Mill Valley Film Festival - Films 2008

5@5 Programs

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:13:11 -0500

Content:

5@5 programs

The popular 5@5 short film program is one of the longest running and most respected shorts series in the country. This year MVFF is proud to present 30 films from 15 different countries, featuring several world and US premieres.

The thematically-clustered shorts find inspiration in the music of Nina Simone, whose songs serve as the program titles.

5@5: Images – Friday, Oct 3rd (Rafael), Thursday, Oct 9th (Sequoia)
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but that gives it all the more power to either deceive, or reveal and unmask. Adam Keker's On the Assassination of the President (US 6 mins) is a wickedly rendered conspiracy-theorist spoof that attacks our iron-clad faith in photographic evidence. Reto Caffi's chilling On the Line (Germany/Switzerland 30 mins) follows a security guard's dangerous decision to make something real out of a surveillance-camera crush; while his actions may bring him closer to the woman he desires, what are the consequences? The lovely and jagged imagery of Marcos Meconi's Carlos Catani (US 15 mins) serves to debunk the endless stream of lies put forth by its narrator. In David Oh's Recollections (US 12 mins), an elderly man spends his last days with his photo album, peacefully ruminating on the life he's leaving behind. The breathtaking scenery and steampunk atmosphere of Kristian P. Hansen's The Zeppelin Parable (US 12 mins) explicates, or perhaps beautifully muddles, a short story by Jonathan Lethem.
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5@5: Either Way I Lose – Friday, Oct 3rd (Sequoia), Monday, Oct 6th (Rafael)
No matter which way you turn, which road you follow or which answer you pick, sometimes there is no way out of a losing predicament. Sasie Sealy observes a young girl's increasingly frenetic and hopeless attempts to recover her sister's affections from a latecomer boyfriend in The Elephant Garden (US 20 mins). In Edward Feldman's A Day's Work (Czech Republic 15 mins), a single mother struggles to get to work, only to find that her employer doesn't feel she's sensitive enough to the harsh realities of life. Josh Lind presents the tragicomedy Sunshine Bob (US 3 mins), which follows a clay figurine lamenting its lack of self-control. In famed filmmaker Radu Jude's Alexandra (Romania 25 mins), a starkly honest testament to the difficulties of split parenting, a father blames his ex when their child stops calling him Papa, and an intractable argument ensues. And in Wim Reygaert and Marc Roels' dark Flemish comedy Mompelaar (Belgium 22 mins), a quirky mumbler escapes the oppression of his home to enjoy a stroll in the country, but matters get out of hand.
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5@5: Ne Me Quitte Pas – Monday, Oct 6th (Sequoia), Wednesday, Oct 8th (Rafael)
The longing for friendship, love, connection and understanding is perhaps the most powerful of all human urges, leaving us to cry out, "Do not leave me!" In Marcel Sawicki's The Loneliness of the Short-Order Cook (Poland 22 mins), a Japanese cook struggles with the INS to stay in the US, despite his seemingly isolated existence and awkward crush on a bakery girl he cannot approach. Urging us to fight back and reconnect with humanity while we still can, Dan Trezise's Outsource (US 12 mins) presents a sci-fi take on the ruthless technology that keeps us secluded. In Kate Burton's The Ice Plant (Scotland 10 mins), a frigid ice-plant employee thaws around a new co-worker, only to have their fragile union threatened. In Tim Plester's English Language (with English Subtitles) (UK 20 mins), a huge communication gap leads to breakup, but being apart proves more challenging than either partner can handle. And in Trevor Cawood's Terminus (Canada 8 mins), a lone businessman tries his hardest to shake an eerie stone statue that shadows his every step, but their final separation is more than he bargained for.
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5@5: Sinnerman – Tuesday, Oct 7th (Rafael), Friday, Oct 10th (Sequoia)
Whether emboldened or repentant, sinners are often irrevocably changed by their indiscretions. In Colin Cunningham's Centigrade (Canada 15 mins), a man is dragged through a personal hell, but he only has himself to blame. Hanne Larsen's quietly contemplative Cairn (Norway 16 mins), a tale of adolescent malfeasance, casts its sights on the delicate nature of boyhood friendship. Jean-Julien Collette and Olivier Tollet's off-color comedy È Finita la Commedia (Belgium 13 mins) glimpses an outwardly heartwarming moment of father-son bonding, but something's fishy. In Harry Wootliff's Trip (UK 15 mins), another desperate father absconds with his children in the middle of the night, but is their upcoming journey what he had in mind? Lucas Fleischer and Paul Grellong's pitch-perfect Parachute (US 12 mins) shows that the wisdom of a child—albeit an unnaturally precocious one—might be just the ticket to getting a transgressor back on the right path.
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5@5: Four Women – Tuesday, Oct 7th (Sequoia), Thursday, Oct 9th (Rafael)
Women are often lumped together with broad and shallow platitudes, even more so when they are also perceived as a minority by race or class. Living in spite of and counter to these stereotypes is a testament to the incredible, often quiet strength of the "fairer sex." An impoverished Filipina is forced into a torturous decision regarding her child in Mark Reyes' God Only Knows (US/Philippines 17 mins). Jonathan Lisecki's Woman in Burka (US 21 mins) offers a poignant look into the typecasting faced by a brown-skinned actress. A country bumpkin thought to be easy prey for a slick lady's man turns the tables on her internet date in Teressa Tunney's This Is a Story About Ted and Alice (US 16 mins). Peter Thompson's discomfortingly honest K (UK 19 mins) portrays a girl living beyond her ascribed "trailer-trash" roots. Hollywood Jerome (US 10 mins) is Frey Hoffman's all-too-timely warning about the real dangers of succumbing to stereotypes.
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5@5: I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl – Wednesday, Oct 8th (Sequoia), Friday, Oct 10th (Rafael)
We all want a little more sweetness in our lives. Ultimately, fulfillment can come from the least-expected people and places. An Italian lad fruitlessly seeks gratification from the church, his friends and family in Fabio Mollo's Giants (Italy 24 mins). Perhaps the town's picked-on tomboy has something to offer? Kurt Kuenne finds an improbable and overlooked source of human connection in his farcical musical The Phone Book (US 22 mins). In Dmitry Povolotsky's uproarious comedy of errors, PAL/SECAM (Russia 14 mins), a rare VCR is the unlikely key to disco-laced juvenile courtship, but it brings something unexpected as well. Céline Novel's Boulevard l'Océan (France 20 mins) tracks one woman's unassailable, and comically unsuccessful, quest to fly a kite, while considering the question, What good is triumph without companionship (or at least a witness)? Finally, Kuenne returns with Slow (US 8 mins), this time examining a sour man's fraught relationship with his city and occupation.
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Active Cinema 2008

