ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES
32 SECOND AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10003; (212) 505-5181
For Immediate Release April 2, 2008
Contact: Stephanie Gray at
publicity@anthologyfilmarchives.org
Back by popular demand!
MY NAME IS ALBERT AYLER
Directed by Kasper Collin
April 18 - 22
“One of the most starkly beautiful and moving
documentaries ever made about a jazz musician.” Jazz Times (USA)
Presented with Harry Smith’s short film MIRROR ANIMATIONS
After its US Theatrical Premiere Run at Anthology last year, Anthology is bringing back by popular demand Kasper Collin’s invaluable documentary MY NAME IS ALBERT AYLER, for five days of encore screenings, accompanied by a brand-new 35mm blow-up of Harry Smith’s sublime MIRROR ANIMATIONS.
This award-winning documentary is about the prophetic free jazz saxophonist Ayler, who today is seen as one of the most important innovators in jazz. Ayler was obsessed with his radical music and by the thought that people one day would understand it, as he said in his own words “If people don't like it now, they will." In 1962 he recorded his first album in Sweden. Eight years later he was found dead in New York's East River, aged 34.
The documentary follows the trail of Albert from his native town of Cleveland by way of Sweden to New York, meeting family, friends and colleagues who help tell the story of his life and music. Albert himself guides us with his voice and music. Seven years in the making, the film includes newly discovered footage of Ayler and his band.
Preceded by:
Harry Smith
FILM NO. 11: MIRROR ANIMATIONS
(ca. 1957, 3.5 minutes, 35mm. Preserved with support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.)
Produced in 16mm and now blown-up to glorious 35mm, this is undoubtedly one of animator/ethnomusicologist/alchemist Harry Smith’s most perfectly realized works. A deeply mysterious, technically stunning and unearthly gorgeous work that defies all rational description.
SCREENING TIMES: Friday, April 18 through Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 and 9:00. Additional screenings on Saturday and Sunday at 5:00.
MY NAME IS ALBERT AYLER (Sweden, 2005, 79 min)
"REMARKABLE ... A CAUSE FOR REJOICING"
- New Yorker
“BRINGS AYLER BACK TO LIFE"
- Village Voice
"THE QUINTESSENTIAL PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST WHO WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME - AND KNEW IT."
- SF Weekly
"A SPELLBINDING LOOK AT ONE OF JAZZ' MOST MISUNDERSTOOD GENIUSES"
- All About Jazz
"A GORGEOUS PORTRAIT"
- Variety
"PUTS MOST LATTER-DAYS DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT CULT MUSICIANS TO SHAME."
- New York Sun
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE OR EVEN APPRECIATE AYLER'S STRIKING BRAND OF MUSIC TO BE MOVED BY THIS HEARTFELT TRIBUTE. ... MY NAME IS ALBERT AYLER WILL HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON A BASIC LEVEL."
- Film Journal International
"AN EXTRAORDINARY PORTRAIT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY MUSICIAN"
-Sight & Sound
"AN EXCELLENT DOCUMENTARY FILM ... ABOUT ARTISITIC INTEGRITY IN THE FACE OF POVERTY AND OF COMMITMENT TO A MUSICAL VISION"
- The Guardian
"A PROFOUND AND INSPIRING FILM"
- Magnet
"ONE OF THE MOST STARKLY BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING DOCUMENTARIES EVER MADE ABOUT A JAZZ MUSICIAN"
- Jazz Times
More reviews here:
Detroit Metro Times
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/....asp?id=128353
Movies.com
http://movies.go.com/my-name-is-albe...entary#critics
Box Office Magazine
http://boxoffice.com/reviews/2008/03...bert-ayler.php
Variety
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117...goryid=31&cs=1
Variety blog
http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlis...-transpar.html
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...ck=1&cset=true
SF Weekly
http://www.sfweekly.com/2008-03-05/c...les-ahead/full
SF Bay Guardian
http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=5854&catid=110
LA Weekly
http://www.laweekly.com/film+tv/film.../18483/?page=2
Philadelphia City Paper
http://www.citypaper.net/articles/20...he-beatin-path
Flavorpill SF
http://flavorpill.com/sanfrancisco/e...s-albert-ayler
Flavorpill LA
http://flavorpill.com/losangeles/eve...s-albert-ayler
NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=88140123
Rotten Tomatoes
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_n..._albert_ayler/
Imdb.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0963778/externalreviews
For more about MY NAME IS ALBERT AYLER visit:
http://www.mynameisalbertayler.com
DVD SCREENERS available
IMAGES available
DIRECTOR AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS (phone, email)
To request a screener/image, or an interview with the director, please contact Stephanie Gray at
publicity@anthologyfilmarchives.org
About Anthology Film Archives: Founded in 1970, Anthology’s mission is to exhibit, preserve, collect documentation about, and promote public and scholarly understanding of independent, classic, and avant-garde cinema. Anthology screens more than 900 film and video programs per year, publishes books and catalogs annually, and has preserved more than 700 films to date.
Directions: Anthology is at 32 Second Ave. at 2nd St., Manhattan, NYC. Subway: F or V to 2nd Ave; 6 to Bleecker.
Tickets: $8 for adults, $6 for students & seniors; $5 for members.
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