The Avon Theatre and Sacred Heart University Present
Fall FTMA Talk Back Series screenings
He Directed What?
THE INDIAN RUNNER (1991), September 10
SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION (1970), September 24
Family Dysfunction:
RUNNING ON EMPTY (1988), October 8
ON GOLDEN POND (1981), October 22
Up There:
GOING IN STYLE (1979), November 5
THE STRAIGHT STORY (1999), November 19
1:00 p.m.
Post-film Q&A with Professors Justin Liberman & Damon Maulucci
FREE To The Public!
THE INDIAN RUNNER
Sean Penn’s debut film as director (he also wrote the script, based on the Bruce Springsteen song “Highway Patrolman”) is a story about two brothers — one peaceful, the other violent and aggressive — whose natures, left unchecked since they were children, are brought to the boiling point as they head toward middle-age. Joe, the quiet brother, is a deputy sheriff in a small town. His older brother Frank shows up on Joe’s doorsteps, after a run-in with the police. Frank tells Joe that he is coming back home to stay and that he has given up his criminal life. Joe’s wife Maria is skeptical, but Joe wants to help Frank get his life back together. Frank has almost convinced himself that his future holds real promise and he’s ready to start a new life with his pregnant girlfriend Dorothy, but once again, his violent temper explodes, leaving everyone wondering if he’ll ever have a future. Rated R | In English | 127 minutes
SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION
Also known as Never Give an Inch, this film was based on a novel by Ken Kesey. Paul Newman (who also directed) stars as Hank Stamper, the oldest son of an Oregon logging family headed by Henry (Henry Fonda). Hank’s half-brother, Leeland (Michael Sarrazin), embittered over Henry’s treatment of his late mother, returns after a ten-year absence to work in the family business. Leeland’s presence causes friction with Henry, who resents his prodigal son’s hippie mindset, and Hank, who perceives Leeland as a threat to his own position in the family structure. Hank has good reason to feel resentful: before long, his wife, Viv (Lee Remick), has entered into an affair with Leeland. Meanwhile, Henry wages an ongoing battle with the unionized loggers in the region, who threaten reprisals should Henry attempt to continue his business without union help. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi Rated R | In English | 114 minutes
RUNNING ON EMPTY
Arthur and Annie Pope are ’60s radicals who have eluded the FBI for 16 years after bombing a napalm laboratory as a Vietnam War protest. This lifestyle involves continually moving and establishing new identities, which is especially hard on their children, 18-year-old Danny (River Phoenix) and 10-year-old Harry, who can never hold onto friends or create an academic record. This last problem comes to the fore when they arrive in a New Jersey town where the high school music teacher takes an interest in Danny’s piano playing and encourages him to apply to Juilliard. Danny yearns to follow this dream, but knows that separating from his parents would be permanent — the aging hippies rarely even see their own parents, and can never inform anyone where they’ve moved. Arthur can’t stand the idea of breaking up the family, which is the only thing that allows him to tolerate life on the move, but Annie sees her own sacrificed dreams in her son’s musical talents, and pressures Arthur to grant the Danny his independence. Meanwhile, Danny falls in love with the daughter of his music teacher (Martha Plimpton), but can’t allow himself to get too close to her, because he may have to leave again at any moment.
