SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 - Movie Review Example

Given below are some of the movies I had chosen to discuss about. HOW TO DIE IN OREGON The Sundance festival has always screened films for crazy movie goers who rush to occupy limits seats along with frenzied reporters who don't want to miss a moment of the 'Sundance Festival' madness. But this was not the case at the screening of the much acclaimed but brutally numbing to the soul movie ' How to Die in Oregon'. This film was directed by  Peter D. Richardson who worked for 4 years and spent close to 75,000 USD on it.

This movie has been so heart wrenching that even the producers of the film, which is HBO, had a hard time finding an audience with their staff as they would be bursting into tears or tearing out of the room, not being able to stand the agony that Cody Curtis the real life protagonist faces every single day. Oregon is the only state that has legalized 'Physician-assisted-suicide' commonly referred to as euthanasia and this story is about a 52 year old mother of two, who battles Cancer and has to succumb to it eventually but nevertheless wants to die with some respect.

She tries her best to be there for her children and crams in all the life's teachings. She wishes she could be alive for a longer period, but unfortunately she cannot because all she has left are a few precious months of her life. Nothing prepares her family for the hopelessness they feel when Cody is granted a lethal dose of  Morphine to give her permanent respite from her endless pain and agony. This tragic story is so touching that it brings tears to the eyes, especially when they come to know that Cody is a real person.

This film has won the Grand Jury Prize for American films at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Awards ceremony. BEING ELMO: A Puppeteer's Journey. The 'Sundance Fim Festival' happens every year in the United States as an effort to bring to the forefront new and independent filmmakers who are exceptionally talented and need that big break.  Once such brilliant movie is 'Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey'. Elmo is an international icon that millions of children from all over the globe love and adore.

But, only a few know of the man behind the creation of this character, Kevin Clash. Having watched Captain Kangaroo and Sesame Street, Kevin always dreamed of creating his own puppets and becoming a performing puppeteer. As fate would have Kevin Clash got a dream break from none other than his idol and master puppeteer Jim Henson himself, paving way for one of the most favorite and famous characters in The Muppets universe. Kevin Clash has always been a very private person and the movie revolves more around his art and creation than the man himself.

Even his colleagues focussed more on praising his talent than delving into any personal trivia about him. A steady, focussed and passionate Kevin Clash has shows us how perseverance and hard work really pays off through this film. This film has been selected in the following categories -  OFFICIAL SELECTION - SXSW FILM FESTIVAL 2011 OFFICIAL SELECTION - FULL FRAME DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2011 OFFICIAL SELECTION - INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL BOSTON  OFFICIAL SELECTION - HOT DOCS (OUTSPOKEN OUTSTANDING) OFFICIAL SELECTION - DALLAS FILM 2011 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEERS JOURNEY HAS WON IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES -  WINNER - SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2011 LIKE CRAZY The 'Sundance Film Fest