Set in 1945 and based off a true story, 4 Days Of May follows the days before the official end of World War II. The Germans have already lost, but as soldiers and civilians both learn how to deal with the change, drama and unconventional decision-making ensue.

May 31st @ 4:00pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
June 7th @ 9:00pm, Harvard Exit
June 9th @ 4:30pm, Egyptian Theatre

Inspired by the facts, and perhaps some fictions, about James Dean’s too-short life, this boundary-stretching film imagines the cinematic icon’s bisexual pre-fame days and ruminates about the steep costs that come with being a star. Black and white and color.

May 24th @ 6:30pm, Egyptian Theatre
May 25th @ 4:00pm, Harvard Exit

A youthful photographer decides to open up her eyes and mind to the stories of older individuals in a small Brazilian town, giving new perspectives on life and death.

May 22 @ 9:00pm, Harvard Exit
May 24 @ 3:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown

An extended family gathers for the youngest daughter’s wedding, but not all goes as planned. A glowing pastel canvas and sensual score are dreamy counterpoints to the anxieties and celebrations of three generations.

May 22nd @ 6:00pm, Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center
June 1st @ 6:30pm, SIFF Cinema Uptown
June 6th @ 9:30pm, Harvard Exit

Signify, Sanctify, Believe

Portland, Oregon
Presented by Xhurch and Open Engagement
Multiple days – FREE

A traveling troupe of performance art semi-spiritualists, Sanctify, Signify, Believe, are now on the road to conduct a series of head-scratching events that will leave you wondering about your connection to the spiritual world and religion.

The party kicks off May 15th @ 1:00pm at repurposed church venue Xhurch, with an open house and healing service that runs until 4:00pm. Other events taking course throughout the week, until May 20th, include plenty of lectures, performances, musical acts, and REDEFINE involvement in the form of Prince Rama-inspired Now Age tracts for the group’s Library Of Sacred Technologies.

See complete list of Sanctify, Signify, Believe events

A feature-length documentary about Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, an influential and ground-breaking liberal artist considered a “God of Love” or the “Beijing Andy Warhol.” He controversially goes as far as giving the middle finger to the Motherland and telling it, “Fuck you.”

May 18th @ 6:30pm, AMC Pacific Place 11
May 19th @ 4:00pm, AMC Pacific Place 11

A Grain Of Sand Trailer

Directed by Nadine Labaki; 2011

Where Do We Go Now? opens on an unremarkable dirt road. A group of women hugs the frame tightly. They are of all shapes and sizes — young and old, supermodel beautiful and commoner modest — and upon first glance, their only shared quality is that they are all clad in black. Director Nadine Labaki slowly begins to focus on each woman, in succession, and it becomes apparent that the most subtle difference – the degree to which each woman is veiled – is the real point of focus. Some have their hair completely covered while others are not covered at all; yet all are approaching the camera in mutual accord. Their facial expressions are severe, but their movements are choreographed in a tragically unaware fashion, like a pop routine slapped together with little focus on details and timing. Is their march is a bitter funeral procession or a dance celebration? Is it a Lebanese cultural convention or a joke on the viewer? One can’t be sure, with the arid landscape devoid of reference points.

Where Do We Go Now? begins and ends in the same location, with moments of disagreement and peace sprinkled in-between. A host of cast members and stories are told simultaneously, with few singled out as the major players. Instead, all are united by one central theme – religion – and Where Do We Go Now? carries on to share all of religion’s beauties and tragedies, in equal measure.

REVIEW CONTINUED BELOW

When a peaceful village finally receives consistent television reception, its residents gather in communion to enjoy the perks of reliable outside influence. It’s a simple pleasure that grows more complex with every viewing session, and the villagers begin to quarrel about the appropriateness of Western media content. While flipping through channels in haste, they stop briefly on a news station and learn that religious tensions between Muslims and Christians are building elsewhere in Lebanon. The villagers, Muslims and Christians who have always lived side-by-side in harmony, are left to decide whether they should turn a blind eye to the conflicts or become swept up in the energies themselves.

