Climates, part of SIFF's Zeitgeist series

• Zeitgeist Films is an independent film distributor that for 20 years has been presenting the best of world cinema, reviving the movies of established master filmmakers like Jacques Demy and Derek Jarman, as well as providing a launching pad for current creative artists like Todd Haynes and one of my favorites, Guy Maddin. SIFF Cinema pays tribute to Zeitgeist with two weeks of their films, starting this Friday with the lovely Umbrellas of Cherbourg, the complicated romantic musical that established a young Catherine Deneuve as an international star for her turn as a young woman whose seemingly simple love affair creates complications for everyone in her orbit. Saturday sees screening of Guy Maddin’s deliriously fun Careful along with two of his short films, The Heart of the World and My Dad is 100 Years Old. Naturalistic documentary Into Great Silence, about an austere monastery in the French Alps, and film-within-a-film satire on French cinema Irma Vep play Sunday and Monday. Tuesday is Manufacturing Consent, an examination of the ideas of Noam Chomsky, Wednesday is Climates, a film about loneliness, loss, and love gone awry on the beautiful Aegean coast, and Thursday brings Francois Orzon’s nailbiting thriller, See the Sea, particularly recommended to anyone who enjoyed his Swimming Pool and Under the Sand.
• SIFF’s Films4Families series continues Saturday morning with To Kill a Mockingbird, the classic film rendering of Harper Lee’s classic novel, starring Gregory Peck in a masterful performance as a man driven to do the right thing no matter the cost. This is an exceptionally good movie choice for parents of kids in the upper years of grade school or the early years of junior high who will find the film an excellent springboard for discussions about morality and manners.
• NWFF kicks off their own excellent film series on Friday night with a reception for their Festival of New Cinema from Spain. In recent years, Spain has become a true hotbed of cinematic creativity with a host of artists pursuing a wide variety visions and challenges. An eclectic selection of films includes opening night feature Under the Stars which combines family drama with a depiction of the surprising friendship between two completely different people. Other films in the series include a surreal exploration of the self in Me, a struggle to dust off the relics of the past and transform them into a brighter future with Seven Billiard Tables, a collection of refreshingly original shorts, the ineffable joy of falling in love In the City of Sylvia, and more.
• Halloween’s been over for a while now, but horror fans can still get some thrills at The Grand Illusion with a pair of Stuart Gordon flicks from the 80s: The Re-Animator and From Beyond, both adapted from HP Lovecraft stories and best appreciated by those with a strong stomach for gore.
• Swing by the Grand Illusion late nights this weekend for 1976 “blaxploitation” shocker Dr. Black & Mr. Hyde, both cheesy and creepy.
• Who you gonna call late night at the Egyptian this weekend? Ghostbusters, of course. Oh, sure, the special effects that seemed so nifty at the time of its original release look majorly schlocky now but the goofy charm remains as strong as ever in this movie where every character is perfectly played.

a photo of arthur & yu from last month at the crocodile

again with the missed connections… a couple more suggestions for this evening from your pals at metroblogging seattle:

• Three bands that we’ve seen and loved in recent months combine on one bill of intriguing and soothing awesomeness: start with warm-fuzzies from Arthur & Yu [mb], add the industrial lullabies of Danish sensations Under Byen [mb], and top off with the gorgeous postrock sountrack of Jimmy LaValle’s the Album Leaf [mb] and you have yourself one heck of a show. 8p, $12 [neumos]
• One of the better pub quizzes in town goes down every Tuesday at the Old Pecquiliar. Every time I’ve gone, it’s been packed to the gills with people hungry for trivia and cheap tacos and a lot of fun if you can get a seat. Formerly hosted by a rotating crew of Seattlests, quizmaster duties are being spread out and tonight’s event is being run by our very own Naomi. She promises to bring in a patriotic Independence Day theme in light of tomorrow’s holiday, so study up! 8p, $5/team, get there early [1722 NW Market St]

• Intiman Theatre embraces “cheap cheap fun fun” tonight with a low-price preview of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. Admittedly I’m a sucker for all things Chekhov, but I’m a big fan of this tragicomedy that delves into the lost lives of nine characters. [intiman]
• Elliott Bay hosts a reading by Marianne Wiggins, author of National Book Award finalist Evidence of Things Unseen. Her latest, The Shadow Catcher, is a fictional account of photographer Edward Sheriff Curtis’s life blended with her own family history. [elliott bay]
• The June edition of Green Drinks convenes at Urban Visions, bringing together Seattleites interested in the environment and sustainability. Tip: leave the Hummer at home. [biothinking]
• You know you’ve been meaning to catch a SIFF flick, and tonight’s one of your last chances. [mb, siff]

Photo by Daniel Reed Martin [flickr] via our group pool [#]. Add your photos!

