Week of April 13 - April 19, 2010

FILM

LA MISSION

A new drama written and directed by Peter Bratt and starring his brother, Benjamin Bratt. La Mission is the heartfelt story of Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt), a recovering alcoholic and former inmate, who struggles with the revelation of a gay son in the Latino macho-culture of San Francisco’s Mission District. This film project was truly a labor of love for the Bratt brothers who grew up in the Mission District. The film opened last Friday, 4/9 in New York and Los Angeles. Check your local theatre listing for time schedule.www.lamissionthemovie.com

11^th ANNUAL HAVANA FILM FESTIVAL

The Havana Film Festival continues to provide a platform for Latin American Cinema with genres ranging from comedy, thrillers, drama, film noir and children’s tales, as well as films and documentaries about the influence of music and dance. Be sure to check out over 40 films from 15 countries, screenings, special events hosted throughout NYC, and a special tribute to Cuban writer, director, poet, actor and dramatist Enrique Pineda Barnet. April 16^th through the 23^rd. www.hffny.com.

ART

Pablo Picasso fans can rejoice with a double dose, yet very distinct, Picasso exhibits to enjoy……

PICASSO: THEMES AND VARIATIONS

Featuring 100 works and explores Picasso’s creative process through the medium of printmaking, tracing his development from the early years of the twentieth century, with depictions of itinerant circus performers in the Blue and Rose periods, to his discovery of Cubism. Exhibit is open through August 30^th. Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53^rd street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues. (212) 708-9400. www.moma.org.

CELEBRATING THE MUSE: WOMEN IN PICASSO’S PRINTS FROM 1905 – 1968

Featuring 200 works in a variety of print-making techniques -etching, drypoint, linocut and lithography. Unlike the aforementioned exhibit, this exhibit is far narrower in focus because it is all about the women in Picasso’s life from wives, mistresses, models, and mythological figures. It is said that Picasso battled with insomnia and spent many hours “studying” his subjects in their sleep. Exhibit is open through May 1^st. Marlborough Gallery, 40 West 57^th Street. (212) 541-4900. www.marlboroughgallery.com.

IPHONE APP

What do Apple and “Sneaker Heads” now have in common? The new MYSNEAKER application launches on April 13th and is available on the iTunes App Store. MySneakers houses all the essential tools that any novice, enthusiast or sneaker aficionado would need to find their perfect pair; a search engine referencing an extensive database of the latest and greatest styles, the blogs that review them, a rating system that allows you to leave your own and (with the GPS function in the iPhone enabled) the stores that carry those styles in closest proximity to the user. NILO Media Corp. and MySneakers have partnered with major and independent brands, including Nike, Converse, PF Flyers, New Balance, Vans, Puma, DC, and Creative Recreation. www.Nilomediacorp.com, www.mysneakersapp.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

GROANA MELENDEZ: FAMILY WORK SERIES

Melendez's photographs in Family Work Series, are a personal investigation of her family, the spaces they inhabit, and an intimate relationship between photographer and the sitter. In the process she explores issues of class, family relationships, and ultimately a deeper understanding of her own Dominican-American roots. In addition to the exhibit, don’t miss the chance to meet Melendez at her Artist Talk on Saturday, April 17th from 1pm to 2 pm. Exhibit opens April 14^th through September 7^th. En Foco at Aguilar Library/NYPL, 174 East 110th Street, between Lexington and Third avenues. (212) 534-2930. www.enfoco.org.