Release Date: May 9th, 2007 (Village East Cinemas) by Vitagraph Films. The Cast: Erik Steffen Maahs, Gretchen Krich, Sullivan Brown, Maya Lawson, Katherine E. Scharhon, Todd Jefferson Moore, Andrew Loviska, Kellan Larson, Cathleen O'Malley, Clayton Corzatte, Susan Corzatte. Directed by Guy Maddin. BASIC PREMISE: Guy (Maahs) returns Black Notch Island, his childhood home, and recalls how his mother (Krich) ran an orphanage and his father (Moore) performed experiments on the orphans. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: The thin, unpredictable and occasionally deranged plot follows the older Guy as he recalls his childhood memories. Isabella Rossellini narrates this otherwise silent film which is separated into twelve chapters. His mother ran an orphanage while his scientist father performed all sorts of experiments on the orphans. The younger Guy (Brown) and his older teenage sister “Sis” (Lawson) communicate with their mother via an Aerophone—a telephone that runs on human emotion rather than electricity. Meanwhile, Chance (Scharhon) and Hale (Scharhon), teenage twins, investigate all of the activities and flirt with Guy and Sis. Concurrently bizarre, stylish and wildly imaginative Brand Upon the Brain! is precisely what a fan of Guy Maddin would expect from him. It’s unconventional in every sense of the word, from the black-and-white, grainy visuals to the oddly enchanting and well-chosen musical score. To enliven your experience of all of the music and narration, an orchestra and celebrity narrator will perform in select showings each day at the Village East Cinemas from May 9th through May 15th. If you’re an avid fan of Guy Maddin’s previous work, such as Cowards Bend the Knee, The Saddest Music in the World, and The Heart of the World, you won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind experience. Click here for a list of special guest narrators. SPIRITUAL VALUE: None is required or desired. INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: None, as long as you suspend your disbelief. NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 1 IN A NUTSHELL: A brilliant, bizarre and wildly imaginative experience. RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: Movie Theater Main Page Alphabetical Menu Chronological Menu The "B" Menu ______________________________________________________ |