Film Club Info 3/12/13
Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 14:42
The KPFK Film Club - The Best Deal in Town for Cinema Fans!
What is the KPFK Film Club?
The KPFK Film Club is available to listener-subscribers who, for an annual pledge of $150 to the station, are invited to attend (with a guest) quality, topically diverse films, both contemporary and classic, which we believe will be of interest to the broad range of our listenership.
How do listeners join the Film Club?
Just call our Subscriptions Department at (818) 985-2711, extension 508, during weekday working hours to join the Film Club or make an online pledge of $150 to the station.
How do members find out about screenings?
Screenings are announced regularly on the air, listed online, and by calling the front desk at (818) 985-2711, Dial "0" for Operator, full descriptions and sign-ups are available at the reception desk.
Where are films shown?
Films are shown at various venues throughout the Los Angeles area, including Hollywood, West L.A., Pasadena, Encino, Ventura, Long Beach and Agoura Hills. We hope to expand our range of offerings to accomodate more and more of our Southern California listenership.
How are seats reserved?
By calling the KPFK switchboard -- (818) 985-2711, extension 0 -- during weekday working hours, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, giving your name and Film Club card number to the receptionist at the front desk. If the receptionist is busy, please call back. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR A FILM IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO GO - PASSES ARE LIMITED!
CURRENT OFFERINGS NOW PLAYING:
AUGUSTINE is based on a true story about a 19-yr.-old kitchen maid in Belle Epoque Paris, who suffers inexplicable seizures which leave her partially paralyzed. Shipped off to an all-female psychiatric hospital specializing in the then-fashionable malady of "hysteria", she captures the attention of Dr. Charcot, who uses her as his principal subject, hypnotizing her for is colleagues, in the process blurring the lines between doctor and patient. Directed by Alice Winocour and starring singer-turned-actress Soko, in a breakout performance, AUGUSTINE is a darly sensual romantic drama of a woman's psycho-sexual awakening against a backdrop of social repression. AUGUSTINE opens on Friday, May 17th at Laemmle's Royal in West LA, Town Center 5 in Encino and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
GISELLE presented direct from London by the Royal Ballet continues Laemmles Ballet in Cinema series. One of the most influential romantic ballets of all time about the transcendental power of a woman's love in the face of betrayal. One of the most technically demanding and emotionally challenging roles in all of classical dance, with Petipa's classic choreography and music by Adolph Adam, GISELLE screens on Sunday morning, May 19th at 10:00 am and once again on Tuesday evening, May 21st at 7:30 pm at Laemmle Theatres throughout Los Angeles.
THE GREAT GATSBY, F. Scott Fitzgerald's great American novel, is given a bold new treatment by Baz Luhrman, starring Leonardo De Caprio as the mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby, with Carey Mulligan as Daisy, his irresisitable love, and Tobey Maguire at Nick, Daisy's cousin who chronicles the quintessential tragic tale of wretched excess and love at the height of the roaring twenties. Opens on Friday, May 10th at theatres throughout Los Angeles.
MUD stars Matthew McConnaughey as a fugitive who befriends a couple of Arkansas teenagers who help him evade the law as he waits to be reunited with his love (played by Reese Witherspoon). Also starring Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland and Sam Shepard, it is a suspenseful, yet poignant coming-of-age story and snapshot of a region and culture which is rapidly disappearing. Running AMC Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
THE SOURCE provides an intimate, insiders' look at the counterculture movement, specifically The Source Family, a radical experiment in '70s Utopian living. Known for their outlandish style, popular health food restaurant, rock band and beautiful women, all of which made them the darlings of the Sunset Strip, but their outsider ideals and unconventional behavior of their spiritual leader, Brother Yod, caused controversy and the Family met a dramatic demise after fleeing to Hawaii in 1975. Through interviews, photos, home movies and audio recordings, it plays this weekend only May 18th and 19th at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
RECENT OFFERINGS IN 2013:
VENUS AND SERENA takes an unfiltered look into the lives of the indomitable Williams sisters, professional tennis' greatest sister act. Dominating the women's game for over a decade, they broke new ground in a sport where they weren't initially welcomed, overcoming adversaries through drawing strength from each other. With unprecedented access, VENUS AND SERENA tells the inspiring story of how these two women, with the help of their parents, made it to the top despite obstacles and career-threatening health problems. Opens on Friday, May 10th at Laemmle's Royal in West LA.
LEVIATHAN is a thrilling, immersive documentary which takes you deep inside the dangerous world of commercial fishing. Set aboard a fishing trawler off of New Bedford, Massachusetts, it captures a harsh, unforgiving world in starkly haunting, yet beautiful detail with an arsenal of cameras offering a bird's eye view of the work, the sea, the machinery and the players, both human and marine. Opens on Friday, May 10th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
SIGHTSEERS, directed by Ben Wheatley ("Down Terrace") follows Chris, who wants to show Tina his world and wants to do it his way on a journey through the British Isles in his beloved Abbey Oxford Caravan - through sentimental landmarks through a rolling countryside that separates the wonders of Chris' life. But the dream soon fades as litterbugs, noisy teenagers and pre-booked caravan sites, not to mention Tina's meddline mother, soon conspire to shatter Chris' dreams and send him and anyone who rubs him the wrong way, over a very jagged edge. Opens on Friday, May 10th, at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.
ANDRE GREGORY: BEFORE AND AFTER DINNER, is Cindy Klein's exploration of the life of the daring actor, director, and artist (who also happens to be her husband) as he looks back on a career spanning decades, shattering boundaries and establishing him as a cultural icon. Reflecting back on his theatrical career, as well as his collaboration with playwright Wallace Shawn and the remarkable Louis Malle-directed film, "My Dinner With Andre," he recalls the discovery that led him to question his own identity and life's work. Opens on Friday, May 3rd at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND from the Royal Ballet, part of Laemmles Ballet in Cinema series is "a dazzling affair, intoxicating and exceptional." Those familiar with the Lewis Carroll classic menagerie of colorful characters will enjoy the clarity of Christopher Wheeldon's portrayal through dance. A fun, quirky myriad of characters from the twitchy White Rabbit to a tap-dancing Mat hatter, a sinuous caterprillar and, of course, the Queen of Hearts. Screens on Sunday, May 5th at 10:00 am and again on May 7th at 7:30 pm at Laemmle Theatres throughout LA.
29th LA ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL, runs May 2 through 12 at the DGA, CGV Cinemas and Art Theatre of Long Beach. A major showcase for Asian Pacific American cinema, a full roster of films is available at www.laapff.fest, it features a slate of films, panels, and workshops including:
ABIGAIL HARM, derived from a Korean folk tale, stars Amanda Plummer, as a woman who reads to the blind and the alien who becomes bound to her, focussing on the desperate need for companionship and the ability to deal with love;
THE HAUMANA, a visual and melodic treat chronicling the challenges of an unlikely teacher of a highschool boys' hula class;
WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW? about an optometrist with a wife and son who has forgotten about his gay past as he approaches his 40th birthday, facing a crossroads in his life;
SAKE BOMB, a cocktail of sake and beer, is a metaphor for an explosive clash of cultures in this comedy fresh from its premier at South X Southwest;
KEY OF LIFE, about an aspiring actor frustrated with life, on the verge of suicide, who finds an unlikely opportunity to take on another's identity.
SOMETHING IN THE AIR is a vibrant, incisively crafted story of a young man's artistic awakening during the politically turbulent French student movement of the 70's, celebrating a thrilling evanescent time when young people felt the revolution in their grasp which captures, according to "Variety" 'how political zeal gives way to confusion, compromise, and a dawning of personal identity.' Opens on Friday, May 3 at Laemmles Royal in West LA, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino.
MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN, based on Salmon Rushdie's acclaimed novel, follows the lives of two babies switched at birth on the day of India's declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Over three decades, Saleem Sinai, the bastard son of a beggar woman and Shiva, the only son of a wealthy couple live the destiny means for the other, through the clash of class, politics and romantic rivalry amidst the shifting loyalties and borders between India and Pakistan. MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN opens on May 3rd at Laemmles Royal, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Town Center 5 in Encino.
PARIS-MANHATTAN follows a quirky, single young pharmacist who takes refuge in Woody Allen movies for advice on everything from work to love. Much to the distress of her dysfunctional family, she meets the seemingly perfect guy, who changes her life for the better, at least until the seemingly wrong one comes along, turning her life upside down. Opens on Friday, May 3 at Laemmles Music Hall 3 and on Friday, May 10th at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino.
DANCE CAMERA WEST kicks off its 12th Annual DCW Media Festival in the heart of the downtown art scene with the breathtaking "Get Wet: A Celebration of Screen Dance, Live Dance and Water" choreographed by Sarah Elgart and performed at the Music Center on Thursday, May 2nd. The evening also features a shorts program of international dance films in the Grand Hall. Continuing through May 5th at various venues throughout LA. Further info available at www.dancecamerawest.org
18th ANNUAL INTL. FAMILY FILM FEST, runs May 1 through 5th at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Screening over 105 films from 37 countries, it celebrates the human condition by providing a nurturing environment and educational structure to teach and exhibit family-oriented films from around the world. With industry panels and youth workshops and a screenwriters' showcase, this year's honorees include film and TV producer, Charles Floyd Johnson and J.G. Quintel, creator of the Cartoon Networks' "Regular Show." Further info is available at iffilmfest.org
8th ANNUAL SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN FILM FEST (SEE FEST) runs May 2nd through 6th, presenting films of the Balkan region exploring religious, ethnic and cultural crossroads from over 15 countries, at various venues including Writers Guild, UCLA James Bridges Theatre and Goethe Institut. Opening night is a Romanian comedy, "OF SNAILS AND MEN". Further info available at www.seefilmla.org
IL TROVATORE, part of Laemmles' Ballet in Cinema series, is a bold new production from Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu, of the Verdi classic tragedy of star-crossed lovers, complicated parents and mixed-up infants. Said to be a sure success, as long as you have the four best singers in the world singing it. Screens on Sunday morning, on April 28th at 10:00 a.m. and again on Tuesday evening, 4/30, at 7:30 pm at Laemmle theatres throughout LA.
WAR ON WHISTLEBLOWERS: FREE PRESS AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY STATE highlights four cases where whistleblowers noticed government wrong-doing and took to the media to expose the fraud and abuse. Including interviews with whistleblowers and award-winning journalists, it exposes the worsening reality for both whistleblowers and the press alike. Opens on Friday, Aprl 26th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
LE PETIT SOLDAT is Jean Luc Godard's espionage riff, banned in France in 1960, it did not premier until 1963. When an army desert is caught in the middle of a covert war between the French government and the Algerian Liberation front in Geneva, he must decide what he is willing to do to escape and lead a free life, as both sides resort to any means to achieve their clandestine ends. With a new 35 mm print and new subtitles, it opens on Friday, April 26th at the Nuart in West LA.
GRACELAND is an unpredictable, high-paced thriller in which a chauffeur for a corrupt Filipino politician gets ambushed resulting in a kidnapping attempt gone awry, placing his own daughter in jeopardy and spiralling out of control in deceit and betrayal that leaves no one innocent. Opens on Friday, April 26th at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood and Laemmles Playhouse 7 on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena.
ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL runs April 18th through May 2nd at Laemmles Music Hall and Town Center Encino, celebrating the best of Israeli cinema with over 30 award-winning films, premieres, thought-provoking documentaries, shorts and panels. This year's honorees include Martin Landau and Sherry Lansing. Other highlights include a Second Generation Holocaust Survivors program and a full roster of films is available at www.israelfilmfestival.com.
VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN is an unconventional biography of a deeply influential figure in world music and complex cultural icon of Chile's history, Violeta Parra, multi-faceted singer/songwriter and founding artist of the socially and politically committed nueva cancion folk music movement. Adapted from Angel Parra's memoirs of his mother, VIOLETA follows under-appreciated musical genius from her childhood in rural poverty that is graced by music, the ground-breaking quest to revive Chile's traditional music, wild artistic success abroad and decline at home, the beginning and the end of love. Opens on Friday, April 19th at Laemmle's Royal in West LA.
OCONOMOWOC is an absurdist comedy about Lonnie Washington, a confused adult who moves back in with his boozing mother and reluctantly joins his friend's mishandled T-shirt buiness in hopes of finding a little direction. With differing priorities and illusions of success, their future begins to take shape when they meet a keen girl who diagnoses Lonnie's predicament as mere self-importance, sending the fledgling business reeling for answers to a business deal gone bad. OCONOMOWOC opens on Friday, April 19th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
THE REVOLUTIONARY OPTIMISTS is an award-winning documentary about four children from one of India's poorest slums who embark on a journey to build a better future, challenging the notion that marginalization is written into their destiny. Critically acclaimed, it focusses on young activists finding solutions to global health and development issues. Opens on Friday, April 19th at Laemmles Monica 4-Plex in Santa Monica.
BERT STERN: ORIGINAL MAD MAN is a definitive voyage into the life of one of the greatest American photographers of all time, ad industry icon, Bert Stern. After working alongside Stanely Kubrick at "LOOK" magazine, he became an original Madison Avenue 'mad man' helping to create modern advertising. Stern's photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton, Audrey Hepburn, Bridget Bardot, Twiggy and the infamous "Lolita" image from Kubrick's film, helped shape our images of 20th century pop culture. From his boyhood in Brooklyn to his rise and dramatic fall, it is shockingly frank in its exploration of creativity, celebrity and desire through the eyes of a man who got everything he wanted - almost. Opens on Friday April 19th at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., in West LA.
NEW FILMMAKERS LOS ANGELES screens "Shadow Of Liberty" as part of the documentary portion of their one-night only program which includes Shorts Programs and Features, featuring works by promising young filmmakers, on April 13th at Sunset Gower Studios. Further details at www.nfmla.org.
42, starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford tells the story of the brave stand of two men who changed the game of baseball forever. Demonstrating the courage of restraint, the great Jackie Robinson let his talent on the field do the talking, ultimately winning over fans and teammates alike. Putting himself at the forefront of history, legendary GM, Branch Rickey, broke the color barrier in Major League baseball by signing Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946, putting them both on the firing from press, the public, as well as players, and proving that "heroism" isn't always about the achievements ont he field of play. "42" opens on Friday, April 12th throughout Los Angeles.
11TH ANNUAL INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES celebrates the best of Indian cinema. Running April 9th through April 14th at the ArcLight Hollywood, 6360 W. Sunset Blvd. Highlights include opening night's feature "Gangs of Wasseypur" and Mira Nair's "The Reluctant Fundamentalist," along with closing night's feature "Midnight's Children", an adaptation of Salman Rushdie's Booker Prize-winning novel. Other highlights include "Mohammed to Maya" about gender identification, Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey, a Bollywood tribute to Hindi cinema, as well as Shorts Programs, and Panels. Selected screenings offered to KPFK Film Club members.
PAVILLION screens Fri. April 12th and Sat. April 13th only at the Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 S. Main Street in downtown LA. Following the screening is a live music performance from Sam Prekop (of "The Sea and the Cake") who did the score to this story of the enigma of youth and the disintegration of an innocent way of life when a son leaves his lakeside home to join his father in suburban Arizona. Deep and ethereal, a unique evening not to be missed.
EUGENE ONEGIN, the classic Tchaikovsky opera, continues Laemmle's Opera in Cinema series with a production from the Royal Opera House. Poignant and full of sensitivity to the nuances of growing up and wrestling with emotions, EUGENE ONEGIN screens once on Sunday, April 14th at 10:30 a.m. and Tuesday, April 16th at 7:30 pm.
