8 -- The Michigan Daily - Friday, November 19, 1999 Lolly Polley leads indie film Guinevere' Ann Arbor's Sugar Pill opens Blind Pig By Erin Podolsky Daily Arts Writer Small and slow but rarely plod- ding, "Guinevere" often strikes just the right note of need, change and longing with its protagonists. And somehow, it emerges with everyone's individuality intact, despite attempts at molding certain members of the cast into unformed, Protean beings, into a Guinevere. Harper Sloane (Sarah Polley) is about to ship off for law school, but she doesn't know why. Rather, she knows why she doesn't want to go: She doesn't want to go because it is not Guinevere her decision. It is family tradi- tion, but nobody A: the Michigan ever bothered to Theater ask her what she wanted to do. For her entire life, Harper has been along for the ride, a pas- senger in the backseat of her parents' cars, claw- ing at the windows but pretending to be perfectly happy when asked if she likes the scenery. Watching Harper sit quietly at the dinner table while her older sister, brother-in-law and parents banter and argue among themselves, unable to speak up and offer an opinion - if sie even has an opinion - explains better than any exposition why Harper does what she does when she meets engaging (and alcoholic) pho- tographer Connie Fitzpatrick (Stephen Rea). Connie is middle- aged, but with his eye for detail he spies in Harper something wonderful begging to get out. He takes her under his wing, teaches her about art, about feeling, about being, about seduction. Their relationship is tem- pestuous, bringing out the best and the worst in both of them. In a way, Connie sucks out Harper's youth like a vampire. In the beginning stages of their relation- ship, she falls into the trap of seeing herself as others want to see her. But under Connie's tutelage, the greatest gift she receives is to see herself as she wants to, not as others do. Harper gains a measure of immortal- ity, or at least life she didn't have before. She finds herself. She learns to speak up, to offer an opinion, to have a "self" instead of a "you." It's horrible to observe Harper early in the film, unsure of herself, cowed by life. It's horrible to watch her at the end as she squarely breaks Connie's heart - and he hers. But life is noth- ing if not transient, as is the particu- lar body in which Connie's current Guinevere resides. Guinevere is not corporeal, but a soul that skips from body to body, like a dozen candles lit from a match with the same fire. "Guinevere" marks the first time that Sarah Polley has owned a movie so completely that it's impossible to By GaaBaksi Daily Arts Writer If you're ever walking home late near the Medical School. you might be lucky enough to hear music emanating from the 800 block of Catherine St. If you're lucky enough to walk up to the house and check out what's goin' on, you're in for a real treat. Sugar Pill is practicing. Their first EP release, "Hope Remote;' released on Ann Arbor inde- pendent . label. Ghostinodern Records is a toe- tappin', well-writ- Sugar Pill ten record. Lyrically far supe- Blind Pig nor to most mod- Tonight at 9:30 ern rock bands, Sugar Pill writes passionately from the heart. Liner notes read more like poems, telling tales of lost loved ones, ambitious dreams, and "the other side of paradise. Sugar Pill is comprised of 5 musi- cians, spanning 20 to 23-years-old, all calling Ann Arbor home. A quick glance over their past gigs include shows all over southeast Michigan and surround- ing areas. Each band member brings unique cre- dentials to the group. Guitarist Myque Peters was playing in a band before most of us ever learned to turn on the radio. Both Dwayne Stange (drums) and Greg Baker (guitars) are self-taught musi- cians. Bassist Andy Danielson is a con- verted guitarist with a passiontor music theorv. With musician and writer Greg Epstein on lead vocals, he completes the group and achieves their harmony. After playing their first show with their present line-up at the Blind Pig, tlh band is eager to return. "Everything 4 do all week, every single minute of nay month works up to the moment we're on stage. If I don't enjoy that show, my life is meaningless," says Epstein. "It's gonna be really good." Writing, rehearsing and practicing songs for their upcoming full-length release, the band carries a vibrant energy with them. When asked to describe the tracks, Epstein said, "The heart and soul of what we've written is in the song" From slow ballads to peppy pop-ro favorites, the tracks are filled with mean- ingful lyrics and clever musical arrange- ments. Sugar Pill's music may be a fair reflection of Ann Arbor. Songs are inspired from the city itself, it's atmos- phere and it's residents. "We're trying to put out what we see and what we feel." With early influences ranging from AC/DC to The Who and Conte, porary influences from Dave Matthew to Tribe Called Quest, the five mem- bers of Sugar Pill unite their diverse backgrounds to create a their own brand of rock 'n' roll. Given the chance to see the talented Sugar Pill at a cozy venue, don't be surprised to hear of the band's rise in upcoming years. As for tonight, just expect a great bunch of rock 'n' rollers ready to put on a great