By Justin Humphreys and Tami Keaveny Images courtesy VFF
This year the Virginia Film Festival coincides with Halloween, and along with some great horror movies, the five-day program offers the escape of comedy, journeys to the unknown, classic stories retold,
cautionary technology tales, and documented accounts of war, redemption, and environmental peril, plus invaluable on-stage discussions.
After exiting your seat, you can offer your opinion by casting a vote at a kiosk to rate the film you’ve seen (the people and projects on the following pages get our vote). And when the festival goes dark, you’ll leave the theater with roughly 36 hours before voting begins in the most consequential election of our time. So watch, listen, and vote, vote, vote—especially on November 5!—TK
Watch list
Memoir of a Snail (with discussion)
October 31 | Culbreth Theater Memoir of a Snail, the newest film from Australian writer-director-animator Adam Elliot, promises to be as challenging, deeply human, and character-driven as Elliot’s touching Mary and Max (2009). Filmed meticulously in labor-intensive stop-motion animation, Memoir of a Snail follows a twin brother and sister on their thorny path through childhood into adult life. Elliot’s adult-themed animation is full of pathos and wry humor, and is not recommended for small children. Listen for voice performances by outstanding talents like Dominique Pinon and Nick Cave.—JH
The Glassworker
November 2 | Violet Crown 1 & 2 Director-animator-composer Usman Riaz’s The Glassworker is not only his first feature, but also Pakistan’s first full-length, hand-drawn animated film. The influence of master animator Hayao Miyazaki is vividly apparent in The Glassworker’s overall style and design—there are few better living animators to draw inspiration from. This anti-war allegory is a reminder of the respect mature animation receives outside of the United States, and with hand-drawn animation being under-represented worldwide, let’s hope The Glassworker gets a broad American release.—JH
Amadeus
November 1 | Violet Crown 3 In 1984, director Milos Forman lavishly brought Peter Shaffer’s play Amadeus to the screen, and it caused a sensation with audiences and at the Oscars. It tells the largely fictionalized story of a rivalry between the manic but prodigiously brilliant Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) and Salieri (F. Murray Abraham). The two leads give arguably the signature performances of their careers, and are backed by an excellent supporting cast including a young Cynthia Nixon, Simon Callow, and the late Vincent Schiavelli. Among the film’s many other virtues is the extraordinary old-age makeup by the incomparable Dick Smith.—JH
Luther: Never Too Much (with discussion)
November 1 | Culbreth Theater Dawn Porter’s documentary Luther: Never Too Much chronicles the life of R&B legend Luther Vandross. The film’s title is derived from the eponymous track of Vandross’ first solo album—the first of 11 Vandross records to go platinum. Porter traces the late “Velvet Voice’s” career, from his beginnings as a backup singer for David Bowie, Chaka Khan, and Chic, to his own highly influential and successful career. Among many other topics, she explores why he was so private about his homosexuality, and the criticism he endured for gaining weight. The rich retrospective reveals how the popular image of public figures is often deeply skewed.—JH
Saturday Night (with discussion)
November 2 | Violet Crown 5 The Not Ready for Prime Time Players broke into the cultural zeitgeist when “NBC’s Saturday Night” premiered on October 11, 1975, with George Carlin as the host, and musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night dramatizes the backstage chaos, personality clashes, and wild antics that led up to the moment when Chevy Chase looked into the camera and shouted, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” for the very first time. Jon Batiste is behind the film’s music, Matt Wood stars as John Belushi, Dylan O’Brien is Dan Aykroyd, and Emmy Award-winner Lamorne Morris who plays Garrett Morris (no relation) will be on stage for a post-screening discussion.—TK