The music documentary "Peter Asher: Everywhere Man" and coming-of-age drama "Manas" open Aug. 7 at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.
"Everywhere Man" is a feature-length documentary inspired by the musician, producer and manager's celebrated cabaret show, "A Musical Memoir of the ’60s and Beyond." Like his stage performance, the film traces an extraordinary life lived at the center of modern music history.
From his early years as a child actor in 1950s London to the Swinging '60s, Asher emerges as a chameleon-like figure in the culture of the era: one half of the pop duo Peter and Gordon, recipients of four chart-topping hits penned by Paul McCartney; the first head of A&R at Apple Records; and co-owner of the Indica Gallery, the epicenter of London’s countercultural art scene.
Asher helped define a generation of singer-songwriters as producer and manager for artists such as James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, cementing his reputation as one of music’s most influential behind-the-scenes forces of the 1970s and ‘80s. In the present day, he remains a vital creative force, still performing, producing and most recently collaborating with Barbra Streisand on her acclaimed duets album "The Secret of Life."
Featuring intimate interviews with Taylor, Ronstadt, Carole King, Kate Taylor, Lyle Lovett, Natalie Merchant, Marianne Faithfull, Paul Jones, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtell, Lee Sklar, John Boylan, Paul Shaffer and McCartney (in voiceover), as well as cultural icons Steve Martin, Eric Idle, Twiggy and Pattie Boyd, "Everywhere Man" paints a vibrant portrait of a man whose life intersects with some of the greatest artists and moments of the past six decades. The soundtrack — woven from the timeless hits of those featured— creates a score as unforgettable as the story itself.
The film, which is not rated, runs through Aug. 13.
The drama "Manas" is set on the island of Marajó in the Amazon rainforest. Marcielle (Tielle) (played by Jamilli Correa), 13, lives by the riverbanks with her father, mother and three siblings. Prompted by her mother’s words, she idolizes her older sister who supposedly escaped her reality by “finding a good man” on the barges that ply the region.
As Tielle matures, her idealized visions shatter, leaving her trapped between two abusive environments. Increasingly worried about her younger sister and the bleak future they face, she decides to confront the oppressive system that controls her family and the women in their community.
"Manas," which is not rated, plays through Aug. 13.
For more information on films, including showtimes and ticket availability, visit the Ross’ website.
