Movie Natters: February 9, 2007 Archive

A ray of "Little Miss Sunshine"

Posted at 2:58 PM on February 9, 2007 by Euan Kerr

Check out the Morning Edition interview with "Little Miss Sunshine" directors (and husband and wife) Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

They share their favorite DVD picks and also admit to a new delight in going to see comedies in crowded theaters.

I wonder why?

Going on a raid

Posted at 5:41 PM on February 9, 2007 by Euan Kerr

James Longley decided to go to Iraq when it became clear war was inevitable. He made it to Baghdad, before war broke out, but was unable to get the permission he needed to shoot the documentary he wanted to make.

He was forced to leave, only to return in April 2003 when as he put it "The Iraqi border hung open like a door off its hinges."

He stayed for two years, shooting 300 hours of video of life around the country. The resulting film, "Iraq in Fragments" is nominated for the best documentary Oscar. It opens at Minnesota Film Arts next week.

I chatted with Longley today for a while and he told me this story of going on a raid with followers of the Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr. They went to stop merchants who were illegally selling alcohol at an outdoor market. It's well worth a listen

We'll air the interview with Longley will air next week, and of course on the web too.