Curated by Kevin Nikkel
Independent Toronto filmmaker Alan Zweig creates award winning character-based documentaries. His unique mirror trilogy includes the films Vinyl, Vinyl: The Alternative Take, I, Curmudgeon and Lovable. Each of these films favour rare demographics of contemporary culture; the worlds of record collectors, cantankerous people, and women seeking love. With each of these groups of people Zweig places himself in front of the camera, shot in front of a mirror, providing a consistent autobiographical chorus to each of the films in this trilogy. These video journal excerpts are his attempt to understand his thoughts and feelings on his own relation to the subject of his film. He considers his own habits of collecting records, his own tendency to negative, and his own desire for love and companionship. He puts his responses that reveal complicated characters. When combined with his personal revelations the final product is warm, fuzzy and hopeful portrait of humanity. – Kevin Nikkel
All films will be introduced by Alan Zweig
VINYL
Fri, Feb 11 at 7:00 PM
DIR. ALAN ZWEIG | 1999 | CANADA | 110 MIN
Not since the film Crumb has there been such a deeply funny and honest portrait of obsession – in this case, about collecting records. Featuring everyone from Guy Maddin, Geoff Pevere, Harvey Pekar, and Don Mckellar. Five years in the making, the film features unforgettable interviews with over 100 record collectors including record store clerks, DJ’s, Elvis fanatics, hot jazz collectors, a guy with half a million records crowded into a two bedroom apartment, a guy who memorized the playlist of every K-TEL record ever made, and a guy who took 4 years to clean and play every one of his records in alphabetical order.
VINYL: THE ALTERNATIVE TAKE
Fri, Feb 11 at 9:30 PM
DIR. ALAN ZWEIG | 1999 | CANADA | 90 MIN
Never before seen, Cinematheque presents the world premiere of Vinyl: the Alternate Take which director Zweig says is essentially scenes and outtakes not included in the legendary original film about obsessive record collectors. The film includes former Winnipeg producer Greg Klymkiw and Guy Maddin going for a winter picnic in a Gimli cemetery, interviews with directors Guy Maddin, Bruce McDonald and Atom Egoyan as well as the late comic legend Harvey Pekar and his wife. There are more scenes from some of the favorite characters from the film, including the late Chris Probert and the so-called “K-Tel Guy”. Using only previously unused footage, The Alternate Take is an attempt to make a version of the film Vinyl which is actually about record collecting this time.
I, CURMUDGEON
Sat, Feb 12 at 9:00 PM
DIR. ALAN ZWEIG | 2003 | CANADA | 96 MIN
Zweig says he has been labelled a curmudgeon ever since his late 20’s. Tired of the phrase, he decided to embark on a journey to seek out and interview other curmudgeons. He asked a variety of others – men and women, young and middle aged, what they thought of their negativity. The result is a sometimes hilarious, often thought provoking, look at folks who are tired of today’s “it’s all good” smiley face world which expects people to all like the same things. Featuring a superb cast of naysayers including Andy Rooney (60 Minutes), Scott Thompson (The Kids in The Hall) and the late Harvey Pekar (American Splendor).
LOVABLE
Sun, Feb 13 at 7:30 PM
DIR. ALAN ZWEIG | 2007 | CANADA | 101 MIN
Zweig created a personal film about why it is so hard to find love in today’s world. Through intimate, heartfelt and often hilarious interviews with a series of smart and attractive single women, he explores their yearnings and the difficulty of finding and sustaining relationships. Zweig explores his female subjects as kindred spirits, sharing their vulnerability and openness.