THE LOTUS EATERS, from Director Alexandra McGuiness, introduces us to a 21st century version of the Lost Generation. Young, restless, and beautiful, these bright, distracted Londoners lead an excessive lifestyle which allows them to luxuriate in their own self-destruction, while love triangles wreak havoc on impressionable hearts and distract them from commitment. THE LOTUS EATERS running April 12th through April 18th at Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood
RADIO UNNAMEABLE is a visual and aural collage drawn from the immense archives of free-form raido pioneer, Bob Fass, of Pacifica station WBAI in New York. On-air since 1963, Fass revolutionized late-night FM radio as host of "Radio Unnameable." Long before innovations in social media, he utilized the airwaves for mobilization, encouraging luminaries from Abbie Hoffman to Joni Mitchell, as well as ordinary listeners to talk openly, connecting in profound and surprising ways. Produced and directed by Paul Lovelace and Jessica wolfson, RADIO UNNAMEABLE runs April 5th through April 11th at the Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood. Opening night, April 5th, is a benefit for the Pacifica Radio Archives.
NEIGHBORING SOUNDS is a thrilling depiction of the unease within a single city block in a prosperous Brazilian coastal community haunted by its past and ruled by an aging patriarch and his sons. When a security firm is brought in to protect the residents from a string of petty thefts, the fears, anxieties and resentments of a divided society are unleashed. Plays at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax Ave. in LA from April 5th through April 11th.
ROOM 237 examines Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" through the voices of fans and schlors who've concocted captivating, provocative theories of hidden symbols and messages in the filmmaker's compelling, horrifying vision of Stephen King's classic. Outrageous and engaging, the interviewees rework the film to match their ideas, intercut with layers of dreamlike imagery illustrating their streams of consciousness suppositions. ROOM 237 opens on Friday, April 5th at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. Passes good Mon, April 8th through Thursday, April 11th ONLY.
"M," Fritz Lang's masterpiece and his first use of sound, stars Peter Lorre in a superb performance as a recently released asylum inmate with a compulsion to kill young girls. In an attempt to capture the killer, police pressure the city's criminal underworld which, in turn, tries to find the killer themselves with a network of prostitutes, pick-pockets, and thugs. In a stunning new restoration from the Munich Film Archive, "M' opens on Friday, April 5th at Laemmle's Royal in West L.A. and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
BABE'S AND RICKY'S INN brings to life the legendary music club in South Central, home to musicians for over 50 years, regardless of race, age, or gender - a place where only the music mattered. Created by Laura Mae Gross, "Mama,"the charming force behind the unique club where newcomers traded licks with some of the greatest blues artists around, including John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Albert King and others. Featuring original music, musicians share their experiences, music, and their memories of "Mama," BABE'S AND RICKY's INN opens on Friday April 5th at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd St. in Santa Monica.
THE SAPPHIRES is a joyful, inspirational , triumphant celebration of music inspired by the true story of four young Aboriginal sisters from a remote mission in Australia whose lives are forever changed when they are discovered by a kind-hearted, but rhythmically-challenged talent scout. Billed as Australia's answer to The Supremes they secure their first gig, singing soul tunes for American troops in Vietnam. Opens March 22nd at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd in Los Angeles.
THE WEDDING PARTY follows a failing Melbourne businessman who has two women in his life - his true love frm whom he is temporarily separated, and a dazzling, glamorous russian immigrant seeking permanent residency for herself (and ultimately her Russian boyfriend). Burdened with massive debt, he makes a deal to secretly marry in exchange for cash, but when his plan is discovered by a nosey neighbor, his family and friends are swept up in wedding fever. Part of Film Festival Flix, THE WEDDING PARTY screens on Wed., April 3rd at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and on Thursday, April 4th at Laemmle's NoHo 7 in North Hollywood.
SILVER CIRCLE tackles the issue of monetary policy and the role of the Federal Reserve in a fun and unique way - through animation reminiscent of video games. Set in the near future, it focusses on a group of underground rebels who attempt to outmaneuver the Federal Reserve while creating a guerilla currency based on silver. SILVER CIRCLE opens on Friday, April 5th at Laemmle's NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim in North Hollywood.
STARBUCK follows a habitual sperm donor's attempts to take control of his life when he discovers that he's the biological father of 533 children (142 of which are trying to force the fertility clinic to reveal the true identity of the prolific donor - code name "Starbuck"). With a pregnant girlfriend who is reluctant to share parenthood with the unreliable father, his longtime friend and attorney takes on his case while trying to disabuse him of the joys of parenthood. Opens on Friday, March 29th at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino.
GIMME THE LOOT follows two determined graffiti writers from the Bronx who hatch ambitious plans to be the first ever to tag the Big Apple sign at Shea Stadium which rises up whenever a Mets homerun is hit. Over two whirlwind summer days, their epic urban adventure traverses black market spray cans, illicit bodegas, stolen sneakers, a high-stakes heist and a necklace. Recipient of the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW Film Fest and one of Film Independent's "Someone to Watch" Spirit Award, GIMME THE LOOT opens for a limited engagement on Friday, March 29th at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West L.A.
BLANCANIEVES is a breathtakingly beautiful re-working of the classic fairytale, Snow White, in an homage to the Golden Age of Europe's silent cinema. Set in 1920's Sevelle, the daughter of a famous bullfighter living under the tyrannnical rule of an evil stepmother, escapes and joins a troupe of bullfighting dwarves where her rave notices make her a legend. Opens on Friday, March 29th at Laemmle's Royal in West L.A.
RESCUE IN THE PHILIPPINES: REFUGE FROM THE HOLOCAUST is a meticulously researched documentary which depicts a real-life Casablance set in pre-war Manila, in which a high-profile group of poker buddies, including then-Colonel Dwight Eisenhower, who devised an intricate international plan of rescue and re-settlement, saving 1300 Jews from certain death in Nazi concentration camps. In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Month, RESCUE IN THE PHILIPPINES opens on Friday, March 29th at Laemmles Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR celebrates its 40th anniversary with a special one-night-only benefit screening at Laemmle theatres throughout LA. Agape Intl. Spiritual Center's Youth & Family Ministry present the original film, starring Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson in their iconic roles. Proceeds go to benefit the Carl Anderson Scholarship Fund. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR screens one night only on Thurs., March 28th at 7:30 pm at Monica 4-Plex, Town Center 5, The Royal, Playhouse 7, NoHo 7, and Claremont.
THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES deals with the withering loss of innocence that can result from hard times and how the eagerness to make a better life can often lead to tragic circumstances. From the director of "Blue Valentine," Ryan Gosling stars as a down-on-his-luck motorcycle stunt rider dealing with the monetary strain of starting a family. Turning to a life of crime, he encounters an equally ambitious rookie cop (played by Bradley Cooper) along with the discovery of widespread corruption. A sneak preview of THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES screens on Wed., 3/27 at 7:30 pm at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd.
BLANCANIEVES is a breathtakingly beautiful re-working of the classic fairytale, "Snow White," in an homage to the Golden Age of Europe's silent cinema. Set in 1920's Seville, the daughter of a famous bullfighter living under the tyrannical rule of an evil stepmother, escapes to join a troupe of bullfighting dwarves, where her rave notices make her a legend and head for a showdown. BLANCANIEVES opens on Friday, March 29th at Laemmle's Royal in West L.A.
DETOUR follows a smooth-talking ad man on his way to a power lunch who, while brainstorming his next big pitch, is swallowed up by a devastating mudslide. Awakening alone underneath an avalanche of mud with hope of rescue giving way to the horrifying reality that no one is coming, he clings to the unfinished life he left behind, pushing himself beyond physical and mental boundaries to sruvive. A sneak preview of DETOUR screens on Thursday, 3/28 at 7:30 pm at TCL Chinese Theatres, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.
EVERY EMOTION COSTS, part of LA SKINS FEST WOMEN'S NIGHT, at the Autry National Center, is an exploration about the reality of returning home to the reservation to face family, community, and death. A reception and Q&A with filmmaker follows the screening on Thursday, March 28th at 7:30 pm.
THE WE AND THE I, Michel Gondry's most personal film to date, follows a group of Bronx high-schoolers on a city bus making their way home on the last day of the school year. Oblivious to the grown-ups around them, they are unapologetically themselves - gossiping, bullying, confiding their truth and telling tall tales in a script set entirely on the bus, an artful vision of the life they lead and the futures that await them, without moralizing or condescension. Opens at the Nuart on Friday, 3/22 for one week only.
HUNKY DORY stars Minnie Driver as a high-school drama teacher determined to fire-up her hormonal, apathetic students with a glam, rock-infused musical production of "The Tempest," heating up the Welsh summer of 1976 with the songs of David Bowie, The Byrds, ELO and The Beach Boys. Opens on March 22nd at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
DORFMAN IN LOVE stars Elliott Gould and Sara Rue in a romantic comedy about a young, single suburbanite trapped in her role as caretaker of her unappreciative family. When she volunteers to cat-sit at her unrequited love's downtown loft, she meets another man who helps transform her life in a journey toward self-discovery and true love. Opens on Friday, March 22nd at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Town Center 5 in Encino.
THE HAPPY POET is a comedy about a guy who starts a vegetarian food stand, but it could be about anyone with a dream - survival versus kindness, generosity, and idealism - and how life is often a balancing act between those elements. Opens on Friday, March 22nd at Laemmle's Monica 4-plex in Santa Monica.
SILVER CASE is a tinseltown crime drama in which a scheming, powerful producer hatches a plan to undermine the success of a shady arch rival. When a silver briefcase goes missing, an unexpected chain of events is set in motion involving a tenacious duo of thugs who possess the mystery prize. Opens on Friday, March 22nd at Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood.
BOB'S NEW SUIT is a deftly woven, whimsical comedy about love, family, the '60s and the unexpected - including radical politics, gender identity, the joy of books, rare orchids, a couple of beers and one lonely Italian suit. when gardener/handyman Bob proposes to his longtime love and his cousin proposes a get-rich-quick scheme, family secrets are revealed and their lives are changed forever. Opens on Friday, March 22 at Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave., in Hollywood.
NOTRE DAME DE PARIS continues Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series. Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic story of the hunchback Quasimodo and the beautiful Esmeralda, NOTRE DAME DE PARIS returns to La Scala after more than 10 yrs.
A FIERCE GREEN FIRE tells stories of environmental activism, unfolding in five acts and chronicling grassroots and global movements over 5 decades - how we got here and where we're going. From halting dams in the Grand Canyon to battling toxic waste at Love Canal; from Greenpeace saving the whales to Chico Mendes and the rubber-tappers saving the Amazon, the film tells vivid stories of fighting and succeeding against enormous odds. Narrated by Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Isabel Allende, and Ashley Judd, it is the first film to create a big picture overview of the environmental movement. Opens on Fri., March 15th for a limited engagement at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, in West LA. Passes good Mon - Thurs. only.
HAVA NAGILA (THE MOVIE) is a documentary romp through history, mystery, and meaning of the great Jewish standard. Featuring interviews with Harry Belafonte, Leonard Nimoy, Connie Francis, Glen Campbell and Regina Spector, it follows the ubiquitous party song from the shetetls of Eastern Europe to the kibbutzim of Palestine. Surprisingly profound, it tapes into the universal themes of the importance of joy, the power of music, and the resilience of a people. Opens on Friday, March 15th at Laemmle's Royal, Town Center 5, Playhouse 7 and Claremont.
IF I WERE YOU stars Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden in a comedic turn as a women who accidentally learns of her husband's infidelity when she saves his sexy young mistress from a bungled suicide attempt. Also starring Aiden Quinn, it's an entertaining look at the unexpected places that life can take us to. Opens on Friday, march 15th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
THE LANGUAGE OF A BROKEN HEART tells of a neurotic, bestselling author who can write eloquently about love and yet women keep leaving him. finding his fiance with another man, he seeks out his long-time therapist, but finds that he's even more mix-up. Juddy Talt writes and stars, along with Julie White, Oscar Nunez, Kate French and Ethan Cohn in this fresh, romantic comedy about love's inherent possessiveness and the realization that it'snot how you love, but whom you love. Opens on Friday, March 15th at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
MY AMITYVILLE HORROR revisits the 1975 haunting of the Lutz home in Amityville, Long Island, made famous by a bestselling book and motion picture. Thirteen months prior to the Lutz' taking up residence, the former owner, Ronald DeFeo, massacred his family. Subject to ghostly hauntings and a full array of terrifying paranormal phenomena, the Lutz family fled after only 28 days. Through the reminiscences of one of now-grown children, Daniel, the film examines whether his account is the stuff of truth or delusion. Opens on March 15th at Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue, in Hollywood. KPFK Film Club passes good Sun., March 18th - Thursday, March 21st.
GREGORY CREWDSON: BRIEF ENCOUNTERS is a documentary about the photographer's 1-year quest to create a series of haunting, surreal and stunningly elaborate portraits of small town American life, moviescapes crystallized into a single frame. Inspired by his own dreams and fantasies, as well as the worlds of Hitchcock, David Lynch, Edward Hopper and Diane Arbus, his imagery has infused the pop culture, including his "Six Feet Under" ads and album art for Yo La Tengo. The film beautifully bares the artist's process, as mesmerizing as the images themselves. Plays at Laemmle Music Hall 3.
THE SILENCE is an icy, gripping police thriller which begins 23 yrs ago when a young girl is brutally murdered in a wheatfield. Now, in the present day, on the exact same date, a 13-yr old is missing, her bicycle abandoned int he same spot, leading police to suspect the same killer might be at work again. As detectives struggle to solve the parallel crimes, the parents are trapped in an agonizing period of waiting and uncertainty, as old, unhealed wounds resurface. Played at The Nuart in West LA.
BEYOND THE HILLS is a starkly beautiful film set in an isolated Orthodox convent in Romania where two childhood friends are reunited. Alina wishes to return to Germany, while her friend finds refuge in faith and her family of nuns. When Alina challenges the priest and the order, she is suspected of being possessed. Based on a case of alleged demonic possession that occurred in a Romanian monastery in 2005, BEYOND THE HILLS was the winner of Best Actress and Best Screenplay at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and was also the Romanian entry for the 2012 Academy Awards. Opens on Fri. March 8th at Laemmle's Royal in Santa Monica.
GREEDY LYING BASTARDS investigates the reasons behind stalled efforts to tackle climate change, despite consensus in the scientific community that it is not only a reality, but an urgent problem placing us on the brink of disaster. Revealing the organizations casting doubt on climate science, it documents the impact of industries that put profits before people. Playing at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.
A PLACE AT THE TABLE reveals that hunger is not just a third world problem. Forty-nine million people in the US (one in four children) don'tknow where their next meal is coming from. The issue is examined through the lens of 3 people struggling with food insecurity: Barbie, a single mother who grew up in poverty and is trying to provide a better life for her kids; Rose, a 5th grader who often has to depend on friends and neighbors to feed her and has trouble concentrating in school; and Tremonica, a 2nd-grader whose asthma and health issues are exacerbated by the empty calories her hardworking mother can afford. At Sundance Sunset Cinemas.
2nd ANNUAL TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL runs Feb. 28th through March 3rd at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Highlights include "A Butterfly's Dream"; "Mold"; "Inside" and "Beyond the Hill, also a Shorts competition currated by Elvis Mitchell.
MUMIA: LONG DISTANCE REVOLUTIONARY creates an inspiring portrait of a man whose existence tests our beliefs about freedom of expression. Before he was convicted of murdering a policeman in 1981 and sentenced to die, Mumia Abu-Jamal was a gifted journalist and writer. After more than 39 yrs in prison and despite attempts to silence him, Mumia continued to report, educate, and provoke, authoring several books from Death Row. Stephen Vittoria's new feature documentary utilizes archival footage and dramatic readings and features Cornel West, Dick Gregory, Angela Davis, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, among others. Played at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
KOCH chronicles the personal and political toll of running the Big Appel in a time of upheaval and re-invention. Popular and polarizing, former NY Mayor Ed Koch was the quintessential New Yorker - ferocious, charismatic, and hilariously blunt. With candid interviews and rare archival footage, first time filmmaker Neil Barksy crafts an intimate and revealing portrait of this intensely private man, his legacy and the town he helped transform during his tumultuous three terms. Ironically, Ed Koch passed away on Feb. 1st, 2013, the day the film opened in NY. KOCH opens in LA on Friday, March 1st at Laemmle's Royal, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5 in Encino.
AMOUR, winner of this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language film, the Palm De 'Or at Cannes, the Golden Globe and Independent Spirit award, is the story of an octogenarian couple's abiding love for each other, which isput to the test when one suffers a stroke and is left partially paralyzed. AMOUR plays at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.
