desertfilmsociety
presents
the Coachella Valley Premiere of

T H E    R E C E P T I O N


Saturday, October 1, 2005

9:00 am - Camelot Theatres Doors Open
(Complimentary Coffee & Pastries)
9:20 am - Introduction of the Film
9:30 a.m. - Screening Begins
Q&A Session follows the Screening

Free to DFS 2005 Members with current Membership Card
Guests & Non-Members pay $15.00 per person at the door


Directed and Written by:  John G. Young
Cast:  Pamela Holden Stewart, Wayne Lamont Sims, Margaret Burkwit, Darien Sills-Evan, Chris Burmeister

"THE RECEPTION is a twisted tale of love and deception, set in the snowy New York countryside.  Jeannette, a French woman, and Martin, a black artist, live a serene life together in their relationship of convenience.  She claims to be escaping the men of New York City, while his excuse is that he needs quiet to paint.  Unexpectedly, Jeannette's daughter, Sierra, arrives with new husband Andrew in tow.  Jeannette is surprised, not only by the new son-in-law but also by the appearance of her daughter with whom she has a strained relationship.  So, Jeannette decides to throw the couple a party...  after all, entertaining is what she does best.  As the day of the impromptu wedding reception draws closer, each character begins to divulge dark secrets, hidden flaws and intimate confrontations which twist into a familial web of betrayal, lies and sexual awakenings.  The cast fulfills the emotional complexities of their characters.  Pamela Holden Stewart plays Jeannette with a light, content façade and flawlessly descends into multiple co-dependencies on cue.  Darien Sills-Evans' closed-down Martin is permeated with frustration as he hides from his unknown past.  Margaret Burkwit and Wayne Lamont Sims bring youthful freshness to the film as Sierra and Andrew, portrayed with mysterious appeal.  Director John G. Young has crafted a triumphant psychological drama, laced with sexual, racial and political undertones."  TriBeCa Film Festival (Official Selection 2005)
THE RECEPTION is a story about love and fear, about race and sexuality, about truth and compromise, and about having the courage to take a stand.  The N.Y. Times film critic called this little gem "...a quietly ambitious and memorable film."
Genre:  Drama
RUNNING TIME:  80 MINUTES
LANGUAGE:  English
RATED:  Not Rated, BUT contains nudity, adult language and gay themes.