THE WALKER
friday october 12 8:00pm 
As a writer, Paul Schrader created the definitive picture of the disenfranchised, angry young man in TAXI DRIVER. Then, as the director of AMERICAN GIGOLO gave us the iconic image of a man outside the establishment who luxuriates in its superficial beauty until it turns on him with dangerous results.
Now with THE WALKER, Schrader takes his outsider character exploration to the darkest realms of Washington, DC’s inner circle. Woody Harrelson stars as Carter Page, the black sheep of a blue-blood American family. His ancestors made a fortune from slavery and tobacco. His father was a grandstanding governor of Virginia. Page, by contrast, leads a shadowy, semi-illicit existence as a "walker," playing the role of Gay Best Friend to the wealthy women of Washington, DC (played by Lily Tomlin, Lauren Bacall and Kristin Scott Thomas).
When one of Carter’s powerful friends finds herself involved in a murder-related scandal, he helps by covering for her and turns suspicion on himself. An anti-liberal, homophobic administration pursues Carter and his young lover (German actor Moritz Bleibtreu), forcing them to find the true culprit while his former friends and confidants turn a blind eye.
Part political drama, part noir thriller, THE WALKER features brilliant performances by Harrelson and a stellar ensemble cast, which also includes Ned Beatty, Willem Dafoe, and Mary Beth Hurt. One of the sharpest minds in filmmaking, Paul Schrader is in top form, creating another immediate classic.
Paul Schrader, director; 2007; US; 108 min.
OpeningNight Gala
Following the West Coast premiere of THE WALKER, please join us for a spectacular party at the Naval Reserve Building, 860 Terry Avenue North (Lake Union Park). Kickoff the film festival with refreshing beverages, delicious offerings from some of Seattle’s finest restaurants and chefs, and dance into the night to the DJ’s beats. Your film ticket includes the gala. Don’t drive to the party; hop on the big bus! Round trips between the Cinerama and the Naval Reserve Building will be provided.