'Passionada' city debut finalized

Aug. 4 screening to precede broader opening
By ROBERT LOVINGER, Standard-Times staff writer

 

Standard-Times photo by Jack Iddon

It's official.
The movie "Passionada" will make its New Bedford debut on Monday, Aug. 4.
In a surprise development, admission to the 7:30 p.m. screening at the North End's Flagship Cinemas will be free.
But tickets could be hard to find for what undoubtedly will be one of the most anticipated public events in these parts in years.
After tickets go to cast, crew and locals whom the producers want to thank for their help in making the movie happen, remaining passes likely will be distributed via some sort of lottery, according to producer David Bakalar.
"It hasn't been pinned down yet," Mr. Bakalar said.
Shot in and around New Bedford two summers ago, the Portuguese-flavored romantic comedy stars Sofia Milos, Jason Isaacs and Emmy Rossum.
Samuel Goldwyn Films, the movie's distributor, said in a press release that all three actors are "scheduled to attend" the local premiere.
The movie will unspool that night on four Flagship screens with a total of 800 to 900 seats, Mr. Bakalar said.
After the Aug. 4 screening, the film will tentatively reopen Friday, Aug. 8, for a regular run at Flagship, Mr. Bakalar said.
Aug. 8 is also the date it will be released in other regions of the country with good-sized Portuguese populations, he said.
"Passionada" is slated to open "wide" on Aug. 15.
Some local folks hoped the premiere would be held at the restored Zeiterion Theatre.
Besides being downtown and holding 1,250 seats, the Zeiterion sports the distinction of having been host of the world premiere of John Huston's "Moby Dick" in 1956, parts of which also were filmed in New Bedford.
The Zeiterion was ruled out due to technical considerations, according to Mr. Bakalar.
"We know Flagship has the latest equipment -- for example, digital sound," Mr. Bakalar said. "We thought it would be better and safer to do it in a place that was running movies all the time."
The Monday night premiere will take place the day after the closing of the city's Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, the biggest Portuguese festival in the world.
The movie will have a booth at the festival. There, people might be able to enter their names in the proposed ticket lottery. Mr. Bakalar said people might also be able to enter by accessing the film's Web site, www.passionada.com, which is under construction.
Besides the booth, "Passionada" will have a float in the feast's Sunday parade. Mr. Bakalar said it's not known yet who will ride the float.
The Goldwyn press release promises a "surprise ceremony" at 6:30 that night, outside the theater.
Originally, Mr. Bakalar planned that proceeds from the premiere would benefit the Immigrants' Assistance Center and the Casa de Saudade Library.
But he said yesterday that he realized the money raised wouldn't have been very large and that charging no admission would be a way to thank New Bedford for its role in the making of the movie.
"Passionada," directed by Dan Ireland, is the story of a 30-something fisherman's widow who believes her romantic life is over.
But the seamstress/fado singer/single mom suddenly finds herself being pursued by a handsome Englishman who might not be what he appears.
"Passionada" had its world premiere last June at the Seattle International Film Festival. Then, last summer, director Dan Ireland brought his cast and crew back to New Bedford to shoot a new ending.
In January, the movie was picked up for distribution by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Fireworks Pictures. In March, it was screened as part of a fund-raiser for a mental health clinic in Brookline, of which Mr. Bakalar's wife is a member of the board of directors.

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