Cruel, immoral, racist and just a little bit incest-y, Crystal is a monstrous mother who make Euripides look like Louisa May Alcott. This is a woman who, when she hears that one of her offspring raped and killed a 16-year-old girl, says, “I’m sure he had his reasons.” When “Only God Forgives” made its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the performance was the talk of the Croisette, but anyone who witnessed her gloriously foul-mouthed turn in “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” had seen it before (albeit not in such toxically concentrated form). What’s more, once the initial jolt has worn off, Crystal isn’t nearly as interesting as, say, Jacki Weaver’s character in “Animal Kingdom,” a criminal den-mother of fascinating contradictions.

4th annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival, Oct, 11-13, Screenings include “Of Good Report,” “GriGris,” “Children’s Republic,” “Le President” and “Dreamwalker.” ballet slippers gold Community School of Music and Arts, Finn Center, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, One-day ticket, $20; festival pass, $30, www.svaff.org or 415-774-6787, UNAFF International Documentary Film Festival, Oct 17-27, Stanford, Free-$10, http://arts.stanford.edu/event/unaff-international-documentary-film-festival/2013-10-17/..

Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” Fantasy-Overture came next: alternately melancholy, menacing and love-struck, with those fervid “Top 100” melodies. This was a quite refined performance of some very schmaltzy music, and, as happens each year at the Gala, you could hear the orchestra’s various sections shaping up for prime time. A number of passages played by the cellos in their basement range sounded luxuriously dark and penetrating. If you’re a die-hard fan of Oscar Levant’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” Wednesday’s performance might not have suited you. I thought it was pretty terrific. Tilson Thomas’s approach was to turn his little orchestra into a period band, performing Gershwin’s classic with Jazz Age authenticity and cakewalking rhythm. Carey Bell memorably crooned and spiraled up through the opening clarinet riffs. Trumpeter Mark Inouye wah-wah’d like mad on the next passage.

STEPHEN “RAGGA” MARLEY, Wayne Marshall, Jo Mersa, 9 p.m, Nov, 15; Regency Ballroom; $27.50-$30, AUGUST BURNS RED, blessthefall, Defeater, Beartooth, ballet slippers gold 8 p.m, Nov, 16; Regency Ballroom; $23-$25;, VIENNA TENG, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m, Nov, 16; Independent; $25, BILL CALLAHAN, 9 p.m, Nov, 16; Great American Music Hall; $25, BORN RUFFIANS, 9 p.m, Nov, 16; Slim’s; $16, CHVRCHES, 7:30 p.m, Nov, 17; Fox Theater; $25, ANNA CALVI, 8 p.m, Nov, 17; Independent; $20, BRETT DENNEN, 8 p.m, Nov, 18; Independent; $20..

As we age, our needs often increase from day to day, which may be costly for you and your family. Now is the time to start planning who will take care of you when you need it most. This free seminar is sponsored by New York Life and the Fremont Main Library, through a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the American Library Association to promote financial literacy in the community. No registration is required. This is a free event and the public is welcome. For more information, call Carol Ramos at 489-5818 or e-mail at CarolRudy2@comcast.net.