Bayside resident Mark Metcalf is an actor who has worked in movies, TV and on the stage. He is best known for his work in "Animal House," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Seinfeld."

In addition to his work on screen, Metcalf is involved with Milwaukee Film, First Stage Children's Theater and a number of other projects, including comicwonder.com. He recently filmed an episode of the popular AMC series "Mad Men."

He also finds time to write about movies for OnMilwaukee.com. This week, Metcalf weighs in on a handful of movies from the Milwaukee Film Festival. The first two, "Theatre of War" and "Rumba" showed on Friday and repeat during the weekend.

"Theater of War"
12:15 p.m. Sunday, North Shore Cinema
Produced by Jack Turner from Whitefish Bay, "Theater of War" chronicles the production of a new adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's great play "Mother Courage." Tony Kushner, whose play "Angels In America" changed the way we experience plays, did the adaptation and Meryl Streep plays the title role. Brecht constantly questioned the humanity of capitalism and the tyranny of greed and this documentary raises those questions again and highlights the inextricable bond between war and capitalism. A great actress in a great role in a great play in a fine and high-minded documentary about war and the world we live in.

"Rumba"
2:45 p.m. Sunday, Oriental Theatre
This comedy from Belgium is in the wonderful slapstick tradition of Jacques Tati. An impossibly happy couple, who teach for a living but dance for their life, suffer a tragic automobile accident but their irrepressible spirit brings them back to the dance floor. Dark and funny, it is almost completely silent, so you won't have to read to many subtitles.

"Waterlife"
7 p.m. Saturday, Oriental Theatre
"Waterlife" is a visually stunning and aurally riveting documentary about our Great Lakes. We live on the Third Coast, the last and greatest source of fresh water on the planet. We often take it for granted. It is not only a source for life, but also a spiritual resource for the soul. This film brings our environment to us in all its natural beauty and it's peril.

"The Horse Boy"
3 p.m. Saturday at North Shore Cinema
Rowan Issacson was diagnosed with autism at age two. His parents sought every kind of treatment available. Sensing Rowan's connection with animals, they travel on horseback to the ends of Mongolia to seek the healing of the nomadic shaman. It is a visually astonishing journey and an emotionally uplifting one to see Rowan's transformation and the depth of his family's love.

"Azur & Asmar"
11:30 a.m. Sunday at Oriental Theatre
This is the most striking and unique animation that I have seen. And I love Pixar. "Azur & Asmar" tells of story two friends bound together by fantasy and imagination who are separated by a grown-up's inability to feel compassion beyond racial differences. Children will love the fairy tale nature of this film and adults will be enchanted by the stunning visuals and by the story that looks plainly and honestly at the difficult questions of race, class and family.

Here is the remaining schedule for the festival:

Saturday, Sept. 26

Landmark Oriental Theatre 1
Noon -- Unmistaken Child (102 min.)
2:15 p.m. -- Before Tomorrow (93 min.)
5 p.m. -- Outrage (87 min.)
7 p.m. -- Waterlife (90 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- Humpday (94 min.)
Midnight -- The Chaser (123 min.)

Landmark Oriental Theatre 2 (Video)
12:15 p.m. -- World's Best Commercials (90 min.
2:30 p.m. -- Burma VJ (85 min.)
5:15 p.m. -- An Animated World (78 min.)
7:30 p.m. -- Kisses (86 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- Afghan Star (87 min.)

Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
11:30 a.m. -- Somers Town (89 min.)
2:30 p.m. -- The Beaches of Agnѐs (110 min.)
5 p.m. -- Lake Tahoe (89 min.)
6:45 p.m. -- Cherry Blossoms (127 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- $9.99 (78 min.)

Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
11:00 a.m. --Azur & Asmar (106 min.)
3:00 p.m. -- The Horse Boy (93 min.)
5:15 p.m. -- Art & Copy (100 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- Crude (100 min.)
9:45 p.m. -- Favela on Blast (80 min.)

Sunday, Sept. 27

Landmark Oriental Theatre 1 (Video)
11:30 a.m. -- Azur & Asmar (106 min.)
2:45 p.m. -- Rumba (77 min.)
5 p.m. -- Changing the Conversation (83 min.)
7:15 p.m. -- All Tomorrow's Parties (85 min.)
9:30 p.m. -- Revanche (121 min.)

Landmark Oriental Theatre 2
Noon -- Somers Town (89 min.)
2:30 p.m. -- Reporter (100 min.)
4:45 p.m. -- Lemon Tree (106 min.)
7 p.m. -- Amarcord (123 min.)
9 p.m. -- Skin (107 min.)

Marcus North Shore Cinema 1
Noon -- Storm (110 min.)
2:30 p.m. -- For My Father (100 min.)
4:45 p.m. -- The English Surgeon (93 min.)
7 p.m. -- The Yes Men Fix The World (96 min.)
9:15 p.m. -- Chef's Special (111 min.)

Marcus North Shore Cinema 2 (Video)
12:15 p.m. -- Theater of War (95 min.)
2:15 p.m. -- Séraphine (125 min.)
5 p.m. -- The Best of Shorts (85 min.)
7:45 p.m. -- Everlasting Moments (132 min.)

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