Maui Film Festival Castle Theater Shows, June 13-17

Mauian Marc Turtletaub, producer of the Academy Award-winning LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, directs a cast, including the uber-talented Kelly Macdonald and Irrfan Khan, in this gentle yet powerful story of a woman’s unexpected mid-life discovery that she’s a jigsaw-puzzle prodigy, which brings with it the birth of a newly discovered independent streak that inspires and changes her life forever.Variety raved, “‘Puzzle’ is the missing piece in American blockbuster filmmaking.” (R / 103 min)
Preceded by short film I HEART NY

This opening night film at the prestigious Seattle International Film Festival, stars Emily Mortimer, Bill Nighy and the always amazing Maui Film Festival-Honoree Patricia Clarkson. Set in a small town in 1959 England, a woman decides to open a bookshop against polite but ruthless local opposition – a decision which becomes a political minefield, but helps her connect to a kindred spirit. (NR / 113 min)

Mauian Marc Turtletaub, producer of the Hope Gracin is known as “the girl dying of cancer” and has fully embraced this identity. Posting YouTube videos, having fun with friends, an Australian boyfriend, and being popular have been results of this identity… until her tests show that she is cured. Hope, unsure of what her new future holds, hides the truth. But as what happens with most secrets, the truth comes out. How will everyone react? With the help of her friends and loved ones, Hope faces her fear of living only to discover the beauty of living.  (NR / 78 min)

A 1950’s Howard Hughes employee-confidante, George Van Tassel, uses alien guidance and Nikola Tesla’s ideas to build a time machine — The Integratron. Is he deluded, or could it actually work? As waves of devotees join him in the California desert, the FBI gets involved fearing insurrection and possibly more. Nearing completion, Van Tassel’s tale and the Integratron meet an unexpected end: the “workings” of the dome finally emerge. The unusual story is told by historians, astronomers and current residents of Joshua Tree, including the stewards of the Integratron, the Karl Sisters, and a galaxy of believers and skeptics alike. (NR / 77 min)
Followed by short film  THE NEVER-ENDING MARATHON OF MR. DHARAM SINGH 

The remarkable true story, set in Belfast, Ireland in 1941, tells the tale of a village that saved a baby elephant during the air raids of World War II.  A perfect film for a Father’s Day matinee with your kids or to remember what magic there can be even in the tumult of war. (PG / 91 min)

Six films take a kaleidoscopic look at Hawai’i and its influence here and beyond.  The stories include a doc on chocolate farming on the Big Island, a young film-student interpretation of the Kumulipo, the importance of Kaho’olawe as sacred land and more. Precedes Long Story Shorts. (NR / 75 min)

While the sky may not be falling, the odds are good that Climate Change – yes, unfortunately it’s real – may make the planet unhealthy, if not uninhabitable, for human life and many species in our grandchildren’s lifetime.   This living, breathing lesson in Earth wisdom makes clear there are geo-therapy strategies that are already – and over time  – returning our atmosphere to safe levels of carbon while “growing” healthy soil (our most precious resource), and coincidentally, supporting the health of the oceans of Earth at the same time.  (NR / 86 min)

This truly trailblazing, mind-boggling documentary – let’s call it a poem to allow it to stand apart – explores what kind of future do we want to live in? Jeff Bridges produced and co-wrote this film, directed by Mauian Susan Kucera, which presents a beautifully photographed 4K tour de force of original thinking on who we are and the life challenges we face. This film upends our way of thinking and provides original insights into our subconscious motivations, the unintended consequences, and how our fundamental nature influences our future as humankind.  (NR / 84 min)