Even more exhilarating when seen on a big screen. Performance art in relation to  life in a small town translates into all the economic and ethical choices we make in a daily basis, wherever we live and whatever we do.

My reviews for parts one and two will be the same since I treated it as one complete work.

This was kind of like The Square, but it covered theater instead of the art world and somehow it was even longer.

Not the best sound design.

Tyne Daly was good, but it was completely random that she was nominated for a Spirit Award. Janeane Garofalo was mainly good, but had a minuscule role.

There were also some random dance and singing scenes and elderly people rambling. It would have benefited from a significant trim. I'm not sure why it has to be 4 hours in 2 parts.

Vegan alert:
-A child is going on and on about the chicken he's having for dinner.
-Janeane Garofalo asks a girl to imagine her dog died for an emotional reaction
-Human/cattle sacrifices referenced

I was not prepared for how real and beautiful this would be. I'll add a rating and do a proper review after I watch Part 2; I see no reason to consider them separately. Tentative 5 star addition if the second half is just as incredible. Regardless, people are missing out on something special right now.

EDIT: Yep, it's phenomenal. My full thoughts are here.

This is one of those films when it comes to lists. Sure, it's technically a 2018 release, but nobody in Seattle — or in most of America, big city or small town — had no access to this film, theatrically or streaming, until well into 2019. I'm inclined to include it on my 2019 favorites list. I finally found a chance to see it via Amazon Prime's access to the Topic streaming channel.

Anyway, in a season of massive and capital-i Important releases, I so enjoyed this modest production, beautifully scripted, so full of memorable characters, so recognizably human in its quotidian details and familiar conversations, so compassionate, and so often sharply funny.

If you've ever been involved in a community theater, a non-profit arts endeavor, or a small town arts program, you'll feel this movie.

Can't wait to watch Part Two.

“They once baked bread here, but now we live in an age of crumbs. But what they make of these crumbs is miraculous, and we are lucky to have them.”

This should be required viewing, especially for anyone that thinks comic book movies are serving a meaningful purpose. Such an essential portrayal of what it is to be an artist and the challenges that accompany the admiration and preservation of art that matters and movies that mean something.

Rivette x Altman in the setting of a small town and its community centre, just amazing

I think these two hours were enough for me.

I liked this as a depiction of a community of artists and the necessity for creative spaces to exist, but even through the use of humor, it still felt a little too self-important and almost entitled in places. Sure, the Chinese performance artists do some absurd things, but many of the scenes that The Bread Factory ran through were absurd in their own right. Still, this was entertaining in places, and there's value in the uniqueness of its approach. A great ensemble cast, even if I didn't love much of what every player had to work with.

Just as funny, heartfelt, moving and powerful as the first time. What's so incredible about this film is how effortless it feels. A huge cast of characters and lives, an entire town is introduced with such seemingly small gestures and scenes, and an entire critique of the art world that doesn't for a moment lose sight of the power and stakes of art is developed through an image of a community facing challenge and flux.

But I think what's so important about this film is precisely its sense of effortlessness, its aesthetic method melds perfectly with its message, that anyone can create, and no creation is too small if its creators can find meaning, power and community in the act. A world where everyone saw and loved A Bread Factory would be a beautiful one indeed.

Gives me faith that unique independent cinema is still possible. An incredible achievement.

Every scene is an intimate glance into a character's life that's at once hilarious and emotionally surprising. It's impossible to be an artist and not be moved.

The fact that none of the major film festivals would play this film is a major crime.

🥲

GETS BETTER EVERY-TIME I WATCH!!!

exactly what i needed to see.

they make art not bread
it can get quite surreal
this one’s for the kids

cried for a very long time when this was over. i will try my best to explain why when i've seen Part Two.

I had the pleasure of discussing both parts of Patrick Wang’s small-town epic with the writer-director-producer earlier this month. Check out the conversation.

the voice you have will be fine 😌

I’m going straight down the middle here. Maybe I would feel differently on a second viewing, but on the first it seemed largely incomprehensible and overly satisfied with itself. But then, there were also some really moving and funny parts. I can’t say one aspect of the thing wins out over the other. So take this with a grain of salt. I can imagine my rating changing if I saw it again. At this point I don’t really feel inclined to see it again, but maybe I will someday.

The kind of movie Rivette would’ve made in the 70’s, but present day.

beautiful but also about budget constraints