Pretty Vacant

“The movie’s all told in voice-over–it’s cheaper that way.” The last words in this energetic, low-budget, 33-minute film by Jim Mendiola, spoken by its narrator, Molly (Mariana Vasquez)–a 21-year-old Chicana who drums for an all-girl punk band and is working on the fifth issue of her zine, this one in Super-8–are a pretty fair description of what Mendiola is up to, technically speaking. Culturally this black-and-white effort is even more interesting, especially as it describes what alienates Molly from her more traditional, Mexican-oriented dad (David Mercado Gonzales). To be shown with other short films; Mendiola will lead a discussion. Tres en Uno, 1769 W. Greenleaf, Friday, September 12, 7:00, 773-764-8634; also Calles y Suenos, 1900 S. Carpenter, Sunday, September 14, 7:00, 312-243-4243.

–Jonathan Rosenbaum

Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): film still.