Todd Solondz Double Feature: HAPPINESS & Sneak Preview: LIFE DURING WARTIME July 18, 2010

Todd Solondz in Person! New Jersey native Todd Solondz originally wanted to be a rabbi, but soon sublimated his energy into screenwriting and directing. His funny, almost unknown first feature, FEAR, ANXIETY & DEPRESSION, was released in 1989. By 1995, his second feature, WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, was winning awards at Sundance, Berlin, and many other festivals. He has gone on to helm such provocative films as HAPPINESS, STORYTELLING and PALINDROMES.

Double Feature: HAPPINESS, 1998, Strand Releasing, 134 min. Director Todd Solondz's controversial comedy explores loneliness, self-obsession and aberrant sexuality through the microcosm of the blissfully dysfunctional Jordan family (Ben Gazarra, Louise Lasser, Lara Flynn Boyle, Jane Adams and Cynthia Stevenson). A catalogue of amazing performances, with more standout portrayals by Dylan Baker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Camryn Manheim and Jon Lovitz.

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Sneak Preview! LIFE DURING WARTIME, 2010, IFC, 97 min. Dir. Todd Solondz. Part sequel to and part variation on HAPPINESS: 10 years have passed since a series of revelations shattered the world of the Jordan family. Now, sisters Joy (Shirley Henderson), Trish (Allison Janney) and Helen (Ally Sheedy) are embroiled in their own unique dilemmas as they struggle to find their place in a world where the past haunts the present and jeopardizes the future. Discussion following with filmmaker Todd Solondz.

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