An evening with Alan Berliner
- by Raphaela Neihausen, February 26, 2009
Watching Alan Berliner’s rarely seen work on a big screen is a true treat. Last Tuesday evening began with his short EVERYWHERE AT ONCE and was followed by INTIMATE STRANGER - a film shot 18 years ago about his grandfather Joseph Cassuto. When asked by an audience member what his grandfather would have thought of the film, Berliner replied: “He died 35 years ago and we’re still talking about it. He’d love it!”
When talking about the making of INTIMATE STRANGER, Berliner said that the film “defined labor of love”. He spent 9 months simply reading his grandfather’s archives: Joseph Cassuto had meticulously saved every letter he had ever received or written (the magic of carbon copy). Berliner explains: “I must have inherited whatever genetics were necessary to cope. I had to go through every piece of paper, since you never know what you might find.” During this early research, he remembers finding five $100 bills in one of the tucked-away envelopes, which he describes as the film’s “first grant”.
Berliner shares that his most profound moment of filmmaking happened while interviewing his mother’s youngest brother Ben for INTIMATE STRANGER. During that interview, Ben said: “Alan, I was in the hospital when you were born. You were one hour old and I held you in my arms. Now you are sitting across from me and I’m scared of you. You know more about my family than I do.”
In terms of the technical aspect - the whole film was shot on film and edited on a Steenbeck. Images were photographed on a makeshift copy-stand. These amazing photographs serve as a rich backdrop to the families voices that provide a captivating narrative of Cassuto. Even though the film is about his deceased grandfather, there’s another dimension. As Berliner describes: “you make a film about the dead and it’s really about the living.”
Alan Berliner with his mom and sister.
Hamid Rahmanian and Melissa Hibbard (director and producer of THE GLASS HOUSE which premiered at Sundance last month) and producer Amelia Hanibelsz.
STF regular Simon Luethi on his last STF night as he moves to LA (we’ll miss you!) and Alireza Younessy.
Filmmaker Ruth Somalo, musician Gonzalo Avalo (of NADADORA) and birthday girl CydCharise Goler.
Filmmaker Marty Syjuco and director Gemma Cubero Del Barrio (ELLA ES EL MATADOR).
Alan Berliner with filmmaker Jasmine Dellal (GYPSY CARAVAN).
Filmmaker and D-Word Founder Doug Block and D-Word member Andy Schocken. 
Alan Berliner with WIDE AWAKE DP Ian Vollmer and May.
Filmmakers Andrew Berends (THE BLOOD OF MY BROTHER) and Jesse Epstein (WET DREAMS FALSE IMAGES, THE GUARANTEE).
Related Film/Screening: INTIMATE STRANGER by Alan Berliner
Comments
No Comments Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.Join the STF Mailing List »
Upcoming Screenings
Sep 20: THE HOUSE OF STEINBRENNER
by Barbara KoppleSTF pre-season MONDAY SPECIAL (Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale Fri. Sept. 17, subject to availability) Love them or hate them, ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Sep 28: MARWENCOL
by Jeff MalmbergSTF Fall Season Opening Night (Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale later in Sept.) STF kicks off its fall season with MARWENCOL, ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Oct 5: AMERICAN SPLENDOR
by Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini(Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale later in Sept.) STF pays tribute to Harvey Pekar, who recently died, with this special screening ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Oct 12: ON COAL RIVER
by Francine Cavanaugh & Adams WoodON COAL RIVER takes viewers on a gripping emotional journey into the Coal River Valley of West Virginia, where longtime local residents begin to uncover the toxic effects of America’s increased ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Oct 19: THE CANAL STREET MADAM
by Cameron YatesUntil an FBI bust upended her life, Jeanette Maier was a successful New Orleans madam. Her discreet clientele included a number of powerful, high-ranking politicians. The ensuing very public trial - ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Oct 26: TAKING ON THE KENNEDYS
by Joshua Seftel“A film that would be mistaken for a Robert Altman political satire if it weren’t absolutely and horribly true.” —USA TODAY When Kevin Vigilante took on Patrick Kennedy for a seat in the U.S. House ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Nov 2: WO AI NI MOMMY (I LOVE YOU MOMMY)
by Stephanie Wang-BrealIn presenting WO AI NI MOMMY with the Sterling Award for Best US Feature this past June, the jury at Silverdocs noted: “The film dives so deeply into its story that the filmmaker’s hands disappear. ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Nov 9: WAR DON DON
by Rebecca Richman CohenProfiled in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces in Independent Film as an “up-and-comer poised to shape the next generation of independent film”, Rebecca Richman Cohen won Special Jury at SXSW and the ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Nov 16: 12TH & DELAWARE
by Heidi Ewing & Rachel GradyHeidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the filmmaking team behind the 2006 Oscar-nominated doc JESUS CAMP, take us on another controversial journey with 12TH & DELAWARE. Description from Sundance 2010 ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Nov 23: MARLENE
by Maximilian SchellDirector Maximilian Schell got the reclusive Marlene Dietrich to agree to appear in this documentary only on the stipulation that she not be photographed as she looked today. Instead, we only hear ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
Nov 30: SURVIVING HITLER: A LOVE STORY
by John-Keith WassonWinner of the Inspiration Award at the 2010 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival As a teenager in Nazi Germany, Jutta is shocked to discover she is Jewish. She joins the German resistance and meets ...
Get More info or Buy Tickets »
