Film: ACQUAINTED WITH THE NIGHT April 3, 2011

Part of the Wisconsin Film Festival.

ACQUAINTED WITH THE NIGHT assembles documentary postcards from around the world, building a travelogue of the world after dark. Director Michael McNamara and his superb eye for sharp detail capture scenes from both the natural world and human nighttime customs, in a film reminiscent of National Geographic magazine in the most complementary sense. From under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, millions of bats swoop out at dusk, thrilling the hundreds of sightseers on their lawn chairs and blankets. A bike cop in Toronto’s Entertainment District deals with the rowdy attitudes of rich young club-hoppers. Ornithologists train their binoculars on the fearsome beams of light emanating from the September 11 memorial, looking for migrating bird flocks confused by the dazzle. And in Chios, Greece, two ancient churches across town from each other get carefully wrapped in chicken wire in preparation for the annual Easter celebration, in which teams bombard each other with thousands of homemade fireworks. High-definition photography is splendidly used here, with advances in video technology allowing for breathtaking color in, naturally, low-light conditions.

Canada, Finland, France, 2010, 80 mins, video, dir. Michael McNamara

In English, Greek, Arabic, Nepalese, French with English subtitles. Midwest Premiere.

Filmmakers scheduled to attend.

Official Website: http://www.wifilmfest.org