Charlotte Sometimes Opens in NY

Charlotte Sometimes finally opens in New York with a theatrical run at Cinema Village on East 12th Street starting today. Gothamist first caught it in February, and it is a beautiful, subdued character driven film about four young people in L.A.: An introverted mechanic; his tenant, a sexy actress; her boyfriend; and a mysterious woman. The Times' Dave Kehr calls it "a tiny film that reflects a large talent." Kehr also says that director Eric Byler's style recalls that of French master, Eric Rohmer "fascination with courtship rituals" and "complex interaction of two actors sharing the same frame." Roger Ebert was an early advocate for the film.

Director Eric Byler and some of the cast will be at some of the NY screenings, and to celebrate the NY premiere, there are premiere parties tonight and tomorrow. Gothamist saw Byler at the screening, and he's truly passionate and excited about his film. He's been traveling to most screenings, lingering to chat even after the Q&A is over. [As Charlotte Sometimes is called an Asian film (even though it's much more expansive than that), Byler ruefully recounted how some people say how dare he make a film about Asians, not realizing is that he's biracial and his mother is Asian, and that this becomes another kind of racism...] Gothamist can't wait to see what his next project is.

See Eric Rohmer's Pauline at the Beach or Boyfriends and Girlfriends, two films about the games people play in relationships that Gothamist finds particularly charming.