Woods Hole Film Festival 2008

Fourhand Layers of Lasagna Portrait of a Master

Colin, Devon, and Maya have a pact. They will only attend the prestigious circus school, L’Ecole Nationale de Cirque, if they are all accepted. As L’Ecole’s annual audition approaches the three lifelong friends prepare their routines in the hope that they will be three of the 10 teens admitted to the school. Circus is Life follows these three teens in their final days of preparation for the audition, including both the grueling training and intimate camaraderie. The film captures the simultaneous anticipation and tension that comes with this moment of change. More than just preparation and performance, Circus is Life is the story of the close ties of teenage friendship, about growing up, and a yearning that some things will never change.

Edward Hopper (1882-1967) is one of the best known and most admired of American artists. He found poetry in quiet, private moments set in unexceptional places, such as anonymous hotel rooms, diners, gas stations, and traditional houses. Within these urban or small-town spaces, Hopper created iconic images of American life that present us with the possibility of narrative, but ultimately remain enigmatic. Rather than depict a specific story, they suggest a universal, shared experience. This film traces Hopper’s varied influences, from French impressionism to the gangster films of the 1930s. The documentary uses archival photos and film, specially shot footage of locations painted by Hopper in New York and the New England coast, and interviews with artists Eric Fischl and Red Grooms, scholars and curators.

John Deacon was released from prison on July 28th, 2007. He was wrongfully convicted of arson over two years ago. His daughter, April, decides that she must clear her father's name in the public eye after reading one too many negative newspaper articles about the case. In this very personal documentary, April examines what went wrong in her father's trial and the steps he must take on the road ahead.

'Global Focus IV: The New Environmentalists' features intimate portraits of six passionate and dedicated activists. These are true environmental heroes who have placed themselves squarely in harm’s way to battle corrupt governments, greedy corporations and other intimidating adversaries. Their goal: safeguarding the Earth's natural resources from shortsighted exploitation and unbridled pollution. The stories feature Ireland, where townspeople stood up to Shell Oil and prevented a gas pipeline from dissecting their community; Zambia, where the endemic poaching industry has been replaced by sustainable agriculture; Iceland, ground zero for the movement to restore the once abundant Atlantic salmon; Peru, home to the movement to protect the uncontacted indigenous tribes of the Amazon; Mongolia, where a former herdsman has saved the Oonk River from Gold Mining companies; and Manitoba, where a massive mapping project has helped to preserve thousands of acres of boreal forest. Robert Redford narrates.

For years people have watched and enjoyed the aquatic environments around the world. Unfortunately these jewels are in jeopardy from pollution, global climate change, over population, development, neglect and the abuse of over fishing. 'Infinite Oceans' is a play on words because the opposite is true and this film highlights that perspective by giving the image-makers, authors, educators and conservationists a forum to express what they have seen over the last 30 years. Who better to discuss these prolific issues than the individuals whose livings are made by documenting these environments? This short film, the pilot for a proposed 13 part series, introduces the audience to a number of these notable people and sets the scene for future episodes that will focus on individual contributors. Each of the participants is able to comment on the topics closest to their hearts and with educated discourse that will astound and captivate the viewer. A truly moving film, “Infinite Oceans” will appeal to all viewers from 15-99 and spur the conversations necessary for finding solutions to the plight of the seas and the creatures that live in and around them. Shot in High Definition, the film also includes contributions from all the participants and archival footage has been up-converted to HD. All the work in the project has been done on a not for profit basis and all the music contributed by the artists for free.

When Vali and Mimi closed their couture shop on Lexington Avenue they kept a dozen of their best clients, moved the business into the spare bedroom, and moved Mimi to the pull-out couch. Still sewing forty hours a week, the 87 and 93 year old sisters reflect on the dying of a craft, the importance of family and the persistence of the creative spirit.

David Lasagna is the funniest guy you never heard of. This hilarious peek into the mind of one of the most original comedic minds working today, a charismatic stage presence transforms hearts and minds, one audience at a time. And yes that is his real name. Kicked out of college, the draft --even a cult he joined in California, this extroverted charismatic iconoclast battles his demons on stage and helps the audience battles theirs. After a brief stint as a front liner for a vaudeville-type band, he invents The University of Dave, complete with lecturers like Cowboy Bob Bart, Dr Physician Pepper and Willy of the Slow. This documentary peels back the layers of an original as he prepares and performs his one man show.