Ledger

Issue date: 10/18/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Picture this: an eccentric teacher coaches old Lebanese men on their English before they move to America, while a man in an entirely different country offers to break up with your girlfriend for fifty bucks, a pack of smokes and a beer. Elsewhere, two strangers meet in a café and find that they are both at a crossroads in their lives. Maybe you'd rather see a toy airplane living out its dream of flying in the clouds, or you want to learn about the history of your city's very own tugboat heroine. Now imagine this: you could have enjoyed each of those visions at the first annual Tacoma Film Festival.

From October 6 to 12, the Grand Cinema presented over 50 films from all over the world at their modest venue on Fawcett Avenue. The movie theater wasn't the only venue for the movies, however; there were film screenings at the Tacoma Art Museum, Stadium High School and even at the University of Washington Tacoma campus.

During the festival, audiences voted for their favorite films. After an official tally of the votes, audiences viewed once more "The Best Shorts in Town" at the Carwein Auditorium in the Keystone building on campus. Five short films were voted as best in the festival. From the allegorical socio-political undertones in "Lesson Number

Five" to the cynically silly "Break-up Bob," audiences were treated to a range of subjects in film. "Finding Thea" reminded Puget Sound residents of their waterway's namesake, and "Argo" prompted deep thoughts on the need for human connection in everyday life. To finish off the collection of short films, "Flyaway" provided a sweet break from the seriousness with its animated toy airplane that valiantly endeavors to overcome its plaything limitations.

Granted, Tacoma is no Cannes or Sundance, but the Grand brought in a fair share of talented filmmakers. Perhaps the best part of attending a film festival is the cast or crew personally cajoling you into seeing their films. Often you can talk to the filmmakers before or after (but probably not during) their movies, which opens up a whole new dimension in your viewing experience. Instead of underhanded, slimy Hollywood types, many of the filmmakers were warm, sincere people who just wanted to spread the word about their movies.

The Tacoma Film Festival is a chance to see films you most likely won't see anywhere else. We're lucky to have them, especially the foreign films that are rarely widely released. Maybe 90 minutes of unusual film content is not something for which you would normally make time, but remember: like those elusive car sales, this event happens but once a year! Next October, make the decision to immerse yourself in the unusual, and take the time to see a couple of movies at the 2007 film fest. At first you may feel out of your depth, but just give in to the weird. You'll be better off for it.

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