JACK THE GIANT SLAYER is an epic adventure in 3D with an all-star cast directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bryan Singer. An ancient war is re-ignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway betwen our world and a fearsome race of giants. Fighting for a kingdom and its people and the lvoe of a brave princess, Jack comes face-to-face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend.
WAYNE FEDERMAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL runs Feb. 28th through March 2nd at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax in Hollywood. Featuring a slate of comedians who select films that have inspired them, this year's participants are Sarah Silverman, The Sklar Brothers, Dana Gould, Nick Kroll and Bill Burr. They introduce the films and take questions afterward about the films they've selected - "Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Raising Arizona," Dr. Strangelove," "Breaking Away, and "The Dirty Dozen."
THE BERLIN FILE, Korea's biggest release of 2013, is a stunning spy thriller which brings North-South Korean tensions to the streets of Berlin with an intensity not seen since the Cold War. Loyalties are questions when an illegal arms deal descends into mayhem after a "ghost" agent appears on the scene, leaving the North Koreans and CIA wondering if there's a more insidious plot at hand. In a tale of redemption where human beings are defined by the dangerous secrets bigger than their own lives. Played at CGV Cinemas, 621 S. Western Ave., in LA.
BESTIARE is a breathtaking exploration of interspecies observation. Shot in Quebec's Parc Safari animal sanctuary over several months, BESTIARE captures a tableau of creatures and their human handlers. In a visually stunning montage with no agenda, no interviews, no narration, and no sentimentality, it is composed like a painting, deep and mysterious, the subjects linger and drift into each other in a startling way. Played at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles.
TRISTANA, Luis Bunuel's controversial 1970 masterpiece, stars Catherine Deneuve as an orphaned young woman who becomes the ward of a nobleman (played by Fernando Rey), who seduces her. Leaving him for an artist (played by Franco Nero), she returns to her aging benefactor to calculatingly hasten his demise. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 1971, Vincent Candy called it "nothing less that the quintessential Bunuel film of all time." Newly restored, played at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.
THE BITTER BUDDHA, aka comedian Eddie Pepitone, is a man at war with himself. This humorous documentary takes an unconventional look at an unconventional man as he struggles with career, the past, and the world around him. Through animation, stand-up comedy and interviews with Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, and Marc Maron, among others, Pepitone, one of the best kept secrets on the comedy scene, is revealed in an unhinged portrait of creativity, enlightenment, and rage. Robin Williams calls him "an extraordinary hybrid" with "the comedic content of George Carlin and the vocal volume of Ethel Merman." THE BITTER BUDDHA opens on Friday, Feb. 15th for one week ony at the Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA.
HAPPY PEOPLE: A YEAR IN THE TAIGA is acclaimed director Werner Herzog and Russian co-director Dmitry Vasyukov's journey to an unforgettable, visually stunning wilderness in the heart of Siberia where 300 indigenous people live in a culture virtually untouched by modernity. It follows a trapper through all four seasons through remote and extreme natural landscapes. Played at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., in West LA.
SHANGHAI CALLING is a romantic comedy about modern-day American immigrants in China. An ambitious NY attorney is transferred to Shanghai on assignment (partially because he's Chinese-American). A fish-out-of-water, he stumbles into a legal mess that could spell the end of his career, but with the help of a beautiful relocation specialists, a well-connected foreign businessman, a clever by unassuming journalist, and a street-smart assistant, he just might save his job, discover romance, and learn to appreciate the many wonders Shanghai has to offer. SHANGHAI CALLING opens Feb. 15 at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
MUGABE: VILLAIN OR HERO? Part of the 21st Annual PAN AFRICAN FILM FEST (running Feb. 7th through 18th at AMC Baldwin Hills, 4020 Marlton Ave., 90008. A British filmmaker's personal journey into the world of the infamous leader, from Mugabe's entourage to Mohmar Gaddafi's private jet, surrounded by a host of prominent African leaders. What began as a 3-month mission became a 3-yr. life-changing project, culminating in a rare interview with one of the world's most controversial, reviled leaders, revealing more than we see on our television screens.
56 UP, chronicles the lives of 14 British schoolchildren from diverse backgorunds, asking them about their lives and dreams for the future. Michael Apted's acclaimed series returns to the subjects every 7 years to examined the progression of theirs lives. From cab driver Tony, to schoolmates Jackie, Lynn and Susan, and the heart-breaking Neil, more life-changing decisions and surprising developments are revealed - successes and disappointments, marriage, divorce, childbirth, poverty and illness - nearly every fact of life is discussed with the group as they assess whether their lives have ultimately been ruled by circumstance or self-determination. The 7 UP series, which Roger Ebert calls, "an inspired, almost noble us of the film medium, Apted penetrates to the central mystery of life." Played at the Arena Cinema Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave., in Hollywood.
SAVING LINCOLN tells the story of Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln's self-appointed bodyguard and the only friend the newly-elected President brought to Washington with him. A banjo-playing, joke-telling former law partner and confidante, Lamon was also handy with a gun, serving Lincoln faithfully throughout the Civil War years, witnessing every aspect of the military & political pressure, as wel as the personal losses of family and friends. Not present on that fateful night at Ford's Theatre, his perspective redefines that tragic event in a surprising and uplifting manner. Starring Lea Coco as Lamon and Tom Amandes as Lincoln, it also features Penelope Ann Miller as Mary Todd Lincoln and Bruce Davison as William Seward. SAVING LINCOLN opens Friday, Feb. 15th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
QUARTET, Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut stars Maggie Smith, Billie Connolly, Tom Courtenay and Pauline Collins as retired musicians confronting age and the past in a retirement home for once illustrious performers. With the arrival of a well known operatic soloist, old emotional wounds surface as they prepare for a gala concert. Adapted from a play based upon the documentary "Tosca's Kiss," QUARTET played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.
PORT OF SHADOWS, lauded as one of Marcel Carne's finest films, established the genre of poetic realism, exploring the fog-shrouded zone between past and future, life and death, and the impossibility of escape. The 1938 classic is presented in a new restoration featuring an all-new translation and subtitles and follows a deserter from the Colonial Army in need of a new life and haunted by his past, wondering if he can leave to a disastrous fate the only person who has made him happy. PORT OF SHADOWS opens on Friday, Feb. 1st at Laemmle's Royal in West LA and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
OSCAR NOMINATED ANIMATION SHORTS will screen for two weeks at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., beginning Feb. 1st. Get a jump on the the office Oscar pool by catching this year's nominees. This year's program will be hosted by last year's winners: William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, directors of "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore."
STAND-UP GUYS stars Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin in a tough, but touching action comedy as retired gangsters who reunite for one last epi night. Three former criminal associates reflect on their glory days and freedom lost and who, despite their age, find their capacity for mayhem is still alive and well. When a dangerous secret is revealed, they are faced with an impossible quandary by a former mob boss, forcing them to confront their past once and for all.
NIGHT is a documentary which celebrates the night with stunning city views, country vistas and interview with people from all walks of life about their nocturnal experiences. while some regard the night with fear and the unknown, for others it signals hearth, home, and freedom from the stresses and worries of the workaday world, while for others it is a time to dress up and step out with friends. Part of Film Festival Flix, NIGHT screens ONLY on Feb. 6th at Laemmles Playhouse 7 and on 2/7 at Laemmle's NoHo 7, followed by a Q & A with Australian filmmaker Lawrence Johnston.
2013 SHORT DOC OSCAR NOMINEES include a rich variety of films - "Kings Point" about a senior retirement resort in Florida; "Open Heart" which follows the journey of Rwandan children to get heart surgery at a free Emergency hospital in the Sudan; "Redemption" about New Yorkers who find treasure in trash; "Inocente" in which a young undocumented immigrant dreams of becoming an artist; and "Mondays at Racine" about a hair salon providing free services for women undergoing chemotherapy. OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT DOCS opens on Feb. 8th at Laemmles Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
LORE, a 14-yr old German girl, is left to fend for herself when her SS officer father and her mother, a staunch Nazi believer, are interred by the Allies at the end of WWII. Leading her four siblings on a harrowing journey across a devastated country, she meets a charismatic, mysterious young refugee, she finds she must put her trust in the very person she was always taught to hate in order to survive. Played at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center 5, Encino.
LET FURY HAVE THE HOUR looks at the last 40 years of social history to make the case for activism and creative solutions as an antidote to modern cynicism. An exuberant, mixed media collage of music, art, animation and spoken word, it brings together 50 artists, writers, musicians, skateboarders, dancers and rights advocates, including Eve Ensler, Tom Morello, Billy Bragg, Shepard Fairey, Chuck D, Lewis Black and Van Jones, who claim we can re-image the world we live in and take an active role in making that a reality. LET FURY HAVE THE HOUR played at Laemmle's NoHo 7, 5140 Lankershim Blvd.
IN ANOTHER COUNTRY is a laugh-out-loud comedy that plays like a lost French Wave classic. Starring Isabelle Huppert in overlapping stories in which three different French women (all played by Huppert) visit a resort town and encounter a flirtatious director, a love-struck lifeguard and too much soju in a tale of love, lust, and misunderstanding. Opens Friday, 1/11 at Laemmle's Town Center 5, Royal and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
GANGSTER SQUAD chronicles the LAPD's attempts to keep East Coast gangsters out of LA in the '40s and '50s. Starring Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen, it features an all-star cast including Josh Brolin, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and Nick Nolte.
TABU, from Portugal with English sub-titles, is a sumptuous, eccentric two-part tale centered on Aurora, an impulsive, cantankerous elderly woman hospitalized with a grave condition. When her neighbor, Pilar, attempts to contact a mystery man from Aurora's past, it becomes a journey back in time 50 years before the start of the Portuguese Colonial War. A poetic, moving tale of forbidden love, it features a soundtrack of Phil Spector songs. TABU opens on Friday, Jan 25th at Laemmle's Royal in West LA and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
LET MY PEOPLE GO! is a sweet, hilarious fusion of gay romantic comedy, Jewish family drama and French bedroom farce which follows the travails and daydreams of the lovelorn Reuben, a mailman living in Findland with his Nordic boyfriend. When a series of mishaps and a lovers' quarrel exile the heartbroken Reuben back to Paris and his zany family, the result is a heartwarming, fabulously kitschy and funny celebration which upends stereotypes with wit, gusto, and style. LET MY PEOPLE GO! played at Laemmle's Town Center 5 in Encino and Royal in West LA.
FACE TO FACE, an Australian drama directed by Michael Rymer (of "Battlestar Gallactica" fame) deals with restorative justice in a mediation case involving a fired construction workers, his boss, family, friends and co-workers. What seems to be a simple case of vehicular assault is revealed to be the culmination of toxic work environment, sexual harassment, infidelities and racism, which bring the defendant to the breaking point. Part of the Film Festival Flix monthly screening of award-winning films, it seems one night only on 1/9 at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and one night only on 1/10 at Laemmle's NoHo 7 in North Hollywood. Followed by a Q & A.
RESOLUTION is a new horror thriller in which two friends confront their personal demons, the consequences of past actions and forces beyond their control. Combining dark humor with thrills and unexpected pathos, RESOLUTION runs Mon - Friday at 7:30 pm and 9:20 pm at the Arena Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. in Hollywood.
MAX AND THE JUNKMEN is a restoration of the Claude Sautet classic in which Max has only one thing on his mind: putting away criminals, knowing that the way to catch a thief is to catch them in the act. When he runs into an old army buddy, he hatches a plan to trick a group of amateurs into committing a major crime by posing as a client of a prostitute, never suspecting that he'd fall in love with her. Opens on Fri. 1/11 at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
UPRISING tells the inside story of the Egyptian revolution from the perspective of its principal leaders and organizers, depicting their struggle against all odds. From the producing team behind "Taxi to the Dark Side" and the editor of "Inside Job," UPRISING tells the story includes never-before-seen footage, along with interviews with Nobel Peace Prize nominees, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers and presidential candidates and US ambassadors. UPRISING opens on Friday, 1/11 at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
FRACKNATION explores economic, personal, scientific, political, and historical factors involved in hydraulic fracturing, claiming to uncover facts suppressed by environmental activists and speaking with rural American whose livelihoods are affected by it. With a decidedly different view than "Gasland" or "Promised Land," it claims to ask tough questions and challenge general assumptions telling a story they feel has been ignored. Sure to be controversial, FRACKNATION opens on Friday, 1/11 at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
RUST AND BONE tells the rocky love story of two independent, strong-willed souls who bond in the aftermath of a tragic accident. Starring Marion Cotillard as a killer whale trainer who loses her former sense of self in order to be reborn. Played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas.
IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THESE FABULOUS FILMS, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS WHAT'S COMING UP!
MOVIE TRIVIA QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I AM BIG. IT'S THE PICTURES THAT HAVE GOTTEN SMALLER."
2013 Previous Films Part 1
2012 Previous Films
2012 Part 2
2011 Previous Films Part 1
2011 Previous Films Part 2
2011 Previous Films Part 3
2010 Film Club Previous Offerings
2012 Film Club Offerings Part 2
Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 March 2013 10:35
Here are some more of the films KPFK Film Club members were able to see in 2012
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, SINGALONG, a Christmas Eve tradition, is Norman Jewison's adaptation of the Broadway musical, set in the Ukrainian village of Anatevka, starring Topol in his legendary portrayal of Tevye, the milkman, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by poverty, prejudice, and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters. Played at Laemmles NoHo7, Town Center 5 and the Royal in West L.A.
THE NUTCRACKER, presented in 3D by the Russian Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, which was its original home in 1892. Screening throughout LA on one night only.
THE PHAROAH'S DAUGHTER, presented as a part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series, was originally a hit in 1862, but fell out of favor with the Soviet regime. Resurrected by the Bolshoi Ballet in 2000, it became a favorite once again. A young Englishman travelling through Egypt meets a caravan of Arab merchants at the foot of a pyramid. when a storm breaks out, they take shelter where the daughter of one of Egypt's most powerful Pharoahs lies in a tomb nearby, relaying her story through the dreams of an opium pipe.
IN THE HOLY LAND OF TYROL focusses on a Bavarian woman married to a Tyrolean furniture maker who accidentally kills a French soldier during the Occupation. Fleeing to her husband's family farm, she finds herself despised by his Catholic family, eventually earning their respect by concocting a drastic plan to keep her husband from returning to the war. Part of Film Festival Flix, played at Laemmles Playhouse 7 and Noho7.
THE NUTCRACKER presented by London's Royal Ballet, a holiday favorite the world over, screens as part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinemas series. A magician's secrets, an enchanted gift, a guiding angel and a visit through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets, Tchaikovsky's classic is a must-see for audience of all ages. Played at Laemmle Theatres througout LA.
WALTER AND TANDOORI'S XMAS is a 3D animated comedy in which Walter, endearing, compulsive and funny, travels the world with his faithful sidekock, Tandoori, a hyperactive chicken, confronting environmental wrongs which need righting. Played at the Regency, Van Nuys Plant 16.
BARRYMORE stars Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer, re-creating his tour-de-force Tony Award-winning role as the acclaimed actor John Barrymore. Set in 1942, no longer a box office star, Barrymore reckons with the ravages of a life of excess. Renting a theatre to raise money for a revival of his 1920 Broadway triumph in "Richard III," he reflects on the highs and lows of his stunning career. Played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas.
A ROYAL AFFAIR, Denmark's official entry for the Academy Awards Best Foreign Film, is the true story of an ordinary man who wins the h eart of a queen and starts a revolution. Centering on the love triangle of queen Caroline Mathilda, it is the gripping tale of not only a passionate and forbidden romance, but the brave idealists who risk everything in their pursuit of freedom for their people. Played at the Landmark.
2012 AFI FILM FESTIVAL, running Nov. 1 through 8 at Mann's Chinese Cinemas at Hollywood and Highland:
KON-TIKI,Based on a true story, Thor Heyerdahl, alone in his belief that Polynesia was first populated by settlers from South American rather than by men from the East, is determined to raise funds for an expedition to prove his hypothesis. Epic in amibition and scale, with stunning cinematography and first-class special effects, the extraordinary journey pits man against shark and storm.
