I went to see Looking for Eric, the opening film of the 27th Miami International Film Festival. As artistic director Tiziana Finzi stated, many told her she was crazy to open the Festival with such a film. There could be no complaints about the style and decorations for the opening bash.Volunteers (well-trained by the MIFF staff) could not have been more welcoming. Mayor Regalado was there and posed for pictures. Food and drink were plentiful, there was an espresso bar and the DJ was super (he began by playing the rock and roll danced in the film). [I saw the female lead who played Lilly in the film and told her that I'd fallen in love withher character in the film; she thanked me for the compliment.] Members of the festival staff were dancing like madwomen (and a few men). We danced until the DJ stopped playing music. Then, I suggested to Angel that we stop by the Vanguard for 5 minutes to listen to my friends in the band Animal Tropical (formerly the Down Home Southernaires). We ended up dancing for almost an hour and staying there till about 3:15 a.m. I know. A horrible way to pace oneself at the start of MIFF. Come on down. There are so many terrific films to see. For starters there's The Accordion Kings at 5 pm at the Tower (I hear it's good; I know a co-producer). I saw Jean Charles at a pre-screening (first showing Sun. 3/7 R17 7:15 pm). It gives you the real story behind the shooting of the Brazilian misidentified as a terrorist after the suicide bombings of the London transit system.

 

Jonathan Rose, Cultural Correspondent

CULTURAL BULLETIN

DowntownMiami.com