by Larry Richman
June 2, 2007 5:28 PM

Last night I had the great pleasure of seeing Snow Angels once again. I'd attended the World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival back in January (see links below). This time the venue was the venerable Brooklyn Academy of Music, which plays host to the Sundance Institute at BAM series every spring.

Of the hundreds of films screened at Sundance, only 9 narrative features were selected to be shown at BAM this year, and Snow Angels was one of them. The first of two screenings was held last night.

This was the first time the film had been seen since Sundance, and this was the very first audience to see the film under the Warner Independent Pictures banner, the distributor who picked up the film following the festival.

I was excited to be seeing it again for a number of reasons. First, it is possibly the best film I've seen so far in 2007, out of about 75 films and 6 festivals. Second, David Gordon Green would once again be conducting a Q&A, and I was looking forward to having the chance to chat with him again. Finally, on a personal note, I'd convinced my mom to come see it with me -- she lives about 45 minutes away -- and she was my guest.

The theater was sold out -- it was packed to the rafters. Many were film students at the nearby colleges and universities, as well as New York area residents who hadn't been able to make it out to Park City, Utah in January and had been hearing about the film. At Sundance, few knew anything about the film going in, and many simply chose it because it looked interesting. Here, almost everyone had an interest in seeing it based on what they'd heard and read, so the interest level was much higher.

Writer-director David Gordon Green introduced the film and pointed out some of the audience members who were involved in its production. The genesis of the film was in New York. This is where the company that made the film was based and where the creative team first began putting it together. Almost everyone involved in the making of the film was New York area or East Coast-based, which is one reason it was shot in Nova Scotia. So many involved in the making of the film showed up, some seeing it for the first time.

Seeing it again was a very different experience. I was able to focus on small details which I'd missed before, which is one reason I love seeing films again and again. I also paid a bit more attention to the actors' performances since I didn't have to focus as much on the story itself.

The audience here reacted a bit differently than at Sundance. There are some lighthearted moments in the film, but they also laughed at some unlikely places. I was not that surprised but I did notice it. The audience applauded as the credits rolled, as they did at Sundance.

After that, the experience here vs. Sundance was refreshingly different. Usually at festivals and screenings such as this, a good portion of the audience leaves at the end of the film and does not wait for the Q&A. A few left, but almost everyone here stayed. That was a pleasant surprise. Green came up front again, and was joined by Olivia Thirlby, who plays Michael Angarano's love interest in the film.

Green opened up the floor for questions. The theatergoers were a bit timid and shy at first, as is typical, but once the questions started flowing they continued nonstop. I started things off by asking about the casting. He began with Sam Rockwell -- Green sent him the script, which he wrote with Rockwell in mind, and he accepted. That started the ball rolling. Green said that he met Michael Angarano over lunch in LA. It was his first discussion with any actor for the role of Arthur Parkinson, and he said that after talking with Michael for awhile he knew he had his Arthur. He offered him the part and Mike accepted. He did not audition or interview any other actors for the part. Then Green began holding auditions for the part of Lila. Olivia Thirlby auditioned and he knew he had his Lila. He offered her the part and she accepted. The process continued this way -- he got his first choice for every role.

Green was fantastic. He loves to talk about the process of filmmaking and his thoughts about what went into the making of Snow Angels. So we learned a lot more about the film than we did at Sundance. The questions were terrific, a few had been asked at Sundance as well, but many were from people who really know about what goes into making independent films and it allowed Green to open up.

Both Green and Thirlby commented on the humor in the film, and were surprised at the laughter as was I. It was not that it was inappropriate, though. He seemed pleased with it. He talked at length about the decision to lighten up the film that way. Multiple takes were shot for certain scenes with different levels of humor. They'd shoot a particularly dark scene, and then Green would say, "let's do a funny version." In the editing room, they made the decisions about which takes to use. He didn't want the film to be so totally dark and depressing that the characters would lose their humanity. He felt that moments of humor would make the sadness that much more real. The tragic elements of the film are more jarring because there are lighthearted moments. He's been criticized for it -- some say there should have been less, some say more -- but that is what art is about.

Many Q&As last 15 minutes or so. This one went on for 45 minutes and would have continued if not for the fact that they had to clear the house for another film. Both Green and Thirlby stayed for quite awhile, though, chatting with audience members in the lobby, signing autographs, and taking pictures.

Olivia was such a sweetheart. We picked up the conversation where we'd left off at Sundance, and I introduced her to my mom and got some pictures. My mom met David as well, and I was thrilled to have the chance to take him aside for an extended conversation. More on that in a moment.

My reaction to the film? Well, my previous writing says it all. I feel so strongly about Snow Angels that it's hard for me to say any more. I was really more interested in my mom's reaction, since she is a veteran moviegoer and would tell it like it is. As soon as the credits rolled, she leaned over to me and said, "that was a very very good film." That's high praise coming from my mom, and it put a tear in my eye. She kept thanking me for talking her into going.

Now for the scoop, as it were, and you guys are the first to hear this. Previously, the only talk of a release date was officially "2008" and not much more. The prevailing feeling was that the film would likely open towards the end of December in a very limited (NY & LA) run to qualify for the Oscars, and then it would open wider in January. Last night I was able to get some more specific information. Nothing has been officially announced yet and it isn't set in stone, but they are looking at a Spring 2008 release. That would put it about a year from now, more or less. I see it as good news because it's more specific than anything we've heard before.

There is a second screening tonight and there may be additional screenings elsewhere between now and release -- we'll just have to wait and see.

Here are some of my previous posts about Snow Angels:

REVIEW

PICTURES

MORE THOUGHTS

VIDEO