It was one of the largest crowds the festival has ever seen for its opening film, Wake, which is World Premiering at Cinequest.

Directed by Ellie Kanner, the film is a romantic dramedy starring Bijou Phillips as, Carys, a grief stricken twentysomething who spends most of her time at a funeral home with best friend, undertaker Shane (Danny Masterson), and attending funerals of strangers. She connects with a grieving fiance (Ian Somerhalder) at one funeral, but there seems to be more behind this guy than meets the eye.

Known for taking extremely dark and risque roles, Phillips shows she has comedic chops and does well in her first meaty lead.

Shown at the beautiful California Theatre in downtown San Jose, the line to get in stretched down half a block when I showed up about ten minutes before the film began, filling to capacity the 1,119-seat movie palace and turning away many. (Egyptian Theatre this is not.)



The evening ended with drinks and hors d'oeuvres at Billy Berk's and Mezcal down the street. And with the price to see the film and go to the after party only $40(!), a lot of people decided to stay out late on a Wednesday night and enjoy what the festival is touting as its "Transform" year.



If you're in the area, come by and check out the Audience & Art panel I'll be on this Friday.

Cinequest ends March 8th. Learn more at cinequest.org

# posted by Jason Guerrasio @ 2/26/2009 11:32:00 AM

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