THE HUNT, is about the witch-hunt that ensued when a daycare worker is accused of sexually abusing the young daughter of one of his closest friends. Featuring an extraordinary performance by Mads Mikkelsen, winner of Best Actor at Cannes, as a man whose life is on hold, including his ability to retain friends and family.
THE SAPPHIRES, from the Land Down Under, an inspiring ahd thrilling true story of a later 1960's girl group caught up in the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Taking their music on the road, battling prejudice against their aboriginal heritage, with a screenplay by the real-life son and newphew of the four incredible women discovered in an outback pub by an Irish manager with a ear for soul.
CITY PARKING, follows two disparate LA lives which come together in a parking garage late one night. A frustrated graffiti artist and a heartbroken Westside girl break into cars as they get to know each other, scare off her ex-boyfriend and finish a mural. Screens as a part of AFI Fest at Mann's Chinese 2 on Wed. Nov. 7th.
CLOUD ATLAS stars Academy Award winners Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon and Jim Broadbent, based on David Mitchell's bestselling novel where everything is inter-connected across time and space. A single story unfolds in multiple timelines over a span of 500 years with characters meeting and reuniting from one life to the next, born and reborn, having an impact on their past, present and future.
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, winner of Best Director at Sundance, Ava Duvernay's story of a bright, young medical student who suspends her own hopes and dreams of a medical career when her husband is incarcerated. Caught between two men and two worlds, she struggles to keep body and soul together. Featuring music by KPFK's own Morgan Rhodes, it plays at Laemmles NoHo 7 in North Hollywood.
ARGO, based on true events, chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis - the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. In Nov. 1979, as the Iranian Revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the US embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage, but six Americans find refuge in the hom of the Canadian ambassador as a CIA "exfiltration" specialist concocts a risky plan to get them out safely.
HOLY MOTORS is an audacious and fantastical cinematic vision in which the City of Light is the backdrop for nearly a dozen surreal adventures throughout Paris in a ravishing, shape-shifting fever dream. A conventional businessman is transformed into a motion-capture acrobat, a sewer-dwelling leprechaun, an assassin and the leader of an accordion marching band. A potent allegory for movie magic itself, it ran at the Nuart in West LA.
TRIAL BY FIRE: LIVES REFORGED celebrates the strength and courage of seven burn survivors who, with the support of their caregivers and families, reclaim their lives after the devastation of fire. Challenging us to look beyond the superficial and redefine our concept of true beauty, it follows the journeys of ordinary people who rise above their injuries and pain to discover new dreams through unexpected insights and a transformed worldview. Featuring actor J.R. Martinez, it was part of DocuWeeks.
THE OPTIMISTS, a universal story, it explores how different communities of ethinic and religious backgrounds stood by each other during the Holocaust offering insights into building bridges and defending human rights. In Bulgaria, 50,000 Jews survived the Holocaust with the help of Bulgarian Christians, as Sephardic Jews were helped by Christians and Muslims from all walks of life. Ran at Laemmles Music Hall and Town Center.
ALL TOGETHER, starring Jane Fonda, in her first French language film since Godard's 1972 "Tout Va Bien," it follows five aging friends who decide to move in together. A crowd-pleasing comedy about the joys of "communal" living, it also stars Geraldine Chaplin and Calude Rich. Playing at Laemmle Town Center 5.
12th ANNUAL HUNGARIAN FILM FEST, which ran Nov. 16th through 22nd at Laemmle's NoHo 7, showcases the richness of Hungarian cinema with this year's highlight "The Door," starring Oscar-winer Helen Mirren and "The Tragedy of Man" winner of the Palm D'Or at Cannes and Oscar entry "Just the Wind."
AN EVENING WITH KYLIAN/INGER/WALERSKI, danced by the Nederlands Dans Theatre, "the most balletic modern dancers in the world." The NY Times says, "If you see one live performance this year, Nederlands Dans Theatre in the one to see." Part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series.
MAN AT WAR takes a provocative look at computer gamers who continue to fight WWII European air battles in the virtual world, trying to change the course of history. For some it's a hobby, but for many it's an addiction consuming most of their time at the expense of family life and social contacts. The film follows the players and their lives, including training courses and rallies. At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
GENERATION P is a political satire centering on a cynical Russian poet who becomes caught up in the world of high-stakes advertisting shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, in a world populated by gangster, new millionaires and advertising gurus. Exploring man's identity in a modern, branded world, it played at Sundance Sunset Cinemas.
SAVING AMERICA'S HORSES is a trenchant expose that reveals how the public has been misled by government agencies and corporate interests disregard laws designed to protect the public, the horses and the environment. Set against sweeping, pristine landscapes, it is deeply passionate look into the world of wild and domestic horses, their connection to history and the future of the nation, offering compelling expert testimony, undercover footage and true life stories to highlight imminent health risks to humans and environment caused by the capture, removal, transport and stockpiling of horses to be slaughtered.
THE REVISIONARIES follows the rise and fall of some of the most controversial figures in America education through some of their most tumultuous battles, including an avowed Creationist of the Religious Right, a Houston attorney and law professor at Falwell's Liberty Unviersity and an anthropology professor from Southern Methodist University, as the highly politicized Texas State Board of Education rewrites teaching and textbook standards for its 5 million schoolchildren. At Laemmles Playhouse 7.
BALLET IN CINEMA, continues with "L'ALTRA META DEL CIELO," a contemporary ballet by MacArthur "Genius" Grant winner, Martha Clarke, set to the music of controversial Italian rock star Vasco Rossi, a man known for drug use, racism and misogyny. A groundbreaking piece which transforms hatred into a piec which glorifies the feminine rather than tear it down. Screened at Laemmle Theatres.
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO is one of the finest jewels in the operatic repertoire. Mozart's masterpiece is presented by the Royal Opera House in an illuminating production as part of Laemmle's Opera in Cinema series, revealing the tensions between masters and servants on an estate in the 1820's.
SPLIT: A DEEPER DIVIDE is a riveting investigation into the partisanship paralyzing our politics which looks beyond the rancor to reveal the truth of why our cuntry is more divided and our politics more gridlocked than ever, with unparalleled access to some of the most insightful and recognizable figures in politics and society - ranging from Senators Evan Bayh and Chuck Hagel, Lawrence Lessig, Noam Chomsky, Robert Putnam, Tucker Carlson and Amy Goodman. Played at Laemmles.
ARAB FILM FESTIVAL, ran Oct. 19th through 21st at the Writers Guild, featured films from both emerging and established directors, which provided alternatives to stereotypical images of Arab culture, politics and art. Opening Night's feature was "Man Without a Cell Phone."
5th ANNUAL IRISH FILM FESTIVAL, ran Sept. 26th through Sept. 30th at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, with Opening Night at Linnwood-Dunn, screening of "Jump" a modern fairytale of a New Year's Eve in Derry. Other highlights were "Let the People Sing" a gritty tell-all documentary charting the rise of the legendary music group The Wolfe Tones, and special evening hosted by Fionnula Flanagan, honoring filmmaker Lelia Doolan, director of "Bernadette" Notes on a Political Journey" about Bernadette Devlin, the face and voice of the Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland.
LEAST AMONG SAINTS, movingly illustrates a veteran's hard-fought road returning from war to face a broken marriage and a broken life. When a troubled ten-year-old calls out for help, he can't turn away and, much to the dismay of an embattled social worker (played by Laura San Giacomo), it transforms his life. At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS, based on Emily Bronte's classic of star-crossed lovers, receives a radically distinct re-telling in filmmaker Andrea Arnold's adaptation of the epic story of Heathcliff and Cathy, spanning childhood to young adulthood. With a sweeping score, stripped down to its roots of heart-stopping beauty, cruelty, and impulsiveness. Played at the Nuart.
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS is the touching story of a family tragically divided. A trouble teenager in the 1980's in New York, struggles to discover a sense of self and strength while grappling with her tumultuous relationship with her mother while dreaming of reuniting with her father in Guyana, whom she hasn't heard from in 13 years. Spanning two continents and three decades, it offers a nuanced lense into the plight of displaced immigrant families struggling to create a better future. Played at the Nuart.
WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACTIVISTS, takes us inside the world of Anonymous, the "hactivist" collective which has redefined civil disobedience for the digital age. Exploring its historical roots as it becomes a worldwide movement with the reach and power to transform our time. At Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
VERSAILLES '73: AMERICAN RUNWAY REVOLUTION is a documentary about the legendary fashion show, nicknamed the "Battle of Versailles" pitting French haute couture against innovative American ready-to-wear designers, in front an audience of the era, which included Princess Grace of Monaco, Andy Warhol, Christina Onassis and Josephine Baker. Playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
THE AMBASSADOR is a darkly comic, genre-bending documentary which rips the lip off political corruption and exploitation in the Central African Republic. Danish filmmaker Mads Brugger, whom the Huffington Post calls "the most provocative filmmaker in the world," transforms himself into an outlandish caricature of a European-African consul immersing himself in the life-threatening underworld of nefarious bureaucrats where he encounters blood diamong struggling, bribery, and murder. Playing for one week only at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre, 611 Fairfax Ave., in LA.
THE HOUSE I LIVE IN follows the policy failure in the war on drugs. From the dealer to the grieving mother, to the narcotics officer, the inmates and senators, these heart-wrenching stories encapsulate the tragic errors which have earned the US the dubious distinction of being the world's leading jailer and a system of mass incarceration which disproportionately affects the poor. At Laemmle Theatres.
SIMON AND THE OAKS, based on the Swedish bestseller, is an epic drama spanning the years from 1939 to 1952 offering a unique depiction of fate, destiny, and freewill. In a vivide portrayal of the situation for Jews in Sweden during WWII, it is the griping story of an intellectually-gifted, working class boy befriended by the son of a wealthy Jewish bookseller who fled Nazi persecution. At The Landmark.
WAKE IN FRIGHT, one of the seminal films in Australian cinema, tells of a British schoolteacher's descent into personal demoralization at the hands of drunken, deranged derelicts while stranded in a small town in the outback. Winner of the Palm D' Or in 1971 at Cannes, it is one of only two films to be shown there twice. Called by Nick Cave "the best and most terrifying film in Australian existence," Roger Ebert deemed it "powerful, genuinely shocking, and rather amazing." Play at the Nuart.
SAMSARA, from the Sanskit word meaning "the ever-turning wheel of life" is a stunning visual meditation inspired by breathtaking images and natural wonders. Filmed over 5 years in twenty-five countries on five continents, with no narration or dialogue this non-traditional documentary from the award-winning filmmakers of "Baraka" and "Chronos," encourages the viewers' own interpretation, with transcendant music from Lisa Gerrard and Michael Stearns. Playing at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd in LA.
LIFE IS STRANGE is a documentary which evokes the vibrant life of Jewish families in pre-World War II Europe, through childhood memories of survivors. Intimate conversations are presented against a tapestry of rare footage that takes us to the heart of pre-war Yiddish culture, as well as a universal experience of carefree childhood and how memory of the past can be retained when the world that created it no longer exists. Currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills and Town Center 5 in Encino.
SUPERCAPITALIST is a financial thriller about a maverick New York hedge fund trader who moves to Hong Kong and orchestrates a mega-deal that switfly escalates beyond his control. Caught between competing American and Asian cultures of profit-at-all-costs, he takes the ultimate risk when his life and Hong Kong's future are staked on a corrupt billion dollar deal. Playing at Laemmle's NoHo 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood.
DOWNTOWN EXPRESS is a classic story of youthful rebellion set in the world of Russian immigrants in NYC. Told with a unique voice through music, it explores the clash of old world values with the lure and excitement of a new country as a virtuoso violinist and Julliard student prepares for a recital to launch his career. He careens between the two worlds as he encounters and falls in love with a singer-songwriter. Starring acclaimed musicians Quint and Nellie McKay, DOWNTOWN EXPRESS opens on Fri. August 24th at Town Center 5 in Encino.
SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN, a remarkable documentary of fame-deferred, follows the mystery and mythology of Rodriguez, the greatest '70s US rock icon who never was. Considered by some a "Chicano Bob Dylan," his masterpiece album, "Cold Fact" sank into oblivion in the US, but through a simple twist of fate resurfaced in South Africa to provide a meaningful soundtrack to thelives of young anti-apartheid activists. Amidst rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide, his parallel life of acclaim and success a continent away is revealed when two South African fans set to find out what happened to their hero. Opens on Friday, July 27th at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
LITTLE WHITE LIES, starring Oscar winners Marion Cotillard and Jean Dujardin, follows a close-knit group of friends whose bonds are tested and strengthened over a summar holiday when one of their colleagues meets with an unfortunate motocycle accident. A heartfelt French spin on "The Big Chill" with a soundtrack ranging from Creedence Clearwater Revival, to Nina Simone, Bowie and Janis Joplin, it's a generational statement of youthful frivolity giving way to middle-aged pleasures and sorrows amid the intricacies and indulgences of contemporary relationships. LITTLE WHITE LIES opens on Friday, August 24th at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
DEATH BY CHINA, from bestselling author and filmmaker Peter Navarro, tackles the destructive economic trade relationship with China. Continuously flooding US markets with illegally subsidized products since 2001, over 50,000 American factories have disappeared, more than 25 million Americans can't find a decent job and America now owes more than 3 trillion dollars to the world's largest totalitarian regime. Through compelling voices across the political spectrum, the US-China relationship is broken and in urgent need of repair in order to further world peace and prosperity. Playing at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
COMPLIANCE, inspired by a chilling true story, it explores just how far one might go to obey an authority figure. When the high-strung manager of a local fast food joint receives a phone call saying her employee has stolen money from a customer, she follows the officer's step-by-step instructions for investigation, no matter how invasive, as the line between legality and reason becomes hauntingly blurred. Screens for one-week only at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd.
THE WELL-DIGGER'S DAUGHTER is an exquisitely-crafted melodrama in which a father in pre-WWI France is torn between his sense of honor and his deep love for his daughter when she gets in trouble with a wealthy pilot. A remake of the 1940's classic, it opens on Friday, July 27th at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex, Town Center 5 in Encino and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
16th ANNUAL DOCUWEEKS presents an exceptional lineup of worldwide documentary films over the course of three weeks. This year's highlights include: "Digital Dharma," about Eugene Smith's mission to preserve ancient Tibetan texts; "Once in a Lullaby," about the YouTube sensation choir in the journey to perform at the Oscars, "Garden in the Sea," an artists ecological vision inthe Sea of Cortez, "Holy Man", "La Source," narrated by Don Cheadle, about a Princeton janitor's efforts to bring water to Haiti; at Laemmle's NoHo 7 through August 30th.
WE WOMEN WARRIORS, screening as part of DocuWeeks through Aug. 30th, follows three native women caught in the crossfire of Columbia's warfare, using nonviolent resistance to defend their people's survival. One-third of Columbia's 102 aboriginal groups face extinction, trapped in a protracted predicament financed by the drug trade. WE WOMEN WARRIORS bears witness to neglected human rights interweaving stories of female empowerment, unshakable courage, faith, and endurance.
HEIST: WHO STOLE THE AMERICAN DREAM? exposes the roots of the American economic crisis and the destruction of the American dream. With clearn, fact-driven storytelling, HEIST unflinichingly reveals the results of four decades of de-regulation, massive job outsourcing and tax policies favoring the mega-corporations and wealthy elites. From the New Deal of FDR to trickle down Reagonomics and class warfare, it is a political thriller which posits that those responsible should be accountable with rigorous reform and dismantling entities too big to fall. Played at Laemmle's NoHo 7.
NUIT #1 is Anne Emond's award-winning feature debut in which two strangers meet on a packed, sweaty dance floor at a rave, end up spending the night together, baring their emotions as well as their bodies, with epic conversation, exploring and revealing, attaching and embracing in a powerful, intimate portrait of a one-night stand. An exclusive one-week engagement at the Nuart in West LA.
