Music Movies
This month's Music Movies feature premieres and encores from our city and beyond. Electronic pop emerges from British steel mills in MADE IN SHEFFIELD; the '80s band the Bears reunite after 13 years in Chicago filmmaker D.P. Carlson's THE BEARS: OUT OF HIBERNATION!; Bachata music comes out of the Dominican Republic in SANTO DOMINGO BLUES; an Afro-pop heritage lives on in FEMI KUTI -- LIVE AT THE SHRINE; and a feast of Chicago-bred music returns in UNUSUAL SUSPECTS: ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHICAGO HOUSE MUSIC.
-- Jim Dempsey
film descriptions
Chicago Premiere!
MADE IN SHEFFIELD: THE BIRTH OF ELECTRONIC POP
2004, Eve Wood, Britain, 52 min.
"A perfect textbook description of how a musical scene develops, flowers and fades" -- London Evening Standard
The true impulse for rebellion can sometimes rebel against the rebels. Such is the case in MADE IN SHEFFIELD, a documentary search for the secret behind this dreary industrial town's begetting of the late '70s post-punk movement defined by The Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Heaven 17, and ABC. "We wanted to kill off rock 'n' roll," says Ian Craig Marsh of The Human League. Director Eve Wood combines rare archive footage and revealing interviews with John Peel, Phil Oakey, Jarvis Cocker, and others. Beta SP video. (JD)
Sunday, October 2, 5:15 pm;
Thursday, October 6, 8:15 pm
Chicago Premiere!
D.P. Carlson in person!
THE BEARS: OUT OF HIBERNATION!
2005, D.P. Carlson, USA, 90 min.
The '80s produced many bands that brought back an emphasis on melody, such as Utopia, XTC, and the Bears. The last is best known for guitarist Adrian Belew, but the band remains relatively obscure outside of a small but devoted following. This rockumentary by local filmmaker D.P. Carlson (CHICAGO FILMMAKERS ON THE CHICAGO RIVER) goes behind the scenes with Belew and band mates Chris Arduser, Rob Fetters, and Bob Nyswonger as they reunite for their first tour in 13 years. Traveling the winter roads that link their sold-out shows in Detroit and Chicago, the Bears reflect on the realities of indie rock: killer music, cheap hotels, freeway jams, and diseased meat! DV-Cam video. (JD)
Director D.P. Carlson will be present for audience discussion at the Sunday screening.
Sunday, October 9, 5:30 pm;
Thursday, October 13, 8:15 pm
Chicago Premiere!
SANTO DOMINGO BLUES
2004, Alex Wolfe, USA, 73 min.
SANTO DOMINGO BLUES tells the story of Bachata, the guitar blues of Santo Domingo. Born in the bars and brothels of the Dominican Republic and worshipped by the poor as their authentic music, Bachata is now eclipsing rap as the music of choice for Latino youth on the streets of New York. Featuring guitarist/singer/songwriter Luis Vargas, the film brings to life the triumph of a grassroots music over censorship and prejudice. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. 35mm. (JD)
Sunday, October 16, 5:30 pm
Thursday, October 20, 8:00 pm
Africa Hi-Fi!
FEMI KUTI -- LIVE AT THE SHRINE
2005, Raphael Frydman, Nigeria, ca. 90 min.
The son of Afro-beat legend Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti spent years playing in his late father's band before eventually rising to superstardom in the late '90s. Raphael Frydman's documentary shows the African musician and his raucous orchestra at the Shrine, a converted warehouse in Lagos that hosts "jumps" (concerts) every Sunday night. Focusing on a feverish, almost hypnotic concert with an exuberant, worshipping crowd, the film captures the essence of Afro-Pop. (JD)
This program complements Sonotheque's monthly Africa Hi-Fi night, featuring Femi Kuti on Friday, October 21. (www.sonotheque.org)
Sunday, October 23, 5:30 pm;
Thursday, October 27, 8:15 pm
Back by popular demand!
Chip Eberhart in person!
UNUSUAL SUSPECTS: ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHICAGO HOUSE MUSIC
2004, Chip Eberhart, USA, 90 min.
With Steve "Silk" Hurley, Frankie Knuckles
After sold-out screenings at August's Black Harvest festival, we bring back UNUSUAL SUSPECTS. House Music can be traced back to DJ Frankie Knuckles and the Warehouse dance club on Jefferson St. in Chicago. Directed by House pioneer Chip Eberhart (aka Chip E), UNUSUAL SUSPECTS is divided into 16 chapters -- including sections on the pre-Warehouse days, high school experiences, the Loft, the Music Box, HotMix5, DJ's, Importes Etc. record store, sexuality, drugs, and the future -- that bring to life the mercurial Chicago mix of music and culture that is House. DigiBeta video.
Director Chip Eberhart will be present for audience discussion at the Sunday screening.
