Cinequest is on again! One of San Jose's cultural institutions turned 15 this year, and having managed to score a Gold pass, I spent tonight at the opening night gala. The movie:

Como Azer Um Filme de Amor (Manual for Love Stories)

A light Brazilian satire of romantic comedies, but a fun way to start the festival. After the various remarks by festival founder Halfdan Hussey, honorary chairman Steve Wozniak, and a couple of newscasters from NBC-11, we were treated to a warm, unfussy comedy that poked fun at every convention of the genre while simultenously using them all. The director admitted in the Q&A afterward that Meg Ryan movies had been one of his primary inspirations, and it showed.

Since it was included in the gala, I wandered over to the afterparty at Paragon, and found myself in the midst of a weird existential crisis, with hors d'oeuvres. Surrounded by a phalanx of black-clad filmmakers madly networking, I felt not only a bit out of my league, but also suddenly very alone. Unable to get to the bar to even drown my sorrows about that, I retreated to the parking garage and went home. Note to self: use this in a screenplay someday.