August Evening

After reading a good book or watching a great movie, I often struggle to find appropriate adjectives to capture the essence of what I experienced. I'm in the midst of that struggle tonight after having watched the beautiful film August Evening, which I previewed twenty minutes of back in December. It was well worth the wait to see the full-length, critically acclaimed film.

August Evening, which was filmed in my hometown and in San Antonio, felt like a trip home to see family and friends. I realized while watching the film that I've often failed to see the beauty in my hometown and have instead focused on how rundown parts of it are becoming. But writer, director, editor, and Gonzales County native Chris Eska captured the beauty of familiar downtown buildings as well as picturesque countryside vistas.

But even more than the beauty of the town, he captured the beauty of relationships that exist among different generations. The film follows a migrant worker's family as its members deal with life's disappointments and the love that exists in spite of such disappointments.

Unlike Hollywood movies with multimillion dollar budgets that often leave you and your pocketbook feeling a bit empty, this Texas film's authenticity is a rare find. So check out the screening information on the film's website and take the opportunity to watch a film that is deserving and worthy of the "Best Film" designation it has been winning at film festivals across the country.

A Rare Showing

Last night, an independent filmmaker treated our little town to a showing of his award-winning thesis movie, Doki-Doki, along with approximately twenty minutes of his award-winning upcoming feature, August Evening. The filmmaker, Chris Eska, grew up near my hometown and is the brother of my good friend from high school.

When we were growing up, Chris excelled in math classes and math competitions, so it surprised me when I learned that he was heading to UCLA Film School. But the same focus that he formerly dedicated to math has now spilled over into his movies, which he writes, directs, and edits.

His unique movies tell cultural stories about love and family. The stories are so compelling that the subtitles aren't a necessity but rather aid the audience in grasping some of the subtleties, like portions of the humor in Doki-Doki.

Chris showed the movies as part of a fundraiser for the community's learning center. And based on the well-attended showings, the community is clamoring for more cultural events like this one. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing the full-length version of August Evening in theaters this spring.