Mill Valley Fest offers oodles of hidden gems and Bay Area-made films.
Big stars and Bay Area filmmakers both get their due
Appearances by Robert Pattinson, Jamie Foxx, Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart and Alfre Woodard will grab much of the attention at this year’s Mill Valley Film Festival. But just as noteworthy are a bundle of indie films — including several from Bay Area filmmakers — along with a tribute to the East Bay’s Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest living National Park ranger. The festival kicks off today with a solid true-life courtroom drama (“Just Mercy” with Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan along with a scene-stealing Tim Blake Nelson) and ends with a pair of awards contenders, “Ford v Ferrari” starring Matt Damon and Christan Bale in a race-car drama, and Edward Norton’s film noir “Motherless Brooklyn.” But there’s so much more — so let’s raise the curtain on some of the films worth seeing. “SEBERG” >> Screenwriters Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse veer away from the traditional biopic format, fashioning a contemporary cautionary tale about racial injustice, government surveillance and sexism via the life of the late actress Jean Seberg (“Breathless”). At times they bite off too much, but Kristen Stewart certainly didn’t. She’s mesmerizing as Seberg, particularly in the last half of the film. Screenings: 7 p.m. Monday at the Smith Rafael Film Center, San Rafael (featuring Stewart Q&A); 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the CinéArts Sequoia, Mill Valley. “NO TIME TO WASTE: THE URGENT MISSION OF BETTY REID SOSKIN” >> One of my favorites at the festival is Carl Bidleman’s expertly crafted, moving documentary about the American treasure Soskin, an East Bay resident who became an influential ranger at Richmond’s Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park at the young age of 85. Bidleman’s inspiring film runs under 60 minutes but captures the essence of the author, composer, singer, activist, historian, blogger, public speaker and, at 98, the old serving National Park ranger. Soskin — who’s recovering at home from a mild stroke and unable to attend the screening — will be awarded the Trailblazer of the Century Award as part of the festival’s Mind the Gap program. What a lovely film about a lovely person. Screening: 2:45 p.m. Saturday at Outdoor Art Club, Mill Valley. “CLEMENCY” >> Alfre Woodard gives a flawless performance as a by-the-book prison warden whose resolve and emotional wellbeing erodes after each execution. Aldis Hodge is her equal, giving a raw, equally awards-worthy turn as an inmate heading toward death. Director Chinonye Chukwu should be in the Oscar conversation as well. It’s one of the year’s best films. Screenings: 5 p.m. Sunday at Sequoia (includes Woodard tribute); 4 p.m. Monday at Rafael Center. “INMATE #1: THE RISE OF DANNY TREJO” >> Brett Harvey’s inspiring documentary peers into the troubled teen and early adult years of cult-fave character actor Trejo, who took a brave U-turn to a better life and successful career. Screening: 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Rafael Center. “THE GREAT 14TH: TENZIN GYATSO, THE 14TH DALAI LAMA IN HIS OWN WORDS” >> Berkeley filmmaker Rosemary Rawcliffe’s intimate portrait of the Dalai Lama, getting a world premiere here, soothes and rejuvenates hurting souls during fractious times. The film documentary invites audiences to delight in the spiritual leader’s laughter and cherish his profound words. Screenings: 6:15 p.m. Oct. 10 and 2 p.m. Oct. 12 at Rafael Center. “39 ½” >> In her first narrative feature — receiving its world premiere here — San Francisco filmmaker Kara Herold wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical story of a filmmaker (Beth Lisick) who’s longing to have a family. Problem is, her attempts to get pregnant keep hitting roadblocks. Herold’s film creatively uses animation and is engaging, funny and poignant. Call it a bundle of joy. Screenings: 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Rafael Center; 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Century Larkspur. “BY THE GRACE OF GOD” >> Francois Ozon, one of my favorite filmmakers, loves to surprise, and he does so again in this drama by taking a more straightforward approach to his takedown of how the Catholic Church subjected sex abuse survivors to even more travesties in order to save face. It’s powerful, indeed. Screenings: 8:45 p.m. Monday at Lark Theater, Larkspur; 2:45 p.m. Oct. 10 at Sequoia. “FRANKIE” >> Ira Sachs’ well-written drama centers on a gathering of fans and friends for an actress’s (the mercurial Isabelle Huppert) possible final hurrah. Sachs basks in Portugal’s beauty while multidimensional characters face life-changing decisions. Brendan Gleeson, Marisa Tomei, Greg Kinnear — and, of course, Huppert — make this a vacation to remember. Screenings: noon Sunday at Lark Theater; 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at Sequoia. “SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT” >> Spicy and sexy, this feature by Pleasant Hill filmmaker Svetlana Cvetko recaptures the carefree essence of the French new wave movement. A trio of hot twentysomethings — one female, two males — find themselves attracted to each other, creating a threesome that leads to unexpected destinations. It’s a sensual directorial debut that hits viewers hard at the end. Screening: 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Century Larkspur.