YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT! leave England before the bombs started falling. His father and uncle had mysterious jobs at I.G. Farben, the German chemical industry conglomerate, in 1933 and, it is claimed in a book by the distinguished economic his- torian Harold James, may have worked as spies for Hitler and Nazi Finance Minister Hjalmar Schacht. It is alleged that they were dispatched to wreck the French economy — one more disturbing element in Gregory's profoundly upsetting childhood. He recalls a typical upper-class Filmmaker Cindy Kleine with her Mitteleuropa upbringing in which husband, Andre Gregory "you never touched your chil- dren"; it left him starved of human wise and intuitive when talking contact. He was raised by a loyal about theater; and Gregory takes nanny who remained with the family to his work with the intensity of a until his brother Alex was an adult. shaman in a trance state, albeit as a His parents were, Gregory says early somewhat more approachable figure. in the film, "the kind of people who Throughout the film, we see changed their name from Josefowitz rehearsals of Gregory's production of to Gregory and 'forgot' to tell the Shawn's translation-adaptation of The children they were Jews" Master Builder. It quickly becomes At some point, he must have clear that the late Ibsen play is a sur- found out for himself because all prisingly good match for their shared of Gregory's weddings were Jewish concerns of family-shattering narcis- (including the two ceremonies unit- sism and creative genius. ing him with Kleine). And, for all of What is troubling about the film, his fascination with and dabbling in though, is the intrusive presence of other spiritual traditions, he is very Kleine. clearly still attached to Judaism quite Perhaps no filmmaker should be directly. allowed to make a film about her But what of the accusation against spouse, although it is abundantly his father and his uncle? Gregory clear that few people know her sub- was sufficiently upset by this appar- ject better. But Kleine just can't resist ent revelation almost 80 years after the occasional foolish joke, the inclu- the fact that it caused him to suffer sion of her own life experience before a severe bout of shingles. As he and she met Gregory and allegedly comic Kleine agree early in the film, the asides that add little to our under- only way to deal with it is to enlist standing of this man who is at once their own researchers, whose reports both remarkably straightforward and are interspersed through the film. yet incredibly complicated. As for Dad, Gregory remembers The result is a film that is deeply him as "so absent," a non-presence felt and genuinely appreciative of its in the children's lives except for rare central figure, often revealing and occasions when the older man's bipo- surprisingly candid, but disappoint- lar condition would plunge him into ing in its final effect. Still, if you have fond memories of the Malle film, you black depressions. On some deep level, as Gregory will want the update on Andre and himself points out in the film, his Wally, and that is certainly worth the theater work as a director noted in price of admission. particular for his nurturing of actors must be seen as a reaction against the cold and bizarre treatment he The Detroit Film Theatre at the received from his parents. Detroit Institute of Arts screens He calls his famous stage version Andre Gregory: Before & After of Alice in Wonderland a portrait of Dinner at 7 p.m. Friday and his childhood, with its "authoritar- Saturday, Aug. 23-24; 2 p.m. ian parents who never give you an Sunday, Aug. 25; 9:30 p.m. Friday answer." and Saturday, Aug. 30-31; and It is when the subject turns to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1. $6.50- theater that the film is on its surest $7.50. (313) 833-4005; tickets. footing. As anyone who has seen My dia.org . Dinner with Andre knows, Gregory and Shawn are a terrific double act, BENNY ANDERSSON & BJORN ULVAEUS' AMMA y..IAi THE SMASH HIT MuslcAL%01AaBA® On Sale Now • Fisher Theatre • Nov. 5-10 IMPORTED FROM DETROIT - ChryslerCurrentOffers.com Tickets: Fisher Box Office, ticketmaster.com & 800-982-2787. Info: BroadwaylnDetroit.com & 313-872-1000. Groups (12+): email Groups@BroadwaylnDetroit.com or call 313-871-1132. 1853540 Try Our New Boneyard Beef Ribs! ,Original Orchard Lake Rd. South of 14 Mile Farmington Hills TICITAL xcluding tax, tip and beverages • With this ad Dine in only • Expires 9/15/13 JN 851-7000 Catering for all Occasions • Carry-Out • Our Speciality "Low Carb Ribs & Chicken & Lamb Ribs" L.J6-,A;Qz-no A. Mika ❑ of co_Tg© .° 0 4 "*". flip - guadiA Happy Hour Tuesday thru Friday 3:00 fill 6:00 •• . • •• •• Coupon Must Be Presented. Not valid with other specials or promotions. Not valid Friday, Saturday or Holidays. Subject to House Rules. Expires 10/3/13. 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