SXSW 2011: Day Two

Some days even seeing just two films feels like an accomplishment. I only saw two today, but they were both so powerful, it made for a full day. And I have to set my clock's back?  It's gonna be a rough morning in a few hours.

I got up too late to get to the first movie I planned on seeing, so I wandered around a bit, picking up a Dublin Dr Pepper at the Royal Blue Grocery on Congress before heading over to the Paramount.  If you're an outsider who likes fizzy drinks at all, if you've never had a Dublin Dr Pepper, you have never had a real Dr. Pepper.  The bottle may be small, but it's delicious stuff. [Jette's note: Alamo Ritz has Dublin Dr Pepper now, too.]

I was in line early for my film, but I was anticipating a full house, since the subject relates to current events.  But everyone else was in line for the State theater's screening of The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway.  This year is a great year for free food, and thanks to the food trailer phenomenon, they keep on bringing it right to the lines.  This time it was ice cream treats, making for a very happy crowd.  And apparently post-screening, Pee-Wee himself was handing out ice cream treats. 

But I was seeing a film with a lot more gravitas.  Locally made documentary Incendiary: The Willingham Case by Steve Mims and Joe Bailey, Jr. puts what has passed for forensic investigations -- and related institutions -- on trial.  The most powerful act anyone can do is admit to a mistake; but the vulnerability exposed in admitting errors often causes some people and organizations to go to great lengths to avoid admitting an error was made.

Mims and Bailey examine the forensic investigations responsible for the execution of Todd Willingham, convicted of the arson-based murder of his three young daughters in 2004 with flawed evidence compounded by the refusal to even reconsider reports scientifically proving the investigations conclusion were incorrect.  Incendiary doesn't presume guilt or innocence of Willingham, but instead thoughtfully reveals the history of the case and the investigative techniques that call the conviction into question, along with Governor Perry's efforts to squelch any attempt to revisit the case.  If you care at all about your rights, this is a must-see film. 

Another must-see film is the feature debut of director Aaron Rottinghaus filmed in Texas, introduced by Chris Doubek (Lovers of Hate).  Apart is a tense, touching thriller about a young man haunted by the past he doesn't remember, and the young woman with whom he shares a disturbing and rare psychological disorder. Apart is a very ambitious film, but with one arguably subjective moment, succeeds very well, from the casting and performances to the soundtrack.  I'll be reviewing it in more detail later, but suffice it to say the cineastes attending SXSW really need to check it out during its encore screening on Thursday at the Paramount, and hear the Q&A from a very passionate cast and crew.   

The Apart world premiere at the Rollins theater was my first experience at that venue, and I can't say it won me over. The sound design is so complex in Apart, and the sound system wasn't up to the task, but thankfully anyone paying attention could still notice the care going into the sound, including the soundtrack. We'll be reviewing Apart as well as interviewing some of the cast and crew later. 

Note for those trying out Capital Metro: The #30 route (as well as the #10 and the #5) will bring you to the Rollins venue. However, the signage isn't that obvious. Then entrance is on the Lady Bird Lake side of the Long Center.  I was lucky and happened to get from the Paramount to the Rollins in less than 15 minutes thanks to a fortuitous timing of buses. Make sure to check your schedules tomorrow in particular if you rely on the bus instead of the shuttle or other means, as Sundays have a lower frequency of buses and the buses stop much earlier. And there are no Night Owls (technically it's Monday morning and no Night Owls then, and based on the Cap Metro site, that hasn't changed for SXSW).

First party of the fest for me was the Apart premiere party, over at the tallest residential building west of the Mississippi, the Austonian. Apparently it was the place to be, as not only were cast members Josh Danziger and Joey Lauren Adams there, but a host of filmmakers. At one point I spotted Mike Judge (Office Space, Extract), and I hear Jason Ritter was there.  Josh Lucas, who's in town supporting his film A Year in Mooring, also made an appearance. I also ran into Simon Rumley, who was in town last year with the Austin-shot film Red White and Blue, and this year has a short in the anthology, Little Deaths.  Rumley was at the party with the Tom Sawyer, who starred in Rumley's part of Little Deaths, "Bitch." The party was so much fun I ended up missing Down Terrace's Ben Wheatley's latest, Kill List.  I hope to catch it later.

But now, time for sleep.  Tomorrow, I hope I get downtown in time for the Austin Film Festival's Hair of the Dog brunch over at Star Bar with food from Ranch 616. Then those interviews, and that means I miss Five Time Champion, which I've heard good things about.  There's one more screening of The City Dark tomorrow morning, too. I'm also going to have to miss 96 Minutes, a thriller that looks very good.  A sweet and quirky Austin film Otis Under Sky is also playing, and if you need a dose of Austin weirdness with a solid dollop of heart, I recommend it.  I'm either going to make it to Paul and the rare midnight screening at the Paramount showing the work-in-progress Bridesmaids, or will head over the Alamo Lamar for Hesher and Attack the Block.

But now I need to figure out if any of my clocks actually "sprang forward" and if it's really 3 am or 4 am.