Hey folks, Harry here... It isn't often that I let AICN sponsor a theatrical run of a film here in Austin, but when Kier-La at the Alamo Drafthouse asked if I'd be interested in lending whatever pull - that the name of AICN has to their run of a film called CALVAIRE - which she wanted to explain to me, except... I had already seen the film - I jumped at the opportunity.



You see - it's rare that we get to see a movie like CALVAIRE as it was originally intended. CALVAIRE aka THE ORDEAL is a brilliantly twisted and disturbed work of an unhinged deranged French mind. About two weeks ago, Palm Pictures sent me a DVD of their future release of the film. I'd seen the film about a year ago, but knowing I'd have to write something up about the film - to help promote its run at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown from this Monday, September 11th through Thursday, September 14th - I decided that when Yoko came home, I'd rewatch the film. I had remembered the film as being fairly intense - and one of life's great pleasures is watching something freaky with the person you love.

CALVAIRE is an Ordeal. About 5 times during the movie - she hid her head and whined, "I can't take any more," but then peaked out from behind a pillow on our couch and snuggled closer to watch more. This film - which is your typical - car breaks down in the wrong town type of story - is just fucked up in all the most awesomely fucked up ways.



If you thought Ned Beatty, Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds had it bad in Arkansas - try breaking down in the inbred backwoods of France. Now, you see - I've suffered under the delusion that the French were a uniformly cultured community. I didn't think they had a West Virginia-esque Cousin Mating problem - but apparently theirs is far worse than we Americans could possibly believe. You see - In CALVAIRE - this French traveling entertainer and singer has his van breakdown. He's forced to stay at an abandoned INN - that allegedly used to host traveling entertainers and artisans in its heyday. Well - things haven't been quite the same since the owner's wife left or died or something. And... No. No, you should just see how incredibly fucked up this film gets for yourself. This is a very very intense movie. The sort of film that tests your ability to process what it is you're watching. It will also teach you an amazing dance routine that's sweeping the redneck wooded hilly apocalyptic regions of France. Teach your friends. Do it in the lobby of the Drafthouse afterwards. It's super freaky cool.



OK



FREE FIFTY TICKETS!



There are 50 Free Tickets available on a first come - first serve basis - available by emailing Kier-La at drafthouse.com. You may request a maximum of two tickets - and she will email you back to let you know if you got in. The Screening is at the Original ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE downtown at 7PM Monday, September 11th! I wish I could say I'd be there - but I'm booked for a speaking engagement that night with the University Filmmakers Alliance at UT. However - seek out this film - it really is something out of the ordinary - and unforgettable.