ND/NF

After dim sum we went to MoMA to see Starlit High Noon, part of the New Directors/New Films series. I liked it, though it was a little long in the middle and underexposed. While the dark nature of the print was intentional, at times I wanted to better see the compositions. The director spoke briefly before the film and suffered a Q and A session at the end. He was very funny.

We had a few hours to kill before the ND/NF closing dinner and so Cherry and I went to Starbucks and sat and flipped through the Times and talked. Eric joined us near eight; he had invited us to accompany him to the dinner.

A long table was set up at Il Gattopardo. Eric explained that when the Modern bought out the restaurant space beside MoMA, the proprietor of the Italian restaurant that used to occupy that space wanted to keep his restaurant near the museum. He opened up behind the museum; the curators all still go to his restaurant for lunch.

We were the second group to arrive. We were welcomed by the curator and sat across from the cinematographer of Starlit High Noon and his camera assistant. Soon, the director arrived, and then the rest of the invited filmmakers and guests. The wine was very good, the swordfish buttery, the pasta rich. Nakagawa Yosuke was charming, and it was fun talking to his cinematographer. Yosuke told us that he worked for ten years as a businessman, saving money. He then quit his job and self-financed his first film, a 60 minute short. With that as a calling card he sought to secure further work.

We were the last group in the restaurant. After the dinner we made our way to the street. We said our goodbyes and then said our goodbyes again before taking the train home. Posted by eku at April 5, 2005 9:44 AM