YOU'VE BEEN TRUMPED is a David-and-Goliath tale of Scottish homeowners who take on real estate mogul Donald Trump, despite legal threats and police harrassment , when he attempts to build a luxury gold resort through one of Britain's last stretches of coastal wilderness. Told without narration, YOU'VE BEEN TRUMPED captures the cultural schism between the media-savvy Trump and a deeply-rooted Scottish community.
UNTIL THEY ARE HOME brings to light the dedication of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team members who returned to the island of Tarawa in 2010, the site of one of the most horrific battles of WWII in order to recover the remains of fallen heroes and fly them back to American soil. Narrated by Kelsey Grammer. Played at Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
IT IS NO DREAM: THE LIFE OF THEODOR HERZL follows Herzl, as assimilated Jew from Budapest, who, until his late wenties wanted only to be a successful playwright, but after witnessing the court proceedings of the Dreyfus trial in Paris and rampant anti-Semitism, he pursued his vision for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, advocating peaceful co-existence between Jews and Arabs. Initially ridiculed for his political treatise "Der Judenstaat," it later became the foundation for a grass-roots movement of oppressed Jews to join Herzl's Zionist movement leading to the establishment of the modern state of Israel. Featuring rare archival footage, interviews and never-before-seen stills, IT IS NO DREAM played at Laemmle's Town Center 5.
CO-DEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME, a tongue-in-cheek cult favorite at Sundance, is a wryly funny romantic comedy mash-up and 1950's sci-fi spoof in which three extra-terrestrials from the planet Zots are sent on a mission to rid themselves of romantic emotions, which are considered toxic to their planet's atmosphere, by having their hearts broken on Earth. Meanwhile, government agents seek to find the spaceship and cover-up the aliens' existence. Deemed by The Hollywood Reporter as "a hilarious date movie for couples of all orientations," it played at the Downtown Independent Theatre.
DARK HORSE, Todd Solondz' examination of the irretrievability of youth and the mercilessness of time passing. An unexpectedly tender, dark comedy starring Mia Farrow, Christopher Walken and Jordan Gelber of "Boardwalk Empire," it depicts the arrested development of a Jewish man in his thirties, in a poignant portrait of a man-child who finally glimpses a chance for true love. A special one-night screening presented by the American Cinematheque, followed by Q&A with the director, at the Egyptian in Hollywood.
LA FOLIE ALMAYER, co-presented by American Cinematheque and the Consulate General of Belgium, freely adapted from Joseph Conrad's first novel, this hypnotic drama follows a European trader's faded dreams of finding fortunate in Malaysia. Gorgeously shot in the dense, lush jungles, it showcases an aesthetic spontaneity through long takes. The screening was followed by Belgian beer reception.
CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT, from the Award-winning director of "Up the Yangtze," comes a riveting documentary on China's ever-changing economic landscape through the lens of sports. Following a charismatic, former boxing star and coach as he recruits young fighting talent from impoverished villages across Sichuan province, with the hope of discovering China's next Olympic heroes, it is not only sports drama, but astute social commentary and a beautifully crafted portrait of an athlete.
TOP PRIORITY: THE TERROR WITHIN is a new documentary about a national security whistleblower, former Customs & Border Protection Office, Julia Davis, who was falsely declared a domestic terrorist and subjected to retaliation of unprecedented proportions by the Dept of Homeland Security.
PATANG: THE KITE is a poetic journey to the old city of Ahmedabad, weaving together the stories of six people transformed by the energy of India's largest kite festival. Music & fireworks, food and laughter provide healing and renewal when a Delhi businessman takes his daughter on a surprise trip back to his childhood home, an entire family has to confront its own fractured past and fragile dreams. Originally screening at the Intl. Indian Film Fest, it opened theatrically at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS is a cautionary tale of corporate bullying and media spin by Swedish documentarian Fredrik Gertten asking "What is a big corporation capable of in order to protect its brand?" Following his previous film, "Bananas," which recounted the lawsuit of 12 Nicaraguan plantation workers brought against Dole, the filmmaker was threatened with defamation suits and PR scare tactics. Utilized by law schools and legal experts to teach defense of freedom of speech, it reveals a corporate mindset which believes "It is easier to cope with a bad conscience than a bad reputation." Played at Laemmles Pasadena 7.
AI WEI WEI: NEVER SORRY is a fascinating close-up lok at renowned Chinese artist and dissident Ai Wei Wei and his ongoing battle with the Chinese government. Having helped to design Beijing's iconic Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, he denounced the Games as party propaganda and disappeared into police custody for three months. With unprecedented access to the charismatic artist, his family and friends, first-time director Alison Klayman filmed when authorities shut down his blog, beat him up, bulldozed his studio and held him in secret detention. A compelling portrait of this passionate dissident for the digital age who blurs the boundaries of politics and art. Played at Laemmles Town Center 5 and Playhouse 7.
THE GREEN WAVE is a powerful documentation of populist protests in Iran following the suspicious victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the presidential election of June 2009. Cell phone videos posted on the internet, Twitter messages, as well as animate blog posts and interviews with human rights advocates and exiled Iranians bear witness to the brutal attacks by government militias to repress a rebellion. Played at Laemmles Music Hall 3.
THE IMPOSTER is based on a true story with the twists and turns of a riveting thriller. In 1994, a 13-yr-old boy disappears without a trace from San Antonio, Texas only to resurface several years later in southern Spain with a story of kidnapping and torture. His overjoyed family finds that all is not quite what it seems when an investigator delves into this strange tale, challenging perceptions at every turn. Played in an exclusive one-week engagement at the Nuart in West LA.
NOOR FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 3 through 8th at Laemmle's Music Hall, celebrating cinematic works by and about Iranians around the world. "Changing perceptions one frame at a time," it reaches out to the non-Iranian community and promotes Iranian-American artists in Hollywood. Highlights included, "The Iran Job," "A Very Close Encounter," and the Oscar-winning "A Separation."
KUMARE is an insightful look at faith and belief in which a seemingly wise guru from the East indoctrinates a group of followers in the West, but who, in actuality, is the alter ego of American filmmaker Vikram Gandhi impersonating a spiritual leader for a social experiment designed to challenge one of the most widely accepted taboos, that only a tiny 1% can connect the rest of the world to a higher power. Asking if illusion can reveal a greater spiritual truth, he must confront difficult questions about his own identity and whether or not his disciples will accept his final teaching. An exclusive one-week engagement ran at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood.
1st KOREAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 9th through 11th at the Korean Culture Center in LA, featuring themes and talents across the Korean-American diaspora. Highlights include: THE LA RIOTS: REFLECTIONS ON OUR FUTURE, "WEDDING PALACE: BEHIND THE SCENES, a documentary of the triumphs and struggles of financing the first independent US-Korean film co-production, SHOULD'VE KISSED, set in the cut-throat audition world of NY following a confident Korean actor who struggles to find work and "ULTIMATE CHRISTIAN WRESTLING about a group of traveling evangelical pro-wrestlers from rural Georgia.
UNION SQUARE follows the troubled relationship between two estranged sisters on the verge - one of marriage, the other of a nervous breakdown, as they reunite in NY's Union Square. Starring Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino, Tony/Grammy winner Patti Lupone, and Tony-nominee Tammy Blanchard. Opening July 13th at Laemmle Theaters.
TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL, running July 26th through July 28th in the heart of beautiful Topanga, features a unique roster of socially conscious films. Opening night kicks off with "On Day on Earth", an epic time capsule created from footage collected by amateur videographers around the world on a single day, Oct. 10, 2010; Friday evening, the 27th, celebrates 100 years of dance; Saturday's "Friendship and Community" program features United Nations Shorts Showcase, along with "The Welcome" about a healing 5-day retreat for vets & their families, suffering from PTS; Sunday's "Sea and Sensibility" concludes with "Minds in the Water," a doc which follows a professional surfer's quest to protect dolphins, whales, and creatures of the sea, and Closing Night film, "Gidget: An Accidental Icon," with the real-life Gidget in attendance.
THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL, ran Aug. 3rd through August 5th at Laemmle's NoHo 7 celebrating the happy ending with films taht are humorous, inspirational, optimistic and capturing the beauty of our world. Some of this years highlights were "Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey," about a Buddhist monk's eco-pilgrimmage in the Himalayas; "Beast Wishes" about a unique couple's, love affair with monster movies; and "La Ultima Isla" about a young girls magical life on a remote island with her estranged aunt.
2012 Film Club Offerings Part 1
Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 March 2013 10:31
Here is a list of some of the films KPFK Film Club members were able to see in 2012
TOP PRIORITY: THE TERROR WITHIN, follows a national security whistleblower, former Customs and Border Protection Officer, Julia Davis, who was falsely declared a domestic terrorist and subjected to retaliation of unprecedented proportions by the Dept of Homeland Security. Opening July 13th at Laemmle's NoHo 7.
NEVER STAND STILL, filmed at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the idyllic mecca for artists and audiences from around the world, this documentary into the passion, discipline and daring of the dance world features amazing performances by world-renowned dancers and choreographers such as Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Suzanne Farrell, Mark Morris, Judith Jamison and Bill Irwin, alongside new innovators, with behind-the-scenes insights and rare archival footage. Opened at Laemmle's Music Hall.
CRAZY EYES stars Lukas Haas as a wealthy, alcoholic divorcee and father torn between his past love and present infatuation. Seemingly living the Hollywood dream, his obsession for a gorgeous, unattainable girl brings him to the brink, pushing his life to dangerous extremes when his young son might ultimately be the one to teach him how to be a man. At the Nuart.
RAYMONDA, the classic dance showcase, presented by the Bolshoi Ballet at part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series.
THE DOWNTOWN FILM FESTIVAL, running July 6th through 13th, features Opening Night "The Diary of Preston Plummer" starring Robert Loggia and Rumer Willis; along with docs such as BEYOND POLLUTION, about the aftermath of the BP oil spill; FALLING UP, a Skid Row documentary of hope, survival and love; and features such as FUZZ TRACK CITY, a comic neo-noir thriller of murder, betrayal and music surrounding a 1970's rock record; and DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR about struggles of sexuality and gender in 1970's San Francisco. At the Downtown Independent and Hayworth Theater. KPFK IS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR.
THE LAST RIDE, inspired by the mysterious last days of country music legend Hank Williams, stars Henry Thomas in a lonely two-man odyssey of a boy coming-of-age and a man leaving this world before his time, a victim of his own abuses. Following his meteoric rise to recording and radio super-stardom in the late '40s, the tortured genius of Hank Williams succumbed to drugs, alcohol, and a hair-trigger temper which ruined two marriages and a host of friendships. Trying to rectify tings at the end of 1952, he hired a local kid to drive him through the bleak Appalachian countryside. Opened at Laemmle's NoHo 7.
SAN PEDRO LABOR FEST recognizes the positive impact of the ILWU and other unions on the lives of their members and the community-at-large. With gallery exhibits, musical performances, poetry readings and book signings, it screened three films documenting labor and environmental struggles, featuring "Locked Out," "Who Bombed Judi Bari?" and "We Are Wisconsin." At the Grand Annex and the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.
PETER GRIMES, set in a fishing village, is the story of a man accused by his neighbors of committing unspeakable crimes and the subsequent repercussions of their actions. Benjamin Britten described his opera at the struggle of the individual against the masses. The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual. Part of Laemmle's Opera Cinema series, from Teatro a la Scala.
GISELLE, the quintessential romantic ballet, recounts the moving story of a peasant girl whose everlasting love transcends death. One of the most technially demanding and emotionally challenging roles, it has been a showcase for the world's leading ballerinas. With Peter Wright's staging, this production from the Royal Ballet, it is one of the most popular and enduring works of the dance canon. Part of Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema series.
LOOK EAST: KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL offerings included POETRY, PIERRE RISSIENT: MAN OF CINEMA, and A HOMETOWN IN HEART, ran June 23-24 at Mann's Chinese in Hollywood.
NOBODY ELSE BUT YOU is a neo-noir French thriller and offbeat comedy about a bestselling crime novelist with writer's block. When he encounters the possible murder of a beautiful, but troubled celebrity who believes she is the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe, truth is stranger than fiction. A risque murder mystery reminiscent of "Fargo" and "Twin Peaks', played at the Nuart.
ONE DAY ON EARTH is a documentary made in every nation of the world on the same day, Oct. 10, 2010. Presenting the challenges andhopes of humanity from a diverse group of volunteer filmmakers assembled by a participatory media experiment, it reveals an interconnected, perilous, wonderful world. Opened at Laemmle's Music Hall.
HENNING MANKELL, WALLANDER: THE REVENGE follows chief inspector Kurt Wallander as he investigates and solves crimes in the deceptively dark underbelly of picturesque, modern Sweden. A global sensation, it was also adapted bythe BBC starring Kenneth Brannagh. Starring Krister Henriksson as the police inspector this is the first episode of the original, immensely popular Swedish crime series. Opened at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
EXTRATERRESTRIAL is a hilarious, sexy sci-fi comedy involving a forgotton one-night stand, a jealous ex-boyfriend, an eccentric neighbor and possibly the end of the world when a flying saucer hovers over a deserted city. At Laemmle's NoHo 7.
BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW is a searing, slow-mo slice of heavy synth psychedelia, a Reagan-era fever dream in which the two main inhabitants are a disturbed, beautiful girl held captive and her "doctor" who is on an obsessive hunt for the scientific key to inner peace. Played at Cinefamily in Hollywood.
THE MATCHMAKER, set in Haifa in the summer of 1968, it is a tale of a teenage boy who goes to work for a matchmnaker, a mysterious Holocaust survivor, with an office in the back of a movie theatre, run by a family of 7 romanian dwarves and which shows only love stories. Opening to a new world built on the ruins of an old one, he learns the mysteries of the human heart as his life collides with the unexpected. Played at Laemmle's Music Hall 5, Town Center Encino, and Fallbrook 7 in West Hills.
THE INTOUCHABLES is an irreverant, uplifting comedy about friendship, trust and human possibility, which has broken box office records in France and across Europe. Winner of the Cesar Award and based on a true story of friendship between a handicapped millionaire and his street-smart ex-con caretaker, it depicts an unlikely camaraderie rooted in honesty and humor between two individuals who, on the surface, seem to have nothing in common. At the Landmark.
YOUR SISTER'S SISTER, directed by Lynn Shelton and starring Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt, is a comic, poignant tale of grief, romance and sibling rivalry. When an affable, but emotionally unstable slacker retreats to a friend's cabin in the Pacific Northwest seeking solitude and catharsis, he develops a complicated bond with his ex-girlfriend's sister, a lesbian reeling from the abrupt end of a 7-yr. relationship. Played at The Landmark.
SUNKISSED, a documentary screening at LAFF, which follows a couple's search to find out why children on the Navajo reservation have been stricken with XP, a rare pediatric disorder that turns sunlight into a deadly foe.
CALL ME KUCHU, documentary screening at LAFF, which follows the last year in the life of activisit David Kato, as he struggled to repeal Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality bill which proposes death for HIV-positive gay men and prison for anyone who fails to turn in known homosexuals.
GERHARD RICHTER PAINTING is a thrilling documentary of the creative process of one of the world's greatest living painters, juxtaposed with intimate conversation with critics, collaborators, and rare archival material. A mesmerizing fly-on-the-wall perspective following the range of techniques and ideas involves inthe creation of a large-scale abstract canvas by the infamously media-shy German artist. Played at Laemmle's.
CHELY WRIGHT: WISH ME AWAY is an award-winning documentary following the first country music star to come out as "gay," risking her career and personal relationships in order to live an authentic, meaningful life. Utilizing video diaries over three years, along with interviews with family, friends, and key players in the country music world, revealing both devastation and transformation in Nashville and within the LGBT community. Played at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
ORDINARY MIRACLES: THE PHOTO LEAGUE'S NEW YORK is a tribute to the high purpose of photography and the unmatched panorama of urban life in NY neighborhoods during the 30's & 40's as captured by the group that was the center of American photography at a time when the camera was "the central instrument of our time." Featuring little-known examples of leading photographers and League veterans, narrated by Campbell Scott, Played at Laemmle's NoHo 7.
