Tonight the San Francisco International Film Festival kicks off its 60th year in grand style. This year’s program is stuffed with great indie films poised to light up screens in San Francisco and Berkeley. Which ones should you see? I’ve already come up with this list, but there are many other offerings. Here are but four other must-see recommendations to get you through what’s expected to be a (mostly) rainy weekend.
Happy viewing!
“Hotel Salvation”: A dream spurs an elderly man to pack his bags and journey to a unique hotel hugging the Ganges river in the city of Varanasi. Along for this life-altering experience is his stressed-out, not exactly present-in-the-moment son. Shubhashish Bhutiani’s soul-searcher of a first feature sprinkles in the appropriate dashes of humor and compassion and does so in a most aware and sensitive way. ( 3 p.m. April 6 at SFMOMA; 8:15 p.m. April 7 at the Roxie)
“The Cage Fighter”: In this hard-hitting yet intimate fly-on-the-wall documentary, mixed martial arts fighter Joe Carman keeps getting drawn back into the literal and figurative ring, much to the dismay of loved ones. Filmmaker’s Jeff Unay’s depiction of both family life and the fighting life rattles you as it exposes the physical and psychological bruises that result. Highly recommended. A world premiere. (6 p.m. April 7 at SFMOMA; 3:30 p.m. April 10 at the Victoria; 9:30 p.m. April 13 at SFMOMA).
“People You May Know” (2017): An average guy (a standout Nick Thune) with zero interest in social media engagement tests the influencer waters by creating a clickable persona that turns him into an internet celebrity of the moment. Sherwin Shilati’s wry, yet humanist commentary on our connected times is an indie romantic dramedy charmer. I loved its energy and its unwavering understanding of these imperfect characters and the modern headaches and heartaches they encounter. Another world premiere you shouldn’t miss. (Plus Usher’s in it.) (8:30 p.m. April 7 at SFMOMA; 1:30 p.m., April 10 at the Roxie)
“The Lost City of Z”: If you pine (as I do) for sweeping historical epics based on a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction adventure yarn you’re in for a rip-snorting treat. James Gray’s gorgeously shot, directed and written adaptation of David Grann’s gripping best-seller on explorer Percy Fawcett’s legendary pursuit for a “lost city” in the Amazon taps into the searcher in all of us. Charlie Hunnam (in particular), along with Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller and Tom Holland deliver career highs. One of my favorite films of 2017 so far. (7 p.m. April 7 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; opens April 21 in the Bay Area)
For tickets and additional information, visit sffilm.org/festival
Randy Myers in Motion 