Culture Diary w/c 15-04-13
Monday – The Evil Dead 9pm @ FACT
The feature movie debut of Sam Raimi from 1981, The Evil Dead has traveled the road from infamy (as part of the ’80s Video Nasty furore) to cult classic, seeing its director made a star along the way. This week sees the release of a modern-day reboot of the film which, while not directed by Raimi or starring Bruce Campbell, has their full support, making already inevitable comparisons even more unavoidable.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Tuesday – NHK’Koyxen 6pm @ the Blade Factory £5
Another week brings another raft of must-see gigs, beginning with Osaka-born experimental musician Kouhei Matsunaga, also known as NHK’ Koyxen. Joining him will be local techno artisans Isocore and Bantam Lions; set to this backdrop will be the latest Drawing Paper session, incorporating live collaborative drawing.
Post Tenebras Lux 6pm @ FACT
Screening at Cannes last year, this film won its director Carlos Reygadas the best director award. His fourth movie, Post Tenebras Lux is semi-autobiographical, which isn’t to say it’s a bio-pic. Part allegory, perhaps actor Nathalia Acevedo puts it best when describing her experience of working on the film: “He [Reygadas] always shows personal experiences. He’s always very honest and isn’t scared of showing himself. You don’t know if a lot of things are dreams of the past or future, or just thoughts.”
Wednesday – Veronica Falls 7.30pm @ the Kazimier £8.50
Formed in 2009, close your eyes listening to London’s Veronica Falls and you are transported back to those arcadian, sepia-coloured days of indie-pop (when indie still meant indie, of course). So much so that, speaking of latest album, Waiting for Something to Happen earlier this year, the Guardian’s Michael Hann was moved (in his five star review) to say: “[it's] hard to think of an album of indiepop anywhere near as good as the second from Veronica Falls.”
Thursday – Alois Nebel 6.30pm @ FACT
The third film in the Made in Prague Czech cinema showcase (full preview), now’s as good a time as any to to get in on the action. Alois Nebel is the titular star of this film (rendered beautifully in monochrome rotoscoped animation); a loner haunted by a dark post-war past, Nebel ends up in a sanatorium, which is where his story really begins.
Emperor X 7pm @ Bold Street Coffee £3
We confess that this time last year we’d never heard of Emperor X. A few months later we could count ourselves among the lucky ones packed, sardine-like, into Bold Street Coffee to see the American singer songwriter. Shortly into his winning set, we found ourselves asking: “who is this guy and why haven’t we heard or seen him before?” We bet we weren’t the only ones. For the record, he is Chad Matheny and comes highly recommended.
Friday – Waiting For Brando 8pm @ the Unity Theatre £8-£10
Based in-part on an urban myth positing that a pair of ‘Cunard Yanks’ were allowed to stray onto set during the filming of the Elia Kazan-directed and Marlon Brando-starring On The Waterfront, Waiting For Brando sees Kazan joined by his contemporary, the playwright Arthur Miller. The play investigates loyalty, friendship, brotherhood and betrayal in an America on the cusp of a new dawn of teenagers and rock and roll.
Saturday – Empire Records 6.30pm @ FACT
Amid their indie record store being at the impending mercy of a chain, the workers of Empire Records embark on a journey taking in love, tragedy and self-awareness along the way. With large dollops of David’s and a Goliath, the movie manages to be underdog story and coming of age drama in one. With a soundtrack featuring the likes of Evan Dando, Throwing Muses and Daniel Johnston, it doesn’t sound too bad, either.
Sunday – Bicycle Thieves 6pm @ FACT
Vittorio De Sica’s 1948 film Bicycle Thieves is, says the Observer’s Phillip French: “A heartbreaking, endlessly affecting piece of humanist cinema, sharp in its social criticism, yet ultimately life-enhancing in its belief in the decency of ordinary people.” Strong words, more than backed up by the fact that ‘this landmark of humanist filmmaking’ consistently makes it into Sight and Sound’s Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time. Full preview.
