February 21, 2008

Noted novelist and filmmaker Paul Auster will screen his new film THE INNER LIFE OF MARTIN FROST at the Ritz 5 Theater (214 Walnut Street, Philadelphia) on Wednesday, February 20th at 7pm. This event is presented by the Sibby Merkel Brasler Lecture Series of Drexel's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design and the Philadelphia Film Society. Following the screening, Drexel film professor Zhenya Kiperman will conduct a Q&A with Auster and the audience. Books by Auster will be available for purchase at the theater, and the writer will sign copies after the Q&A session. Admission is free, but seating is limited. RSVPs are required: 215-895-0352 or westphal@drexel.edu.

Paul Auster is the acclaimed novelist of The New York Trilogy, Moon Palace and Mr. Vertigo and screenwriter of SMOKE (winner of an Independent Spirit Award) and BLUE IN THE FACE (which he co-directed with SMOKE director Wayne Wang). His newest film THE INNER LIFE OF MARTIN FROST, which Auster wrote and directed, originally appeared in an abbreviated narrative form in his best-selling novel Book of Illusions, is the tale of a writer who seeks inspiration in the country. When he wakes up with a beautiful woman in his bed who turns out to be his muse, he finds himself inspired him to create his best work yet. And when the woman becomes seriously and strangely ill, the writer questions his own perception of reality and sanity. This intimate story within-a-story features only four actors (including Michael Imperioli of The Sopranos and Irene Jacob of Red) and Auster's distinctive gravelly voice provides the film's narration.

Auster's writing has been hailed by The New York Times as having the ability to "tickle the brains of highbrow literary critics and spin a good yarn too". The author of over sixteen works of fiction and biographies, as well as five screenplays which have been adapted for film, Auster is recognized as one of America's foremost writers.