A Brief History of Chasing Storms
Synopsis
From The Wizard of Oz to the Twister movies, the tornado has become an iconic American symbol. In A Brief History of Chasing Storms, Chicago filmmaker Curtis Miller takes us on a road-trip through “tornado alley”—an ever-widening region that extends from Texas and Oklahoma across the Great Plains and up into Wisconsin and Minnesota. Along the way, he reflects on the multifaceted myths and histories around the famously destructive weather events, recounted by those who have been impacted as well as by opportunists looking to profit.
From a guide at the Twister Museum to the owner of a company that builds tornado shelters and a team of intrepid storm chasers, tornado-philes of all stripes are featured as the film traverses the U.S., capturing the landscape in carefully staged tableaux. Through an evocative series of vignettes, quirky yet swirling with meaning in a world increasingly reshaped by environmental catastrophe, this thoughtful cinematic essay maps out the ways in which history, inequality, climate, colonization, and capitalism are entwined with these natural disasters.
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Media
Film Credits
- Curtis Miller
- M Sage
- Midwest Exegesis
- https://www.abriefhistory.online/
Sponsors
Program Partner
Program Patron
Cynthia Stone Raskin
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Luisa
Synopsis
Curious about what life has in store, 22-year-old Luisa moves out of her parents’ home and into a residential facility for people with disabilities on the outskirts of a small German town. Taking a job in a laundry, the outgoing young woman is excited for new adventures. But when an unexpected pregnancy leads to suspicions of sexual abuse, an ensuing investigation tests Luisa, her family, and the staff at the group home, threatening to upend the residents’ sense of security and stability.
This deeply affecting and empowered drama is based on extensive research into true crimes of sexual abuse and features an incredible inclusive cast. As the resolute Luisa, actress Celina Scharff deftly captures her character’s vulnerability and defiance; intimate close-ups convey the tumult and upheaval Luisa experiences as she faces a very difficult decision. Even as the film grapples with the weight of personal trauma, it strikes a hopeful note, suggesting that Luisa’s inner strength, her strong sense of autonomy, and the support of loved ones will help her regain equilibrium.
Screenings & Events
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Media
Film Credits
- Andrea Ufer, Silke Merzhaeuser, Gunter Hanfgarn, Julia Roesler, Insa Rudolph
- Silke Merzhaeuser, Julia Roesler
- Anne Jünemann
- Frank Amann
- Celina Scharff, Trixi Strobel, Katharina Bromka, Dennis Seidel, Martin Schnippa, Hadi Khanjanpour, Tim Porath, Peter Lohmeyer, Eva Löbau, Matthias Zalachowski
- Insa Rudolph
- werkgruppe2 filmproduktion, HANFGARN & UFER
- https://luisa-film.de
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Shorts 4: City & State
Synopsis
Chicago and Illinois-based filmmakers experiment with genre, topic, and form in this eclectic program by students, upcoming artists, and established directors.
In Bailey’s Blues, a Chicago-born musician turns up the heat in a confrontational interview. An ugly Christmas dinner leaves a young woman with one worthwhile family member in Madrina. The ever-mounting pressure of high school debate brings out the best and worst of its overachieving students and wise-cracking judges in Debaters. Your Tomorrow Will Be My Song is a vulnerable re-telling by Suni and Alondra, a real-life couple contemplating their trip back home to the Andes. In Chasing the Party, teenage exploration takes an unexpected turn when suburban best friends Melissa and Stephanie make their way into a bar with the fakest of IDs. The usual anxieties plague upcoming artist Anisa as she dodges gossip from art scene contemporaries, questions the value of her work, and navigates flaring tensions in It’s Just a Fucking Opening. In Make No Mistake: These Are the Glory Days, we witness moments of clarity, belonging, and acceptance as the band HOME IS WHERE tours the U.S. as an openly trans group with an openly trans audience.
Screenings & Events
There are currently no upcoming screenings of this film.
Standby Only? Learn when new tickets get released by signing up for our ticket availability email list!
Sponsors
Documentary Program Partner
Documentary Program Patron
Cynthia Stone Raskin
212 W Van Buren St., Suite 400
