Going. For People Who Love to Go Out.
Rooftop Films: Rock Heart Beijing (Event Over)
- When:Fri 8/21/09 (8PM)
- Where: The Old American Can Factory
- Address: 232 Third Street at Third Avenue Brooklyn, NY Map
- Cost: $9-$25
Tickets for this Event
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General Admission - $9.00
Not Available No refunds. In the event of rain, show will go on indoors at the same location. Seating is first come, first served. Physical seats are limited. This means you may not get a chair. You are welcome to bring a blanket and sit picnic-style.
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Rooftop friend ($9 General Admission ticket + $6 donation) - $15.00
Not Available Did you know that Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization? Consider making this additional $6 donation with the purchase of your General Admission ticket, and help sustain Rooftop Films during these difficult times. Additional donation is not tax deductible.
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Rooftop patron ($9 General Admission ticket + $16 donation) - $25.00
Not Available Did you know that Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization? Consider making this additional $16 donation with the purchase of your General Admission ticket, and help sustain Rooftop Films during these difficult times. Additional donation is not tax deductible.
FRIDAY AUGUST 21
ROCK HEART BEIJING
(Karen Winther | China & Norway | 60 min.)
US PREMIERE!
If you think it’s hard being a punk rocker in the USA, try
making it in China. The debut feature film from Karen Winther is a
global, political, rock n’ roll doc about the dynamic Chinese
punk band Subs, following them from their homeland to their first
European tour. Filmmaker in attendance.
FREE SANGRIA RECEPTION AFTER THE FILM
Venue: On the roof of the Old American Can Factory
Address: 232 3rd St. @ 3rd Ave. (Gowanus/ Park Slope, Brooklyn)
Directions: F/G to Carroll St. or M/R to Union Ave.
Rain: In the event of rain the show will be held indoors at the same
location
8:00PM: Doors open
8:30PM: Live music presented by Sound Fix Records
9:00PM: Film
10:30PM: Filmmaker Q&A
11:00PM–12:30AM: Reception in courtyard including free sangria courtesy of Carlo
Rossi
Tickets: $9-25 at the door or online at
www.rooftopfilms.com
Presented in partnership with:
, &
XØ Projects
No refunds. In the event of rain, the show will be indoors at
the same locations. Seating is first come, first served. Physical
seats are limited. This means you may not get a chair. You are
welcome to bring a blanket and picnic.
MAP |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE |
TRAILER |
SUBS
ROCK HEART BEIJING (Karen Winther | China & Norway | 60 min.)
Dingy clubs. Small crowds. Low pay. Punk bands are used this sort
of stuff. Media censorship, government disapproval of your lyrics,
not knowing how to work a car stereo? Western bands don’t
have these problems. But the Chinese punk rock band Subs do. This
dynamic and fun rock n’ roll tour doc shows Subs in their
homeland, and follows them on their first-ever European tour,
highlighting the social and political differences between two
extremes of the same punk culture.
At home in China, Subs (
www.myspace.com/subsband) are struggling, but having fun. Led by their fiery and incisive
lead singer Kang Mao, a petite woman with big hair and an explosive
voice, the members of Subs stand out everywhere they go in
China—particularly some of the small towns they visit, where
their gigs are watched from the windows by puzzled store owners and
awe-struck little kids. Humping their own gear, waiting out a
broken down tour bus in a cheap restaurant, Subs maintain an energy
that is a delight to share. When they finally seem to break
through, getting a cover spread on a music magazine, they mostly
laugh off the fact that the zine felt the need to photoshop long
pants over Kang Mao’s bikini-clad bottom. And the wily band
avoids government censorship with a daring trick: they sing in
English.
More perturbing, perhaps, is the personal critiques they face from
their own families. In a society that values familial respect and
adherence to tradition, Kang Mao’s father harshly criticizes
her for lacking four things: an address, a job, a family, a future.
She’s clearly stung by this critique, and so she does what
any great artist does: she turns her pain into a song.
It’s only when Subs finally gets on the road in Europe that
they truly realize what they’ve been missing. In China, the
band tells us, they have a need to balance the oppressive society
with rebellious music, style and action. Given full freedom in
Norway, they wistfully joke that if they lived here, they
wouldn’t need punk rock. “If you live here, how can you
feel angry?” Kang Mao asks. Later, she answers her own
question. Eating in a nice restaurant, she realizes the limits of
what she has. “On this tour, we are so happy. I feel so free,
but I think the real freedom is not one person’s
freedom.” It’s freedom for everybody.
Back in China, Subs struggle with health problems, musical
conflicts, and the ongoing limitations of their society. They meet
these challenges as they had before, by supporting one another,
churning out more great songs, and continuing to inspire the chase
for freedom through the glories of sweat, guts and guitars.
Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and inspire the diverse communities of New York City by showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers and musicians. In addition to our Summer Series – which takes place in unique outdoor venues every weekend throughout the summer – Rooftop provides grants to filmmakers, teaches media literacy and filmmaking to young people, rents low-cost equipment to artists and non-profits, and produces new independent films. At Rooftop Films, we bring the underground outdoors. For more information and updates please visit our website at www.rooftopfilms.com.
Rooftop Films