The final film for this year’s Twin Rivers Media Festival is Jérôme Lescure’s A.L.F. (Animal Liberation Front). In terms of content, it’s a film that will play better to the “true believers” than the average viewer—some of whom are apt to be put off by the film’s shock-effect cutaways to scenes of animal torture. That mostly didn’t offend me—though I will say I’d rather not see these things—but the sometimes self-righteous tone of the movie is a bigger turn-off. As filmmaking, it’s definitely of some interest. The idea of presenting the story in the manner of a crime story is a good one. So for that matter—up to a point—is the way the film is structured, moving back and forth between the preparations for a raid on a vivisection clinic and the legal fallout from that raid. The problem with it is that the structure finally doesn’t quite work, because it can’t cover up the fact that it’s obscuring a mystery element that isn’t really there. It does, however, keep the film moving, ensuring that none of its running time is ever dull.
Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present A.L.F at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 8, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com
Animal Liberation Front is really the best Animal Rights movie ever! After watching this I bought an ALF shirt from DefendAnimals.com lol I really hope that Jerome Lescure will make more movies like this. It’s a very good message for the animals. I watched it with vegan friends and they also loved it.