so i did not get...

to see Pollock on Saturday evening. Too tired..instead opted for a Raul Ruiz movie at the Bunin. (more about this later). Now it seems like I might never see Pollock. Why? A strong review in the Times, now, at least on the web sit for Abrons, they are all sold out. A rediculously short run anyway. Now, if I want to see it, I have to get on a waiting list--not the greatest idea, but I might be able to give it a shot. After all, if I don't get in, I can always go somewhere else---metrograph---my new favorite movie theater is only a few blocks away. No big biggie. The rest of the weekend had its ups and downs---here is a summation:
  Saturday night---decided to simply go down to the Bunin and see Vanishing Point, part of the Raul Ruiz retrospective that they were having. Made in the early sevenities---black and white---great camera angles, always interesting to look at, but basically about nothing. A man moves to a small island off Portugal to be alone. And that's about it. He interacts with several people---decent conversations, but not much else happens. A good movie to see if you are already tired (which I was). And at least I paid my dues to the Raul Ruiz retrospective.
Sunday, opted for only one movie: American Promise, a documentary about two black students who at age 5, are accepted at Dalton, the elite Private School on the upper East side. One comes from a middle class family, the other from what seems like a lower middle class family---the film charts the next 13 years of their life---as they move through the school---after the eighth grade, one of the boys drops out, the other stays and graduates. Both students live in Brooklyn, so it means a lot of traveling to get to Dalton. Lots of issues raised. When Sean, the boy who drops out, transfers to Benjamin Banneker high school in Brooklyn, the film documents his four years there in pretty strong detail; it is rewarding to see how hard and committed the public school teachers at this almost all minority school are---the Dalton faculty is well meaning, but kind of shadowy. The parents of the Dalton child, are totally invested in their son's success---so much so that in my opinion, they make too many demands of him while at school. Also of interest: when the documentary observes a high school Dalton class, the white kids seem totally blank or bored. As you can see, a lot of issues are brought up in this movie. A discussion followed afterwards, not great,but.....may recommend it to Jason, who runs the diversity program at Friends. Lots of things to discuss re this movie.
  Yesterday---a BAN meeting in the evening--saw Buoys, a movie about the rebellious sculptor in the afternoon---it is a cold, withholding documentary, but I did find some interesting things about the guy.
One of the art teachers at Friends likes his work very much; I saw it to create a dialogue with this teacher---we will see what happens.
  Very mild, today, not sure what the evening will bring, will report soon,,,