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Film Wed Jul 28 2010
Daniel Pritzker's Louis Debuts in Chicago with Wynton Marsalis
Daniel Pritzker, a professional musician and one of the country's richest men, has directed a truly unique film that demonstrates once again that the Pritzkers are excellent at using their fortune to advance art and culture.
Louis stars Jackie Earle Haley, Shanti Lowry and Anthony Coleman in a silent film set in 1907 New Orleans. Here's the synopsis from the film's website:
Shot by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond as a modern re-imagining of early silent film, LOUIS is an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and the birth of American music. The grand Storyville bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of 1907 New Orleans provide a backdrop of lust, blood and magic for 6-year-old Louis (Coleman) as he navigates the colorful intricacies of life in the city. Young Louis's dreams of playing the trumpet are interrupted by a chance meeting with a beautiful and vulnerable girl named Grace (Lowry) and her baby, Jasmine. Haley, in a performance reminiscent of the great comic stars of the silent screen, plays the evil Judge Perry who is determined not to let Jasmine's true heritage derail his candidacy for governor.
The film begins a five-city tour here in Chicago at the Symphony Center on Aug. 25 with live music accompaniment provided by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, pianist Cecile Licad and a 10-piece all-star jazz ensemble. Tickets are $40 to $60, and part of the proceeds from the five concerts will benefit Providence Saint Mel School.
lisa / August 26, 2010 5:24 PM
Performance & film were great, but Symphony Center was woefully unprepared for the event. At the time of the scheduled start, hundreds were still outside on the street in the will call line waiting for their tickets...