Berkshire Museum Screening Oscar-Nominated Shorts

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Museum's Little Cinema will screen 10 Oscar-nominated short films, in the live action and animation categories, in advance of the Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 26.

The films will be shown in two groups: on Saturday, Feb. 11, the five animated shorts will be screened at 2 and the five live action selections at 7. On Sunday, Feb. 19, the live action choices will be shown at 2 and the animated films at 7. Admission to each showing is $5.

Included in the Animation Short Films category are "Sunday/Dimanche," "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," "La Luna," "A Morning Stroll" and "Wild Life." Included in the Live Action Short Films category are "Pentecost," "Raju," "The Shore," "Time Freak" and "Tuba Atlantic."

The animated selections are art films, not cartoons, and may not hold the interest of young children.

Animation Short Films:

"Sunday/Dimanche"
10 minutes, English, Patrick Doyon

Every Sunday, it's the same old routine: The train clatters through the village and almost shakes the pictures off the wall; in the church, Dad dreams about his toolbox; Grandma gets a visit and the animals meet their fate.

"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore"
15 minutes, no dialogue, William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg

Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton," The Wizard of Oz" and a love for books, the short is about the curative powers of story illustrated using a variety of techniques.

"La Luna"
7 minutes, English, Enrico Casaroasa

A coming-of-age tale in which a young boy who discovers his family's unusual line of work when taken out to sea.

"A Morning Stroll"
7 minutes, no dialogue, Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe

When a New Yorker walks past a chicken on his morning stroll, we're left to wonder which one is the real city slicker.

"Wild Life"
13 minutes, English, Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Calgary, 1909: an Englishman moves to the Canadian frontier, but is singularly unsuited to it. His letters home are much sunnier than the reality.


The animated shorts have a total running time of approximatley 80 minutes.

Live Action Short Films:

"Pentecost"
11 minutes, English, Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane

When Damian is forced to serve as an altar boy at an important Mass in his local parish, he faces a difficult choice: conform to the status quo, or serve an extended ban from his life's passion – football.

"Raju"
24 minutes, English/German, Max Zahle and Stefan Gieren

Actors Wotan Wilke Moehring and Julia Richter explore the moral dilemma faced by couples wishing to adopt.

"The Shore"
31 minutes, English/Gaelic, Terry George and Oorlagh George

After 25 years in exile, Jim Mahon (Ciaran Hinds) returns to Ireland to show his American daughter Patty (Kerry Condon) his Belfast roots but she learns of a secret love triangle and a long-lost best friend, Paddy (Conleth Hill).

"Time Freak"
11 minutes, English, Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey

A neurotic inventor creates a time machine, only to get caught up travelling around yesterday.

"Tuba Atlantic"
25 minutes, Norwegian, Hallvar Witzo

Oskar, 70, is going to die in six days and tries to reach his brother to forgive him about a disagreement years ago before it's too late.

The live-action short have a total running time of approximately 110 minutes.
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Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settled neighborhood.

The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. 

"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m. 

The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation. 

Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call. 

"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said. 

Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

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