MARINA ABRAMOVIC: THE ARTIST IS PRESENT follows the woman affectionately known as "the grandmother of performance art" as she prepared for a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. With total access, this captivating journey inside the world of radical performance addresses the constant question, "But why is this art?". Played exclusively at the Nuart.
THE INVISIBLE WAR is a devastating expose of injustice uncovering the epidemic of sexual abuse which pervades the American military, in which over 500,000 US soldiers have been victimized. THE INVISIBLE WAR played at Laemmle's Monica4-Plex.
PINK RIBBONS, INC. looks at how the breast cancer movement has moved from activism to consumerism and challenges viewers to rethink their assumptions about the meaning of breast cancer in our society. Inspired by the book by Samantha King, activists and medical experts from Barbara Enhrenrich to Dr. Susan Love, are interviewed, along with frank, personal discussions among women living with breast cancer. Currently playing at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex in Santa Monica and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
CHILDREN OF PARADISE, Marcel Carne's epic masterpiece, is a tale of a woman loved by four different men. Deftly intertwining theatre, literature, music, and design, 19th century Paris is brought to life with poetic realism, complete with hucksters and aristocrats, thieves and courtesans, pimps and seers. This spectacular restoration screens at Laemmle's Royal in West LA and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
FRANKENSTEIN, part of LA Theatre Works screenings from the National Theatre of Great Britain, adapted for the stage by Nick Dear and directed by Danny Boyle, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, alternating roles as Viktor Frankenstein and the Creature, who is cast into a hostile universe by his horror-struck maker and met with cruelty wherever he goes. This remarkable production of the gothic classic addresses scientific responsibility, parental neglect, and the very nature of good & evil. Broadcast in HD at the state-of-the-art James Bridge Theatre on the UCLA campus in an encore screening once only on Juane 17th at 4:00 pm
GISELLE, Laemmle's Ballet in Cinema continued with the Royal Ballet's production of this quintessential, most romantic of ballets, which recounts the moving story of a peasant girl whose everlasting love transcends death. One of the most technically demanding and emotionally challenging roles, it has been a showcase for the world's leading ballerinas.
6th ANNUAL GREEK FILM FESTIVAL, running May 31 through June 3, focussing on Green Initiatives, showcasing films from Greece and Greek filmmakers, including the Opening Night film screening at the Egyptian, "A GREEN STORY," the story of Van Vlahakis who left Greece with $22 in his pocket to pursue the American dream and ended up founding Earth Friendly Products; and "SAYOME" screening at the Linwood Dunn Theatre, in which a woman, after living in Crete for 35 yrs returns to her Japanese homeland to reunite with her estranged family upon the death of her mother. SUPER DEMETRIOS in which only Thessaloniki's own superhero can save the city from its worst nightmare; TUNGSTEN, about three men living in crisis-ridden Athens within the timeframe of a single day, revealing a world in havoc, where victims become villains and vice versa; RAW MATERIAL, a documentary about illegal gypsy immigrants who don't live by the norms or speak the Greek language, but gather garbage and recycle Athens' material in an attempt to improve their lives; UNFAIR WORLD, in which a disenchanted policeman's decision to follow his own sense of justice results in unlikely events culminating in an equally surprising outcome. KPFK IS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR.
DANCES WITH FILMS, celebrates its 15th year at Mann Chinese Theatres, championing the indie film at its best, opening May 31 with "Attack of the Bat Monsters," and "Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life," and running through June 7. Screening over 80 Narratives, documentaries, shorts and videos, a full roster of films available at danceswithfilms.com
MIGHTY FINE, a powerful, semi-autobiographical drama set in the '70s about a father's love for his wife and daughters and their vulnerability in the face of his unpredictable, explosire rage. Starring Chaz Palminteri and Andie McDowell, playing at Laemmle's Music Hall.
HIGH SCHOOL, in which a high school principal (played by Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero-tolerance drug policy, and a soon-to-be valedictorian attempts to beat the system by spiking the school's bakesale brownies or risk losing his scholarship when their half-baked plan goes up in smoke. Also starring Adrien Brody as a law student-turned-drug dealer, Psycho Ed. Preview screening on at the RAVE 18, 6081 Center Dr. in LA on Wed. May 30th at 7:30 pm.
MONDAY MORNING is a hard-hitting social drama about those who have fallen out of the system. Centering on LA's hardcore homeless population, MONDAY MORNING is a time "when a city wakes up - cars start honking, sprinklers start gushing, trucks barrel down the road, workers hose down the sidewalks and the homeless get out of the way." MONDAY MORNING screens on Saturday, May 19th and Sunday, May 20th at 11:00 am ONLY at Laemmle's Monica 4-plex, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica.
2nd ANNUAL LA SKINS FEST WOMEN'S NIGHT features UP HEARTBREAK HILL, which chronicles the lives of three Native American teenagers in Navajo, New Mexico, as they navigate their senior year at a reservation high school. Screens one night only, Thurs. May 31st, 7:30 pm, at the Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, near Griffith Park
LA FILLE MAL GARDEE continues Laemmles Ballet in Cinema series. A delightful, beloved, sunny comedy, with virtuosic choreography by Frederick Ashton. Both funny & touching, it is irresistible to audiences of all ages. The story of a young girl, her suitor and her larger-than-life mother who tries to marry her off. Playing Tuesday, May 29th at 7:30 pm at Laemmles Monica 4-Plex, Playhouse 7, Town Center 5 and Claremont.
GRAND ILLUSION, Jean Renoir's timeless story of men trapped in the stark reality of WWI and the fantasy of a noble era that crashed and burned with it. Once banned by the Nazis and considered lost, GRAND ILLUSION managed to survive WWII, after which it was recovered and re-discovered as a masterpiece. Rialto Pictures and Laemmle Theatres present GRAND ILLUSION in a stunning new digital restoration to honor its 75th Anniversary at Laemmle's Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles and Playhouse 7 in Pasadea. Opening Friday, May 18th.
A BAG OF HAMMERS, starring Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvik and Rebecca Hall revolves around the friendship of two charming grifters who, posing as car valets, steal the cars instead of parking them. Everything changes, however, when they meet a 12-yr.-old boy, neglected by his mother, whose presence ultimately forces the larcenous duo to choose between a life of crime and the opportunity to grow up and face being true adults. A BAG OF HAMMERS opens on Friday, May 18th at Laemmle's Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
THE CUP is a gripping, inspiring story of brotherly love and triumph of the human spirit in a moment that captured the attention and hearts of the world. Starrig Brendon Gleeson, it tells the story of a legendary racing family destine for greatness until tragedy strikes just days before the prestigious Melbourne Cup. THE CUP is currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., in Beverly Hills.
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES travels with Paul Simon back to South Africa 25 yrs after his first trip there, revisiting the making of his classic recording "Graceland" viewing from a historical vantage point, the turbulence and controversy which surrounded the album's genesis. His artistic decision to collaborate with South African musicians created a new world musical fusion while igniting political cross-fire. The resulting masterpiece sold 14 millions copies, receiving universal praise from critics. Providing a revelatory perspective, it features interviews iwth key anti-apartheid activists of the time, along with musical legends Quincy Johns, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney, David Byrne & Peter Gabrield. Currently playing at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex 1332 2nd St. in Santa Monica.
ROMEO & JULIET IN YIDDISH is Eve Annenberg's gritty, funny, wildly inventive new feature. It follows a bunch of kids putting on a production of "Romeo & Juliet", but the kids are Yiddish-speaking, drug-using, ex-Orthodox Jewish scam artists. Featuring predominantly non-actors, it portrays diversity & identity of the modern Jewish experience is colloquial Yiddish not acted on the screen in over 70 years. Currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
TONIGHT YOU'RE MINE is a free-wheeling, rock and roll love story set against the raucous magnificence and unforgettable sounds at a leading musical festival in Scotland. Filled with mud, lust, betrayal, booze, port-a-loos and 100,000 people partying to great music, two lead singers find themselves handcuffed together and no one has the key. Currently playing at The Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd.
IN THE FAMILY is the remarkable feature debut of Director Patrick Wang, a penetrating, original story of Chip, a precocious and loving 6-yr.-old who, having lost his mother at birth, knows life only with his two dads, Cody and Joey. When a car accident tragically alters their lives, Joey struggles to regain his balance and retain custody of Chip amidst bleak prospects. Playing at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex.
RESTLESS CITY tells the story of an African immigrant surviving on the fringes of New York City where music is his passion, life is a hustle and falling in love is his greatest risk. Play at Laemmle's NoHo 7 and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, as well as Rave 18 Cinemas, 6081 Center Dr. in LA.
THE HIGHEST PASS follows seven motorcycle riders and a modern guru as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime, trekking to the highest pass in the Himalyas. From award-winning documentarian, Jon Fitzgerald, THE HIGHEST PASS chronicles a motorcycle trip from Rishikesh to Ladakh, where each participant must confront their fear of death in order to fully live their lives. With music from Jon Anderson of "Yes," THE HIGHEST PASS opened on Friday, 4/27th at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
28th ANNUAL LA ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FEST, ran May 10 through 20 at venues in LA and Long Beach, celebrating the best and brightest of Asian Pacific Cinema, including VALLEY OF THE SAINTS, in which war & poverty force a young boatman to run away from Kashmir with his best friend. They become trapped in his lake village, encountering a mysterious woman researching the dying lake; CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT, documentary in which a master coach recruits poor, rural teenagers and turns them into Western-style boxing champions; GREAT WALL, MY LOVE, a romantic comedy in which a mismatched pair travels across China; THE ORATOR, from New Zealand, in which an unassuming villager and taro farmers lives a happy, but unconventional life with his wife and daughter. When his plantation is threatened, he is forced to speak out and defend all that he holds precious.
THRIVE: WHAT ON EARTH WILL IT TAKE? is an unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what's really going on in our world, by following the money upstream, uncovering the global consolidation of power. Filmmaker Foster Gamble (of Proctor & Gamble lineage) and his wife, Kimberly, set out to answer some fundamental questions about the striking imbalances ruining the lives of billions, lifting the lid on a Pandora's box of systemic issues while seeking solution strategies which are informed, practical, and profound. Further info is available at www.thrivemovement.com. Screened one night only at Laemmle's Monica 4-Plex, following by a Q&A with filmmakers.
HEADHUNTERS focusses on Norway's most successful headhunter seems to have it all. Married to a beautiful gallery-owner, he owns a magnificent villa - but is living larger than he should. To keep it up, he steals art on the side. When a CEO candidate for a company that he is recruiting for also happens to be in possession of a very valuable painting, he sees his chance to become financially independent, but soon runs into trouble - and it's not financial problems that are threatening to knock him over this time. Opened on Friday, April 27th at The Landmark.
7TH ANNUAL SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVVAL presents films exploring religious, ethnic and cultural crossroads from Albania to Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Solvenia, Turkey and other countries throughout Southeastern Europe. SEE Fest ran May 3-7 at the Goethe-Institut in Los Angeles, offering over 30 features, documentaries, shorts & panels covering the troubled history and cultural diversity of the Balkan region.
CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL, presented by Cal Arts and Northwest Film Forum ran May 5-13 at REDCAT, with two weekends of exhilarating animation and live-action short-film programs appropriate for the entire family, showcasing offerings from over 25 countries that shed light on kids' experiences from around the globe.
MAMITAS is a beguiling coming-of-age romance in which a cocky, but charming, Latino firebrand is suspended for insulting a teacher. when he meets a bookish, no-nonsense New York girl who sees past the swaggering facade, the two embark on an unikely friendship which inspires him to find out who he really is. Set in Echo Park with a talented young cast, MAMITAS opened on April 27th at Laemmle's Playhouse 7.
ELLES stars Juilette Binoche as a journalist researching an article on student prostitution for the French edition of "Elles" magazine. With a husband married to his cell phone and a son addicted to Play Station, she confronts her bourgeois life when two young women open up to her about the reality of their lives in the sex trade as sordid scenes play out against the humor and naturalness that both girls bring to their encounters with Anne. ELLES opened on April 27th at the Nuart.
PEOPLE V. THE STATE OF ILLUSION, from the team that brought us "What The Bleep Do We Know?", is a compelling new docudrama which addresses the need for emotional recovery in a time of economic recovery, getting to a place of happiness, peace, and mental health in the midst of job loss, challenging relationships, illness, and stress. Exploring the science and power of our perceptions and imaginations, you are judge and jury in a trial that includes some of the nation's leading thinkers as expert witnesses in the fields of neuroscience, biochemistry, psychology, quantum physics, and consciousness theory. PEOPLE V. THE STATE OF ILLUSION opened on April 27th at Landmark's Regent in Westwood.
THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH tells the story of the transformation of the American city following WWII, through the lens of the infamous Pruitt-Igoe housing development. Once heralded as the model public housing project of the future, it ended in rubble two decades later, an iconic event deemed "the death of modernism" by architectural theorist Charles Jencks. Seeking to set the historical record straight, THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH re-evaluates the rumors and the stigma to implode the myth. Opened on Friday, 4/27 at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
MY WAY is an epic, never before heard story of WWII of two young marathon runners, one a native Korean and the other a Japanese aristocrat, once bitter rivals, who find themselves in the Japanese army fighting the Soviets and the Chinese. Taken prisoner and forced to fight for the Soviety, their mutual hatred and distrust become a reliance on each other for survival, as they are bound together by history. They discover that, in a world at war, one's enemy is sometimes one's salvation. From director noted Korean filmmaker Kang Je-Kyu, MY WAY opens on Friday, April 20th at Laemmles Monica 4-Plex, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and NOHO 7 in North Hollywood.
SURVIVING PROGRESS is an intelligent, provocative documentary which explores the concepts of progress in our modern world, guiding us through economics, consumption and environment, featuring powerful arguments from such visionaries as Jane Goodall, Margaret Atwood, Stephen Hawking and others. Visually spectacular, it invites us to contemplate progress traps that have destroyed past civilizations and which currently threaten our own. Opening for a limited engagement at The Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA.
FIGHTVILLE journeys into the world of Mixed Martial Arts, which has grown from a gladiatorial sideshow into a billion dollar phenomenon. From the filmmakers of "Gunner Palace" and "The Prisoner: Or How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair", this documentary follows a group of young athletes who strive toward greatness, revealing a physical manifestation of the quest for the American Dream. Opens on April 20th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
LUMMIS DAY SCREEN NIGHT offers a first-look excerpt from the in-progress film adaptation of Culture Clash's "Water & Power", introduced by author/playwright/Culture Clash co-founder, Richard Montoya. Also screening is Roman Polanski's classic, CHINATOWN, starring Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson. One night only, Sat. April 21st at 7:00 pm at the Highland Park Ebell Club, 131 Avenue 57.
THE BALLAD OF GENESIS AND LADY JAYE follows the celebrated progenitor of "industrial music" an influential, innovative link between the pre- and post-punk eras, Genesis P-Orridge, who more recently has defied artistic boundaries with a series of sex re-assignment surgeries in order to more closely resemble his love, Lady Jaye, who remained his wife and artistic partner for nearly 15 years. Currently running at The Nuart in West LA.
THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE tells the story of Tania Head's miraculous story of recovery and loss during 9/11 which eearned her the respect of victims' families, public officials and Americans everywhere. Becoming President of the World Trade Center Survivors Network, she tirelessly fought to give survivors support and prominence in a post-9/11 landscape. There was only one problem - She wasn't there. Exposing the truth behind 9/11's most infamous survivor, the documentary examines the full circle of deception, with exclusive footage shot before her story crumbled. Currently playing at Laemmle's NOHO 7 at 5240 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.
SCENES OF A CRIME follows the harrowing interrogation of Adrian Thomas, whose 4-month-old baby lay brain dead in a pediatric ICU. When doctors suspected abuse, police detectives wages a psychological bettle repeatedly lying to and threatening him, eliciting a false confession. His son misdiagnosed with a brain fracture that didn't exist, jurors had to weigh defense arguments against a videotaped spectacle of Thomas sparring with detectives on a path toward self-destruction. Currently playing at Laemmle's Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills.
