get Bent!!

I have seen a lot of wonderful movies that somehow involve bicycles in my days--most memorable are homeboy Matt McCormick's The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal, the sad and poignant The Bicycle Thief, and of course the opening scene of the Muppet Movie where Kermit the Frog showed us how he got his sexy legs!

If you live in Portland, you know that there seems to be about one bicycle for every ten automobiles on the road. Not surprisingly, since this is also a movie-lover's mecca, there's a film festival all about the beloved velocipede. My friends Nancy Breaux and Jane Machamer made a sweet little film about recumbent bikes called Bent that's premiering at this weekend's Filmed By Bike Festival. (and don't forget Leah Hinchcliff who scored it!) If you've ever been either fascinated or annoyed at this mutation of the regular upright, I suggest you give this movie a looky. (Click on the image below for more information about when this film is screening, or visit the Filmed By Bike website linked above.)
(the following information is swiped from the Filmed by Bike website:)
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Filmed by Bike is the West Coast's premier bike-themed film festival. The festival embraces the art and innovation of bikes through the eyes of imaginative storytellers who use moving images to celebrate the world's most efficient and creative form of transportation. Since 2003, Filmed by Bike has showcased a love of two wheels in eight minutes or less. This festival-plus-party happens once a year in Bike City, USA: Portland Oregon. The event grabs hold of an entire weekend of screenings and features movies from around the globe.

WHY FILMED BY BIKE
For the love of two wheels and all things revolutionary, for art and music and bike culture over all. For taking over, and crawling under and riding in the streets.

WHY +
Every year the festival features a fresh selection of exciting, creative films that are eight minutes or under. Sure, we like those movies of messengers riding like daredevils in-and-out of NYC traffic, smacking taxi butts and skidding in style, but Filmed by Bike is about so much more than that.

An advanced and mature society is one that recognizes, nurtures, revels in and celebrates it's creative class, it's art and culture. Here in Portland, our bike culture is beyond the basics and we are wholely embracing our place in society as more than just bikers. We revel in bringing together movies from around the world for festival that celebrates bike culture.

IN CLOSING
Bicycles are freedom and those who ride them know the entrancement of endlessly spinning wheels.
==> But you don't have to be a daily rider to be entertained by the magic of seeing bikes on the silver screen.