Films

In Attendance: Damien Chazelle (Director)

Set against the gritty realism of Boston, GUY AND MADELINE ON A PARK BENCH is a jazzy Cassavetes-type riff on old-fashioned song and dance musicals. Shot in dynamic black and white 16mm, this fusion of styles is a study of romance, commitment, art and their collected awkward struggles to develop in young people.

Guy is an up-and-coming Boston jazz trumpeter (played by renowned musician Jason Palmer); Madeline is a directionless introvert looking for work. Together they aren’t amounting to much and when Elena catches Guy’s wandering eye, it takes little to break apart the bonds. After time, chance and fate intersect the old lovers’ paths despite their efforts to move on. Can Guy find the words to bring them together again? Or is it best said with a song?

In this energetic college film by Damien Chazelle no one says what they mean, words are stumbled over, and break ups are often quick, brutal calls on a cell phone. Inversely, affairs blossom as quickly as two hands innocently brushing on the subway. Music is always at the periphery of this film. It acts as an expressive tool the characters are still fine tuning and when the songs break out, clunky as they are, it is a dizzying release of all those bottled emotions. - Trevor Smith, CIFF Program Manager

Please join us following the screening at Beat Niq Jazz and Social Club (811-1 Street SW, lower level) $10 Cover Charge.

Live music by Al Muirhead & Guests presented by ArtsScene.

This film has been rated: PG - Content advisory - Not Recommended For Children