Take it away, Mastidon, and we’ll talk to you soon as you hit Berlin.
Hi Guys,
Mastidon here with my last review for a while. I'm migrating south to Antarctica for a month. Yes, I can hear the Ice Age jokes already. I will be back in time though to bring you complete coverage from the 2008 Berlin Film Festival in February.
Speaking of Berlinale, I got a chance to see a film which premiered at this year's Berlinale - A WALK INTO THE SEA: DANNY WILLIAMS AND THE WARHOL FACTORY. The film won best documentary at the festival. No small accomplishment especially since this is the first film by director Esther Robinson.
Ok, so imagine this - you have an uncle. You have never met him and only know he disappeared sometime around 1966. You never knew anything about him really except only some rumblings in the family. One day at work due to pure chance, you learn not only was your uncle a filmmaker, he made films for The Warhol Factory and all of the films survived and are in pristine condition. Sounds too incredible to be true? Well, now add in the completely amazing and shocking fact that your uncle was one of Andy Warhol's lovers. This is exactly what happened to Esther Robinson. Clearly a case of truth is stranger than fiction.
Esther's uncle, Danny Williams, dropped off the planet in the mid '60s never to be heard from again leaving behind an insight into Warhol and the strange universe that was The Warhol Factory through his 20 films. What happened to him? Esther tries to find out and in the process bringing us an insight into the period through interviews with surviving members of The Warhol Factory and her various family members. Intermixed with the interviews are several of Danny's films giving us a window into one of the most creative group of people in the '60s.
I found the film completely fascinating. I loved all the various interviews from Warhol's pack and how they constantly contradicted each other's memory. One would say "Andy never did drugs" with the next immediately saying, "There were drugs everywhere." How so many people who lived through the same period can see things and remember them so differently. Just the chance to see these people who were the creative geniuses behind the factory is a must for any art lover.
A lot has been said about Andy over the years - a genius, a vampire. Both sides come out clearly in the interviews. My personal take is Warhol did more for advancing pop-culture and art than any other individual at the time.
As to Danny Williams, the story adds a whole different level. Was he murdered? Or did he simply just choose to disappear? They mystery of Danny Williams and who he was and how his life impacted several areas of today including modern rock concerts is surprising to say the least.
The film hits Cinema Village in New York on Friday. Both Friday and Saturday's 7:15 showing have a Q&A with Esther Robinson. Trust me, if you are in the NYC area, it is well worth your valuable time. 4 out of 5 stars.
Ciao until after the great thaw,
-Mastidon
