MUBI Update: 3 June 2011

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MUBI Update: 3 June 2011

Grind House (Death Proof)

All right, PSN is back and MUBI is back on your PlayStation 3. That means: more great movies! So what’s been showing recently? Well, I’ll tell you!

Death Proof (Quentin Tarantino, USA), pictured above

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez collaborated in 2007 to update the grindhouse-style double-feature for the savvy, post-modern era. Neither film in the project—neither Tarantino’s Death Proof nor Rodriguez’s Planet Terror—really resembled the original, no-budget genre films both directors reference and love, but each film took from those sleazy features both spirit and inspiration. Of the two, Tarantino’s tale was the strongest and certainly the most pure example of the director’s structuralism. Neatly divided into two sections, Death Proof stages two different versions of the same terrifying idea: a chatty group of girlfriends are terrorized by an unkillable stunt car driver (played by an amazing Kurt Russell)—but each version of the story takes a remarkably different turn. This is Tarantino at his most minimalist.

Available in: Switzerland

Tears of the Black Tiger (Wisit Sasanatieng, Thailand)

This startling film has to be seen to be believed: a “Western” complete with sundowns, six-shooters and bandanas, but it’s Thai! Shot on gloriously colored and artificial sets and mixed with operatic romance, this is best kind of cross-culture hybrid: the endlessly stealing, endlessly inventive kind.

Available in: Italy

Films from La Semaine de la Critique

You’ve probably heard about our collaboration with the biggest, most prestigious and, frankly, best film festival in the world: Festival de Cannes. We’re partnering with one of the festival’s most exciting sections, La Semaine de la Critique, also known as Critics’ Week. To celebrate La Semaine’s 50th anniversary, for one more month (through the end of June) we’re showing a large selection of films from the festival’s past programs. This section is particularly known for its discoveries, premiering the early films by auteurs who later rocket to the limelight. Go on, take the plunge! Check out what’s playing in your area here.

Available in: Everywhere!

Films by Lisl Ponger

You may remember our first, terrific collaboration showing experimental cinema with INDEX, which brought you our Films by Peter Tscherkassky program. Now we bring you our second program in a series with INDEX, this time focusing on the female Austrian artist, Lisl Ponger. Her photographic and cinematic work investigates the circumstances of places and their territorial occupation by the camera, the acquisition of images, the function of photographic and cinematic representation, and the presentation of cultural values. It’s really amazingly rich work to fit into short films. We’re showing three of her shorts and I highly recommend them.

Available in: Everywhere!

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