Maryland Film Festival Blog

It was great, but I was ready to come home.

May 8, 3pm, Charles Theatre 2

May 10, 1pm, Charles Theatre 2

Here we have an impressive feature debut, a novella-length character study directed by and starring Kris Swanberg (if the name sounds familiar, MFF regulars may know the work of her husband, Joe, including MFF ’07 title Hannah Takes The Stairs and this year’s Alexander the Last). It was great… concerns two female best friends who travel together through Costa Rica and the subtle ups-and-downs they experience together. This quiet, novella-length drama hones in on very specific emotions and thoughts with startling precision, leaving us with much to digest regarding best-friendship, culture shock, and lost love. If you appreciate delicate, character-driven, big-on-atmosphere films like Old Joy, Hamilton, and Wendy and Lucy, this one’s a must-see!

Click here to purchase tickets to It was great, but I was ready to come home.

ONE BAD CAT: THE REVEREND ALBERT WAGNER STORY

May 8, 6:30pm, Charles Theatre 3

May 9, 12:00pm, UB Student Center

Do you enjoy going to Baltimore’s own American Visionary Art Museum? Do you find yourself drawn not only to the artwork, but also to the fascinating biographies of the outsider artists behind AVAM’s startling collection? Then you’ll definitely want to see the documentary ONE BAD CAT: THE REVEREND ALBERT WAGNER story. Cleveland-based African-American artist Wagner, whose work is featured prominently at AVAM, experienced a religious conversion midway through life, and decided to devote the remainder of his life to preaching (which he does seated behind a drum kit, conveying his world view to a congregation largely consisting of his extended family) and his extraordinary artwork, which poses tough questions about race, sex, and the legacy of slavery. Narrated by Delroy Lindo, this is one of many can’t-miss docs in MFF 2009’s line-up.

Click here to purchase tickets to ONE BAD CAT: THE REVERAND ALBERT WAGNER STORY!