SUNDAY, AUGUST 19
2:45 PM CHOPIN THEATRE
RANDOM LUNACY

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NO MAN’S LANGUAGE
Dana Levy
Documentary Video 45:00 2006 (Israel)
Chicago Premiere

“The film follows Ron Israel, a 76-year-old holocaust survivor who was married to my Grandmother for 17 years until her recent death. This is a story of a Jew who doesn't stop wandering. Between places, wives, genders, languages. For the past 40 years he has been developing a language called Yartima, which he hopes will one day become the international language of the world. Currently he is the only speaker.” – Dana Levy

A strange and strangely personal documentary, which unfolds the complex personality of Mr. Ron Israel with wit, subtlety and sympathy while exposing every element of his life (from how his language works, to why he likes wearing a skirt, to the most important how he got his name) to the unflinching camera-eye. This camera manages to touch on every major life theme and still feel fresh –Chloe Connelly

RANDOM LUNACY: VIDEOS FROM THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Victor Zimet & Stephanie Silber
Documentary Video 60:00 2007 Chicago Premiere

“Movies like to pretend they’re different, but Random Lunacy really, truly is. The gifted filmmakers Victor Zimet and Stephanie Silber have grabbed themselves a subject who can wiggle off any hook, so they avoid glib judgments and do the smart thing by wiggling right along with him. It turns out to be the only way to tell this questing, quicksilver story. The subject is Poppa Neutrino, the name David Pearlman, now 74, has been calling himself for decades. And since a neutrino is “a sub-atomic particle in constant motion,” the name fits. Poppa doesn’t work, pay rent, listen to doctors or kiss institutional butt. He prefers to invent his life as he goes along, whether he’s building a raft out of scraps and sailing the Atlantic, inventing a new football play or touring the world from Mexico to Russia with his band, the Flying Neutrinos. But don’t discount the intellect that Poppa uses to back up his wit and daring as leader of his tribe. That’s right, tribe. Family is what you call the Waltons. The collection of wives, children, stepchildren and believers who make up the Neutrinos defies categorization. And so, using Poppa’s own videos to augment their tale, Zimet and Silber throw us into a life that intoxicates, infuriates and leaves us panting for each unique and unforgettable adventure. Prepare to be wowed.” - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone