"The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" by Wes Anderson

A new film by Wes Anderson...on Netflix? YES PLEASE! "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" is based on a Roald Dahl story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes, and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. This trailer shows a classic, charming, quirky, and beautiful Anderson creation! Apparently this 39 minute film is the first of a four-part series of short films adapted from Dahl's short stories, including "The Swan," "The Ratcatcher," and "Poison."

The film debuts September 27, 2023 on Netflix. I can't wait!
https://www.netflix.com/title/81388090

"Asteroid City"--A New Film by Wes Anderson!

It is always a glorious day when I discover there is a new Wes Anderson (previously here) film on the way! "Asteroid City" looks as charming as his previous films--and it appears that he is using his established repertory of players along with some great new faces like Bryan Cranston, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Margot Robbie, and Jarvis Cocker. The trailer below features classic Anderson framing and his lovely, washed-out-old-Kodak-snapshot color palette.

Focus Features says:
"ASTEROID CITY takes place in a fictional American desert town circa 1955. Synopsis: The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
ASTEROID CITY is only in theaters June 16th."

I can't wait!

https://www.focusfeatures.com/asteroid-city

A Mobile Pool Caravan by Benedetto Bufalino

Benedetto Bufalino (previously here) is a French artist and sculptor who specializes in turning like cars or trucks and phone booths into other things. His latest whimsical creation is a mobile pool caravan that is also pretty practical: it can be driven to areas where this is no pool or relief from summer heat!

https://www.benedettobufalino.com/

"Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

I am looking forward to this biographical film of Fred Rogers, otherwise know to millions of children (who are now adults) as Mr. Rogers. Just this trailer alone brought me to tears. I grew up watching him on his television show, "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" (I would come home and lay down on the sofa with my mom to watch Mr. Rogers and all the puppets in The Land of Make Believe) and it brought back to me a sense of calmness and earnestness which is sorely lacking in the world today. There are no leaders we--adults or children--can look up to, to trust, to know that they will work for the betterment fof our species.

The trailer mentions his powerful messages for not only children, but for adults as well. But the thing that I admire the most about Fred Rogers was the fact that I learned much later in life that he was an ordained Presbyterian minister. Never once can I recall him speaking of God or Jesus or promoting a religious agenda. He embodied a kind of secular morality and secular humanism that can exist outside of man-made religions who do not have a copyright or monopoly on things like kindness, decency, bravery, friendliness, or love. These are qualities that have nothing to do with and do not depend on a God or a religious figure. And for that, he has my eternal admiration.

The film's website says:
"For over thirty years, Fred Rogers, an unassuming minister, puppeteer, writer and producer was beamed daily into homes across America. In his beloved television program, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Fred and his cast of puppets and friends spoke directly to young children about some of life’s weightiest issues, in a simple, direct fashion. There hadn’t been anything like Mr. Rogers on television before and there hasn’t been since.

Though he may be best known today as a soft-spoken, cardigan-wearing children’s television host, in reality, Fred Rogers’ career represents a sustained attempt to present a coherent, beneficent view about how we should best speak to children about important matters and how television could be used as a positive force in our society.

In Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (Twenty Feet from Stardom) looks back on the legacy of Fred Rogers, focusing on his radically kind ideas. While the nation changed around him, Fred Rogers stood firm in his beliefs about the importance of protecting childhood. Neville pays tribute to this legacy with the latest in his series of highly engaging, moving documentary portraits of essential American artists."

The film is set for a June 8, 2018 release.

http://focusfeatures.com/wont-you-be-my-neighbor/

"Loving Vincent"

"Loving Vincent" is the world's first completely painted biographical animated film. Based on the life and death of painter Vincent Van Gogh, each of the film's 65,000 frames is an actual fully realized oil painting on canvas in the style of Van Gogh. It is set for a September 22, 2017 limited release here in the United States.

And here is "The Sower With Setting Sun" from the soundtrack of "Loving Vincent" by Clint Mansell.

The Van Gogh painting The Sower (With Setting Sun).

http://us.lovingvincent.com/

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" Directed By Wes Anderson

Absolutely charming!
And what a cast!

Released March 7, 2014.

http://www.grandbudapesthotel.com/

"Samsara"

Wow.

Filmed over five years in twenty-five countries on 70 mm film stock by Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, the creators of "Baraka."
Starting August 24th, 2012: VERY limited US release dates here.

http://www.barakasamsara.com/