MASS MoCA, WFF to Screen Imaginative and Layered Film Phoebe in Wonderland
North Adams - In his directorial debut, Daniel Barnz explores the disorienting world that children often face' including officious teachers, cruel classmates, and confused adults. Featured in the Dramatic Competition portion of the Sundance Film Festival in 2008, Phoebe in Wonderland has already earned loyal fans and rave reviews from movie lovers and critics alike.Sundance's Geoffrey Gilmore calls the film "an honest and thoughtful work that is not to be missed." Phoebe in Wonderland will screen in association with the Williamstown Film Festival at MASS MoCA on Saturday, October 18, at 8 PM in the Hunter Center. The screening will be followed by a Q-&-A with film director Daniel Barnz moderated by WFF director Steve Lawson, who will also introduce the Academy Award-nominated short Madame Tutli-Putli screening before Phoebe in Wonderland.
Phoebe (Elle Fanning) is a nine-year-old whose obsession with Alice in Wonderland is not only identification with the character, but a link to her mother (Felicity Huffman) who is writing a book about Lewis Carroll's classic work. Phoebe finds a kindred spirit in the school drama teacher, Miss Dodger (Patricia Clarkson), who encourages her to audition for Alice in the school production. As rehearsals progress, Phoebe spends more and more time in her own Wonderland. IndieWIRE calls the film "a rich investigation of the complexities of growing up" and Cinematical notes that "First- time writer/director Daniel Barnz knocks it out of the park with Phoebe in Wonderland ,"
While the story line and talented cast - including Bill Pullman and Campbell Scott - compliment Barnz's choices in taking viewers through Phoebe's emotional trials, the writer/director also creates an inspiring visual world with help from a dazzling creative technical team including Bobby Bukowsi, Therse DePrez, and Lynette Howell. Duane Byrge of Reuters raves, "Under Barnz's guiding directorial hand, technical contributions are masterful. Christophe Beck's score is aptly whimsical and fearsome, while Bobby Bukowski's smart visual compositions are similarly succinct."
Madame Tutli-Putli is a stunning, stop-motion animated film that takes the viewer on an existential journey. The film introduces groundbreaking visual techniques and is supported by a haunting and original score. As Madame boards the night train, weighed down with all her earthly possessions and the ghosts of her past, she faces both the kindness and menace of strangers and confronts her demons.
Celebrating its Tenth Anniversary Season, the Williamstown Film Festival has gained a strong reputation as -- in the words of one alumnus -- a "world-class film festival with a small-town heart." WFF showcases the best in independent film and honors America's film past in the shape of classics; celebrates the present day through panels, seminars, and Q-and-A's between audiences and the actors, writers, directors and producers of indie films; and explores the new technologies which are carrying the art of film into the 21st century. Phoebe in Wonderland will be the focus of WFF's annual benefit with $100 including dinner at Café Latino, remarks from the director, and reserved seating at the film.
Also as part of the Festival, MASS MoCA will be the site for the screening of the exhilarating documentary Gotta Dance on October 24th. The entire WFF schedule is available online at williamstownfilmfest.org.
Tickets for Phoebe in Wonderland are $13 adults/ $7 students. MASS MoCA members receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office located off Marshall Street in North Adams, open from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. Wednesday through Monday. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413-662-2111 during Box Office hours or purchased on line at www.massmoca.org.
