On film: The Berkshire International Film Festival celebrates 10th anniversary

There is something special about seeing a movie in our community that hasn’t been seen by the general public yet and also meeting the filmmakers and actors involved in the film. Discussing the films, going to Q and A’s, hearing producers and directors discuss the joys and trials of getting their films made are the best parts of this film festival. I love seeing feature films before they have been dissected in the press and my current obsession is documentaries.

Editor’s Note: Film aficionado Ronni Monsky will be sharing her impressions, observations, and reminiscences in an ongoing narrative about the 10th annual Berkshire International Film Festival that opens Thursday evening, May 28 and continues throughout the weekend.

ad_BWW_BIFF15web194pxX290pxThe last film festival I wrote about was the Cannes Film Festival — and the premier film event that year was “L’Empire des sens”  (“In the Realm of the Senses”). I won’t say what year it was but you can Google it and also find out why droves of men left a screening that was the hottest ticket of the festival.  And also why the lead actress never worked again — even with great reviews — but that is a topic for another day. I remember being pushed and shoved by people who spoke a babel of languages while trying to get into this film and narrowly escaped being crushed!

I am sure we won’t have that problem this year at my favorite event here in the Berkshires  — the Berkshire International Film Festival (affectionately called BIFF). When I was asked to write some pieces about the festival I was very hesitant. Why make something work that is just pure pleasure for me? But it made me think about film and film festivals and how important they are to us — the film going public. Why do so many of us still like to sit with others in a dark room and have this common experience? And why is it more important than ever in this time of disconnectedness? I believe that these festivals help communities coalesce and I know that BIFF has been an amazing addition to the already wonderful cultural landscape in our Berkshire community. And now everyone knows about us. Kudos to Kelley Vickery for her vision!

We can all watch movies at home — and most of us do. But there is something special about seeing a movie in our community that hasn’t been seen by the general public yet and also meeting the filmmakers and actors involved in the film. Discussing the films, going to Q and A’s, hearing producers and directors discuss the joys and trials of getting their films made are the best parts of this film festival. I love seeing feature films before they have been dissected in the press and my current obsession is documentaries. I love learning about real issues and amazing people and places which I knew nothing about before. Where else would I find out that Joan Rivers was an awesome woman with the energy and heart of a woman half her age? That documentary, “A Piece of Work,” changed many minds about this sharp-tongued woman. And where else would one learn everything about crossword construction (“Wordplay”) and it was fascinating! Who knew that Bill Clinton and Jon Stewart were crossword fanatics? These are the types of things that thrill me….

The 10th annual Berkshire  Film Festival opens this weekend in Great Barrington and Pittsfield.
The 10th annual Berkshire Film Festival opens this weekend in Great Barrington and Pittsfield.

And on the more serious side there was the documentary about the water crisis throughout the world (“Flow: For Love of Water”). It brought home the inequality of access to water and the negative effect of bottled water. One documentary really opened my eyes to the danger of smart meters (“Take Back Your Power”). Once you see it you will look at your smart meter in a whole new way. I could go on and on but you get the idea.

It wasn’t all about environmental issues. There were some truly enjoyable moments with documentaries. Darlene Love performed live after we watched the moving documentary (“Twenty Feet from Stardom”)  about unheralded but tremendously talented back-up singers. And who can forget what Philippe Petit did in 1974 — walking a wire between the World Trade Center Twin Towers? It was a crime then  but it is brilliant in retrospect. He did speak after the film  (“Man on Wire”) and that was a definite high point of the festival, hearing about the challenges that he faced.

Film director Werner Herzog
Film director Werner Herzog

Writing about this film festival has brought many memories flooding back to my consciousness. It seems that I can date so many epic times in my life by the movies that were popular at the time — and so many brought me healing and perhaps wisdom and insight. When I was depressed — I found movies were a salvation. To be enveloped by darkness for a few hours was bliss. When I was a graduate student in NYC, without A/C, many afternoons were spent dodging unsavory types in the old grand movie houses of the upper west side — the Thalia and the New Yorker. And there were also embarrassments — meeting Werner Herzog after his first film at the NY Film Festival — and not believing him when he said he was a “director.” Yeah, right, you and everyone else!! Begrudgingly sliding over for Allen Ginsberg at a midnight screening of El Topo (Alejandro Jodorowsky’s masterpiece) in the Village….sorry Allen, I shouldn’t have been so uncooperative. When I wrote film reviews in Rochester I remember becoming very well acquainted with  Pauline Kael’s reviews as if they were the bible (and they were for young, inexperienced film reviewers). The movies of my life….

Anyway, this is just an introduction to a few of my thoughts on this film festival…..I hope to pick some terrific feature films and documentaries to savor….shorts, too….and I hope that everyone enjoys this terrific opportunity to devour as many films as you can!!!  See you at the festival!