One would be hard-pressed to find anyone unfamiliar with Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now! What many people don’t know is the story of how that masterpiece was made; the trials and tribulations of this film’s production is an epic story in itself.
Luckily, Coppola’s wife, Eleanor Coppola, took it upon herself to craft a documentary capturing each setback, from civil unrest and monsoon season to cast health issues. A total success independent of the film it is based on, the film received an award from the Directors Guild of America and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement. The 1991 documentary, aptly named Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, will be presented by Eleanor Coppola herself at the Sebastiani Theater in Sonoma on Nov. 20 at 6:30pm.
The screening will be followed by a question and answer session, and for those interested in discussing the film more with Coppola, there will be a ticket upgrade option to join the director for a glass of wine (perhaps from her family vineyard in Geyserville?) and some conversation prior to the screening. The event, put on by the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, will also be hosting an exhibit of her artwork entitled “Eleanor Coppola: Quiet, Creative Force” from Nov. 8 through Jan. 25. Admission is $5.
General admission for the screening is $40. Gold Star ticket upgrade is $150. Tickets available at www.svma.org. 551 Broadway, Sonoma. 707.939.7862.
