The Banquet Room

The Real Right Stuff The story of America's first astronauts, known as the Mercury 7, told through archival news & radio reports, newly transferred & previously unheard NASA mission audio recordings, and more rare & unseen material.

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Ezra Pound in Venice A previously unreleased film that documents the relationship between Bacigalupo and the American poet who introduced him to the underground scene. “Filmed in Venice during the production of a documentary by Bayerischer Rundfunk, in which I participated as a consultant.” - M. Bacigalupo

The Burden of Being In the year 2061, where only one utilitarian race -- known as 'The Nation' -- is recognized, a Native American man is imprisoned for speaking his ancient tribal language.

Paphos A sketch of materials (and texts) that were to be used in Nor Wood and Migration, this short film has the freshness of an improvisation.

Postcard from America After the author’s period of experimentation, these American notes are extremely straightforward. As in Migration, however, this America could be a more remote country, and the inspiration is avowedly Japanese (Basho’s Narrow Road to the Deep North). Implicitly, the film-maker compares himself to an old peddler of drawings, Sam, hawking his wares at the entrance of Columbia’s Butler Library.

Virginal Young Blondes Unemployed John goes to a bar, where he meets Sofia, who mistakes him for a trust-fund brat and offers her sexual services for money. John doesn't bother to dispel Sofia's misconceptions and accepts her invitation to get stoned. As Sofia and John pass "the most expensive chocolate shop in the world," both are captivated by the cakes in the windows. He is stunned when the amount comes to $42.50. On the Brooklyn Bridge, Sofia shares a traumatic incident from her past in which her drug dealer boyfriend was murdered in front of her and she was raped by the killers. Recomposing herself, Sofia leaves and John, in his drugged state, devours the cakes.

Ariel loquitur Material shot between 1961 and 1967 ,including bad takes for Quasi una tangente, is reorganized following the five acts of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Thus Ariel loquitur ("Ariel speaks") has five numbered sections, and a Prospero-like figure of old philosopher appears repeatedly. The wedding ceremony of Miranda and Ferdinand in Act IV of the play is performed in section IV, an unedited night-film in which one catches glimpses of a match being lit. The last section introduces color and sound, the latter through the Beatles' A Day in the Life (from Sgt.Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band).

Lilan Lilan, the heroine, reconciles herself with the breakup of an affair.

Expressions