plural blog

This week, the annual Chicago International Film Festival will give you the opportunity to see some fresh films that you may not be able to see ever again, maybe…? Unfortunately, you will not be experiencing the same amount of fresh graphic design, as shown above. (Sorry, I know, it’s a low blow at the festival graphics, but there are some things that I just can’t let go of, and bad typography is one of them.) I am fortunate enough to have a great film guide in Frederic Tcheng, as I mentioned in a previous post, (the co-producer and co-editor of Valentino: The Last Emperor), who has directed us toward the festival’s highlights. Among the 160 films, here are a few that caught my attention:

MILTON GLASER: TO INFORM AND DELIGHT / Wendy Key

“Well-known as the cofounder of New York Magazine and for his iconic logos and posters—I Love New York, Bob Dylan with the Kaleidoscope Hair, the list goes on—Milton Glaser has revolutionized the world of design. Director Wendy Keys paints a delightful portrait of the always charismatic and incessantly clever Glaser in this thoroughly entertaining glimpse at one of America’s most celebrated artists. 65 min.” -via chicagofilmfestival.org

HUNGER / Steve McQueen

“The death of IRA leader Bobby Sands is richly dramatized in the first feature by British artist Steve McQueen. The film is relentless in its portrayal of the hunger strikes and “dirty protests” staged by prisoners demanding special political prisoner status. Named best first feature at Cannes, Hunger has generated controversy for its brutally frank depiction of the horrors of Northern Ireland’s HM Prison Maze. 96 min.” -via chicagofilmfestival.org

WESLEY WILLIS’S JOYRIDES / by Chris Bagley, Kim Shively

“Raised in a broken home in one of Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods, Wesley Willis sought refuge in art and music, creating thousands of extraordinarily detailed ink drawings of the city and its expressways, and producing more than 50 albums. Joyrides is a highly personal, deeply engrossing look at the life of a man who, despite incredible odds, became a prolific artist, underground icon, and an individual thousands dearly loved. 77 min. ” -via chicagofilmfestival.org

BE LIKE OTHERS / Tanaz Eshaghian

“In Iran, homosexuality is considered a crime punishable by death, but for decades a painful sex-change operation has been a legal alternative for men seeking to either live as women or simply enjoy relationships with other men. In this startling documentary, Eshaghian confronts us with this serious social issue by following a group of twentysomething males—“diagnosed” as transsexuals by the state—before, during, and after their life-altering surgery. 76 mins” -via chicagofilmfestival.org

VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR / Matt Tyrnauer

“The name Valentino is synonymous with beauty, luxury, and glamour. For two years, Matt Tyrnauer, special correspondent for Vanity Fair, was granted unprecedented access to fashion icon Valentino Garavani, whose career and lifestyle are as colorful and lavish as his red-carpet designs. Tyrauner invites us into Valentino’s inner circle in this intimate and moving portrait of one of the world’s most celebrated designers. 96 min.” -via chicagofilmfestival.org