Institute History
Description
Winn of the Prix de la Nouvelle Critique at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival, Goldstein is an absurd work of comedy noir. The filmmakers' sense of esoteric humor is in many ways typical of the hurly-burly of the Second City revue in their native Chicago.
A giddy old tramp emerges from the depths of Lake Michigan, staff in hand and beard to the wind. Since Goldstein is adapted from an ancient Jewish fable, it may not push things too far to presume that this man, clad in dirty underwear, is in fact the prophet Elijah. He travels the city streets, leaving a trail of affected souls in his wake. Among others, we ' meet a sculptor who welds discarded auto parts into works of art, a couple of hypochondriacal abortionists who chat about Leonardo da Vinci over surgery, and a fat cop who is fated to become a long link of sausage snacks. The old tramp initiates a series of discoveries, some funny and lyrical. but others burlesque and criminal. Together these vignettes create a rare poetry of human reality.
Phil Kaufman and Ben Manaster were in their twenties when they made this film, a euphoric celebration of their love of cinema. Goldstein 's a spontaneous evocation of the multitude of swirling realities which make up the human condition.
Friday Jan 22 10:00 am
Egyptian Theatre
$6.00