A series of unfortunate misunderstandings ensue after the seed of doubt is planted. The once-peaceful village finds itself the site of finger-pointing accusations and ostentatious male displays of bravado. Overlooked all the while – not by the film, but by the film’s hot-headed male characters – is a group of females who work silently as a peacekeeping force. Their meddling tactics run from the absolutely ridiculous (hiring Ukranian dancers to distract their husbands, faking divine intervention, etc.) to the tragically desperate. Absurdities reminiscent of those from Delicatessen are seen during the film’s more manic moments – but these moments never carry on for too long, as they are balanced often by serious emotional wake-up calls.

Where Do We Go Now? is a brilliant hybrid of comedy and drama that embraces heart-wrenching sadness and laugh-out-loud hilarity with equal restraint. It is a poignant reminder that even the most tragic of moments can contain glimmers of light, and that light can shine through tragedy.

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DARKSIDE

Considering everyone has been getting their panties in a wad about the genius of 21-year-old Nicolas Jaar, it seems to make sense that his next project — a collaboration with Dave Harrington (of ARMS) would excel ridiculously. Their first show sold out Music Hall Of Williamsburg despite the fact that they have only one 3-track EP under their shared electronic belt. The world is watching, and no wonder… this is Jaar’s genius expanded into a package that is not only danceable, but accessible. A James Blake level of prodigy that Americans can be proud of owning (well, kind of, as he was partially raised in Chile, but we’ll take it). SXSW will be their second ever show in the United States. (Please play our SXSW show, guys.)

PURCHASE THE EP AT CLOWN & SUNSET

Matthew Dear

Released earlier this year, Headcage packs quite memorable style into its ~15-minute EP duration. One of the most intriguing parts of it, though, lies in how Dear treats the vocals. The scratchy vocal depth on “Headcage” practically comes from the mouth of the Sandman, and seems to embrace death with surreal depiction:

I suspect as I speak
Your hair grows down to your knees
Let it pass through your hands
Follow me into the sand
If you need to go to sleep man

See the absolutely astounding music video for “Headcage” HERE, along with full tour dates.

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW
Matthew Dear – Headcage by ghostly

“Headcage” is the record’s first single, followed by “In The Middle” featuring Jonny Pierce. Here, the EP turns a brighter cheek. Clear vocals seem to fly in an ocean breeze, the most uninhibited on the record, while looping vocal samples form a joyful percussive background. (Stream this track — arguably the best on the EP — below.)

In the remaining tracks, “Street Song” incorporates trailing phantom particle vocal lines, and “Around A Fountain” seems nearly the work of a capella vocal loops, save for some percussive elements and minimal synths.

YEAR ZERO

Vehicles, dirt, and griminess recalling those from Black Mountain’s video for “Old Fangs” receive a colorful lift via projections in caves, beautiful sunsets, hot babes, and… surf footage? Black Mountain have surprisingly teamed up with skate and surf company GLOBE to create a [heavily electronic influenced?] soundtrack for the upcoming surf film, Year Zero. Below is the trailer (which looks slow-motion fantastic) and a SoundCloud stream of their new track, “Mary Lou,” which will be found on the soundtrack for Year Zero.

Globe describe the film, saying:

YEAR ZERO is a modern take on high performance surfing set in a post-apocalyptic world, reminiscent of Mad Max or an HG Wells novel. It tells a story of a band of renegade surfers, including Dion Agius, Yadin Nicol, Nate Tyler, Taj Burrow, CJ Hobgood and Damien Hobgood, on a road trip through the apocalypse in search of waves, women, and good times. The film’s original soundtrack by BLACK MOUNTAIN, whom VICE MAGAZINE has called, “One of the best rock n’ roll bands of our time,” creates a sonic landscape that fully delivers the immersive experience that director Joe G envisioned for the film.

The film was shot on location around the world entirely in super 16mm film and offers a unique concept with stunning visuals that capture the essence of surfing in a novel setting. YEAR ZERO follows GLOBE’S previous award winning productions such as SECRET MACHINE and NEW EMISSIONS OF LIGHT AND SOUND and is undoubtedly GLOBE’S largest film project to date.