The Lowell Film Collaborative is on holiday!
Staying in a 17th century chateau in the Aquitaine (southwest France) hasn’t prevented us from being a bit creative about our movie-watching — all one really needs these days to enjoy a personal film screening is a laptop and power source. Fortunately, we have both, and of course we brought along our most recent Netflix rentals, one of which we are HIGHLY recommending. We watched the award-winning 2009 documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty after a fabulous day exploring Bordeaux, France, the closest “big city” to where we’re staying during our 9-day holiday in the heart of Europe’s wine country. There’s nothing like an amazing film to end an equally stellar day — this stunning indie doc, which details the exciting comeback and tumultuous 10-year journey of the Walt Disney Studio’s Feature Animation Department from 1984 – 1994, was marvelously directed and produced by two of the Studio’s key animators: Don Hahn and Peter Schneider. If you remember the glory days of Disney animation in the 80s & 90s — namely The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King — then you’ll be mesmerized by the backstory that Hahn and Schneider share first-hand. The cast of characters includes former Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner, current Dreamworks founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, the late Roy Disney and Frank Wells, and an endless roster of artistic talent, including animators Don Bluth and Glen Keane and songwriters Elton John, Alan Menkin and the tragically departed Howard Ashman. There’s even a sighting of a young up-and-coming animator named Tim Burton.
Friends, this is a must-see documentary if there ever was one. And after you make it through the nostalgic laughter and tears, be sure to save a couple of hours for the superb DVD extras, which are just as alluring and insightful as the film itself.
We have a great week ahead whilst on holiday — hopefully we’ll be able to do a bit of field reporting and movie-sharing while we’re here. In the meantime, two things: 1) enjoy the trailer below of our out-of-town movie pick, Waking Sleeping Beauty, and 2) please MARK THOSE CALENDARS for our two upcoming back-to-back film screenings in Lowell, happening hot on the heels of our return! Just click the buttons on the right side of this page for complete details on Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq, and Marion Stoddart: The Work of 1000.
Have a great start to your week and we’ll be back in touch soon!
lowellfilmcollaborativema.org 