Update - SFiFF 55 - Narrative Films Now Screening ("Ok, Enough, Goodbye" "The Last Screening" "Somebody Up There Likes Me")

With over 100 narrative films playing at this year's Festival, there's a lot to see. Here's a few we've screened and talked about on our 04/23/12 show:

"Ok, Enough, Goodbye" Lebanon/United Arab Emirates

What's a "momma's boi" to do when he comes home one day to find mom has just picked up and left? Seek a replacement, of sorts. Whether it's a prostitute, an annoying neighbor kid, or an Ethiopian maid he hires/engages/buys to fill-in his somewhat meandering and meaningless existence, our protagonist is forced to deal with life in a way for which he simply isn't prepared. A very dry slice-of-life comedy with a very dark section on just how immigrant labor, and women in particular, are treated in this culture. An interesting film from longtime collaborators Rania Attieh (of Tripoli, Lebanon) and Daniel Garcia (of South Texas.)

"The Last Screening" France

Sylvain, the projectionist at France's (and possibly the world's worst) revival cinema, finds out that his beloved theatre is to be closed and sold. He's not dealing with it well. Why? Well, besides losing his job, there's the issue of that little room hidden deep in the bowels of the theatre, where he... Well, you get the idea. Horror film fans might enjoy, and cinephiles will dig the inside references/homages to other (better) films. Good color scheme, though, and some damn fine victim screaming.

"Somebody Up There Likes Me" USA

Just the type of film the term "quirky" is meant to describe, and that's NOT a good thing. With a plot that defies description and a lead character that's hard to warm up to, it's a difficult film to like. Show Host Kurtis really, really, really wanted to like this film - but couldn't. I feel there's something there, and while it has it moments (usually involving the always entertaining Nick Offerman,) in the end it just doesn't add up. Clocking in at a quick 75 minutes, it won't take up a lot of your time if you want to try and figure it out for yourself.