While I eagerly anticipate his next film, the Mysterious Adrian Betamax distracts me with La Promenade des Papillons, a delightful silent short about the adventures of a girl and her butterflies. Director Josie Basford deftly harnesses the Maggie Gyllenhaal-esque charms of her leading lady and pieces together stunning images in a witty narrative. A bonus layer of giddy at recognizing the historic Echo Park setting, home of cinema before Hollywood was “Hollywood,” and near my former home too. (The hilltop encounter at the end reminds me of scaling the Effie Street slope on many a whimsical walk with Gordon.)
Rumor has it the director has come to this neck of the woods, and indeed, folks in Eugene have the opportunity to watch La Promenade des Papillons today at the Eugene Celebration film festival during the 5 p.m. DIVA Center show (same theater that was ground zero for the Earth Day premiere!)
Lillian Lavender’s stroll is strange I can believe in. I encourage you all to check it out!