For kids like me who discovered indie film in the early 90's (and by indie film we meant Jim Jarmusch, Hal Hartley & Spike Lee), this should be a great way to celebrate Mothers Day:
From the Pioneer Theater's
site:
"Join us for this one-time only double bill
bringing together for the first time in New York
HENRY FOOL (1997) and its sequel FAY GRIM (2006)
two major works from acclaimed filmmaker Hal Hartley
special guests include:
Hal Hartley, Thomas Jay Ryan, Richard Sylvarnes, Kyle Gilman,
S.T. VanAirsdale (The Reeler),
and others to be announced
HENRY FOOL
Simon (James Urbaniak), a shy garbage man, lives with his sister (Parker Posey of PARTY GIRL and WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, among dozens of other movies) and mother, who both treat him with minimal respect. Into Simon's life comes Henry Fool (Thomas Jay Ryan), a heavy-drinking self-proclaimed great writer who goads Simon into writing an enormous poem. The poem becomes the source of great controversy, proclaimed by some as a great work of art, denounced by others as perverse trash. As Simon's star rises, he tries to draw attention to Henry's work as well, to little avail. Though the premise seems simple, Henry Fool takes on something of an epic sweep as it follows the effects of fame on Simon's and Henry's lives. This rumination on art and inspiration was hailed by some critics as the best film yet by writer-director Hal Hartley (TRUST, SIMPLE MEN, AMATEUR), while others felt it brought out his worst self-indulgences. All movies written and directed by Hartley defy easy interpretation, and HENRY FOOL is no exception. Still, it's a rare film that even tries to tackle such subjects, let alone does so with a combination of intelligence and humor (ranging from verbal quirkiness to scatological embarrassment).
[synopsis adapted from Amazon.com]
FAY GRIM
Fay Grim, a single Mom from Woodside, Queens, is afraid her 14 year old son, Ned, will grow up to be like his father, Henry, who has been missing for seven years. Fay's brother Simon is serving ten years in prison for aiding in Henry's escape from the law. In the quiet of his cell, Simon has had time to think about the tumultuous years of Henry's presence among them--chronicled in Hartley's earlier film HENRY FOOL(1998). He has come to suspect that Henry was not the man he appeared to be. His suspicions are validated when the CIA asks Fay to travel to Paris to retrieve Henry's property. Her mission turns into a sprawling con-game, pitching Fay deep into a world of international espionage.
[synopsis from Magnolia Pictures]
Special thanks to Tom Prassis at Sony Pictures Classics, and Jeff Reichert from Magnolia Pictures."
