<BR>here is an intriguing item: a film (which can't be half-bad, because it was a finalist for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards) about a 76 year old former Broadway dancer whose car broke down many years ago in Death Valley. There she found a theatre - and decided to stay!<P>She painted a mural of audience (in case none came) and proceeded to dance (en pointe) on it's stage.<P>"Amargosa is the story of reclusive artist and dancer, Marta Becket. Living in the remote ghost town of Death Valley Junction, California and performing in her hand-painted opera house, Marta struggles to exorcise her demons while embracing the rapture of the creative moment by immersing herself in it."<P>the site is <A HREF="http://www.amargosafilm.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.amargosafilm.com/</A> <P>and here is marta's story: <A HREF="http://www.amargosafilm.com/story.asp" TARGET=_blank>http://www.amargosafilm.com/story.asp</A> <P>the film premiered in los angeles april 16, and will screen in dallas, texas on may 2 and in seattle on may 27.<P>i'd see it, if it came to MY town!<P>Thanks to Rosetta at Blue Diamond Coffee House for this tip!<BR>

<BR>Publicity Poster

danceart at <A HREF="http://www.danceart.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.danceart.com/</A> have tickets for the dallas, texas screenings - may 2 and may 7: check out their site, if you live near dallas and would like to go.<P>actually, check out their site ANYWAY! - it's huge and interesting... <P>they also have an example image of one of marta's mural paintings, at their home page, which appears to have just been re-designed.

i DO wish someone would tell me they had seen this film!<P>it's frustrating being somewhere where it may be a long wait...i'll be looking for it at the next perth film festival in feb next year...in the meantime, has anyone seen it? i'd love to hear more...<P>btw, i neglected, up above, to provide the address for blue diamond dance - assumed you'd all know! it's <A HREF="http://www.blue-diamond-dance.com" TARGET=_blank>www.blue-diamond-dance.com</A> <BR> <BR>it's a fascinating site - i confess i'd only ever visited the message board before. now i see there is so much more to it, and bautifully designed too. rosetta, the webmistress, pours her heart and soul into this site (that's her photo on the home page): it's apparent from her tone and from the way she shares her life experience so generously. <P>there are very practical tips, chat opportunities, and -frankly- more to explore than i have time for, right now! i'll bookmark it and go back later. it's for adult ballet students especially - but it's got something for ALL of us..."try it! you'll like it!<P>today's blue diamond randomly generated inspirational quote: "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt

are there any reviews for this movie

good question, cronos - i'll try to find some...give me a day or so (i'm busy)

cronos: my search for reviews yielded no results. of course, there MUST be some: i just didn't find them! sorry!<P>please if anyone else has any info, can you speak up? one of you must have seen it by now!

dear cronos: did YOU by any chance find any? please? <P>-or did any of our seattle readers see this film?

<BR>more info:-<P>a link to nine reviews (Cronos: are you THERE? ):<BR> <A HREF="http://www.amargosafilm.com/reviews.asp" TARGET=_blank>http://www.amargosafilm.com/reviews.asp</A> <P>list of screenings: <A HREF="http://www.amargosafilm.com/screening.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.amargosafilm.com/screening.htm</A> <P>

And a review from SF:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B><A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/12/08/DD51138.DTL" TARGET=_blank>'Amargosa'</A></B><BR><I>Documentary. Directed by Todd Robinson. (Not rated. 92 minutes. At Rafael Film Center.)</I><P>Peter Stack, Mick LaSalle, SF Chronicle<P>"Amargosa," Todd Robinson's new documentary, leaves no doubt that 76-year- old dancer and artist Marta Becket is a remarkable person. When she was 43, she abandoned a rich New York art scene to forge an entirely new creative life in a forbidding Death Valley ghost town.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><B><A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/12/08/DD51138.DTL" TARGET=_blank>More</A></B>

I recently saw a short piece about Marta Becket on the t.v. program, "Curious World."<P>It explained what the articles have said, but on the program, I actually got to see and hear Ms. Becket talk. Before I saw this show, I was having some vague Miss Havisham visions about this person. I don't any longer. Ms. Becket is energetic and lively, looking much less than her age. She has that "ballerina look" to her, and alert, naturally lifted by her expression. Somewhat eccentric, but in the way many creative and brilliant people are, I was impressed with her undertaking. The murals on the wall of her theater are nothing less than spectacular. Indeed, she painted her own worldly audience on the walls. This woman is a treasure in her uniqueness.

A review:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B><A HREF="http://63.78.169.150/style/default.jsp?story=art.amarg.12080000" TARGET=_blank>Director ruins own film in 'Amargosa'</A></B><BR>By Rachel Howard, SF Examiner<P>At 76, former ballet dancer Marta Becket lives in a desert ghost town, where she performs mime and dance acts with a plumber side-kick named Wilget. Marta takes the stage almost daily, witnessed only by the gallery of Renaissance characters she has painted onto the walls of the Amargosa Opera House. Live audiences do come -- but about as regularly as rainfall.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><B><A HREF="http://63.78.169.150/style/default.jsp?story=art.amarg.12080000" TARGET=_blank>More</A></B>

She is a really interesting story isn't she? Gives a whole new meaning to creating one's own audience. I say brava to her!!

i was most intrigued by that title - 'Director ruins own film'- so had to find out how and why! here is the answer, according to rachel howard:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>... unfortunately Robinson (the Director) treats his "creativity for its own sake" theme with a gag-inducing piety.<P>This story is so good you'll wish Robinson had just stayed out of the way.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>certainly hoping i get an opportunity to see this film about this woman one day soon....i'm told it has already ben on TV here, but i never noticed