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:49:42 -0500

Content:

A Creative Social Action Network

This year we launch the Active Cinema program, a dynamic effort to connect the dots between activist films, interested audiences and the individuals and organizations that are working for the causes and issues represented onscreen. These films have the potential to inspire, inform and transform. After Festival screenings, people often ask the question, What can we do? Active Cinema is our response to that question. At the 2008 Festival, Active Cinema will include postscreening Q-and-A’s with filmmakers as well as many of the activists and actors featured in the films; co-presenting partnerships with local and national organizations; outreach screenings for school groups; and numerous live events. But it also goes well beyond this year’s Festival. ultimately, the California Film Institute plans to make these connections even more tangible through the development of a website (mvff.com/ActiveCinema.html), which will provide online resources, social networking capabilities and a library of activist films for audience members to access.

Sponsored by:

Children's Filmfest 2008

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:53:12 -0500

Content:

The Mill Valley Film Festival is proud to present the 14th Annual Children's FilmFest

In this year's FilmFest many things are the opposite of what they seem to be. You would think a film called Kick Like a Girl would make fun of girls, but instead it's about girls playing soccer as well as boys. A film called Terra isn't about the earth, but it is about earthlings; Butterflies is more about a little girl flying than about insects; and Nocturna is a land of nighttime mystery, not nightmares. In Skymaster, a child is—maybe—born with wings; and our program of short films, you Can't Do That! is really about all the things you can do when you put your mind to it. Many of this year's films feature a fascination with flying and the sky, and there will be weightless moments at our screenings too, when the air will be filled with balloons, wonder and joy.

Filmmakers @ Fest 2008

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:12:33 -0500

Content:

Updated October 8

Please note: The lineup of guests may change. We cannot guarantee that those listed will be final guests. Please check back regularly for regular updates.