Rated R | In English | 118 minutes
ON GOLDEN POND
In his last film, Henry Fonda plays Norman Thayer, a cranky 80-year-old retired professor, making his annual pilgrimage with his wife Ethel (Katharine Hepburn) to their New England summer cottage. Their solitude is interrupted when the couple’s daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda) arrives with her fiance Bill and his son Billy Ray in tow. It takes a while, but Chelsea and Bill, about to go on a vacation of their own, persuade Norman and Ethel to take care of Billy Ray. Norman and the kid dislike each other from Square One, and it looks as though this summer will be a depressing experience. Gradually, Norman and Billy Ray grow to love one another; their bond is strengthened during a near-fatal accident while fishing. It is through the warm relationship between Norman and the boy that the old man and his daughter Chelsea are at last able to display affection towards each other–the first time they’ve done so in years. Gorgeously photographed, ON GOLDEN POND is a wonderful final film for Henry Fonda, who died not long after the film’s completion. Academy Awards were bestowed upon Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn, and screenwriter Ernest Thompson (who adapted the film from his stage play). Rated PG | In English | 119 minutes
GOING IN STYLE
Joe (George Burns), Al (Art Carney), and Willie (Lee Strasberg) are three senior citizens who share a small apartment in New York City. They live off social security checks and spend their days sitting on a park bench, reading newspapers, feeding pigeons, and fending off obnoxious children. It’s a dull life, and finally Joe is driven to suggest something radical to break the monotony; why not go on a stick up? None of them have a criminal history (though Joe claims he “did some stealing during the war”), but just planning the bank robbery puts a new spring in their step. Al surreptitiously borrows some pistols from the collection of his nephew Pete, and the trio, disguised with novelty Groucho Marx-style glasses, pulls off their heist to the tune of 35,000 dollars. Unfortunately, the excitement is too much for Willie, who suffers a fatal heart attack the same day. At his funeral, Joe and Al decide to give the bulk of the dough to Pete and his family, and attempt to blow the rest of it on a whirlwind excursion to Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the eccentric robbery has become a colorful news story for the media and the police are closing in on the amateur criminals. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi
Rated PG | In English | 90 minutes
THE STRAIGHT STORY
David Lynch offers an uncharacteristically straightforward and warmly sentimental approach in this film, based on a true story, about an elderly man’s journey to reconcile with his brother. Alvin Straight is an ailing widower in his early 70’s who lives in Iowa with his daughter, Rose, who is mildly retarded. When Alvin learns that his brother Lyle has suffered a stroke and may not have long to live—though they haven’t spoken in 10 years–Alvin wants to clear the slate with his brother before it’s too late. But Lyle lives in Wisconsin, and Alvin has little money, no car, and no driver’s license. He does, however, have a riding lawn mower, and so Alvin hops on board and heads northeast to Wisconsin, hoping to make it while there’s still time. Along the way, Alvin makes new friends and refuses to give up on his journey, despite frequent mechanical breakdowns. Richard Farnsworth’s performance as Alvin earned him an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor; it was his final screen appearance, as he died a year after the film’s release.
Rated G | In English | 111 minutes
JUSTIN LIBERMAN was a directing fellow at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. His award winning films have played in many international film festivals, museums, and galleries. He has worked under Michael Mann (HEAT, THE INSIDER), David Mamet (HOUSE OF GAMES, SPARTAN), and Allen Coulter (The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire) and as a commercial director he has worked with American Express, ESPN, and General Mills.
DAMON MAULUCCI recently wrote, directed and produced the feature film, DETONATOR. A Geekadelphia “Indie Film of the Year†nomination, DETONATOR is currently touring the film festival circuit and has been an official selection at Cinequest, Brooklyn, and Indie Memphis. Damon also served as a producer on the feature documentary, PAUL WILLIAMS STILL ALIVE, official selection at Toronto International and SXSW Film Festivals. The film can be seen on the Showtime networks. Maulucci earned his MFA at Columbia University.
The Film and Television Masters program (FTMA) at Sacred Heart University is a one –year conservatory dedicated to the art of storytelling. Students engage in dynamic classroom workshops and lectures focusing on directing, screenwriting, producing, and new media arts. Based in Stamford, FTMA draws from talent and resources in the area and neighboring New York City. Each student produces a cinematic portfolio and rounds out their experience with industry internships. For more information please visit FTMA.sacredheart.edu.
ABOUT THE AVON: The Avon Theatre is a member-supported, non-profit cultural hub, dedicated to presenting film in its highest form, and thriving because of the support of our patrons and community. In addition to an exciting slate of new releases, The Avon brings you one-of-a-kind special events and monthly programs. We are proud to provide a forum for in-person, community dialogue with directors, actors and other luminaries in a vibrant “Main Street America†setting.
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