Movies and Music, Maestro

The CineArt series of choice art, foreign and independent films made popular by the joint efforts of the Callicoon Theater and Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) opens its sixth season on September 19 with a contemporary film noir.

“Memento” has made waves since appearing in March and competing at the Sundance Film Festival. Playing with time and memory, it is a puzzle that benefits from repeat viewing, like “The Sixth Sense.” But unlike “The Sixth Sense,” Memento builds with logical revelations to a final scene that, mystery solved, still leaves room for viewer interpretation.

Leonard Shelby (played by Guy Pearce) is an insurance investigator trying to solve his wife’s murder. Since her death, he’s been unable to make new memories, and he’s adrift, forgetting his discoveries as soon as he makes them, desperately trying to document his quest with Polaroids and tatoos. The film reels backward from the end of Leonard’s search to the murder that set the whole story in motion. The suspense isn’t just a “whodunnit,” but is also about what Leonard will remember.

With an exceptional performance by Pearce that makes palpable the terror of Leonard’s search, “Memento” is, as described by Roger Ebert, “a diabolical and absorbing experience.” Supporting cast includes Stephen Tobolosky (Groundhog Day), Carrie-Anne Moss (Matrix), and Joe Pantoliano (“The Sopranos”).

Memento will play through September 23 and will be followed by nine more monthly treats. For information during the week of a showing, call the theater’s 24-hour Movieline at 845/887-4460, or DVAA anytime at 845/887-7576.

For kids who wish to make mementos of their own imaginations, the Tusten-Cochecton Branch of the Western Sullivan Library is repeating its successful “Videotoons” Video Workshop for ages three and up on Saturday, September 15, with guest artist Ron Littke conducting three one hour sessions. Call 845/252-3360 if interested in attending.

This weekend, September 14, 15 and 16, is one to gladden the hearts of blues lovers, as the sixth annual, three day, all weather Blues Festival returns to the Nevele Hotel in Ellenville, NY, complete with a Sunday Gospel Brunch. Call 845/985-9407 for more information.

If gospel for brunch leaves you hungry for more, the Tri-state Dixieland Band can fill your Sunday afternoon with a concert sponsored by the Town of Lumberland, aided in part with NYS Decentralization funds administered by the DVAA. It’s just down the road (Route 97) from Narrowsburg, on September 16 at 3:00 p.m. in the Lumberland Town Hall on Proctor Road in Glen Spey. (Information: 845/434-8182).

Information about most of the above events appears elsewhere in this issue of TRR. Questions about other local arts activities? Call the DVAA, your arts connection, at 845/252-7576.