FILM TITLE - NAME - POSITION - ATTENDING DATES

Alfre Woodard Tribute - Sheila Benson - Interviewer - ALL
32A - Marian Quinn - Director - ALL
32A - Tommy Weir - Producer - ALL
Adam Resurrected - Ehud Bleiberg - Producer - ALL
Adam Resurrected / Mishima - Paul Schrader - Screewriter - 10/4 & 10/5
Adventures of Josh Wolf: Activist Video Blogger - Donna Lee - Director - ALL
Adventures of Josh Wolf: Activist Video Blogger - Josh Wolf - Subject - ALL
All Together Now - Adrian Wills - Director - ALL
Amazing Osamu Tezuka - Fred Ladd - Astro Boy’s Godfather - ALL
American Violet - Alfre Woodard - Actor - ALL
American Violet - Tim Disney - Director - ALL
American Violet - Bill Haney - Executive Producer - ALL
Archeology of Memory: Villa Grimaldi - Quique Cruz - Director - ALL
Archeology of Memory: Villa Grimaldi - Marilyn Mulford - Director - ALL
Archeology of Memory: Villa Grimaldi - Maria Acuña - Associate Producer - ALL
Around June - James Savoca - Director - ALL
Around June - Jon Gries - Actor - ALL
Around June - Brad William Henke - Actor - ALL
Around June - Jeremiah Birnbaum - Producer - ALL
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public - Janet Visick - Sr. Interviewer - ALL
Bachelorette, 34 - Kara Herold - Director - ALL
Benji and Judah - Hannah Guggenheim - Director - ALL
Benji and Judah - Judah Johnson - Subject - 10/3 ONLY
Betrayal - Ellen Kuras - Director - ALL
Betty + Johnny - Ellen Lake - Director - Oct 3 ONLY
Bloodsucker - Meghan O’Hara - Director - ALL
Bonafide Productions - Ron Yerxa - Producer - ALL
Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story - Stefan Forbes - Director - ALL
Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story - Tia Wou - Associate Producer - ALL
Brothers Bloom - Rian Johnson - Director - ALL
Burned Hearts - Ahmed El Maanouni - Director - ALL
Burning the Future: Coal in America - David Novack - Director - ALL
Call It Home: Searching for Truth on Bolinas Lagoon - Bill ChaALL - Director - ALL
Call It Home: Searching for Truth on Bolinas Lagoon - Nancy Olin - Executive Producer - ALL
Campfire Song - Sarah Klein - Director - Oct 12 ONLY
Campfire Song - Jill Pierce - Musician - Oct 12 ONLY
Campfire Song - Tamsen Fynn - Musician - Oct 12ONLY
Captain Abu Raed - Amin Matalqa - Director - Oct 10 ONLY
Captain Abu Raed - Austin Wintory - Composer - Oct 10 ONLY
Captain Abu Raed - David Pritchard - Producer - ALL
Children of the Amazon - Denise Zmekhol - Director - ALL
Children of the Amazon - Elenira Mendes - Subject’s Daughter - ALL
Children of the Amazon - Chief Almir Surui - Subject? - ALL
Children of the Amazon - Vasco van Roosmalen - Director, ACT - ALL
Cinemasports - Jin Woo Joo - Founder Cinemasports - ALL
Code Entertainment - Jonathan Dana - Producer - ALL
Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth - Screenwriter - ALL
Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Taraji P. Henson - Actor - ALL
Curious Case of Benjamin Button - David Fincher - Director - ALL
Dance-A-Bet / Pink Wrap - Cynthia Pepper - Director - 10/8 ONLY
Day Late in Oakland - Zachary Stauffer - Director - ALL
Day’s Work - Edward Feldman - Director - ALL
Elephant Garden - Ronald Stein - Producer - ALL
Ella and the Astronaut - Robert Machoian - Director - ALL
Ella and the Astronaut - Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck - Director - ALL
Explore - Charles Annenberg - Director - ALL
Explore - Tom Pollak - Executive Producer - ALL
