Posted by Julia Mahony
One of the films you can view at the Saratoga Film Forum this weekend is Jia Zhang-ke's "A Touch of Sin." The movie is divided into four parts. Each segment is centered on different characters who are driven to brutal events that leave us questioning the nature of humanity.
All four sections of the film are based on true events and represent a modern and dystopian . The characters range from a miner with his own personal interpretation of justice to a young receptionist who is pushed far beyond her limits by a lover, whose response to an ultimatum is a savage one. Though "A Touch of Sin" has a contemporary setting, it heavily draws on the tradition of wuxia, Chinese fictional stories that narrate the journeys of martial artists.
"A Touch of Sin" won the award for best screenplay at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The movie showings at the Film Forum this weekend will be the regional premiere for the film. It is playing at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 1st, as well as at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 3rd .
The other film playing this weekend is "??vocateur." It is a documentary about the Morton Downey Jr. Show. It showcases Downey's role as a predecessor to conservative commentators, such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. The documentary illustrates the great influence the show had on "trash TV," a kind of tabloid talk show designed with some sort of controversial purpose in mind. "??vocteur" is playing at the Film Forum at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 2nd . Special Treat: After the movie, meet and converse with the filmmaker! All movie screenings are just $5 with valid Skidmore ID.