The Shutka Book of Records
A feature-length documentary by Aleksandar Manic PRESS RELEASE
The online box office will close between 5 and 6 PM on the day of the show after which time tickets may be purchased at the door.
Friday, August 11th, 2006
8:30 - Live Music by Bradford Reed And His Amazing Pencilina
(click for details)
9:00 - Showtime
TRT: 1:18:00
On the East River at Solar One (@ 23rd St), just north of Stuyvesant Cove Park, Manhattan | DIRECTIONS
The show will go on rain or shine, so bring an umbrella.
The Shutka Book of Records
At Rooftop Films, we like movies that show us "where you live and how you live." We look for films that explore hidden communities and introduce us to uncommon people. We seek out stories that are funny, poignant, eye-opening, jaw-dropping, and unique. We want the best films out there.
In Shutka, Macedonia—the unofficial, self-governing, world capital of the Roma people—everyone is a champion of something. The town is one of the poorest places in all of Europe, but the people have learned to celebrate life with competitive vigor. To do the town justice, or possibly to counterbalance what Shutka lacks, its inhabitants constantly compete for the champion title in every discipline imaginable. Who is the best at protecting the community from evil spirits, who the greatest lounge singer of all? Come meet the lamb champion for the last 35 years, the champions in boxing, fashion, sex. And find out who will win this year's obscure Turkish music cassette competition.
The charismatic and crazy Dr. Koljo, one of the characters from Emir Kusturica's Black Cat, White Cat, accompanies us as the narrator, guiding us through an exclusive tour of a town usually closed to outsiders, introducing us to various characters who perform their own stories. Aleksandar Manic's warm and funny documentary is too extraordinary to be fiction, although some of the local characters "act" out their stories with a chutzpah and bravado more familiar to melodrama.
Manic weaves images reminiscent of silent films into vivid color and enchants us with magic tricks as he follows an invisible thread through this refreshing documentary. The result is a cheerful and personal portrayal of the microcosm that is Shutka, and the reigning world champion of Roma documentaries, The Shutka Book of Records.
The feature will be preceded by one short film: Frank and Wendy, Episode 6: The Rainbow
(Kaspar Jancis, Ulo Pikkov & Priit Tender | Tallinn, Estonia | 10:00)
A group of animators have created two CIA super-super-agents battling evil Latvians in the deadly streets of Estonia. Named the best Estonian animated film of 2005, this is one episode from the unbelievably weird story of Frank and Wendy. To give you a bit of the manic, muddled back story: Frank has a bit of a crush on the brutal Wendy, but a ghostly perverted rabbit is often coming between them. Commies from backwaters like New Mexico and Greenland are constantly conspiring to take over the world. The Martians are new, but not unexpected. Meanwhile, the animators themselves have been joined by a spy named Putin, who has a curious interest in their fictional creations. Come to the roof each week to see the entire Frank and Wendy saga, and though we can ensure more delightful mayhem, we can't promise that it will ever make sense.
THE MUSIC:
Bradford Reed never fails to entertain and inspire. This Brooklyn-based composer, performer and producer fights and tames the idiosyncrasies of the pencilina, an original instrument of his own design and construction. The pencilina is an electric ten-stringed collision of the hammer dulcimer, slide guitar, koto and fretless bass with six pickups of varied types. It is struck with sticks, plucked and bowed, giving Reed an incredibly wide sonic palette. Many have enjoyed Reed's frequent street performances and club dates.
In additon to his solo work, Bradford plays the pencilina, drums and keyboards with King Missile III ("Detachable Penis" and "Jesus Was Way Cool") and produced Failure and The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (on Shimmy Disc/Instict Records) as well as Royal Lunch (Important Records). He also played the electric zither in the Blue Man Group's band in their lauded Off-Broadway show, Tubes for 8 years. Reed has appeared with his pencilina on MTV, USA Up All Night, Fox's Sound FX, and The Tonight Show, and has toured throughout the USA, Asia and Europe. Reed is also featured on Orbitones, Spoon Harps & Bellowphones, Ellipsis Arts' second experimental instruments compilation album which includes music by Tom Waits, Aphex Twin and John Cage.