Fire Under Snow - Jim Browne - Producer - ALL
Four Seasons Lodge - Andrew Jacobs - Director - ALL
Frank Dead Souls - Rob Nilsson - Director - ALL
Frank Dead Souls - Drow Millar - Co-Producer/Editor - ALL
Games of the Night - Lo Dagerman - Producer - 10/4 ONLY
Games of the Night - Dan Levy Dagerman - Director - 10/4 ONLY
Games of the Night - Jonas Bergstrom - Actor - 10/4 ONLY
Games of the Night - Alex Wilson - Actor - 10/4 ONLY
God Only Knows - Mark ReALL - DIrector - ALL
Guest of Cindy Herman - Paul H-O - Subject - ALL
Handprints - Julia Black - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
Handprints - Oliver Whitcroft - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
Handprints / Skip - Sharilyn Scharf - Teacher - ALL
Handprints / Skip - David Tarpinian - Teacher - ALL
Handprints / Skip - Ronald Chase - Teacher - ALL
Hania - Janusz Kaminski - Director - ALL
Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh - Director - 10/7 ONLY
Head Nods: A Lexicon of Indian Head Shakes - Ivan Jaigirdar - Director - ALL
Head Nods: A Lexicon of Indian Head Shakes - Mukund Subramanian - Actor - ALL
Head Nods: A Lexicon of Indian Head Shakes - David Driver - DOP - ALL
Head Nods: A Lexicon of Indian Head Shakes - Anita Rao - Actor - ALL
Hi De Ho Show - John Goddard - Host - ALL
Hot Dog / Idiots and Angels - Biljana Labovic - Producer - Oct 4 & 5 ONLY
I Just Wanted to Be Somebody - Jay Rosenblatt - Director - ALL
In My Heart: A Child’s Hurricane Katrina Story - Estée Blancher - Director - ALL
In My Heart: A Child’s Hurricane Katrina Story - Clinton Kuska - Producer - ALL
Independent Film Panel - Sarah Black - Producer - ALL
Independent Film Panel - Danae Ringelman - Producer - ALL
Insight Joe Wright: The Soloist - Joe Wright - Director - ALL
Katahdin Productions - Daven Gee - Director of Outreach - ALL
Kick Like a Girl - Jenny Mackenzie - Director - Oct 9 ONLY
Last Days of the Fillmore - Elvin Bishop - Musician - ALL
Last Days of the Fillmore - Jerry Pompili - Bill Graham Presents - ALL
Last Days of the Fillmore - Herbie Herbert - Manager - ALL
Last Days of the Fillmore - Steve Parish - Manager - ALL
Last Days of the Fillmore - Raechel Donahue - KSAN - ALL
Last Days of the Fillmore - John Beug - Rhino Entertainment - ALL
Last Days of the Fillmore - Ben Fong-Torres - Moderator - ALL
Lemon Tree - Ali Suliman - Actor - ALL
Lifelines - Rob Margolies - Director - ALL
Lipstick / The Bee - Sam Rubin - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Larry Blamire - Director - ALL
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Michael Schlesinger - Producer - ALL
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Jennifer Blaire - Actor - ALL
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Brian Howe - Actor - 10/3 ONLY
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Fay Masterson - Actor - 10/3 ONLY
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - AJ Rickert-Epstein - Cinematographer - 10/3 ONLY
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Susan McConnell - Actor - 10/3 ONLY
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Dan Conroy - Actor - ALL
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Trish Geiger - Actor - ALL
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Andy Parks - Actor - 10/3 ONLY
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Frank Dietz - Actor - 10/3 ONLY
Lost Skeleton Returns Again - Kevin Quinn - Actor - 10/3 ONLY