10th ANNUAL INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES, screened the following highlights at the Arclight, April 10th through 15th: ABU, SON OF ADAM, India's entry for the Academy Awards in which an elderly copule works to realize a life-long dream; GATTU, in which a street urchin is determined to defeat Kali and rule the skies above him; CORRODE, Jury winner for Best Feature, in which a housewife's obsession and desire is triggered by an unfinished sculpture of the goddess Lakshmi; DELHI IN A DAY, a dark comedy with a Jane Austin-style understanding and humor of class in modern nouveau-riche India; SHORTS PROGRAM 2, a collection of noteworthy short films.
BALLET IN CINEMA features the world's most famous ballet companies in live and encore broadcasts. This month's presentation is the London Royal Ballet in Shakespeare's classic feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, set to the music of Prokofiev.
THE MANZANAR FISHING CLUB is a rousing, quirky documentary which tells the story of WWII Japanese-American internment through the eyes of internees who shared a love of fishing, slipping past armed guards, barbed wire and searchlights to fish for trout in the surrounding waters of the Sierra Nevada. Despite his parents' reluctance to speak of this painful episode in their lives, Director Cory Shiozaki vowed to tell the story of the Japanese community's imprisonment and persecution so that it would never happen again.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA is a thriller where nothing is as it seems,when a group of men drive through the countryside in search of a body of the victim of a brutal murder, but the suspect can't remember where he buried the body. Winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes, it is currently playing at Laemmle Theatres.
WE HAVE A POPE tells the story of Melville, a cardinal who panics when he finds himself elected Pope. To avoid a crisis, the Vatican calls in an unlikely psychiatrist to help him deal with the title of God's representative on Earth. Nanni Morretti's lateset film showcases his deep humanism and humor in dealing with serious issues. Currently running at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in LA.
MIS- HUMAN SECRET WEAPON tells the story of the secret US Army Military Intelligence Service comprised mostly of 2nd generation Japanese Americans who pledged absolute allegiance to the US at a time when most Japanese Americans faced internment. Playing a crucial role in both persuading surrender of Japanese troops, they also served during post-war occupation of Japan, with their contributions and achievements remaining classified and largely unacknowledged. Currently playing at Laemmle's NoHo7 in North Hollywood.
THE ISLAND PRESIDENT is a portrait of Mohamed Nasheed, the democratically-elected President of the Maldives, who was forced to resign in a coup d'etat orchestrated by the military forces loyal to the former dictator. Director John Shenk (of "Lost Boys of the Sudan") brings this David and Goliath tale to the screen with transparency and intimacy as Nasheed battles climate change which threatens to destroy his nation. The Indian Ocean is rising and if carbon emissions continue at their present levels, the Maldives will disappear. As he pointedly notes, "It won't be any good to have a democracy if we don't have a country."
RENDEZVOUS WITH FRENCH CINEMA brings seven films to the screen in a one-day celebration of French cinema. Highlights include: "SMUGGLER'S SONG," which traces an 18th Century folk hero/bandit and his songs leading up to the French Revolution; "THE SCREEN ILLUSION" commissioned by La Comedie-Francaise in a wildly inventive update of the 17th century tragicomedy of a hotal concierge on the trail of a missing young man who has left female hearts aflutter; and "THE LAST SCREENING" in which "Cinema Paradiso" meets "Psycho" in a provocative genre film of the many secrets of a manager/projectionist of a repertory cinema in the provinces.
THE TROUBLE WITH BLISS stars Michael C. Hall ("Dexter" and "Six Feet Under") in an offbeat comedy/drama set in NY which follows Morris Bliss, a 35 year-old with no money or job prospects, who shared an apartment with his disdainful father (played by Peter Fonda). His life starts to unravel as he juggles relationships with a sexually precocious 18 year-old (Brie Larson) and a very forward neighbor (Lucy Liu), causing him to realize that change is long overdue.
STANDING OVATION is a positive tale of perseverance, passion and reaching for the stars. Set in Atlantic City, five best friends form a singing group called The 5 Ovations. Short on money, but rich in friendship, talent and hope, they face a rival group seeking to win the biggest music video contest of the year. Featuring 20 original songs and showcasing a cast of talented young performers, in a special one-night-only screening at the Nuart.
17TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL ran March 21st through 25th at Raleigh Studios in LA, celebrating the commonalities and differences of the human condition by providing a nurturing environment and education structure in exhibiting family-oriented films from around the world including Syria, China, Uzbekistan and others. This year's fest honored Jennifer Yuh Nelson, director of "Kung Fu Panda 2".
26th ANNUAL ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL ran March 15th through 29th celebrating the best of Israeli cinema with over 30 award-winning films and thought-provoking documentaries, television shows and student shorts. Highlights included "MY LOVELY SISTER" based on a surreal Morroccan-Jewish legend, and "SALSA TEL AVIV", a romantic comedy of different worlds, passionate jealousy, misunderstanding and salsa dancing.
LAST DAYS HERE, from the makers of "Rock School," is an astonishing fly-on-the-wall portrait of an underground music icon that will surprise you at every turn and have you laughing, crying and cringing. Neither rock doc nor junkie oblivion epitaph, it covers the hugely talented, prematurely aging and completely dysfunctional Bobby Liebling (founder of metal pioneers Pentagram) through his endless states of metamorphosis, drugs, jail, love and band reunions. Screened exclusively at Cinefamily's Silent movie theatre.
SEEKING JUSTICE is an action-packed thriller starring Nicholas Cage as a happily married man whose quiet life is turned upside down when his wife (played by January Jones) is brutally attacked one night while leaving work. When Simon (played by Guy Pearce) proposes an intriguing offer for vengeance, he is unwittingly drawn into a dangerous underground vigilante operation with deadly consequences. A sneak preview was screened at The Rave 18 theatres.
FREE MEN, based on real life events, tells the story of the Grand Mosque of Paris, whose founder and rector supported and sheltered Muslim and Jewish freedom fighters from the Nazis in Paris, 1942. When a young, unemployed Algerian is arrested as a black marketeer, he cuts a deal with French police to spy on the Mosque, but is transformed by his friendship with an Algerian singer.
CASA DE MI PADRE, in Spanish with sub-titles, stars Will Farrell as Armando Alvarez who has lived and worked on his father's ranch in Mexico his entire life. Facing financial difficulties, his younger brother, a successful businessman (played by Diego Luna) shows up with his fiancee. All hell breaks loose when Armando finds himself in love with the fiancee and at war with Mexico's most feared drug lord (played by Gael Garcia Bernal). A sneak preview screened at AMC Burbank 16.
AROUND JUNE is a love story set in the shadow of San Francisco's shipyards where an eccentric young woman named June lives a quiet life under the care of her much-adored Uncle Henry and the watchful eye of her domineering and controlling father. Her life changes when she meets a penniless undocumented immigrant, whose unconditional love gives her the insight and courage to express herself, follow her dreams, and live her own life.
THIRD ANNUAL LA ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL, hosted by this year's artistic director, Sean Lennon, honors the legendary Bill Plympton and features "Akira" "Fantastic Planet," and "Team America, with puppeteers in attendance and an opening party hosted by Tom Kenny (aka Spongebob Squarepants). Additional highlights are the Oscar-nominated French hit family film, "A Cat in Paris," anniversary screening of "Shrek" and "Iron Giant."
CHICO & RITA is a love letter to the music and culture of Cuba. Oscar-nominated for Best Animated Feature, it is an adult-animated story of love and heartbreak between a beautiful singer and a young piano player, set against the color, bustle and music of Havana 1948. A passion project of Academy Award winning director, Fernando Trueba, it features a soundtrack by legendary Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes.
SOUND OF NOISE is a Swedish comedy about a group of musical anarchists who orchestrate a series of musical attacks on a city using only found objects as their instruments. With a disgruntled tone-deaf cop hot on their trail, they revel int he music and the chaos they create. Screened at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre.
IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT was nominated for Best Documentary for the 2011 Academy Awards. It charts the rise and fall of an organization the FBI called America's number one domestic terrorism threat. Part coming-of-age tale, part cops-and-robbers thriller, it chronicles the transformation and radicalization of one of its members, with never-before-seen archival footage.
THE TURIN HORSE, awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, has been deemed the final statement of one of the great innovators in contemporary cinema, Hungarian filmmaker Bela Tarr. In 1889 Italy, Friedrich Nietzsche intercedes when a cab driver brutally whips his stubborn horse. Nietzsche's fate is juxtaposed with the cab driver's menial life with his daughter int he countryside, as the horse stops eating and the apocalypse approaches.
TO CATCH A DOLLAR is an inspiring documentary which follows Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus as he brings his revolutionary microfinance program to the US giving loans to low-income entrepreneurs, in addition to changing the lives of women from Bangladesh, the screening was followed by a Q&A with Elizabeth Ross of Relief International. Presented by the Skirball Cultural Center in conjunction with their "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" exhibit.
NOREGIAN WOOD, based on the internationally acclaimed bestselling novel of Karuki Murakami, is a moving tale of loss and sexuality. Set in Tokyo in the late '60s during a time of global instability, Watanabe looks back on his days as a freshman university student and his relationships with two very different women. Screened at Laemmle's Music Hall.
THE GOLD RUSH, Charlie Chaplin's timeless silent masterpiece in a 35mm restoration, screens along with three other Chaplin classics at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre.
THIS IS NOT A FILM is a clandestine documentary shot partially on an iPhone and smuggled into France in a cake for a last-minute submission to Cannes. Depicting the day-to-day life of acclaimed director Jafar Panahi during his house arrest in Tehran while appealing his six-year prison sentence, including a 20-year ban from filmmaking, his cause has been championed by Juliette Binoche, Isabella Rosselini, Sean Pean and others. Panahi discusses his plight and the meaning of the art of filmmaking.
HAPPY celebrates World Happy Day, exploring the nature of happiness, from Academy Award-winning director, Roko Belic.
RAMPART stars two-time Oscar nominee, Woody Harrelson in a powerful performance as a rogue cop in the Rampart precinct, dedicated to doing "the people's dirty work," while asserting his own form of justice, often blurring the lines between right and wrong. From Director Oren Moverman ("The Messenger"), is also stars Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Buscemi, Cynthia Nixon and Ann Heche.
IRANIAN TABOO exposes the Islamic regime's attacks onthe followers of the Bahai faith in Iran. Banned from entering his homeland, documentary filmmaker Reza Allamehzadeh enlists the aid of friends who clandestinely filmed inside Iran to explore this century-old taboo.
OSCAR SHORT DOCS showcases this year's Oscar nominees including: "The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement"; "Incident in New Baghdad<' about the 2008 slaying of two Reuters journalists and unarmed civilians by US attack helicopters; and "Saving Face" from Pakistan about women attacked with acid and their struggle for justice.
OSCAR ANIMATED AND LIVE-ACTION SHORTS showcasees this year's Oscar nominees, often difficult to get a chance to see. Screening at the Nuart in Santa Monica.
SILENT HOUSE is a uniquely unsettling horror thriller starring Elizabeth Olsen, in a preview screening, along with "OPEN WATER" in a tribute to directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, by American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.
RETURN is the moving story of a woman's struggle to re-adjust to her everyday life after returning home from war. As her sense of dislocation ripples through her world, she risks becoming an outside with friends and family in the Rust belt.
FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD is a powerful story of an Albanian family caught up in a blood feud when a minor dispute escalates into a major confrontation and murder. Director Joshua Marston ("Maria, Full of Grace") boldly contrasts antiquated traditions with the lives of young people whose future is at risk because of them.
HOW MUCH DOES YOUR BUILDING WEIGH, MR. FOSTER? is a documentary portrait of premier architect, Norman Foster, for whom Buckminster Fuller framed that famous question. Rising from humble beginnings, he went on to design iconic works including the Hearst Building in NY, Berlin's Reichstag, and the Beijing Airport's International Terminal.
NO MAN'S LAND, the 2002 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, follows two soldiers from opposing sides of the conflict in Bosnia/Herzegovina in 1993 who become trapped in no man's land, while a 3rd soldier becomes a living booby trap. Screened in conjunction with the Southeast European Film Festival.
CRAZY HORSE explores the legendary Parisian cabaret club, one of the most mythic places dedicated to women. Famed documentarian Frederick Wiseman reveals the elegant dedication through a grueling schedule of rehearsals, performances, and backstage preparations for a new show. Screened at the Nuart.
BONSAI PEOPLE: THE VISION OF MUHUAMMAD YUNUS follows the quest of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and his humanitarian, worldwide phenomenon of "microcredit" giving small loans to poor, rural women in a new approach to solving the world's most difficult problems of healthcare, education, and alternative energy.
LULA is the deeply moving story of Brazil's most beloved president, whom Time Magazine deemed "one of the most influential people in the world." Born into extreme poverty, but guided by a strong mother who faced overwhelming obstacles, raising eight children on her own, never waivering in her commitment to giving them a better life.
PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL SELECTIONS, including "SHOOT THE MESSENGER" from the UK, dealing with the importance of education of inner city youth, dealing with self-hatred and lack of community empowerment; "L'ABSENCE," from Guinea/France, it's a meditative look at immigration and its effects on both those who leave and those who are left behind; "INSIDE STORY," form South Africa, a fascinating look at how AIDS affects the lives of young people, with a stunning use of computer animation.
THE GREY, writer-director Joe Carnahan's powerful, multi-layered relentless action drama, stars Liam Neeson, as a man confronting the will to survive and what is worth fighting for. When their plane crashes in the remote Alaskan wilderness, an unruly group of oil rig roughnecks battle mortal injury and merciless weather, with only a few days to escape the icy elements and a vicious pack of predatory wolves on the hunt, before their time runs out. In a special American Cinemateque double-feature with Carnahan's much-celebrated film, NARC, starring Ray Liota and Jason Patric, the screening was followed by a Q&A with the director.
PINA,Wim Wenders' exhilarating Academy Award-nominatd film, captures the brilliantly inventive dance world of legendary choreographer, Pina Bausch. Originally conceived with Bausch, Wenders continued the project after her untimely death in 2009. A dance film like none other, it utilizes 3D technology to bring the viewer deep inside Bausch's playful, thrillingly unpredictable, sensual dance pieces. PINA is currenlty playing at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in the Westiside Pavilion.
JOFFREY: MAVERICKS OF AMERICAN DANCE, a special presentation at Zipper Hall at the Colburn School, tells the full history of the groundbreaking dance company from its inception in 1956 to the present. Mixing ballet with modern dance in a uniquely American style of dance, it cultivating a diverse group of talented artists, regardless of race, gender, or body type. Narrated by Mandy Patinkin.
KILL LIST, the second feature from British director Ben Wheatley, follows an out-of-work hitman with no job, no money, or health insurance and a wife who is constantly on his case. Back in the game after a botched job, things begin to unravel and he is plunged into the heart of darkness. Screened at Cinefamily's Silent Movie Theatre.
A WALK TO BEAUTIFUL is an award-winning documentary which follows five Ethiopian women suffering from debilitating childbirth injuries and their hope for a better life despite rejection by their husbands and communities as they make the arduous journey to Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in search of a cure. Presented by the Skirball Cultural Institute as part of the "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" exhibit.
KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND is an edge-of-your-seat thriller from Norwegian filmmaker Marius Hoslt. Based on the true story of a notorious reform school uprising in 1915 which forever altered the way juvenile delinquents are treated. Starring Stellan Skarsgard as the facility's governor who believe that manual labor, rigid discipline and harsh punishment can turn the boys into honorable members of society, with tragic results.
FLOWERS OF WAR is an epic story of love and sacrifice set during Japan's 1937 invasion of China. Told from the perspective of a young girl, it is an intimate, elemental and paradoxically universal celebration of the human spirit. From the director of "Raise the Red Lantern," FLOWERS OF WAR stars Christian Bale as a dissolute Westerner who seeks refuge in a Catholic church, he meets a beautiful Chinese courtesan who helps him rescue a group of schoolgirls from a terrible fate at the hands of the Japanese. FLOWERS OF WAR opens on Friday, Jan. 20th at The Landmark, 10850 W. Pico Blvd. in the Westside Pavilion.
