The column about my knee evoked a record amount of viewer mail. Evidently, many folk have joint pain issues.
My PRP injection was one month ago, and my knee feels better than it has in years. On a couple days there’s been some semblance of the old pain, as after three days of golf and yard work Memorial Day weekend.
But a couple of extra 20-minute icings seemed to do the trick. Next morning, things were back to where they should be. No throbbing. No bursts of pain when I straighten my leg after sitting for a couple hours. Even in movie seats!
Speaking of which, I’m writing after the conclusion of the 5th Annual Little Rock Film Festival. Featuring over 100 films, plus Q&A sessions with some 80 filmmakers, it was, in a word, super. Some 25,000 viewers attended.
Susan and I took in about 20 films, feature-length and short. We bought Silver Passes, which were good for all screenings and most parties. Despite good intentions, we didn’t go to any parties. Still, it was a great deal!
The comedy “Natural Selection” (Robbie Pickering, director), about a woman’s quest to find her dying husband’s illegitimate son, took Best Narrative Film.
The documentary “The Interrupters” (Steve James, director), about people who intervene in local disputes before they turn violent, snagged the Audience Award.
“The Last Mountain” (Bill Haney, director), about the coal industry vs. locals in a small Appalachian town, won the Oxford American Southern Film Award.
We saw four films with strong Arkansas ties:
Harry Thomason’s “The Last Ride,” a fictional account of the last days of Hank Williams;
Jeff Nichols’ (Little Rock Central High class of 1997) “Shotgun Stories,” about revenge among two sets of brothers (Nichols’ “Take Shelter” won a major prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, but could not be screened at LRFF);
“Disfarmer” (Martin Lavut, director), about Heber Springs’ Mike Disfarmer, whose black-and-white photography is considered “artistic genius”; and “The Crab” (Rona Mark, director), which features former University of Arkansas basketballer Guy Whitney as the most tragic protagonist imaginable, also played.
“Hot Coffee” (Susan Salad-off, director) explores the infamous, misunderstood 1994 “McDonald’s Coffee Case” from Albuquerque. Saladoff also chronicles how “tort reform” took off in the wake of this case.
We love short films, which are shown in sets of 4-6, totaling 90-120 minutes.
In “Sand Mountain” (Kathryn McCool, director), a New Zealander journeys through the rural south to interview a reclusive music legend Cast King.
“The South Will Rise Again” (Ben Guest, director) examines racial attitudes at Ole Miss amid an effort to get its band to cease playing a certain song at ballgames.
“A Marine’s Guide to Fish-ing” (Nicholas Brennan, director) is about an Iraqi war veteran’s return to his job working on boat motors in the States.
“Punch Drunk” (Sam Wark, director) is the story of an elderly man battling dementia.
“No Tracks Home” (Josh Harrell, director), is about two train-hopping musicians.
There’s more to tell, but I am out of space.
Check out littlerockfilmfestival.org and don’t miss the fun next year!
Vic Fleming is a district court judge in Little Rock, Ark., where he also teaches at the William H. Bowen School of Law. Contact him at vicfleming@att.net.