June 28th, 2019 - 6:00 pm
BE NATURAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ALICE GUY-BLACHÉ
Opening at the Cinema Art Theater
Starting on June 28, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Cinema Art Theater will present “Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché,” a remarkable documentary narrated by Jodie Foster about a true pioneer of cinema.
Alice Guy-Blaché is the first female filmmaker and the first filmmaker to recognize the potential of the technology to accomplish more than simply record daily life. She was the first to make a story film (“The Cabbage Fairy,” 1896), and one of the innovators in sync sound and color in the early days, long before Al Jolsen declared “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!” That she is largely unknown today is a scandal. She began as a secretary to French inventor Léon Gaumont, quickly seized the opportunity to direct, and ultimately made over 1,000 films, in France and America.
Director Pamela B. Green’s energetic film is both a tribute and a detective story, tracing the circumstances by which this extraordinary artist faded from memory and the path toward her reclamation. Green has created a visually lively presentation and done a thrilling job of research and detective work, tracking down family members, unearthing lost troves of celluloid, letters and other memorabilia, and putting together a fascinating portrait of a true giant of the cinema. [France, 2018, 103 minutes, Rating: NR].
“By the end of ‘Be Natural,’ you won't only have a clear idea of who this remarkable woman was; you may well have acquired a new taste in old movies,” writes A. O. Scott of “The New York Times.” Bill Arceneaux of “Big Easy Magazine” says, “Thoughtful and dedicated to the mission of history and the contrasting of then to now. An absolutely stunning chronicle.”
Screening times are 6 pm on Friday (June 28), 3 pm on Saturday (June 29), 1 pm on Monday (July 1), 3 pm on Wednesday (July 3), 3 pm on Thursday (July 4). Admission is $8 for members and $11 for future members. Customers are encouraged to purchase tickets online. If seats are available, tickets can be purchased at the theater starting 30 minutes prior to each screening.
The mission of the RBFS is promoting cinematic arts and providing education, cultural enrichment, and opportunities for engagement for our diverse communities and audiences. The Film Society sponsors ongoing screenings, special events, and the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (October 31 – November 10, 2019). Having met all the requirements for best practices in nonprofit management, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society is accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute®. The Film Society is funded, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com. For more information on this series, other events, or to become a member, visit the Rehoboth Beach Film Society website at www.rehobothfilm.com or call 302-645-9095.