show. Bli . j. Courtesv o Mramax Beauty Sarah Polley continues her rise to actress stardom in "Guinevere," imagine it without her. Rea does fine work here, but he lacks the definition and the range that Polley brings to her performance. Her indelible work in such films as "The Sweet Hereafter" and here, her staunch refusal to appear on the cover of "Seventeen" or "Maxim" and her pure glow of talent prove that she's no one hit wonder. Polley may never have a bona fide hit (her first studio film, "Go," was a far cry from box office bonanza but did decent busi- ness), but she'll have something bet- ter: A career. Harper explains her relationship with Connie with the wisdom gained only through necessary experience. "He was my most spectacular and cherished fuck-up -- and I was his Guinevere, whatever that means," she tells us, and I suspect that ten years down the road, writer/director Audrey Wells will be saying much the same about the film itself. "Guinevere" is not perfect by any means, but it has elements of great promise. Some elements have made good on their individual promise (Polley). Others will soon (Wells). Still others have seen their promise come and go (Rea), though there's plenty of time left to recapture it. The only promise I myself will make is this: Watching "Guinevere" won't be as fulfilling an experience as what Harper gains with Connie, but it tries. And that's about the best anyone can promise these days. The University of Michigan SCHOOL OF Music THEATRE DEPARTMENT: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Thursday-Saturday, November 18th-20th; 8:00pm Sunday, November 21, 2:00pm Mendelssohn Theatre, Michigan League Tickets are $18, $14 and $7 for students with I.D. For informa- tion and tickets call (734) 764-0450. GUEST LECTURE: PAUL CHIHARA, FILM MUSIC COMPOSER Friday, November l9, 3:30pm Britton Recital Hai, E.V. Moore Bldg. Composer-in-Residence at Princeton University, Duquesne University and irrently works as composer/music supervisor on Japanese -flated Disney films for theatrical release in the United States. Has written music for many films and numerous episodes of the Chinia Beach series. FACULTY RECITAL: ANDREW JENNINGS, VIOLIN ANTON NEL, PIANO Read Daily Arts. Courtesy aUMS String soloists Gidon Kremer, Ula Zebriunalte and Marta Sudraba highlight the occhestra. BALTICA soloists perform at Rachham' CERT ch; Wrenchophone by n by Blue Gene Tyranny - Vaughan Williams. are $12,10, 7, and 1764.1448 for tickets. ANSSON ubler concerto for 4 Fiderio for 3 horns By ROSOM ry M ROU Daily Arts Writer Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are far away places often shrouded in mystery, or names in a study of Baltic states. Through the presentation of musical val- ues by the KREMERata BALTICA chamber orchestra, some of the mystery will be torn away. The KREMERata BALTICA cham- ber orchestra is composed of 26 mem- KREMERata BALTICA Rackham Auditorium Sunday at 4 p.m. has performed bers. The orches- tra's mission is twofold - to develop its own artistry and to become ambas- sadors to the world for the cul- ture of the Baltic states. Gidon Kremer leads the orchestra. as its founder. During his 25- year career as a violinist, Kremer for the University classical and Romantic works, Kremer has become a champion for the work# living Russian and East European com- posers. His activism has led to a growing awareness of the musical contributions of the Baltic States. With this mind, the founding of the KREMERata BALTICA is a testimony to the his efforts. Through their interna- tional travels, the group presents Balic music in diverse venues. Kremer and ihe orchestra have performed, successfu , at numerous music festivals, inclu Gstaad, Salzburg, Dubrovnik and Moscow's North-West Festival. - Within their vast repertoire, -the Sunday program will feature 20th Century chamber music. Highlighting the program will be the solo perfbr- mances of Kremer on violin, Ula Zebriunaite on viola and cellist Matta Sudraba. The program consists of Baltic com- posers and their works. Peteris Vas ' "Book for Cello," will open the progr. Also featured is a work by Afr d Schnittke, "Trio for Strings." Music's universal appeal helps toir down walls, bridges, even mystertiyis shrouds between countries. The Baic States, with their own unique contrijp- tion, is no exception, as e KREMERata BALTICA will den i- strate. Monday, November 22, 7:00pm Hill Auditorium Presenting an evening of choral, band and orchestra music with the Michigan high school's finest musicians: Michigan Youth Women's Choral: Sandra Snow, conductor Michigan Youth Chamber Singers: Jerry Blackstone, conductor Michigan Youth Band: J. Eric Wilson, conductor Performing works by Bernstein, Chichy and Ticheli Michigan Youth Orchestra: James R. Tapia, conductor Performing Symphony No.3, Op.78, Camille Saint-Saens CHAMBER RECITAL: Graduate String Quartet Musical Society 6 times. Born in Riga,- Latvia, he began the study of violin at age 4. He entered the Riga Music School at age 7. During his teen years, he apprenticed with David Oistrakh. In addition to his knowledge of the '-9- The University of Michigan Department of Dermatology is currently offering a new investigational 7"Mrft,& lsv Klr %jrftmkar 01 Q"nnnm ( m