She Likes to Watch

Ah, spring. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and spring cleaning is upon us.

While emptying the recycling bins here at Movies HQ, I found a few movie-related tidbits.

HopeDance magazine offers two more movies this month in its HopeDance FiLMs series.

First up is “Everything’s Cool”, a look at the history of global warming.
Filmmakers Daniel B. Gold and Judith Helfand examine the movement from the viewpoints of scientists, activists and politicians. Hear interviews with Bill McKibben, Ross Gelbspan and others.

“Everything’s Cool” will be screened at 7 p.m. Monday at the San Luis Obispo library, in San Luis Obispo. A $5 donation is encouraged.

On Wednesday, the film series takes a look at health care with “Cuba: An Accidental Revolution.”

The documentary, narrated by scientist/environmentalist David Suzuki, looks at the island nation’s surprisingly strong health care system.

It’s paired with the PBS documentary “Critical Care,” about U.S. health care.

Moviegoers are encouraged to donate $5 to $10.

“Cuba: An Accidental Revolution” and “Critical Care” play at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the San Luis Obispo library.

More information about both films is available at www.hopedance.org.

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The Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo kicks off its new movie series on Wednesday with “Trainspotting.”

Palm Wednesdays will offer a different flick each Wednesday. The emphasis here is on cult classics: quirky comedies, action flicks and thrillers with a strong following among Generations X and Y.

Few movies fall into that category better than “Trainspotting,” Danny Boyles’ darkly comic look at the Edinburgh drug scene. It’s smart, slick and frequently pretty damn unsavory.

“Trainspotting” will screen at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo.

Tickets are $7.50. You can also snag a six-movie pass for $35 — provided you buy it before Wednesday.

The series continues May 7 with the big-wave surfing documentary “Billabong Odyssey.” Check out the full list at www.thepalmtheatre.com.

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The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival drew more than 7,500 moviegoers, organizers said this week, the “best ever” in the festival’s 14-year history.

About 12 percent came from outside the county, said Wendy Eidson, the film festival’s executive director.

Top events at the film festival, which ran March 7 to 16, included a train-themed opening night, an awards ceremony honoring “Easy Rider” star Peter Fonda and Surf Night, featuring a tribute to pioneer surf filmmaker Bud Browne.

This year, festival organizers introduced Western Night and the Hollywood and Vines series, which pairs movies with local wineries. They also added venues in Santa Margarita, Paso Robles and Shell Beach.

For more information, visit www.slofilmfest.org.

This month, HopeDance Magazine offers two perspectives on Latino life.
On Tuesday night, the magazine will screen “Cuba: An Accidental Revolution” at the San Luis Obispo Library.
The documentary shows Cuba making strides in education, health care, agriculture and free enterprise toward an independent, sustainable economy.
It’s narrated by David Suzuki, the scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster most recently featured in enviro-doc “The 11th Hour.”
Catch the two-part “Cuba: An Accidental Revolution” Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the library, 995 Palm Street in San Luis Obispo.
A donation of $5 is suggested.

HopeDance offers another documentary about social change next week.
“Made in L.A” follows three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles’ garment sweatshops. The film chronicles their struggle to win basic labor protections from a trendy clothing retailer.
According to the online Internet Movie Database, director Almudena Carracedo co-wrote the documentary and did extra duty as the 2007 film’s cinematographer, producer and editor.
“Made in L.A.” will be screened at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, at the San Luis Obispo library. Donations of $5 are encouraged.

For more information on both events, visit www.hopedance.org.

– Sarah L.