The director of the “Altman” documentary, Ron Mann, and Robert Altman’s widow, Kathryn Reed Altman, will participate in a question and answer session following the 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 screening at UNL’s Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. In addition to the “Altman” premiere, the prison drama “Starred Up” opens Oct. 24.
“Altman” will have two screenings at 5:10 and 7:30 p.m.
Mann’s “Altman” documentary is an in-depth look at the life and times of filmmaker Robert Altman (“MAS*H,” “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” “Nashville,” “The Player,” “Gosford Park” and more). While refusing to bow down to Hollywood’s conventions or its executives, Altman’s unique style of filmmaking won him friends and enemies, earned him world-wide praise (occasionally scathing criticism) and proved that it is possible to make truly independent films. With its use of rare interviews, representative film clips, archival images and musings from his family and most recognizable collaborators, Mann’s “Altman” is a dynamic and heartfelt mediation on an artist whose expression, passion and appetite knew few bounds.
Mann, a Canadian filmmaker and producer, is renowned for his genre-bending approach to documentary cinema that explores art forms and contemporary popular culture with vision and verve.
Kathryn Reed Altman was a partner and collaborator in every sense with her husband. They met in 1959 when he was directing an episode of the television series “Whirlybirds,” in which she had been cast. She was deeply involved with every one of his projects thereafter.
On Oct. 24, “Starred Up” screens at 4:45, 7 and 9:15 p.m.
19-year-old Eric (Jack O’Connell, star of the upcoming “Unbroken”), arrogant and ultra-violent, is prematurely transferred to the same adult prison facility as his estranged father (Ben Mendelsohn, “The Dark Knight Rises”). As Eric’s explosive temper quickly finds him enemies in both prison authorities and fellow inmates, and his already volatile relationship with his father is pushed past breaking point, Eric is approached by a volunteer psychotherapist (Rupert Friend, “Homeland”), who runs an anger management group for prisoners. Torn between gang politics, prison corruption and a glimmer of something better, Eric finds himself in a fight for his own life, unsure if his own father is there to protect him or join in punishing him. Written by prison system therapist Jonathan Asser, “Starred Up” is a merciless, uncompromising portrayal of a dehumanizing life behind bars and the most accomplished film of David Mackenzie’s career; as father and son, Mendelsohn and O’Connell give extraordinary performances, charting a path that resembles Greek tragedy.
Both films are unrated and will play at the Ross for one week.
For more information, go to http://www.theross.org.
