Director John Jencks attending 4/14
Following the April 14 screening at the Uptown Theater, head over to Chino Latino to kick off MSPIFF’s week-long stay in Uptown.
Once celebrated (and once prolific) poet Ted Wallace has fallen into disgrace. Fired from his job as a theater critic, and with nothing published in almost three decades, he takes to drunkenly wallowing in long baths (hence, his nickname—the “hippopotamus"). Serendipitously, he is summoned for a well-paid investigation into a series of unexplained phenomena at the home of the Lord and Lady Logan—namely, that the manor is healing people. Ted discovers that the source of these rumors is none other than his godson, 15-year-old David Logan, whose parents believe has healing hands. The Logans are set on sharing their son’s gift with the world, but Ted sets out to debunk the miracles and save a young man from a lifetime of embarrassment. Based on the popular novel by celebrated English actor, comedian, writer, and activist Stephen Fry.
Director’s Biography
John Jencks: Fresh out of film school in LA, John moved back to the UK in 2008 to set up The Electric Shadow Company with Jay Taylor and Alexa Seligman. One of the first things they did was option Stephen Fry’s novel The Hippopotamus, which John had wanted to make as a film for over 10 years. Meanwhile, John won prizes for his comedy shorts, including the Shooting People Comedy Award for Go Away, Please! at LSFF (2010), and worked on developing The Fold, his first feature. UK drama The Fold stars Catherine McCormack and was released in cinemas in March 2014.