Last year at the Los Angeles Film Festival I did what I normally do when I attend a film festival: thumb through the program and search valiantly for a movie that’ll knock me out of my socks. Although living in Southern California, I usually wear flip flops. That sort of defeats the purpose, but you catch my meaning. This can be a hit or miss system, and more often than not you’ll find yourself sitting in a theater, struggling to stay awake, bored by what’s onscreen.
However, I hit the motherlode when I saw Kabluey last year. I wrote an extensive review and sat down with the writer/director/star Scott Prendergast. You can read all about that over on Cinematical, which will save me the trouble of trying to sum it all over again. Although if you’re pressed for time, I’ll do that here: great movie.
I was worried that Kabluey would drop into that abyss of movies that do well at festivals, and then drop off the map altogether. It’s not always a success story for a movie that becomes a darling of critics and audiences, but it was a year later and I hadn’t read about the film being released, which was sad. When you see a movie that really touches you, you want to share that with other people. I was worried no one would be able to have the same Kabluey experience that I did.
But, I missed the announcement in May that the film had indeed been picked up, and had a release date. In fact, I may have ended up missing it altogether if I hadn’t run into Prendergast again at this year’s LAFF. He told me the film will be releasing theatrically in several cities, and will then be out on DVD later this year, so you won’t have an excuse for not seeing it anymore. Everyone from the New York Times to the LA Times to yours truly has loved this movie, and I sure hope you’ll give it a whirl.
You can see Kabluey currently in New York City and Los Angeles, and at the end of July it will be coming to Austin. August sees the film coming to San Francisco and Portland. If you live in one of these cities, check your local listings and check it out on the big screen, which is more than worth it. If you don’t live nearby, get in your car and drive, sucka! if you absolutely can’t make it, the DVD comes out in September. There will be a pop quiz later, so be sure to study. Check out the trailer below.
Here’s the shorthand synopsis: Inept Salman (Scott Prendergast) comes to help his sister-in-law (Lisa Kudrow) tend to her homicidal toddlers while Salman’s brother is off fighting in Iraq. Salman must take a humiliating job as a giant blue corporate mascot to help make ends meet and hold the family together.
Related Topics: Film Festivals
