IDFA 2016 - BEAUTIFUL STORIES IN FILM: PART 4

Check out a collection of the most beautiful films at IDFA 2016. Here is the fourth batch of our favorites, including documentaries about Rem Koolhaas, Mapplethorpe, John Coltrane, X Japan, and more.

1. REM

“Rem,” a film about Rem Koolhaas, one of the greatest living architects, is, in itself, an architectural beauty, directed by his son, filmmaker Tomas Koolhaas. The story of this design icon’s life, is told in a series of close-ups and monologues, where we hear from both Rem and the people who use his buildings.

Rem discusses his ideas on architecture, beauty, functionality, art, and life in general.

Watch the trailer here.

3. LA CHANA

What is a hot flamenco dancer to do when she gets too old to get up and move her feet? If you are Antonia Santiago Amador, aka “La Chana,” you don’t let that stop you.

La Chana was super-popular, at the height of her career, when she suddenly vanished in the 1970’s. Filmmaker Lucija Stojevic tracked her down in Barcelona. His new film, “La Chana,” follows the frail and elderly dancer as she goes about her daily life today as it reveals for her abrupt disappearance.

Today, La Chana dances the only way she can -- while sitting down -- and she still gives an incredible performance. With fascinating archival dance footage and spectacular flamenco music, this film leaves us breathless, heart pounding.

Watch the trailer here.

4. CHASING TRANE: THE JOHN COLTRANE DOCUMENTARY

Saxophonist John Coltrane (1926-1967) is a legend – a musician possessed whose intense solos rejuvenated jazz. In Chasing Trane, a new documentary film directed by John Scheinfeld, charts the life of the legendary John Coltrane.

In his way-too-short life (1926 - 1966), the remarkable saxophonist not only developed his own exceptional talents in playing both the tenor and soprano sax, he is hailed for his intense solos and is credited with injecting new spirit into traditional jazz.   

Sonny Rollins, Bill Clinton and star saxophonist Kamasi Washington tell us about what made Coltrane tick, hum, wail, and riff. Coltrane biographer Lewis Porter and critic Ashley Kahn offer insights into his life from his start in Dizzy Gillespie’s big band (1949-1951), to his time with trumpet player Miles Davis, to his own famous quartet.  

Denzel Washington narrates Coltrane’s own words, taken from interviews and liner notes.

Watch the trailer here.

5. CONTEMPORARY COLOR

Three cheers for color! The rah rah rah world of color guard will start you up in “Contemporary Color,” a new documentary by filmmakers Turner Ross & Bill Ross.

The film features the razzy combination of sport and dance, known as color guard, performed at American high schools and universities during football games & brass band performances. Kicking the concept of cheerleading up a few notches, color guard performs spectacular, large-scale synchronized dances, with performers wielding flags, rifles and swords.

We are treated to performances at the 2015 concert, organized by David Byrne (Talking Heads), that paired 10 artists – including Nelly Furtado, Nico Muhly and St. Vincent – with some of the best color guard teams.

Watch the trailer here.

6. EVENTS IN A CLOUD CHAMBER

Artist Akbar Padamsee is widely considered to be one of the pioneers of contemporary Indian painting, introduced in Paris in 1948. His works fetch millions at auction today.

Back in the 1960’s, Padamsee also made 2 abstract animation films, each accompanied by soundscapes. They were not well received. And one, “Events in a Cloud Chamber,” was lost after he lent out his only copy.

Recently, Padamsee, now nearly 90 years old, attempted to reconstruct his lost film. The documentary, “Events in a Cloud Chamber,” directed by filmmaker Ashim Ahluwalia, tells Padamsee’s story, through both interviews and archival footage and outtakes. It offers a wonderful impression of the artist’s early expressions.

Watch the trailer here.

7. MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES

A beautiful portrait of a man known for creating some of the most iconic photo portraits of our time, “Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures,” is a new documentary by filmmakers Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato.

