Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day Directed by Christopher Munch, 1996

Extraordinarily eloquent and pure. Janet Maslin, The New York Times

Winner of the Best Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival, the eloquent historical drama COLOR OF A BRISK AND LEAPING DAY has been acclaimed as “a film touched with greatness” (Village Voice) whose “very existence vindicates the dream of an art house independent cinema” (Film Comment).

For train aficionado and hopeless romantic John Lee (Peter Alexander), life at the end of World War II is difficult enough as a man of Asian-mixed descent. The grandwon to one of the many Chinese railroad laborers who helped forge a new America, John holds idealistic visions of saving a short-line train that runs through the gorgeous vistas of Yosemite Valley. With the help of the railroad’s long-time employees (Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and Henry Gibson of Nashville and Magnolia), John makes it his year-long mission to turn the railroad around, while simultaneously courting a beautiful Native American park guide (Jeri Arredondo).

Written and directed with complex subtlety by indie darling Christopher Munch (Harry and Max, The Sleepy Time Gal, The Hours and Times), COLOR OF A BRISK AND LEAPING DAY is a boldly atmospheric ode to passion and preservation.

Bonus Features

New 16:9 Transfer from 35mm Original Negative; Short Film “Yosemite Valley Railroad Revisited”; Scenic Outtakes; Original Theatrical Trailer; Filmmaker Biography; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Awards:

1996 Sundance Film Festival: Cinematography Award Winner, Grand Jury Prize Nomination;