• The 2007 edition of Noise for the Needy kicks off at the Baltic Room, sponsored by the combined forces of public radio, beer, and hot dogs (among others). Fourthcity DJ are showcased, the homeless are helped, you stumble off through Capitol Hill. Everyone wins! [noise for the needy]
• As part of SIFF’s Face the Music series, director Julien Temple talked about his longtime friend and most recent documentary subject, Joe Strummer. Harvey Danger’s Sean Nelson [myspace] takes time out from performing covers and wearing top hats to moderate; a screening of the film follows the event. [siff]
• Net2 Tuesday comes to Seattle, aiming to “create an ongoing peer-driven community event for the development of social software and real world applications in Seattle.” And it’s at the McLeod Residence, and you know how we feel about that [#]. [idealog]
• Combining “mid-century” and “Danish” usually produces uncomfortable but captivating furniture. Not so for the Ravonettes, who instead craft LPs that sex up Buddy Holly in a back alley. Plus it’s a perfect excuse to order plate after plate of potstickers [mb]. [triple door]
• Want to debate industrial design but lack willing partners? Then meet up with the Industrial Designers Society of America - Northwest chapter tonight at Olympic Sculpture Park for “speed-dating style” debate. Bonus points for reader reports! [idsanw]
• Rumor has it that SIFF continues its quiet reign over the sound. [mb, siff]

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Center [flickr] via our group pool [#]. Wouldn’t your photos like to take a dip too?

photo via hotel/motel [myspace]

• Hungry, under-caffeinated, or in need of a stiff drink? Fulfill those important needs and “make a difference in the world”. A long list of Seattle neighborhood restaurants will be donating 25% of tonight’s sales to aid relief efforts in Darfur. [dinefordarfur]
• Since not moving into the White House, John and Teresa Heinz Kerry took meetings with people working passionately to solve pressing environmental problems. Then they wrote This Moment on Earth. Tonight you can see them for the low low price of $5. [townhall]
• Although Starbucks is a distributor of A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah’s chronicle of as a child soldier in Sierra Leone, the author will be appearing within mere steps of an indie cafe. [elliottbay]
• While Havana has a tendency to take on a little bridge and ferry character on weekends, a foray to last week’s Hotel/Motel in the third act of a friend’s birthday party was exceptionally fun. You might suspect that this was due to an amazing guest set by Ratatat, but it was more in spite of their scattered playlist than because of it. It’s a a testament to the talents of former Members Only team Jon C and Amy Dials, and DJ Curtis that so many people are willing to go out late on a weeknight. Notables galore. [myspace]

• Local filmmaker, John Jeffcoat visits the Northwest Film Forum to talk about documentary and narrative filmmaking in India. Outsourced, a cultural field trip romantic comedy about a guy who’s tasked with training his replacements at an Indian call center, recently picked up some prizes in Palm Springs. [nwff]
• Brown Derby [myspace] presents a comedic reading of Planet of the Apes. It’s a period piece, so expect the Charlton Heston original, rather than the Mark Wahlberg–Helena Bonham Carter remake. [rebar]

edited to add a photo taken at tuesday’s show

• Although she trades some oddness for accessibility with the Greatest, Chan Marshall’s title for her latest Cat Power album isn’t too much of an overstatement, with the title track a regular go-to soundtrack for walks or waits at blustery bus stops. Tonight marks her third visit Seattle this year; once again in the company of the Memphis Rhythm Band. It’s their last stop on tour with her; so hope that the roads have thawed in time for you to get downtown. [showbox]
• the Dears bring messy, layered pop all the way from Montreal [neumos]
• Who knew? original indie rock pretty boy, Evan Dando and the Lemonheads are still touring. [crocodile]