Guy Maddin paints pictures on film. His movies -- which include the episodic World War I fable Archangel and the operatic dance fantasy Dracula: Pages From a Virgin's Diary -- are thoughtful, stylish, and deliberately paced. "I'm from Winnipeg, which is the most isolated city in North America," he explains. "There aren't too many distractions here, so I have all the time in the world to make movies." Maddin appears Saturday at the Cleveland Cinematheque for an advance screening of his latest movie, The Saddest Music in the World. (The Cinematheque is showing several of his films this week, including Tales From the Gimli Hospital, Cowards Bend the Knee, and Dracula. See Film Repertory for schedule.)
Maddin is obsessed with primitive forms of filmmaking. His movies unspool in a flurry of silent-movie techniques, like iris fadeouts, title cards, and static cameras. "They take a shortcut to my emotions," he says. "I like melodrama; I embrace it. I could never be a sophisticated, high-gloss, polished filmmaker. I evolved through natural selection. This is how I survive." Maddin screens The Saddest Music in the World at 8:15 p.m. at the Cinematheque, 11141 East Boulevard. Admission is $7 and $10; call 216-421-7450. -- Michael Gallucci
Tiger Hunting
The Akron zoo calls on little gumshoes.
WED 4/7
The Akron Zoo's tigers have gone astray, and crafty local sleuths are needed to help find them. At Mystery of the Missing Tigers, the zoo provides young detectives with clues to track down the lost cats -- imaginary cats; the real beasts remain safely behind bars -- though most of the legwork is handled by the kids (fifth through eighth grades) themselves. The trick is to seek evidence from employees scattered throughout the grounds. But be careful, advises the zoo's David Barnhardt: "Some people can lead you down the wrong path." The daylong program includes snacks and souvenirs. "It's a strong message about the vanishing habitat of tigers," Barnhardt says. The mystery happens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday (and again on April 14) at the Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Avenue in Akron. Admission is $25, $20 for members. Reservations are recommended; call 330-375-2550. -- Allen Miller
Horsing Around
A former Clevelander runs with the stallions.
SUN 4/4
Troy Tinker would have been happy to stay in Cleveland, but wild horses dragged him away. As MC of the Lipizzaner Stallions' touring show, he's at the center of the globe-trotting equestrian ballet, which features dozens of horses and riders doing some pretty amazing tricks. "The [horses] do this naturally," Tinker explains. "But not every horse will do every maneuver. You [have to] watch . . . what they do. The challenge is then to get them to do it on cue." They perform at 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday at the CSU Convocation Center, 2000 Prospect Avenue. Tickets are $20.50 to $27.50; call 216-687-9292. -- Fred Wright
Driven to Drink
4/1- 4/7 Whenever an ambulance, fire engine, or police car rushes past the blue-collar Richland Café with its alarms blaring, patrons saddle up for Siren Shots, and owner Pat Farrell pours anything they want for a mere two bucks. "Then there was the guy whose son stood outside with his toy siren," Farrell sighs. "Doesn't work." Shots are dispensed from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Richland Café, 14027 Madison Avenue in Lakewood; call 216-521-6678. -- Cris Glaser
