Puccini For Beginners

Wednesday, September 13
Tower Theatre - 7:30p
$20 (includes Opening Night Gala after the film) - buy tickets
buy festival pass

Maria Maggenti (who brought us her much-loved The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love) returns after 8 years in production with the queer hit of the year, Puccini for Beginners.

Maggenti twists and turns with fluent comedy about a lovely opera-addicted girl appropriately named Alegra, a smart New York lesbian who can't seem to say yes - to love.

The gorgeous Elizabeth Reaser turns in a tremendous performance in Maggenti's small-world, big-city story when her commitment-phobic Alegra finds herself in two complicated and concurrent love affairs. Her first dalliance is with Philip (Justin Kirk), a Columbia professor, and her second affair is with Grace (Gretchen Mol), a 'straight' glass artist. However, what Alegra doesn't know is that Philip and Grace were once lovers themselves and are unaware that they are both intimate with Alegra. What ensues is a saucy love triangle set in the streets of contemporary New York City.

With a wacky chorus of sushi chefs, New York bystanders and friends alike making trenchant observations of Alegra's love life, Puccini for Beginners unfolds as a nonstop laugh-fest full of insights on evolving sexual identities and the quest for love (and a great opera date!) in New York City.

Director: Maria Maggenti

2005, USA, Video, 90 min

Contains sexual situations and adult themes - no one under 17 admitted without parent or guardian