Coming to NYC’s Cinema Village tomorrow, Friday, July 29: SLEEP FURIOUSLY
Gideon Koppel elegaic portrait of a small Welsh community screened in Telluride, Edinburgh, Locarno, and Rome, among other festivals, and was recognized as Best First Film by the Guardian.
Koppel returns to his hometown of Trefeurig in Wales, a rural farming community, to turn his camera on its beautiful landscape and its residents, who are dealing with a town that seems to be literally disappearing. The impending closure of the school, aging of its populace, and moves toward modernization all signal that their traditional way of life may not be long for this world. But this is no explicit social issue documentary – Kopple’s approach is more contemplative and lyrical, with scene compositions and an overall approach reminiscent of recent films focused on place like 45365, DARWIN, or BOMBAY BEACH, while the community’s connection to farming and nature at times brings to mind SWEETGRASS or SUMMER PASTURE. Despite these cinematic cousins, Koppel’s film maintains its own unique and strange simplicity and beauty. While it may not be for all audiences, it will prove a rewarding experience for those who allow themselves to follow its rhythms.
Note: SLEEP FURIOUSLY and A SKETCHBOOK FOR THE LIBRARY VAN, Koppel’s hour-long preliminary study for the film, are both streaming free for 24 hours tomorrow online at Fandor.com.
what (not) to doc 