The “plot” (per IMDB): “Werner Herzog's exploration of the Internet and the connected world.”

Sign me up.

Here is the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeG6vwGTd4I

Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World screens at 6:30 at Cinema Center.

Dark Horse:

I know basically nothing about AWOL. The director, Deb Shoval, is relatively new on the scene. The film premiered at Tribeca back in April and word on the film has been sparse so far. What has me excited about this film is its lead actress, Lola Kirke. After a brilliant turn in Noah Baumbach’s Mistress America, and two (soon to be three) seasons of multi-faceted and funny work on the Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle, Kirke has become one of the few yet-to-be-established actors that can get me interested in any project she is involved in. She’s unlike any other actor working right now and I doubt it will be long before she breaks out of the mostly indie work she’s been doing and into the mainstream. So catching smaller stuff that she is in is a privilege that likely won’t last.

Here is the plot description (per IMDB): “A young woman Joey is in search of direction in her small town. A visit to an army recruiting office appears to provide a path, but when she meets and falls in love with Rayna that path diverges in ways that neither woman anticipates.”

There is not a trailer for AWOL, but here is a brief interview with the director that intersperses clips from the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhjmqqNLfxc

AWOL screens at 8 at the Parkview Physicians Artslab.

FRIDAY BONUS ROUND

I warned you that Friday was packed with good stuff.

On Friday, beginning at 6 on the Arts United Plaza, Hobnobben will be throwing a FREE block party. There will be live music provided by Secret Mezzanine. Rudy’s Wine Slushies and Bravas will be there along with a Custom Hobnobben Brew by Mad Anthony!

Pedal City will also have party bikes bringing folks down to the plaza.

And best of all, once the sun goes down, there will be a FREE showing of Richard Linklater’s classic film, Dazed and Confused. Do you love it when Matthew McConaughey says “alright, alright, alright?” Do you hate it? You have this movie to thank/blame.

This will be a great time and an easy, inexpensive, fun way to take part in Hobnobben.

Look for pt. 2 of the festival preview tomorrow, right here.

For more info on the festival, including a complete list of films and show times, head to hobnobben.org.