River Run Film Festival: 500 Days of Summer

Normally, a very small amount of student films find their way to the screens here at UNCSA. Partly because of the fleeting budgets for film production due to the economy. Even though this cannot be controlled by the School of Film, it makes the filmmakers detached from the rest of campus. But with the arrival of the 11th Annual River Run International Film Festival, it makes the school of film far more vibrant than most days. And this year it kicked off in high fashion.

Yesterday, on Wednesday, the 22nd of April, Fox Searchlight's 500 Days of Summer (2009), directed by Marc Webb, screened at the Stevens Center in downtown Winston Salem. The story seems like a normal boy-meets-girl romantic comedy featuring two lovely characters: the lovely new secretary at a greeting card company, Summer (Zooey Deschenal) and bored greeting card writer, Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). But 500 Days of Summer bends and breaks most, if not all, the romantic comedy stereotypes.

The story is full of romantic truisms, rather than using more formulaic storylines, which most of us have experienced but we keep secret due to their darker nature. Break-ups, confusion, and loneliness are all too familiar to Tom's world as he fights past the "friend-zone" to get Summer to love him again. But writers Scott Neustadter and Micheal H. Weber are not afraid to venture into these topics even if they are somewhat based in their own reality. Marc Webb even stated in the Q&A after the screening that he sees a lot of himself in the character Tom.

The film also takes the audience on an unexpected visual journey. Many alliterations to old foreign films such as The 7th Seal and Masculin Féminin give a nostaglic feeling that Marc Webb, the director, also mentioned in the Q&A. This feeling was also captured through it's use of neutral colors and plain wardrobe which reminded me of what Revolutionary Road achieved. Marc Webb further explained the use of blue as the only primary color, which was inspired by Zooey Deschanel's eyes, that found it's way into most of the film's most passionate moments like the musical number where Tom dances on his way to work after a successful night with Summer.

I don't want to give away the ending, but this film takes risks on the balance beam between love and friendship, passion and depression, and sanity. It will take your heart for the ride. It's perfect for a date movie and great to see with a group of friends or even alone; to mend a recent heartbreak or to have a good laugh.

Even for a summer flick, this film is definitely a head-turner that will catch audiences' hearts and affection this summer when it comes out in select theaters on July 20th.

Ben's Grade: A

Visit the official Fox Searchlight website for 500 Days of Summer. Or visit the IMDb webpage to learn more about the film.

My Favorite Artists: Part 1

Tetsumi Kudo, Cultivation - For Nostalgic Purpose - For Your Living Room, 1967 - 1968

When I think of postmodern art, I think of Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Roy Lichenstein. But one name that slips the list is Tetsumi Kudo, my favorite artist at the moment.

His work covers many types of media: video, photography, painting, sculpture, installments. I visited a gallery of his best work at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota this past spring break. A Walker employee told me it was Kudo's first U.S. solo exhibition.

Tetsumi Kudo, Your Portrait - Chrysalis in the Cocoon (Votre portrait - chrysalide dans le cocon), 1967

As an artist he started in Japan but found little success until he ventured to France where he spent a majority of his life. His work was unlike most postmodern artists of his time which draws me closer as a Tetsumi Kudo enthusiast. He bridged French Nouveau Realisme, International Fluxus, Pop art, 1960s anti-art tendencies, and 1980s Japanese postmodernism all without specifically belonging to any of them.

Just because of this fact his "idol-factor" has raised in my book. To be a great artist but belong to a genre entirely to yourself is quite a feat.

I enjoy the mess of brightly colored yarn, tangled in bones and brains. The cross-breed of male genitalia and caterpillars make me laugh but also tell me to step back and think about what they actually mean. Are they a reminder that I am just like an animal? Am I really that close to nature? Do I have caterpillars in my pants?

His work consisted of Post-WWII destruction that many Japanese artists moved to after the dropping of the atomic bombs, but Tetusmi Kudo brings new life to the idea. His work blends the Japanese destruction with the oneness of humans -- that all humans will die eventually, that through love can we truly be happy, and the belief in humanity will unlock many doors that have remained closed since the beginning of time.

I have a hard time talking about an artist that I love, because I want to keep the artist in mystery. And I find Tetsumi Kudo one of these artists that have risen to the top of my list. But there may be some expansion on this later.

To read more about Tetsumi Kudo and to see more of his work visit The Walker Art Center.