Mapplethorpe’s black & white images ironically seduce us with their rich spectra. Their subjects, whether flowers or men, are oozing with eroticism -- so much so that homophobic US Senator Jesse Helms went to court to get his exhibitions closed down in 1989.

The film offers observations from members of Mapplethorpe’s family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, models, lovers, art critics and collectors who knew him best. We get to tag along as curators from the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art prepare a parallel retrospective of Mapplethorpe’s work.

We hear Mapplethorpe narrate from old audio recordings. Much of the film’s subjects were shot in color using a Hasselblad, Mapplethorpe’s camera of choice. Mapplethorpe died of AIDS at age 42 (1989).

Watch the trailer here.

8. RESET

A brilliant dancer debuts as a choreographer in a creative life reset, in “Reset,” a film directed by Alban Teurlai & Thierry Demaizière.  It’s June 2015, and 39 days to go before the premiere of Benjamin Millepied’s first choreography for the Paris Opera. He has just received the composition by Nico Muhly and is trying out the first steps. The days tick relentlessly by.

After 20 years as principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, Benjamin Millepied has just taken the helm as dance director of the esteemed Paris Opera. The film tracks Millepied’s transformation as he prepares his troupe of 16 young dancers for his new work, entitled “Clear, Loud, Bright, Forward.”  “Feel free and dance with pleasure,” he advises. But then the work digs in.

Watch the trailer here.

9. SHOT! THE PSYCHO- SPIRITUAL MANTRA OF ROCK

Another powerful portrait of a portraitist, “Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock”, a new film by Barnaby Clay, explores the life and work of rock and roll photographer Mick Rock.

David Bowie, Queen, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, the Sex Pistols, & the Ramones are some of the 1970’s superstars that Rock celebrated, including classic album covers and music videos.

Clay interviews rock from his hospital bed as the now 70-year old photographer awaits a heart operation and punctuates with hallucinatory flashbacks and psychedelic dream sequences.

10. WE ARE X

Hard and heavy, “We Are X,” a new film directed by Stephen Kijak, delves into the heavy metal world of Japan, focusing on one of the country’s most popular bands, X Japan. Featuring archival footage and current candid interviews, the film reveals the rough history of the band members. The film also offers a view into the world of the visual kei subculture with its flamboyantly dressed, androgynous musicians in heavy makeup and color-schocked hair.

Watch the trailer here.

Read more about IDFA 2016 film favorites in IDFA 2016 - Beautiful Stories in Film: Part 1, Beautiful Stories of the Great Animal Orchestra and IDFA 2016 - Beautiful Stories in Film: Part 3.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of Rem Documentary. Rem Koolhaas. Film by Tomas Koolhaas.
2. Image: Courtesy of Rem Documentary. Rem Koolhaas. Film by Tomas Koolhaas.
3. Image: Courtesy of Noon Films S.L. “La Chana.” Film by Lucija Stojevic.
4. Image: Courtesy of Crew Neck Productions. “Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary.” Film by John Scheinfeld.
5. Image: Courtesy of Contemporary Color. “Contemporary Color.” Film  by Turner Ross & Bill Ross.
6. Image: Courtesy of Future East Film.  “Events in a Cloud Chamber.” Film by Ashim Ahluwalia.
7. Image: Courtesy of World of Wonder. “Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures.” Film by Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato.
8. Image: Courtesy of Falabracks & Opéra national de Paris. “Reset.” Film by Alban Teurlai & Thierry Demaizière.
9. Image: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures. “Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock.” Film by Barnaby Clay.
10. Image: Courtesy of Passion Pictures. “We Are X.” Film by Stephen Kijak.
11. Image: Courtesy of Passion Pictures. “We Are X.” Film by Stephen Kijak.
12. Image: Courtesy of Noon Films S.L. “La Chana.” Film by Lucija Stojevic.
13. Image: by BN App - Download now!
14. Image: Courtesy of The Department of Motion Pictures. “Contemporary Color.” Film by Turner Ross & Bill Ross.