Okay, so it’s going to be as chilly as a penguin’s patootie in Republic Square Park this evening, but that’s no reason to miss the Austin Film Society‘s free screening of local filmmaker Nancy Higgins acclaimed documentary Viva Les Amis. Seriously, bring some blankets, a dog (or two), and a box of House Merlot and we promise you’ll be fine.
So what, exactly, is Viva Les Amis? To quote Higgins, it’s “a documentary about Les Amis Café — the Parisian-inspired bohemian meeting place that flourished for 27 years in Austin, Texas. The film shows the counterculture of the 70’s, punk rock of the 80’s, and rapid growth of the 90’s as seen through the eyes of one local establishment … and explores how a place like Les Amis Café contributes to the culture and identity of a city by capturing the cafés long history and eclectic clientele.”
Nicely put, but we might also add that Les Amis — notoriously replaced by a Starbuck‘s at the corner of 24th Street and San Antonio eleven years ago — featured prominently in Richard Linklater‘s legendary Slacker, was the cradle of Austin’s still-standing boho birthright, and, frankly, had the coolest waiters and waitresses ever. But you missed it. Damn the luck and thank Guy Debord for Higgins’ splendid doc.
Tonight’s screening opens with music by Little Big Man at 6pm, followed by a whole lotta Higgins at 7 pm. Miss this and you’re not allowed to whine about the good old days anymore. And for the love of Henri Langlois, would someone please open up a Les Amis 2.0 already? (And we’ll take a side of Mad Dog & Beans with that.)
This article appears in October 24 • 2008.