Sundance 2008 – A Worthwhile Endurance Test

Note from Jane:  This is the first blog entry from FPH’s newest guest author, Karin Zauderer.  Since I didn’t get to Sundance this year, and she did (she goes every year),  I asked her to share her impressions of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

My first celebrity sighting of Sundance 2008 was at the Salt Lake City airport. I watched Tilda Swinton navigate her bags and a European looking hunk from the baggage claim to her private vehicle. I had just pushed my way though the fifty or so limo drivers waiting for various celebrities including Bono, Seal and Danny Glover to reach the baggage claim. While the chosen few were whisked away in SUV’s, the rest of us die hard film obsessed commoners waited patiently to be called for the next shuttle to Park City.

 After a long two-hour wait, I finally found myself in the midst of eight strangers jam packed in a cramped van, making small talk and becoming bff’s for the hour ride to our respective condos and hotels. It was sort of like the Breakfast Club in a van. At one point the guy in the front seat says, “Did you guys hit Sundance last year? The movies were so depressing I felt suicidal afterwards.” We laughed and readily agreed. Ah the memories of Sundance 2007. The movies were provocative yet sitting through three raw, dark, intense movies a day is not for the weak hearted.

 We optimistically anticipated a more balanced selection this year. Little did we know this year’s film festival was to be darker and gloomier than ever. No wonder distribution deals were few and far between. Even those films armed with A-list celebrities went home without deals. Sundance 2008 was indeed dark, but did not disappoint. I can only hope these films find their audience. Here are my Sundance highlights from the first half of the festival.