The 79th Edinburgh International Film Festival has kicked off, and I’m thrilled to report that it’s been a wild ride so far 🎉! The first screening I attended was the world premiere of Theodore Schaefer’s “The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight” – try saying that five times fast, I dare you 🤣! This Indie flick has a title that’s almost as long as the festival’s history, which is pretty impressive, if you ask me 🙄.
So, what’s the movie about, you ask? Well, it’s based on one of Zeno’s paradoxes, which is basically a fancy way of saying “an ancient Greek dude was really good at confusing people” 🤓. The film features a series of short narratives that overlap and intersect in weird and wonderful ways, like a big ol’ plate of spaghetti 🍝. There’s a woman with a suitcase (Constance Schulman), who’s like the human version of a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit 🧩. Then there are the younger folks, like Violet (Gus Birney), who’s stuck in a rut and dreaming of a life of crime 🤪. And let’s not forget Sinopia (also Gus Birney, because who needs a diverse cast, am I right? 🙄), a professor with a penchant for affairs and existential crises 🤯.
As the stories unfold, you’ll be treated to a cinematic experience that’s like a rollercoaster ride of emotions 🎠. One minute you’ll be laughing, the next you’ll be crying, and the next you’ll be scratching your head, wondering what on earth is going on 🤔. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded while being attacked by a swarm of bees 🐝. But trust me, it’s worth it 🙏.
The film’s use of 16mm film stock and a jazz score is like a big ol’ hug for your eyeballs and eardrums 🤗. It’s like stepping back in time to the 1960s and 70s, when filmmakers were all about pushing boundaries and being avant-garde 🎨. Director Schaefer and co-writer Patrick Lawler are like the dynamic duo of Indie cinema, and their love for the medium shines through like a beacon of hope in a world of soulless blockbusters 💫.
After the screening, the cast and crew took to the stage to chat with the audience, and let me tell you, it was like a big ol’ love fest 💕. They talked about their inspirations, from French New Wave to Czech New Wave (because who doesn’t love a good wave, am I right? 🌊), and how they shot the entire film on analogue 16mm, because who needs digital when you can have grainy, black-and-white goodness? 📸.
In conclusion, “The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight” is a film that will leave you breathless, bewildered, and begging for more 🤩. It’s like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get, but it’s always gonna be delicious 🍫. So, if you’re a fan of Indie cinema, or just looking for something to challenge your brain and expand your mind, then this is the film for you 🤓. Just don’t forget to bring your thinking cap, or you might end up like me – confused, but thoroughly entertained 🤣. 👏
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
