Offscreen Notes
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
If you happen to be in Philadelphia on the 8th of September, don’t miss the special screening of Jaromil Jires’ enchanting coming-of-sexual age film, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Czech, 1970). The screening will be accompanied by a live musical performance by members of Espers, Fern Knight, Fursaxa and Grass (also featuring Mary Lattimore, Charles Cohen and Jesse Sparhawk). Presenting this event is Joseph A. Gervasi, co-owner of Diabolik DVD, who says of the event: “This will be a one-time performance in Philadelphia and will be a part of the Fringe Festival. Scrumptious vegan food will be provided by Zinnia Piotrowski and drinks and snacks by Bull and the Mariposa Food Co-op of West Philadelphia. A wide variety of DVDs will be sold in the lobby by Philly’s own Diabolik DVD. Right now a documentary is being shot about the production and there will be a multi-camera shoot of the live performance. All of this should appear on a DVD to be released by Drag City Records, home of Espers and many other bands. The hope is that the DVD release will feature the film from a 35mm source (unlike the current Facets DVD) with multiple sound options, the live performance, documentary, amazing cover art by Tracy Nakayama, etc.”