Inspired Visions

When curator Laura Arena approached MIT’s Luis Blackaller & Andy Cavatorta, her brief was simple: create something that initiates interaction between the inhabitants of the neighborhood. From the Portuguese fisherman to the Projects, to the artists and hipsters, to a new influx of people, Lucky Gallery sits at the crux of several different communities, none of whom talk, but acknowledge each other as familiar strangers. Luis and Andy’s response was to build a miniature version of Red Hook and populate it with photographic doll versions of people they met and talked to on the street. We join Luis and Andy as they prepare for the opening and watch as the element of play in a virtual world impacts communication in the real one.

A relaxing weekend in the country turns deadly when four female strangers attempt to navigate the depths of social interaction and instead find nothing by treachery and deceit. Do we ever really know the friends we make as adults? When one member of the group begins telling lies that are seemingly so minute they serve no discernable purpose, relationships begin to unravel and trust becomes a lost commodity.

In the imaginary village of Entshongweni, very far from western civilization, the young James is chosen to undertake a mission - a pilgrimage to holy Jerusalem.
But Israel is no longer the Holy Land that James and his people imagined. At the airport, James is suspected of trying to infiltrate the country in order to work illegally. He is jailed and destined for deportation.
Inside the dark cell, as James prays to God to allow him to complete his mission, a miracle occurs. A mysterious stranger posts bail for him. But it soon becomes clear that James' freedom has come at a price - his saviour is a manpower agent, who rescues illegal migrant workers in exchange for employing them in hard labour jobs.
From then on, James' journey to Jerusalem turns into an unpredictable journey through the cruel heart of our economic system. With good teachers, a bit of luck and some lateral thinking, James learns the tricks of the game and plays it towards an inevitable end.

Episode 7 of Sally Potter's new feature film, RAGE. A student filmmaker captures the week-long preparations for a New York fashion show that unexpectedly turns into a murder investigation. Visit www.babelgum.com/rage for more info.

Ten people dressed in stark white "clean suits" and masks disperse amongst picnickers, inspecting the ground in sunny Central Park. Heads turn, unsure, and people start asking questions. Undetermined Measurements is an ongoing performance and documentation project. During each phase of the interventionist series volunteers gather, dress in protective clothes and silently engage with the audience in a non-confrontational manner. Why are they there? The question is left open ended, expressing the ever-changing perception that the United States has transformed from a unique symbol of freedom to a more fragile and fearful representation of uncertainty. We follow Sean Hovendick and his team as he takes Undetermined Measurements to NYC for the first time.

Ah, public lands! Vast tracts of open space take the family to for some nature, wildlife, fresh air…wait, what's that pungent, herb-like smell? As it turns out, public lands are a favorite of pot farmers - authorities estimate something like 900 groves exist in California alone - and all that unregulated cultivation is having an effect on the environment, and not just to make all of that crazy pine tree's jokes seem really funny. Instead, toxic agricultural runoff is polluting the waterways and harming animal populations. With groves being discovered in more and more states, could this be an argument for the legalization of marijuana?

"Liberation" Young Iraqis Adel, Ausama and Saif give their honest opinions about the American invasion of Iraq.

When Takeru and 2 girls are brought to the hidden “The Village of Gods” Amaterasu, the leader of the mounted corps tells Takeru that they are fighting against an enemy called “The Evil Spirits.” Takeshi and Kotono were taken away by Himiko, the mistress of the Evil Spirits. In the mean time, Takeshi woke to learn that he is in a different world called ‘Nenokuni’ and he is the reincarnation of Susano-Oh, the vicious God of War. He does not believe it, but decides to stay with the army of the Evil Spirits, hoping to find a good chance to get away. While the army is moving on, a militia of human beings attacks it. Takeshi slashes a man accidentally to protect himself.

A jaw-dropping 1958 film featuring a tropical island run by Nazi fugitives who turn native girls into monsters! Joe Dante ('Gremlins') talks about the film and its lovely star, Irish McCalla ('Sheena, Queen of the Jungle').

Faizon Love created the first Asian action film with kung fu scenes in it - even before Bruce Lee - but never got his due because of race issues and the release was forever suppressed. The film interviews people who substantiate Love's claims, including critics and crew.