The Jollytologist

Director: Sky Bergman

Octogenarian Allen Klein describes himself as a “jollytologist” with a mission to spread joy and humor even in the face of death and tragedy.  Earlier in his life Klein, a designer, worked on children’s shows including “Captain Kangaroo” and was married to a woman—but now, in his autumn years, he is comfortable identifying as gay.  His parents were accepting, as was his daughter, Sarah.  In fact, while living in San Francisco, the notorious Anita Bryant’s campaign came to town, and Sarah shares with Bergman a rather snarky letter she wrote to Bryant in defense of her father.  We also meet Dave, Klein’s husband of 44 years.

As Klein reminds us, a red nose prop is so effective yet so simple.  It is his generosity of spirit, and his willingness to always offer a laugh even in the midst of people’s most difficult times, that makes him such an extraordinary real-life character.  

“The Jollytologist” is now making the festival rounds and is due to be shown on PBS next year.  Another triumph for Bergman.    

Sky Bergman

A Sad and Beautiful World

Director: Cyril Aris

Young romantics Nino (Hasan Akil) and Yasmina (Mounia Akl) rekindle their childhood romance against the violence of modern-day Lebanon.  Co-writers Cyril Aris and Bane Fakih jump back and forward in time Christopher Nolan-style, while even giving our two star-crossed lovers a trip to a magical island as part of their journey.  The film can be a tad heavy-handed at times—the opening scene features a birth amid explosions—but the love between Yasmina and Nino never feels hackneyed.  

Misan Harriman: Shoot the People

Director: Andy Mundy-Castle

This doc profiles Nigerian-British photographer Misan Harriman’s keen photographic eye, as well as his trials and hopes.  The self-taught shutterbug’s public profile becomes so stellar that he is asked to shoot for the cover of Vogue—however, his real power is in capturing his subjects at their seemingly most vulnerable, whether it’s street protestors or famous figures including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Martin Luther King III. 

“I think sometimes we can even frighten the devil,” Harriman says of his work.  Yet it’s his job to document rather than argue.  Likewise, filmmaker Mundy-Castle asks you to watch Harriman at work and make up your own mind.

Solidarity

Director: Dustin Brown

Writer-director Dustin Brown weaves a complex duopoly, presenting side by side the stories of struggling Angelenos Inés (Elpidia Carrillo), a Mexican seamstress, and Tomas (Mantas Valantiejus), a butcher from Lithuania straining at a low-paying job.  Inés looks after Emilia, a 19-year-old woman who is hurt on the job but cannot afford to get treatment—and then ICE shows up.  Meanwhile, Tomas spars with his boss and becomes involved in a romance that has the potential to go tragically sideways.  

Inés and Tomas face continuous heartache, loss and barriers to happiness and success—yet this is not the type of film that offers easy answers.  Nor does it ever tie the two leads together in a typical narrative fashion.  Accordingly, we get two very loosely connected stories about L.A. outsiders for the price of one, and both of which are thoroughly engrossing.  

Carrillo, a veteran actress you may recognize from acting alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator,” brings a sad-yet-determined poignancy to Inés, who has no choice but to continue working hard to pay the bills.  And Valantiejus displays a gravitas and pathos well beyond his years in realizing Tomas.  

Big Day

Director: Tiffany Wu

In this short, Alex (Lois Shih) and Emily (Janet Hsieh) confer on the eve of a wedding, mostly about their domineering Chinese mothers.  Wu, a former special FX producer, steps behind the camera for this self-assured debut.