Flak Directed
by
Ron Mann
Canada / 2009 (1976) / 30minutes US Premiere
Screening
Times and Venues:
SYNOPSIS:
Made by Ron Mann when he was sixteen and finished in 2009, "Flak" is a gritty improvised drama that was influenced by John Cassavetes' "Shadows," Michelangelo Antonioni's "The Red Desert" and above all, Robert Kramer's classic film "Ice."
Mann's working title was "Viva La Dynamite," a phrase borrowed from Anaïs Nin. But "Flak" isn't about blowing stuff up-it's about inaction. The film emphasizes boredom, inertia, and our tendency to talk about problems while being unable or unwilling to act.
For Mann, "Flak" was a metaphor for the apolitical spirit of the 1970s. Raw, direct, restrained, and impressive, "Flak" is a look into an unpolished Toronto of the past, and an insightful window onto current social predicaments. (excerpted from Astra Taylor)
BIO:
Ron's exuberant films are anthologies which give voice and vision to an array of articulate artists, underrepresented by mainstream pop media. Mann established his international reputation while in his twenties with a series of award-winning theatrical documentaries including "Imagine the Sound," "Poetry in Motion," "Comic Book Confidential," "Twist," and "Dream Tower." Mann is best know for the 1999 documentary, "Grass," which presents a balanced history of recreational marijuana use in the late 20th century. The success of "Grass was followed with "Go Further," "Tales of Rat Fink" and "Know Your Mushrooms" (2009).
In addition to making films, Mann and veteran Toronto film and music promoter Gary Topp distribute films in Canada under the banner "Films We Like."
Originally released in 2006, Mann revived his film for a retrospective at Hot Docs in 2009.
MAIN CREDITS: Cast/Featuring: David Chapkin, Al Frankel
The Woodstock Film Festival is a not-for-profit, 501 (C)(3) organization with a mission to present an
annual program and year-round schedule of film, music,
and art-related activities that promote artists, culture,
inspired learning, and diversity. The Hudson Valley Film
Commission promotes sustainable economic development
by attracting and supporting film, video and media production.
Copyright, 2000-2009 Woodstock
Film Festival, Inc., a not-for profit organization
