Comments on: WI Film Fest – It's Happiness http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html Being a weeklie podcaste from Madison, Wisconsin featuring several remarkable curiosities therein occurring being a compendium of live music from divers artistes Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:28:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-376 Anonymous Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:22:45 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-376 John is a cousin of mine, and this film correctly portrays him. He is deeply passionate about Polka and his heritage, and will expend all of his energy to promote it. Keep it up, John, and hope to see you at camp again next fall! John is a cousin of mine, and this film correctly portrays him. He is deeply passionate about Polka and his heritage, and will expend all of his energy to promote it. Keep it up, John, and hope to see you at camp again next fall!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-377 Anonymous Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:57:46 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-377 Kenneth - I guess I was thinking of the polka people in the film as "real" polka people. No offense, but you don't strike me as a 'polka person'. Neither does Palmer, and he is a (non-muscian) polka enthusiast as well. <br/><br/>I am much less music-centric than either of you - to me the story with incidental music was enough (or almost enough - what I would have liked to have heard were more stories/memories of specific songs dear to people's hearts).<br/><br/>The D Kenneth – I guess I was thinking of the polka people in the film as “real” polka people. No offense, but you don’t strike me as a ‘polka person’. Neither does Palmer, and he is a (non-muscian) polka enthusiast as well.

I am much less music-centric than either of you – to me the story with incidental music was enough (or almost enough – what I would have liked to have heard were more stories/memories of specific songs dear to people’s hearts).

The D

]]> By: Palmer http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-378 Palmer Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:35:17 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-378 Kenneth - speaking as a non-musician, I would say that the movie would have been better had there been a complete song or two or, if you like, more music all-around. When I look at the title, I ask, "Why is polka equated to happiness?" and I feel that that question was answered. Perhaps the title is misleading. Maybe it should have been called "It's Happiness: Polka Fans of Wisconsin" or something much catchier.<br/><br/>You and I brought different expectations to the Historical Society that night. Kenneth – speaking as a non-musician, I would say that the movie would have been better had there been a complete song or two or, if you like, more music all-around. When I look at the title, I ask, “Why is polka equated to happiness?” and I feel that that question was answered. Perhaps the title is misleading. Maybe it should have been called “It’s Happiness: Polka Fans of Wisconsin” or something much catchier.

You and I brought different expectations to the Historical Society that night.

]]> By: Kenneth http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-379 Kenneth Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:02:10 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-379 I'm not sure what you mean by non-polka people. I go to polka shows, listen to polka radio and recordings and play accordion. Am I non-polka people?<br/><br/>The fact that I'm a musician probably has something to do with why I thought polka music got short shrift in that particular polka documentary. I’m not sure what you mean by non-polka people. I go to polka shows, listen to polka radio and recordings and play accordion. Am I non-polka people?

The fact that I’m a musician probably has something to do with why I thought polka music got short shrift in that particular polka documentary.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-380 Anonymous Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:20:42 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-380 Most non-polka people see polka as being primarily the music, which is my guess as to why people wanted more polka music in the film (I thought it was just fine as it was).<br/><br/>The people in the film experience polka as a <b>cultural</b> thing - it's not just the music or the dancing, it's the memories of growing up with polka and expressing themselves (artistically, culturally, physically). The music (which is, as Palmer points out, not monolithic and open to individual interpretation) is just one part of it.<br/><br/>To me the film was not about music as much as it was about people (Pinter, Vi, the Rowdy Bunch) and their wholistic experience of polka. In that context, the music existing as a part (but not the center of) that world makes perfect sense.<br/><br/>One more thing - although the filmakers *could* have portrayed Pinter differently (and Vi, and the rest of the players), taking them more seriously, for example, I don't think they were mean. Part of the story is that older people are the backbone of the "polka movement". And Pinter is the type of wacky character who makes a documentary of this kind more enjoyable to watch.<br/><br/>The D Most non-polka people see polka as being primarily the music, which is my guess as to why people wanted more polka music in the film (I thought it was just fine as it was).

The people in the film experience polka as a cultural thing – it’s not just the music or the dancing, it’s the memories of growing up with polka and expressing themselves (artistically, culturally, physically). The music (which is, as Palmer points out, not monolithic and open to individual interpretation) is just one part of it.

To me the film was not about music as much as it was about people (Pinter, Vi, the Rowdy Bunch) and their wholistic experience of polka. In that context, the music existing as a part (but not the center of) that world makes perfect sense.

One more thing – although the filmakers *could* have portrayed Pinter differently (and Vi, and the rest of the players), taking them more seriously, for example, I don’t think they were mean. Part of the story is that older people are the backbone of the “polka movement”. And Pinter is the type of wacky character who makes a documentary of this kind more enjoyable to watch.

The D

]]> By: Kenneth http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-381 Kenneth Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:35:19 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-381 All I'm saying is that the film, a self-described polka documentary, suffers from including only fragments of polka music. And the filmmakers wouldn't have to add to the runtime if they cut the extraneous, slightly mean sequences of an old man being forgetful and slow. These don't add to anyone's understanding of happiness. IMHO. All I’m saying is that the film, a self-described polka documentary, suffers from including only fragments of polka music. And the filmmakers wouldn’t have to add to the runtime if they cut the extraneous, slightly mean sequences of an old man being forgetful and slow. These don’t add to anyone’s understanding of happiness. IMHO.

]]> By: Palmer http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-382 Palmer Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:57:27 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-382 I fail to see how another 5 minutes of runtime to show, say, a couple songs in their entirety would convey why these people love polka more convincingly than it was. I fail to see how another 5 minutes of runtime to show, say, a couple songs in their entirety would convey why these people love polka more convincingly than it was.

]]> By: Kenneth http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-383 Kenneth Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:27:08 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-383 Who said anything about neuroscience? Music documentarians err when they make a film that doesn't present even one song in its entirety. Who said anything about neuroscience? Music documentarians err when they make a film that doesn’t present even one song in its entirety.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-384 Anonymous Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:34:34 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-384 For my part, I found it possible to feel sad because of the thought that the WI Polka Boosters might not outlast Pinter while laughing at how he was a hunt and peck typist. That always makes me laugh. <br/><br/>Hey Arch, I think I saw you walking home yesterday (along the lake).<br/><br/>The D For my part, I found it possible to feel sad because of the thought that the WI Polka Boosters might not outlast Pinter while laughing at how he was a hunt and peck typist. That always makes me laugh.

Hey Arch, I think I saw you walking home yesterday (along the lake).

The D

]]> By: Palmer http://www.upthedownstair.net/2007/04/wi-film-fest-its-happiness.html#comment-385 Palmer Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:13:01 +0000 tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14036982.post-6871494235457010942#comment-385 And just look how you turned out. And just look how you turned out.

]]>