W A T C H:
An Agnès Varda Retrospective at SIFF
Agnes Varda, a prolific French filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist, passed away at age 90 this past year, leaving behind an enduring legacy of beautiful and groundbreaking films that have forever changed the history of cinema. Siff will be showcasing a series of some of Agnes Varda’s most famous works throughout the month of January.
Though she is frequently associated with the French New Wave film movement, Varda’s cinematic inventions actually predate the rise of New Wave cinema. Varda began making and directing films when she was only 26. She brought to the silver screen a sumptuous creativity and playful spirit. One of her most famous works, “The Gleaners and I” will be playing at Siff on January 18. This documentary, shot by Varda in 2000, profiles a subculture of people who gather food, objects and other items that would otherwise go to waste. Feeling that she was in some ways more alike than different from these “Gleaners,” Varda captures the idiosyncratic group with tenderness and the documentary offers a refreshing antidote to mass consumerism. Laurie Elkin, an editor at The Paris Review points out that “as climate change becomes undeniable and inevitable, The Gleaners & I feels more relevant than ever."
The Varda retrospective is showing now through January 19. A full list of films that are part of the Varda retrospective is available here. You can learn more about Varda in this NYT feature that summarizes her entire career, which spanned more than six decades.
W I T N E S S:
The Metropolitan Opera LIVE at Pacific Place
The Metropolitan Opera in New York City has made a name for itself as one of the premier destinations in the world to witness an Opera. If you’ve ever had a chance to watch an Opera from a seat at the Met, you’d probably agree. However, for most of us, hopping a plane to see a performance that you might’ve only vaguely heard of before doesn’t really make all that much sense. Fortunately, there’s a solution. Enter The Met LIVE! The Met now broadcasts its performances to theaters all around the world, including a few theaters in Seattle. Some proponents of ‘The Met Live’ showings claim that it’s actually a completely novel experience, and very different from being at the actual opera. In addition to behind-the-scenes footage, cinema-goers are also privy to stunning close-ups of the actors, which offer amazing visual details that one just doesn’t get while attending a live performance.
In January and early February, AMC Pacific Place 11 will be showing two different Metropolitan Operas; Wozzeck and Porgy & Bess. A variety of other Seattle-area theaters will also be screening these operas.
T A S T E:
A bottle you haven’t tried before at Petite Soif
The owners of the esteemed wine shop/coffee shop/cafe/wine bar known simply as Vif on Fremont Avenue have recently opened a new outpost on Beacon Hill. Much like its predecessor, this new hybrid one-stop bottle shop and cafe will offer a limited menu that is available all day, and a superb by-the-glass list along with a comprehensive selection of natural wines available for purchase by the bottle.
Also unique to Petite Soif is the opportunity to try all of the wines they carry on-site via their “Petite Soif Wine Share” program where guests may open any bottle (with a minimum purchase of two glasses). This gives people the opportunity to try a greater array of wines and learn more about Petite Soif’s inventory. Any wine leftover from said purchase goes up on the blackboard as a by-the-glass special until it sells out. The all-day menu features the fabulous bread from Sea Wolf Bakers, and delicious salty things like anchovies, olives, platefuls of prosciutto, and more. Hot items and salads are available after 4pm on weekdays and 2pm on weekends. The cafe is open Tuesday through Saturday until 10pm, and until 9pm on Sundays.