Eugene weekly., April 28, 2011, Page 25, Image 25

movies
BY BRIT McGINNIS
Now Open
Children’s Film Event
Not just for kids anymore
W
ho attends children’s fi lm
festivals? Usually, it’s kids
incapable of sitting still and
their parents or nannies desperate for any
activities to break up the Polly Pocket-G.I.
Joe-Dora the Explorer lineup. People pay
up to see Snow Day or whatever sorry reel
the sound booth people manage to dig out
of the archives. But no such sorry fi lms will
be screened April 30, when DIVA presents
the “Children’s Film Festival Best of the
Fest 2010,” which features a collection
of acclaimed short fi lms from all over the
world.
The festival starts off with intrigue, and
when the wheezy cowboy starts singing
during the intro to A Fistful of Snow, you
know this ain’t just a kiddie fi lm — adults
will appreciate the many, many references
to No Country for Old Men. The Mouse
That Soared is a wonder of color, and while
it proves deliciously un-kiddish at times
(dead rat bodies, cartoony violence, snide
critiques of the Oregon logging industry),
it works all the same. Suddenly the truth
about all good children’s fi lms shines
through: the best fi lms for kids make their
chaperones laugh/cry/squeal in delight as
well.
Getting Dad, an Austrailian story
featuring both stop-motion and live
videography, is a lovely, quirky work sure
to entertain. Nappy Heads, a jazzy live-
action piece, pays tribute to the wonderful
world of African-American hairstyles.
Hello Antenna is a scrapbook-style cartoon
accompanied by a folk song, and is told in
a way any Eugene folkster will recognize.
Betty the Doll, a Swedish tale, falls a bit fl at
because it clearly caters solely to children.
The same goes for the Latvian When Apples
Roll. Mr. Mack’s Kitchen doesn’t fl y quite
so high either, for the opposite reason — the
story is quite obviously written for adults.
But King of the Island brings it all back with
its lovely coming-of-age story (though the
Italian subtitles may hinder youngsters).
And Alma, with its creepy overtones, is a
true crowd pleaser.
The verdict: Go with the kids. These
festival entries are smart, sophisticated
and they know what they’re doing. With
impressive technical fl air and enough
cultural wisdom to please the adults, this
event will not disappoint.
ew
Specializing in Helping People
and Patients Obtain Oregon
Medical Marijuana
Program Cards
Regular Office Hours
Monday-Friday
10am-4pm
clinics on saturdays
call for appointment
570 Lawrence St., Suite 101
Eugene, OR
541-344-1688 • fax 541-344-8110
www.chroniccareinc.com
“Children’s Film Festival Best of the Fest 2010” plays
at 7 pm Saturday, April 30, at the UO Baker Downtown
Center; $4 door.
Taste of India
Buffet Lunch Special
$8.99 all you can eat.
7 days a week.
✪ Voted Best Buffet
-Eugene Weekly Readers
✪ Voted Best
Indian Restaurant
-Eugene Weekly Readers
✪ Best Indian
Restaurant In Town
Campus Location
Now Open!
844 E 13th ave
(old Sakura location)
Student Lunch
Buffet Special
$5.99 (to go only)
-Register Guard Readers 2010
Catering available • Full menu available to go • Delivery through Pony Express
2495 Hilyard St. • Eugene, OR 97405 • ph & fax (541) 485-9698 • ph only (541) 485-9560
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
EUGENE WEEKLY APRIL 28, 2011 25