Synopsis

Synopsis:

The Recondite Heart is a dark coming-of-age story of small town punk rock and star-crossed love at the onset of Reagan’s America. Ray is a teenage loner who considers himself the town’s only punk rocker. He adopts punk as a way to distance himself from the falseness he sees around him in school, at home, and on television. When some older punks from the city take up residence in the small town, Ray thinks he has found kindred spirits. He is quickly seduced by the artistic, but troubled, Johanna, who begins initiating Ray into a world of books, music, drugs, and uninhibited sex. They begin an affair, and for Ray, everything seems exciting and fun, but soon the relationship becomes more intense. Johanna’s world is dark and pessimistic, and her nihilism is at odds with Ray’s youthful idealism. Ultimately, Johanna’s self destructive and corrupting influence leads them down a path that must inevitably end in tragedy.

The Recondite Heart is a film about the search for self and place, a celebration of the exhilarating recklessness of youth, and a chronicle of inevitable loss. Shot on 16mm film, the narrative feature combines charged black and white imagery and emotionally truthful performances to explore formative experiences of sexuality, art, politics, love, and death.

Filmmaker's Statement

SF360 Article

Download Synopsis Booklet PDF

Filmmaker’s Bio:

As a member the San Francisco post-punk blues band Sister Double Happiness, California-born Miles Matthew Montalbano segued into filmmaking by producing and directing the group's no-budget music videos for the Sub Pop label. Montalbano continued making short films, music videos, and documentary work, including a segment for the collaborative anti-war project We Interrupt This Empire (2003). He also produced and directed the Jonathan Richman concert film, Take Me to the Plaza (2003) which was released by Neil Young’s Vapor Records label. His narrative feature debut as writer/director, Revolution Summer (2007), premiered at the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival and was named ‘One of the Ten Best Films of the Year’ and ‘One of the Best Independent Films of the Decade’ in the San Francisco Chronicle. The film has screened at festivals and theatrically world wide, and is being released to home video by Vanguard Cinema.

The Recondite Heart is his second feature film as writer/director. The film is being produced by Liz Ross for Gray Eminence Films and has received a FilmHouse Residency from the San Francisco Film Society.

Contact:

Gray Eminence Films
3460 16th Street #3
San Francisco, CA 94114
info@grayeminencefilms.com


	Synopsis: *The Recondite Heart* is a dark coming-of-age story of small town punk rock and star-crossed love at the onset of Reagan’s America. Ray is a teenage loner who considers himself the town’s only punk rocker. He adopts punk as a way to distance himself from the falseness he sees around him in school, at home, and on television. When some older punks from the city take up residence in the small town, Ray thinks he has found kindred spirits. He is quickly seduced by the artistic, but troubled, Johanna, who begins initiating Ray into a world of books, music, drugs, and uninhibited sex. They begin an affair, and for Ray, everything seems exciting and fun, but soon the relationship becomes more intense. Johanna’s world is dark and pessimistic, and her nihilism is at odds with Ray’s youthful idealism. Ultimately, Johanna’s self destructive and corrupting influence leads them down a path that must inevitably end in tragedy. *The Recondite Heart* is a film about the search for self and place, a celebration of the exhilarating recklessness of youth, and a chronicle of inevitable loss. Shot on 16mm film, the narrative feature combines charged black and white imagery and emotionally truthful performances to explore formative experiences of sexuality, art, politics, love, and death. Filmmaker's Statement SF360 Article Download Synopsis Booklet PDF Filmmaker’s Bio: As a member the San Francisco post-punk blues band Sister Double Happiness, California-born Miles Matthew Montalbano segued into filmmaking by producing and directing the group's no-budget music videos for the Sub Pop label. Montalbano continued making short films, music videos, and documentary work, including a segment for the collaborative anti-war project We Interrupt This Empire (2003). He also produced and directed the Jonathan Richman concert film, Take Me to the Plaza (2003) which was released by Neil Young’s Vapor Records label. His narrative feature debut as writer/director, Revolution Summer (2007), premiered at the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival and was named ‘One of the Ten Best Films of the Year’ and ‘One of the Best Independent Films of the Decade’ in the San Francisco Chronicle. The film has screened at festivals and theatrically world wide, and is being released to home video by Vanguard Cinema. The Recondite Heart is his second feature film as writer/director. The film is being produced by Liz Ross for Gray Eminence Films and has received a FilmHouse Residency from the San Francisco Film Society. Contact: Gray Eminence Films 3460 16th Street #3 San Francisco, CA 94114 info@grayeminencefilms.com
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