POLANSKI'S CUL DE SAC
(Roman Polanski / 1966 / UK / 111mins / Cert 15)
(fri 29th / midnite / £4/3)

Before being seduced by Robert Evans and the American studio system of the early-1970s, Roman Polanski cut his teeth with a series of smaller budget films made in Europe. Of these films, Cul-De-Sac was the project closest to his heart. A claustrophobic look at human relationships pushed to the limit, the film is less domestic drama than absurdist comedy of cruelty. With a little horror thrown in. A wounded criminal and his dying partner take refuge at a beachfront castle. The owners of the castle, a meek Englishman and his willful French wife, are initially the unwilling hosts to the criminals. Quickly, however, the relationships between the criminal, the wife, and the Englishman begin to shift in humorous and bizarre fashion. Featuring a career-best performance from Donald Pleasance, and one of the final screen performances from Catherine Deneuve's sister Francois Dorleac, the film is a perfect slice of late-night terror for the midnight movie crowd.
plus INDEPENDENT EXPOSURE MAYahem with short film MOVIE COOL directed by David Liban. This short film explores the effect that cinema has on its audience. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
INDEPENDENT EXPOSURE X A MONTH OF SHORT FILMS

ALL MONTH- QUALITY SHORTS AT THE CUBE

2005 marks the 10th Anniversary of Microcinema International’s Independent Exposure screening program! Independent Exposure X is representative of the over 1300 international short films and videos that they have presented as part of their series since its inception in 1996.

Independent Exposure is Microcinema's well known series of short film, video and digital media compilations Since 1996, Independent Exposure has screened in 41 countries plus Palestine and Antarctica and it continues to intrigue audiences at microcinemas, festivals, and special events around the world, every year. Exposure is normally "premiered" in San Francisco or Houston and then travels around the world.

Microcinema's mission is to curate, exhibit, promote, and distribute innovative international moving image artists whose deeply personal and culturally relevant works are typically marginalized by the mainstream entertainment industry.
Microcinema curates thoughtful, unique, and diverse screening programs, which are promoted, exhibited and distributed via alternative venues worldwide. Promotion and dissemination of works via such screenings creates a necessary dialogue between artists and audiences, worldwide.

Microcinema supports this mission via exhibition-based events, advocacy, education and archiving, as well as by developing infrastructural support for alternative media organizations, labels, and venues worldwide. In doing so, Microcinema catalyzes the establishment of an international network of shared moving image programming, resources, information, and equipment.

Their recently launched DVD Label and Distribution business - Blackchair DVD - further pushes their mission. They currently carry over 100 titles and distribute worldwide.

For further information about Microcinema please visit www.microcinema.com