Petrelis Files

Film Friday: BAMPFA's Classics; 'Sexplanation' Doc

What's on my movie-mad mind today? Classics from the canon and a sex-doc.

Here are several excellent choices for avoiding the beautiful weather in the coming days, to instead catch fantastic films in Berkeley.

The BAMPFA schedule tonight features a screening of an archival print of Max Ophuls' "Liebelei," which I've not seen, as part of their look at Vienna in the movies.

After that, it's Francois Truffaut's "Shoot the Piano Player" with Charles Aznavour in the lead and it's in glorious black-and-white and Cinemascope. Saw this just once, at the old Thalia on Manhattan's Upper West Side back in the day.

On tap for Saturday evening at the film archive is Alexander Sokurov's masterpiece "Russian Ark," a single-take journey through Mother Russia's history inside the Hermitage Museum. It repeats on Sunday night. Nice that BAMPFA is programming multiple chances to see certain films, giving cineastes and movie-lovers more opportunities to experience cinema with an audience.

Also on Saturday is Wim Wenders' Cuban music documentary "Buena Vista Social Club," which I'm embarrassed to say I've never seen. Glad to finally catch it and the print we'll see has been digitally restored.

More info on all BAMPFA programming just a click away.

I'm sharing news from budding publicist Lorraine Petel, who handled front-desk chores at the San Francisco International Film Festival in the spring, about her friend's in-development flick about everyone's favorite topic, sex. This is from their site:

"'Sexplanation' is a new documentary written and directed by San Francisco journalist and science videographer, Alex Liu. The film seeks to peer into our sexuality, exploring the challenges facing society as we seek to embrace greater sexual diversity yet hold onto long held cherished beliefs.

"Join Alex as he travels from church pews, biology labs, fetish conventions and therapy sessions in his quest for an up-to-date and holistic understanding of sex. His immersive journalism will get under the nation's bed sheets, as he explores what makes our sexuality throb."

More info on this sex-doc project here. Check out their great teaser: