ONDAY NOVEMBER 23

FUNNY HA HA (2002)
Directed by Andrew Bujalski
90 minutes
In English

Funny Ha Ha, is considered to be the first mumblecore film. It's written, directed, and co-starring Andrew Bujalski, and the film features impressively naturalistic performances led by newcomer Kate Dollenmayer (a friend of Bujalski's from film school and animator on WAKING LIFE), whose mysteriously familiar presence may lead viewers to feel she's someone they've known for years.

This film follows the exploits of recently graduated Marnie as she tries to find a temporary job and win the attention of a college friend named Alex (who is already in a relationship), while trying to cut down on her beer consumption. As a twenty-three year-old ex-college student, she is bored out of her mind by paper shuffling jobs and dull research projects. She drinks too much, wanders around in a daze too much, and is in love with a guy as dazed and unsure as she is. Director Andrew Bujalski's film is sad, playful, humorous and intensely real. Shot on 16 mm film on a very low budget, the film provides a glimpse into the lives of people in their twenties as they try to come to terms with life after college.

As with many great films, the subject matter isn't sensationalistic, and the real subject of the film is it's unusual style. Personally my experience of this film was magical....its so damn subtle, and captures situations and gestures and people's habits so well that I was constantly amazed. In fact I would almost call it revolutionary in its simplicity and its ability to capture raw reality so naturally. I personally love films like this that go against the grain of everything that is popular, and come out in the end creating an absolutely new approach to cinema.

For me its a breath of fresh air, and I am really not surprised that this unassuming no-budget film caused such a sensation and started a new wave of filmmaking recently in the US....because I feel it is indeed a major triumph. And, once again, it has never been screened in Amsterdam as far as I know. Disgraceful! A must for anyone looking for something new and different....

"One of the top 10 films of the year!" -The New York Times and Art Forum

THE NEW ANITA
Frederik Hendrikstraat 111 (Hugo de Grootplein)
Doors open at 19:30
The film starts at 20:30 sharp



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