The MacGuffin

Eden is a look at a girl surviving under sexual enslavement. This is a hard issue to look at under any circumstances, and the uncomfortable nature of what happens never leaves the film. It shows what this life could be like with realism, though with some convenient events that help to give some hope in the end.

Spencer interviews actress Jamie Chung and actor Matt O’Leary from the drama Eden at SXSW 2012.

This segment is also available on Stitcher, iTunes and YouTube. The audio version can be downloaded directly from here.

Spencer interviews director Megan Griffiths from the drama Eden at SXSW 2012.

This segment is also available on Stitcher, iTunes and YouTube. The audio version can be downloaded directly from here.

Being the film festival that bills itself as the largest in the country, it is only right and just that many interesting films by women are showing this year at the Seattle International Film Festival. The most high-profile of these was the film shown last night at the Opening Night Gala, Lynn Shelton’s Your Sister’s Sister. But if you, like me, sadly could not attend, there are plenty of other opportunities to support female filmmakers during the fest. By my count, 50 of the 273 features showing were directed or co-directed by a woman. While I’d still love to live in a world with a better ratio than that, 50 films is a lot of work to check out, and that’s great. I’ve been able to see a few I can recommend already.

It is always nice to see filmmakers who have a passion for a project. There is a certain depth and appreciation for the matter that can be seen on the screen in the final product. After working to get the film made for nine years, you can see the hard work in Matthew Lillard’s directorial debut, Fat Kid Rules the World.