The East Lansing Film Festival - ELFF

Synopsis: Based on the international best seller, BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS is set in the early 1970's during the later stages of China's "Cultural Revolution," as two city-bred teenage best friends are sent to a backward mountainous region for Maoist re-education. They fall in love with a local beauty, "the little seamstress" and gain her attention by reading her banned Western literature. Tender, touching and visually sumptuous.

Synopsis: This riveting, well-researched documentary reveals the inside story of one of history's greatest business scandals. Enron, the seventh largest US corporation, toppled by its leaders outrageous financial fraud and rampant greed that eliminated 20,000 jobs and drained over a one billion dollars in retirement funds. Director Gibney uses dark humor, a clever soundtrack and well-researched footage to expose this very dark side of American business.

Synopsis: Three people and a baby set off on separate journeys along the same road; their disparate dreams and stories intertwining amidst the breathtaking deserted route in Patagonia. This charming, funny and moving film is a tribute to the small moments of everyday life. Captivating simplicity, gentle humor, rich humanity and an infectious generosity of spirit.

Synopsis: A very funny comedy written by and starring Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh, members of Comedy Central's Upright Citizen's Brigade. Martin, a mascot designer, unsuccessfully tries to kill himself. He goes to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Orloff, who is even crazier than he is. Hilarious events ensue involving a pair of strippers, a pro football player with anger management issues and a Desert Storm vet with uncontrolled ways to relieve himself.. Off-the wall humor, political incorrectness and total absurdity abounds. The film has many cameos throughout, including Mr. Show's David Cross, Andy Richter, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, and Janeane Garafalo. Winner of the East Lansing Film Festival Audience Award.

Synopsis: An inspiring and thrilling documentary about the determined quadriplegic men who participate in the dangerous sport of "quad rugby". Yet the film is more - it shows that physical limitations are no match for the human spirit. The directors introduce us to a world of macho competition, driven ambition and extraordinary efforts that shatters all stereotypes. Entertaining, original and life affirming.

Synopsis: A father prepares to hand his 112 mile mail route over to this son. As they trek across the rugged landscape of China’s southeastern Hunan province, the son learns not only about the isolated communities to which they deliver mail, but also about his own father. Winner, Best Film, Montreal World Film Festival; Winner, Audience Award, Maine International Film Festival. "A film so simple and straightforward that its buried emotions catch us a little by surprise."
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times "Quietly beautiful." -Jeffrey Anderson, San Francisco Exmainer

Synopsis: This exquisitely beautiful and very human drama is entirely set on and around a tree-lined lake where a tiny Buddhist monastery floats on a raft amidst a breath-taking landscape. The film is divided into 5 segments with each season representing a stage in a man's life. Director KIM Ki-duk has crafted a totally original yet universal story about the human spirit. Winner, Audience Award, San Sebastian Film Festival. "Stunning to watch and exhilarating to contemplate" - David Sterlot, Christian Science Monitor "A must see! An elegantly simple, profound Buddhist fable." - Ty Burr, The Boston Globe

Synopsis: Winner of Audience Awards at the Toronto, Sundance and Vancouver film festivals, this comprehensive, humorous, and illuminating documentary tackles a subject of global proportions: the concept of the corporation throughout recent history up to its present-day dominance. Extensive and compelling interviews range from CEOs (IBM, Shell Oil, Gap, Nike and more) to marketing professionals to economists, activists and social critics, including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein and Michael Moore. The question at hear of the film is - "if a corporation is a "person" in the eyes of the law, what kind of person is it? The answer is psychopath - based on psychological diagnostic criteria.

Synopsis: Families of nomadic shepherds in the Gobi Desert, South Mongolia, are assisting in the births of their camel herds. One very difficult birth produces a rare white calf that the mother immediately rejects. As is their traditional ritual, a special musician must come from a distant village to try to save the calf. This amazing documentary is a visual storytelling of a simple but majestic way of life using extraordinary images, haunting natural sounds and hypnotic music. A rare film and unique story. Winner, Best Documentary, Bavarian Film Awards. On many "Top Ten Films of 2004" lists.

Synopsis: Nominated for an Academy Award, this incredibly touching and poignant drama is about a low-ranking samurai, Seibei Iguchi, of the late 1800's. He is called the "twilight samurai" because he goes home each evening before dark to take care of his children and ailing mother after the sudden death of his wife. He gains the respect of his fellow samurais when he battles with only a piece of wood the ex-husband of a childhood sweetheart. The lead actor Hiroyuki Sanada commands the screen like the more famous great Japanese actors, Toshiro Mifune (Magnificent Seven) and Ken Watanabee (The Last Samurai). An intensely humane exploration of the reluctant heart of a warrior.

Synopsis: This remarkable movie is the true story of a Bohemian St. Francis and his remarkable relationship with a flock of wild red-and-green parrots. Mark Bittner, a dharma bum, former street musician in San Francisco, falls in with the flock as he searches for meaning in his life, unaware that the wild parrots will bring him everything he needs. Charming, heartwarming, amusing.