Tucson Cine Mexico 2010

Still from Voy a Explotar/ I’m Gonna Explode (Mexico, 2007, 105 min)

Tucson Cine Mexico 2010
March 4-7, 2010

All Screenings Free and Open to the Public

Harkins Theatres Tucson Spectrum 18
5455 South Calle Santa Cruz

Sponsored by Cox and Harkins Theatres
Media Sponsors: Univision, 102.1 KCMT La Caliente and La Estrella

The University of Arizona’s Hanson Film Institute and The Consulate of Mexico in Tucson present Tucson Cine Mexico 2010, a festival of Mexican film. Tucson Cine Mexico 2010 is the most prominent film festival in the US focusing entirely on the work of Mexican directors, with each screening being the Arizona premiere.

Tucson Cine Mexico celebrates the best of Mexican Cinema with Award Winning Filmmakers and Films, a Party at The Tucson Museum of Art, and a partnership with Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna’s Ambulante Documentary Film Festival.

March 4
8:30 PM

Tucson Cine Mexico Festival Opening Night Party

Tucson Museum of Art
140 N. Main Ave.

Beer, Tequila and Food!

with screening of the short documentary film

Tropico de Cancer

Minimal dialogue in Spanish with English subtitles
(Mexico, 2003, 53 min)
In collaboration with the Tucson Museum of Art

A poignant and powerful documentary, TROPICO DE CANCER is a meticulous account of the perilous conditions of a group of families living in the arid desert of San Luis Potosí in their quest for survival hunting animals to sell them on the highway. Both visually and narrative astonishing, the film is Eugenio Polgovsky¹s documentary debut which was screened in numerous film festivals around the world.

For a complete schedule of films, click here.

Tucson Saddletramps vs Montreal New Skids on the Block

We went to our first international roller derby bout last weekend: Tucson Saddletramps vs. Montreal New Skids on the Block. We were glad that we got tickets ahead of time: many people were turned away due to crowds over capacity.

I hadn't been to roller derby for nearly two years, so it was interesting to see how the sport appears to have evolved since then. The outfits continue to include silly flair (like neon pink underwear on the outside of the leotard), but in general, the uniforms are more about athleticism and less about stylized spectacle than they were a while back.

Another observation: the women obviously played hard, yet there was also a positive comradeship between the locals and the away team.

Ren Fest 2010

Adam "Crack" Winrich, the Whip Master, puts on a great show. Not only is he great with the whip; he's hilarious and he's easy on the eyes.

Liz is excited to get her picture taken with this Ren Fest heartthrob.

The queen strolls with one of the many royal greyhounds. Greyhound rescue organizations bring the best of their pups to faire. I spent plenty of time scratching the bellies of these graceful and sweet canines.

Our men get feisty.

The jousts are worth watching. It dawned on me that in order to put on this show, you have to be able to act (at least minimally), project your voice, ride a horse, fall off a horse, and have some level of aim.

The hypnotist in action. (Liz emerged from the session in a fantastic mood.)

The Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival is currently in full swing. We went on the opening weekend, at it was a blast, much like last year. I got my candle fix once more from Irie Lights Candles (based in Ohio). I prefer a musky scented candle, so they send me to aromatic heaven.

The entertainment was the big draw and what makes it possible to easily enjoy an entire day at the faire, in my opinion. A new act this year is the acrobatic trio Barely Balanced, (cute and funny). However, I do have a complaint. It's a big one. ENOUGH WITH THE GAY JOKES. Most of the acts incorporate raunchy humor, but there's a difference between making a sex joke and making a joke at the expense of someone's sexual orientation. Example: one trio of male performers was overheard saying the following during their act: "We've been friends...and we've been lovers!" at which point they paused dramatically with their arms around each other. "But not of each other! Ew! Gross!" at which point the crowd chuckles. LAME. If you wouldn't make a joke at the expense of a racial minority why would you make a joke at the expense of a sexual minority?