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With the exception of the truly fanatical,
unemployed, insomniatic, googly-eyed movie freak, most
movie buffs would find it difficult to take in all 111
of the Durango Film Fest’s offerings. (Executive
Director Sofia van Surksum is the only one alive who
has seen all 111 films because she had to. She started
in December.) Even trying to master the schedule can
be a daunting task.
Fortunately, the movie review staff
at the Telegraph had plenty of spare time to peruse the
extensive list of films, looking for a few of the more
esoteric ones that piqued its interest. Most had the
word “sex” in the title or subject matter
relating to booze, food or the aforementioned sex. Others
just sounded trippy.
While this selection only represents a mere fraction
of the films being screened, we feel it is a good intro
to the diversity offered. Again, these are only recommendations
based on our own biased, skewed and at times depraved
leanings. Individual tastes may vary.
“
Butterfly,” (Northern Ireland, 10 min.): No, it’s
not another story about the girl who sat in the tree
for a year. In fact, this movie doesn’t even have
any people in it. Described as a “kaleidoscope
of color, sound and movement,” it follows the lifecycle
of our fluttering little friends in flight. At only 10
minutes, think of it as the fruity palate-cleansing sorbet
between meal courses.
“
The Cloggers of Putneyville,” (USA, 49 min.): We’ve
never met a mockumentary we didn’t like, and this
one on the obscure mountain sport known as “Pocono
clogging” promises to be no different. For those
new to the genre, think of it as “Spinal Tap” with
funny shoes and polka music.
“
Roof Sex,” (USA, 2 min.): OK, this one was a shoe-in.
But we think it has its intellectual merits as well,
namely exploring what your furniture does when you’re
not around. Curious.
 “
Herdsmen,” (China, 88 minutes): OK, so there’s
no overt booze, sex or debauchery in this one, but we
decided to go with it anyway in the “far away people
and places” category. In fact this movie, which
follows the Kazak people of China’s westernmost
province, is so far out there it would take a year’s
worth of yak riding just to get there. Best of all, unless
they happen to speak Kazakian, viewers get to make up
their own story with this one: There’s no narration
or interviews – just action and lots of exotic
scenery.
 “
Footlong,” (USA, 45 min.): Maybe it was the shot
of the guy riding the giant weenie bike that caught our
eye, but this documentary sounds like the kind of undertaking
we could sink our teeth into. Two school chums pushing
30 set off cross country in search of uncovering the
mystique of America’s first and possibly most cherished
fast food: the weenie. Look for weenie-eating contests
and weenie tales galore.
“
Tangerine Crows,” (USA, 3 min.): This one won in
the “creativity” (aka downright weird) division,
combining the world of animation and photography with
music video. Filmed by former Fort Lewis College teacher
Joseph Cristopher Schaub, it follows the “tragicomic” (filmspeak
for “if you laugh at this, you’re just as
demented as we are”) story of predator and prey.
For those jonesing for a desert getaway, the Southeast
Utah footage should be worth the price of admission alone.
 “
Shelter Dogs,” (USA, 74 min.): This documentary
fulfills our “social consciousness” quota,
plus, we just like dogs so we don’t even need a
reason to justify it. Each year 5 million dogs end up
in U.S. animal shelters, and about 4 million are never
adopted. This film follows one rural shelter as it continually
races against the clock to find homes for dogs and struggles
over the issue of euthanasia. Bring the tissue.
“
Savage Supermarket,” (Canada, 2 min.): Another
quickie for the attention impaired, this offering from
our neighbors to the north packs a punch employing the
American consumer-friendly animation format. Pay attention
and you just may learn something about the great American
deadly sins of over-consumption and imperialism, or tune
out and enjoy the cartoon.
“
Wild Bees,” (Czech Republic, 94 min.): If you’re
nearsighted like most of us, bring your glasses – this
one’s got subtitles. Centered around a post-Communist
village in Moravia (somewhere in the former Soviet bloc),
the main action in this movie floats between doing nothing
and visiting the pub, something many of us can relate
to. Of course, underneath it all lies a web of tangled
lives that makes “Northern Exposure” look
sane.
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