2010 Denver Starz Film Festival
Denver Starz Film Festival
God’s Land written and directed by Preston Miller about young professional family from Taiwan that give up successful careers to move to Garland, Texas for the arrival of God and for him to take them away on his spaceship. The movie was based on true events that happened in 1998 in the shadow of David Koresh in Waco, TX and the Heaven’s Gate cult in CA. The small group of Taiwanese immigrants moved to Garland, Texas to follow the word of Teacher Chen. According to Teacher Chen God spoke to him and that God will be delivering an important message to them on television channel 18 on March 31, 1998. The story follows Hou, Xiu, and their son Ollie as they cope with language barriers from the relocation, cultural differences and if God will give them an important message.
While watching this film I felt this as quiet and reflective movie. Watching Hou played by Shing Ka as the man in family and trying to understand if he is following his true calling or if he got it all wrong while trying to hold his family together. While his wife Xiu, portrayed by Jodi Lin appears to be under a permanent cloud of depression upon arriving in Texas. Shopping in the local store seems to bring some joy but I could see she is struggling with doubt about her husband’s choice(s) and the how the rest of the town is concerned if the cult followers will commit suicide if God does not arrive. Comic relief comes as Xiu visits her cousin, Dr. Maggie Feng, a pet psychologist at a restaurant. Her cousin proceeds to go on and on about her situation and worry about her. A humorous comment during the scene is when her cousin tells her “…we’re Chinese we don’t believe in God!”
After the showing there was a short question and answer session with director Preston Miller and stars of God’s Land. I was able to ask Preston what drew him to direct such a film. “The topic of questioning one’s belief system is interesting. The majority of the cult followers were college and university educated people. Preston wanted to know what type of person makes such decisions with such an intellectual background. Filming of the movie took twenty weekends from 2009 to 2010. To film some scenes in the movie it was considered “commando style” as they did not get written permission to film in the local Road Island Target was after getting kicked out of one Target for filming and going to another one ten miles away to continue filming.
God’s Land plans to be shown at other film festivals across the country before going for national release later this year.
The second movie I saw was Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone written and directed by Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler. After speaking with Metzler this was a movie about telling the story of pursuing your dream. Metzler was not originally a fan of Fishbone but after four years of filming and complete access to the band he is a fan now and encourages anyone to see them next time they come to Colorado. I have been a fan of Fishbone but was never aware of the history of the band with rise of fame and the being short of superstardom. Watching this film is like watching a who’s who in a punk yearbook. Anderson and Metzler had amazing access and you were able to feel the frustration and love that this band feels for each other.
We follow the band through the old neighborhood going back to their junior high school that was filmed in the classic Fat Albert cartoon style. This was an audience favorite as the band describe meeting up with each other and jamming out in Mamma Fish’s house back in the late 1970’s. Shown playing shows across L.A., New York, and Japan, there are awesome live clips and handbills from the shows as well. The film also includes footage of them playing twenty-five years later in small clubs in Europe and in California, as well as with dealing with the trials of everyday life. Fishbone is one of the most well respected bands to come out of California and at times it seemed like we were watching a eulogy without the band being dead yet. You had Ice-T, Flea, Les Claypool and George Clinton among others singing the praises of this band among a cast of others.
This documentary is about the music and the love that these men have for the music as well as each other, and how they struggle to keep the band alive with only two of the original members Angelo Moore and Norwood Fisher still forging ahead. I found myself laughing out loud at the comments said about each other, to rocking my head to memorable songs I haven’t heard since high school. This is a must see film for anyone who is a fan of Fishbone and anyone who needs an education in punk.
Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone will be in limited release with wide release spring/summer 2011 with corresponding tour from Fishbone.
For more information on the 2010 Denver Starz Film Festival, please visit: http://www.denverfilm.org/festival/