Our local arthouse cinema, Ciné, will be hosting a special sneak preview screening of The Taiwan Oyster, an independent feature directed by Mark Jarrett and co-written by his brother Mitchell and Jordan Heimer. The Jarrett brothers and co-star Jeff Palmiotti, all University of Georgia alumni, will be in attendance to talk about the movie and take questions after the 7:30 p.m. screening. The ticketed event ($20 advance; $25 at the door) will also be catered by The National.
So, what’s the big deal? The Taiwan Oyster, which focuses on two American expat teachers (played by Billy Harvey and the aforementioned Palmiotti) driving across Taiwan with the corpse of an acquaintance in their van while searching for a proper burial place, has been generating significant good word-of-mouth buzz since premiering at SXSW in March. Entertainment trade magazine Variety gave the feature a strong positive review and appropriately compared this humorous yet elegiac road movie to another self-assured and low-key stylish debut: Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket. It’s beautifully shot by director of photography Mike Simpson, and he gives this micro-budget movie real visual heft and a look that far more expensive features would be envious to have.
Since The Taiwan Oyster is a low-budget independent affair, this screening on June 26 also serves as a benefit, with proceeds going to help out the Athens Film Arts Institute and the filmmakers, so that they can continue touring it on the festival circuit before (hopefully) a major distributor snatches it up for wider release. It’s going to make for a special evening and something that anyone interested in well-made independent movies (especially ones set in exotic locales) wouldn’t want to miss.
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