Woodstock Film Festival

Tinker Street Cinema
10/03/2008, 7:15PM

$12

Qty

Rosendale Theater
10/04/2008, 7:00PM

$10

Qty

Greed and idealism collide in this powerful narrative set in the small southern town of Julia as preparations are made to memorialize the fortieth anniversary of the assassination of civil rights activist Paul Malcolm. Paul's son John, played with quiet intelligence by Danny Glover, is urged on by his wife Sarah, the remarkable Angela Bassett, to continue the mission to save the neighborhood of Gospel Hill from developers intent on buying up black owned homes in order to create a golf course for the rich. Actor-director Giancarlo Esposito adds nuance as the ambitious Dr. Ron Palmer, a man willing to seize opportunity at the expense of his community. Tensions of the past resurface, as a town and its people struggle with age-old issues of the politics of prejudice. Images of past and present blend seamlessly as reminders of lessons yet to be learned. (Barbara Pokras, A.C.E.)

BIO:
Versatile American actor Giancarlo Esposito was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, but grew up in Manhattan from the age of six. His mother was an African-American nightclub singer who once shared a bill with Josephine Baker and his father was an Italian stagehand. In show business most of his life, Esposito made his Broadway debut in a 1966 production of "Maggie Flynn." He won a 1981 Theatre World Award for his performance in "Zooman and the Sign." On the big screen, Esposito started appearing in Spike Lee films during the late eighties in a wide range of roles with great character names. In 1995, he earned an Independent Spirit award nomination for his supporting role of doting drug dealer Esteban in Boaz Yakin's debut drama "Fresh." The next year, he turned briefly to producing with the independent prison film "The Keeper," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. On television, Esposito appeared on "NYPD Blue," "Law & Order," and the short-lived Fox comedy "Bakersfield, P.D." In 1999, he earned an Image award nomination for his role as FBI Agent Michael Giardello on "Homicide: Life on the Street." He also has contributed to the Fox television dramas "The Street" and "Girls Club." While teaching at the Atlantic Theater Company, Esposito found time to portray real-life figures in the biopics Ali as Cassius Clay Sr. and Pinero as Miguel Algarin both released in 2001. Esposito's most recent role was Robert Fuentes, a Miami businessman with shady connections, on the UPN television series "South Beach." Esposito's career and choice of roles defies pigeonholing; he has portrayed drug dealers, cops, political radicals and even a demonic version of the Greek God of Sleep from another dimension.

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