SCREENING: SHADOW PLAY
The Fall
Directed by Tarsem Singh
Thursday, November 8, 2012, 7:30 PM
EMPAC Theater
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Set it a 1915 Los Angeles hospital, The Fall is a visually stunning fantasy film about a bedridden stunt man who entertains a curious little girl by telling her a fantastical story of exotic heroes and far off places that reflect his psyche. The reality of the hospital and the imaginary epic narrative become increasingly interdependent as the film progresses, until the demarcations of reality and fiction can no longer be discerned. The film takes place during the period of Hollywood's formation, and reflects on the fantastical and illusory nature of cinema.
Indian director Tarsem Singh is the son of an aircraft engineer. He was educated at Bishop Cotton Boy's School in Shimla. He studied business at Harvard and then film at the Art Center College of Design in California. Upon graduating, he embarked on a career as a director of music videos, working with such artists as Suzanne Vega, En Vogue, Vanessa Paradis, and R.E.M. He went on to make his feature film directorial debut with the visually striking The Cell (2000). Other films include The Fall (2006), Immortals (2011), and Mirror Mirror (2012).
+ trailer: http://youtu.be/iO0LYcCoeJY
Shadow Play is a series of films that tread nimbly between reality and illusion, acknowledging the artificial nature of cinema. Referencing the tradition of shadow puppetry, the origins of cinema in phantasmagoria, and Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," each film draws on the metaphors of light as reality and shadow as artifice.
In Plato's The Republic, the allegory of the cave illustrates the difference between truth and illusion. Many writers have noted that "Allegory of the Cave" (written c. 360 BCE), bears great resemblance to the contemporary movie theater.
In Plato's The Republic, the allegory of the cave illustrates the difference between truth and illusion. Many writers have noted that "Allegory of the Cave" (written c. 360 BCE), bears great resemblance to the contemporary movie theater.
Films begin at 7:30 PM; tickets are $6. Evelyn's Café will open at 6:30 PM with a full menu of meals, snacks, and beverages as well as a selection of wines. Parking is available in the Rensselaer parking lot on College Avenue.
More information can be found on the EMPAC website: empac.rpi.edu. Questions? Call the EMPAC Box Office: 518.276.3921.
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The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street
Troy, NY, 12180
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street
Troy, NY, 12180
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