Máncora - Ricardo de Montreuil - Director - 10/11 ONLY
Morning Light - Roy Disney - Producer - ALL
Mosaic Mecanique - Tiffany Doesken-Polos - Director - ALL
Never Practice Alchemy With a Microwave - Thomas Law - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
On the Assassination of the President - Adam Keker - Director - ALL
On the Assassination of the President - Amanda Pike - Producer - ALL
Phone Book / Slow - Kurt Kuenne - Director - ALL
Pure - Jacob Bricca - Director - Oct 4 ONLY
Religulous - Palmer West - Producer - ALL
Reunion - Michael Goldstein - Director - ALL
Reunion - Stuart Schwartz - Cinematographer - ALL
Reunion - Julie Kertzman - Producer - ALL
Rex Barrett and the Eye of God - Scott McEachen - Director - ALL
Road to Ingwavuma - Barbara Rick - Director - ALL
Road to Ingwavuma - Deborah Santana - Executive Producer - ALL
San Francisco State University - Steve Ujlaki - Director, Film Dept - ALL
Second Sight - Alison McAlpine - Director - ALL
Secret Life of Bees - Gina Prince-Bythewood - Director - ALL
Secret Life of Bees - Dakota Fanning - Actor - ALL
Seeds of in Good Heart: Soil and the Mystery of Fertility - Deborah Koons Garcia - Director - ALL
Self-Portrait - Emma Strebel - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
Skip - Matt Henn - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
Skip - Max Eddy - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
Skip - Zach Parker - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
Skip - Garrett Roseman - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
Sonic Mirror - Uwe Dresch - Producer - ALL
Sunshine Bob - Josh Lind - Producer - ALL
Sunshine Bob - Christian Simmons - Director - ALL
Synching Blue - Sarah Wylie Ammerman - Producer - 10/3 ONLY
Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari - Lisa Merton - Director - ALL
Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari - Alan Dater - Director - ALL
Terra - Meni Tsirbas - Director - ALL
Terra - Dane Smith - Producer - Oct 11 ONLY
Terra - Chris Harding - Producer - ALL
The Letter “Q” - Melinda Darlington-Bach - Director - 10/12 ONLY
The Smile / Button Up - Max Sokoloff - Youth Filmmaker - ALL
There Is No There There - Samuel Stout - Director - Oct 11 ONLY
They Killed Sister Dorothy - Daniel Junge - Director - ALL
Through a Glass Darkly - Harriet Andersson - Actor - ALL
TYPECAST: The Art of Film Titles - David Peters - Director - ALL
Under Our Skin - Andy Wilson - Director - ALL
Wave - Ron Jones - Teacher - ALL
Where the Water Meets the Sky - Helen Cotton - Co-Director/Producer - ALL
Where the Water Meets the Sky - David Eberts - Director - ALL
Wrecking Crew - Denny Tedesco - Director - ALL
Wrecking Crew - Hal Blaine - Original Wrecking Crew - 10/6 ONLY
Wrecking Crew - Chuck Berghofer - Original Wrecking Crew - 10/6 ONLY
Wrecking Crew - Don Randi - Original Wrecking Crew - 10/6 ONLY
Wrecking Crew - Leah Randi - Musician - 10/6 ONLY
Wrecking Crew - Justin Randi - Musician - 10/6 ONLY
Wrecking Crew - Al Jardine - former Beach Boy - 10/6 ONLY
Wrecking Crew - Peter Tork - Former Monkee - Oct 6 ONLY
Wrecking Crew - Jon Leonoudakis - Producer - 10/8 ONLY
Wrecking Crew - Mitchell Linden - Producer - Oct 8 ONLY 10/11 Pending
YouthGive - Jenny Yancey - Founder/Co-President - ALL
YouthGive - Weezie Yancey-Siegel - Youth Coordinator - ALL
Zeppelin Parable - Kristian Hansen - Director - ALL
Zeppelin Parable - Jim Ferguson - Producer - ALL

Fine 'Tooning" at MVFF!

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:11:56 -0500

Content:

fine "tooning" at mvff!

MVFF has become a prestigious destination for animated films, and this year's program promises not to disappoint, with award-winning films from all over the world in a variety of styles including 2D, 3D and stop motion.

The Amazing Osamu Tezuka
Creator of Astro Boy, the late Osamu Tezuka is hailed as the "God of Manga [comic book]." This unusual and stunning collection showcases the master's seldom-seen non-anime work as well as a “lost” episode of the Astro Boy TV series. Fred Ladd, Astro Boy's American "godfather" will speak after the screenings.

Saturday, October 4, 12:00pm at CinéArts@Sequoia
Sunday, October 5, 10:30am at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
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Idiots and Angels
Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton delivers a gorgeously rich and sinister story about a man who becomes a reluctant hero when he sprouts a set of angel wings. Idiots and Angels premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and received the Special Distinction prize at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Sunday, October 5, 2:45pm at CinéArts@Sequoia
Tuesday, October 7, 7:15pm at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
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Join us for a post-screening happy hour reception at the Outdoor Art Club to enjoy the eclectic musical style of 3 Leg Torso and wine from PS 1909, following the October 5 screening of Idiots and Angels. The band contributed their unique blend of chamber music, tango, klezmer, latin and world music to the film's soundtrack. PS 1909 is a boutique winery in Lodi that proudly features a label designed by director Bill Plympton.

Lost Souls and Malcontent Beasties: Animated Shorts
Try not to get maimed while finding happiness and your heart in this year's spooky, quirky and downright delectable animated shorts program featuring My Happy End, winner of the Special Jury Award at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Saturday, October 4, 6:00pm at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
Tuesday, October 7, 9:15pm at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center
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MVFF Films 2008

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:18:12 -0500

Content:

The Mill Valley Film Festival is an important industry resource for fall launches, premiere screenings of upcoming theatrical releases and Academy Award® campaigns. The Bay Area continues to be a significant market for independent and international film, and the Mill Valley Film Festival consistently provides a forum for introducing new films to West Coast audiences.

MVFF Focus Series 2008

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:58:28 -0500

Content:

Each year we focus in on region areas with emerging films that should not be missed while visiting the festival. This year we focus on Southern Africa, Poland, Ireland and Asia.

Focus: Southern Africa

MVFF Premieres 2008

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:55:36 -0500

Content:

The Mill Valley Film Festival is proud to present the following premiere films:

World Premieres
Around June
Children of the Amazon
Frank Dead Souls
The Lost Skeleton Returns Again

US Premieres
Archeology of Memory: Villa Grimaldi
At the River
Every Night, Loneliness
Fujian Blue
God Man Dog
Hania
The Home of Dark Butterflies
Jerusalema
Lemon Tree
Mommy Is at the Hairdresser's
Quiet Chaos
RocknRolla
Stolen
What on Earth Have I Done Wrong?
Wolf
Zimbabwe

North American Premieres
The Bird Can't Fly
Burned Hearts
Goodnight Irene
Hafez
Shiver
Sonic Mirror