MISS BALA, Mexico's official entry for Oscar's Best Foreign Language film, tells the story of Laura, a young woman whose aspirations of becoming a beauty queen turn against her, delivering her into the hands of a gang that's terrorizing northern Mexico. Learning that the price of a crown might not be worth becoming an unwilling participant in a violent drug war, she is shaken and transformed. On Variety's 2011 list of Directors to Watch, writer-director Gerardo Naranjo has been heralded as a major talent after an impressive debut at Cannes. MISS BALA opens on Friday, Jan. 20th at Landmark's Regent, 1045 Broxton Ave. in Westwood.
MAN ON A MISSION: RICHARD GARRIOTT'S ROAD TO THE STARS is a riveting account of video game inventor Richard Garriott's lifelong quest to become the first son of an astronaut to also blast into space. Known in the gaming world as "Lord British," he turns to private space travel to make his dream come true. MAN ON A MISSION captures everything from his training in Russian to launch aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, as well as life aboard the International Space Station, resplendent with a view of the earth and never-before-seen views from the inside of the capsule during fiery re-entry. MAN ON A MISSION opens on Friday, Jan. 20th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
ADDICTION, INCORPORATED is Charles Evans' taut, journalistic expose which tells the riveting story of Victor DeNoble, the first whistleblower to reveal the tobacco industry's efforts to manufacture a "maximally addictive" product. Having succeeded in inventing a safer form of nicotine, he inadvertently revealed how addictive nicotine truly is. His position was then terminated, his lab closed and his research buried in a vault. Today, as new laws go into effect, tobacco companied are once again rolling up their sleeves and arming themselves for litigation. Fifteen years in the making ADDICTION, INC. will startle you with previously undisclosed information straight from the mouths of key players. ADDICTION, INCORPORATED opens on Friday, Jan. 13th for a limited engagement at the Nuart.
1ST ANNUAL TUNISIAN FILM FESTIVAL, running Jan. 10th through 12th, celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Tunisian Democracy revolution iwth screenings and special events dedicated to Tunisian Cinema, culture and creativity. Presented by freetunisia.org and the Levantine Center's New Voices of Middle Eastern Cinema, it includes filmmakers, musicians, artists, cultural ambassadors, actors and surprise guests. Opening night ceremonies began with a concert by MC Rai followed by screenings and Q&A with filmmakers, at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. KPFK WAS A PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR of this very special event.
DAVID, follows the son of the Imam of a Brooklyn mosque who has to juggle the high expectations of his father with feelings of isolation from his peers in the Muslim community. Through an innocent act of good faith, he befriends a group of Jewish boys who mistake him for a fellow classmate at their Orthodox school, drawing them into a dilemma inspired by youthful deceit and good intentions. Followed by a discussion with cast and crew and presented by the Levantine Center's New Voices Series, DAVID screens at the Covina Women's Club on night only on Jan. 15th and again at the Woodland Hills Community Church on Jan. 18th.
NILOOFAR is the story of a twelve-year-old girl whose dream is to read and write, but in her village, education is only provided to boys. When her father arranges her marriage to an older man, she does everything in her power to escape her ill fate. the screening, in conjunction with the Skirball's 'Women Hold Up Half the Sky' exhibit, was following by Q & A with award-winning writer/director Sabine El Gemayel. In Persian and Arabic with English subtitles. One night only special event at the Skirball Cultural Center.
THE WAY is a modern-day odyssey - the soulful journey of a man rocked by personal crisis who sets off on an epic mountain trek on the 500-mile Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimmage made by millions for more than a thousand years to search for adventure and answers, thinking he is utterly lost, only to keep bumping into surprise moments of community, companionship and inspiration that begin to steer his way. This spirited road-movie-on-foot crosses territory that is alternately comic, adventurous and keenly moving, even as it becomes an unforeseen gift from a son to a father. Directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, THE WAY is filled with comedy, joy, wonder and breathtaking landscapes. THE WAY screened at Laemmles Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
LONDON RIVER, set against a backdrop of the July 7th 2005 terrorist attacks in London, LONDON RIVER tackles the fear and prejudice of a mother searching for her daughter as she crosses paths with a West African man from France also searching to find his missing son. Although they come from very different cultural backgrounds, they share the same hope of finding their children alive, giving each other the strength to continue their search and find faith in humanity. LONDON RIVER played at Laemmle's Royal in West L.A.
CORMAN'S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL is a star-studded tribute to Hollywood's prolific writer-director-rebel. A seminal influence in filmmaking over the last 60 years, Corman launched the careers of future film luminaries, capitalizing on undiscovered talent and pushing the boundaries of filmmaking. Featuring interviews with such icons at Peter Bogdanovich, Robert de Niro, Peter Fonda, Pam Grier, Ron Howard, William Shatner and Jack Nicholson, CORMAN'S WORLD chronicles Corman's cult empire one low-budget success at a time. CORMAN'S WORLD screened at the Nuart in West L.A.
MOZART'S DON GIOVANNI, one of the greatest operas ever written, performed by the Teatro Alla Scala in Italy, another fine addition to Laemmle's Emerging Pictures in Opera Cinema series in a live broadcast Dec. 7th and followed by encore performances. Screened at Laemmle Theatres throughout the Los Angeles area.
CRAZY WISDOM: THE LIFE & TIMES OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA RINPOCHE explores the cultural shift created by the "bad boy of Buddhism" who fled the Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959 for Britain. Trained in a rigorous monastic tradition, but seeing that a cultural gap blocked his students from any deep understanding of Buddhism, he renounced his voews, eloped with a 16-year-old and lived as a westerner, consuming alcohol and having intimate relations with his students. Using humor as an essential part of his teaching, he quipped, "Enlightenment is better than Disneyland," while warnig of the dangers of the western spiritual supermarket. Was this the "crazy wisdom" which caused Alan Ginsberg to consider him his guru, made Catholic priest Thomas Merton want to write a book about him, and Joni Mitchell to write a song about him? Twenty years after his death, his works translated into 31 languages, his name still evokes admiration and outrage. CRAZY WISDOM played at Laemmle's Monica-4-Plex.
CHARLOTTE RAMPLING: THE LOOK is a biographical study of the legendary actress as told through her conversations with some of her closest friends and collaborators. Intercut with footage from some of Rampling's most celebrated films, including "Stardust Memories," "The Night Porter," and "The Verdict," this deeply personal 'self-portrait through others' is a revealing look at one of the screen's most classical objects of desire. CHARLOTTE RAMPLING: THE LOOK played at Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills.
OUTRAGE, the new film by legendary writer/director Takeshi Kitano, depicts a corrupt Yakuza underworld where there are no heroes, but constant betrayal and vengeance. In a ruthless battle for power, several clans vie for the favor of their head family as rival bosses seek to rise through the ranks, scheming and making allegiances over saki. OUTRAGE enjoyed an exclusive engagement at th Nuart, 11272 Santa Monia Blvd., in West LA.
SHAME, is an award-winning documentary which tells the story of Mukhtaran Mai, a Pakistani woman whose life changed forever when her village's tribal council sanctioned a punishment against her for a crime allegedly committed by her younger brother. Following the custom of 'honor for honor', Mai was gang-raped and publicly paraded. Rather than succumb to humiliation and eventual suicide, Mai sought justice, shaking Pakistan's decaying judicial system to the core, eventually paying her reparations. Becoming an internationally renowned spokesperson on Pakistani women's rights, she invested in schools to give local children the education she never had - even the children of her attackers. Part of the Skirball's "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" exhibit, SHAME depicts her astonishing spirit, resilience, and self-belief which sustained her through her incredible journey. SHAME screened for one-night only at the Skirball Cultural Center.
COOK COUNTY is an unflinching, raw and real story of a rural life where crystal meth dictates the family dynamic. In a visceral tale of three generations of meth addicts living in the wood of East Texas, 17-year-old Abe struggles to beat addiction, trying to protect himself and his young niece from an abusive uncle, leading to a suspenseful ending where harrowing choices must be made. COOK COUNTY played at Laemmle's Monica4-Plex, Playhouse 7 and Fallbrook 7 in West Hills.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, enjoyed by audiences of all denominations, brings to the screen such classics at "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "Sunrise, Sunset," and "If I Were a Rich Man." Set in a Ukrainian village, it stars Israeli actor Topol, who repeats his legendary London stage role of Tevye, whose equilibrium is constantly being challenged by his poverty, the prejudice of non-Jews and the romantic entanglements of his five daughters. Presented one night only in a sing-along screening at Laemmle's Music Hall 3.
THE ROOM, a midnight cult sensation, is an electrifying, quirky, black comedy about love, passion, betrayal and lies, depicting relationships in the lives of its five major characters, raising the question, "Can you really trust anyone?" TIME Magazine calls it "The awful movie everyone wants to see," and Entertainment Weekly says, "It's a guilty pleasure in every sense of the word," with audience members rushing to the screen to imitate the action, tossing footballs, and engaging in dialogue with the characters. THE ROOM screens at Landmark's Regent Theatre in Westwood as part of a monthly midnight screening series.
2011 Part 3 Previous Offerings
Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 20:19
BOXING GYM is documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman’s portrait of a boxing gym dwelling on the discipline of training people from all walks of life – men, women, children, doctors, lawyers, judges, immigrants, teenagers trying to develop strength and assertiveness, professional boxers, alongside amateurs where the gym is a classic melting pot where people meet, talk and train. Says Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor, “We are so used to boxing movies that heighten the violence that “Boxing Gym” comes across as restorative. It’s a boxing movie minus all the bull that usually goes with it.” The Boston Globe calls it Wiseman’s most hypnotic, rhythmically assembled observation of corporeal expression.” BOXING GYM opens on November 5th at Laemmle’s Sunset, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Town Center in Encino.
WASTELAND - Director Lucy Walker’s inspiring documentary WASTE LAND follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. His collaboration with the garbage pickers inspired his photographic images, revealing the dignity and despair of the “catadores” as they begin to re-imagine their lives through recyclables and the transforming power of art. WASTE LAND opens on Friday, November 5th for a limited engagement at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd, in West LA.
NORA'S WILL - Mariana Chenillo's feature film debut, NORA'S WILL (CINCO DIAS SIN NORA) involves a woman's suicide just before Passover, creating complications for her loved ones. Deemed a "deft blend of comedy and tragedy, "warm and entertaining" NORA'S WILL, is the winner of seven Mexican Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A non-sentimental film about love and mortality, NORA'S WILL has been called "a true find, a strikingly good literate, emotionally engaging movie that will leave you wanting to see it again." Exclusive LA engagement at Laemmle's Royal in West LA and Town Center 5 in Encino.
AFI FILM FESTIVAL - Experience a world class film festival for free. Go to www.afifest.com for a full schedule and roster of film. Two special screenings offered to KPFK Film Club members:
ERASERHEAD - David Lynch's startling black and white dreamscape deemed one of the creepiest films ever made, seething with bodily fluids and mutant hypnotic beauty. ERASERHEAD screens on Saturday, November 6th at 3:30 pm at the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. (on a double-bill with the classic SUNSET BOULEVARD.)
AMIGO - John Sayles' compelling drama about the moral quandaries facing US soliders and local cooperators a century ago in the Phillipine-American war, with strong parallels to current events. AMIGO screens on Saturday, November 6th at 9:45 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
THE TWO ESCOBARS, says Documentary magazine, deftly weaves together the precariously and tragically entwined stories of Andres and Pablo, and how the dreams of elevating a nation's hope through the exploits of its national sport were both fueled and shattered by the dark elements that defined a nation's identity." Fest 21 calls "The Two Escobars" a compelling profile that will make you never watch the World Cup in the same way again. "The Two Escobars" opens at Laemmle's Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills on Friday, Oct. 29th.
GHETTO PHYSICS: WILL THE REAL PIMPS AND HO’S PLEASE STAND UP! – From the filmmakers of “What the Bleep Do We Know?!” this underground sensation is part documentary, part Saturday Night Live satire, part narrative. With exclusive interviews with notable entertainers and thinkers, from Dr. Cornel West to Ice-T to Norman Lear it begins by looking at the evocative world of the Pimp and Ho and how it translates to the entire social power game around us and finally bringing that awareness to its impact on a student’s life. Rather than right/wrong, good vs. bad, Ghetto Physics focuses on Empowerment and hope through speaking truth to power and choosing the role one wishes to play in every situation. GHETTO PHYSICS opens October 22 at the RAVE 18 at the Howard Hughes Center, 6081 Center Drive, #201, in Los Angeles.
is the story of how the young Alan Ginsberg broke down societal barriers in the face of an infamous public obscenity trial. In his famously confessional style, Ginsberg, poet, counter-culture icon, and chronicler of the Beat Generation recounts the road trips, the love affairs, and the search for personal liberation that led to his timeless epic poem, HOWL. James Franco stars as Ginsberg in a career-defining performance, leading an all-star casting including, Jeff Daniels, David Strathairn, John Hamm, Treat Williams, and Mary Louise Parker. HOWL opens October 1st at Laemmle’s Sunset 5, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena and Town Center, Encino and October 8th at Monica-4 Plex.
INHALE is a moral thriller in which a rising Santa Fe District Attorney and his wife await an organ donor for their daughter, who is on a waiting list for a lung transplant. As desperation leads them into the world of black market organ trafficking, they are forced to decide what is right when career, family, and innocent lives hang in the balance. Starring Dermot Mulroney, Diane Kruger, Sam Shepard and Vincent Perez, INHALE was selected as the closing night gala screening for the Anaheim Film Festival. INHALE opens at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in Hollywood on October 22nd.
NOWHERE BOY captures the crucial formative years of John Lennon, as a smart and troubled young man hungry for experience and a desire to escape the complexities of his family life. Imagine, Liverpool 1955, the teenage years of John Lennon. Depicting the underlying currents that shaped the creative and inspirational qualities which lead to the formation of the Beatles and the lasting legacy which continues 30 years after his death. Coinciding with the birthday of John Lennon, NOWHERE BOY opens at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles on Friday, October 8th.
STONE involves a seasoned parole officer and a volatile inmate find their lives dangerously intertwined. Directed by John Curran and featuring powerful performances by Robert DeNiro, Ed Norton, Milla Jovovich, and Frances Conroy, STONE weaves together parallel journeys of two men grappling with dark impulses. Set in the quiet desperation of economically ravaged Detroit and the stifling brutality of a maximum security prison, this tale of passion, betrayal and corruption examines the troubled past and an uncertain future. STONE opens at AMC Century City and the ArcLight in Hollywood on Friday, October 8th.
ALTIPLANO is a haunting, ravishingly beautiful film about our divided yet inextricably intertwined world. When deadly traces of mercury from silver-mining bring illness and death to a village in the Andes, the villagers seek retribution, mistakenly blaming the outbreak on Western doctors who work in the nearby mountain clinic. Two women – the fiancé of a villager killed by mercury poisoning and the wife of a doctor killed in the protest-turned-riot are brought together. Winner of the Grand Prize at both the Bankgok and Virton film festivals, an official selection at Cannes, ALTIPLANO opens on Friday, October 1st at Laemmle’s Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills.
KINGS OF PASTRY says the Herald Scotland is the culinary “Hurt Locker”. Forget Master Chef, in filming this funny documentary about a serious French pastry competition, filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, secured exclusive rights to shoot the prestigious Best Craftsman in France competition, the ultimate recognition for a pastry chef, through three intense days of mixing, piping, and sculpting desserts from delicate chocolates to 6 foot sugar sculptures. Working under the scrutiny of master judges and the critical palates of some of the world’s most renowned chefs, the film follows chef Jacquy Pfeiffer, co-founder of Chicago’s French Pastry School, as he journeys back to his childhood home of Alsace to practice for the contest. Along with two other competitors, he vies, amidst passion, sacrifice, disappointment and joy, to become one of the Kings of Pastry. From the filmmakers of “The War Room” and “Don’t Look Back” this delicious celluloid experience opens October 8th at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills.
SECRETARIAT, screening Sept. 23 only at the Landmark (Westwood and Pico). Based on the remarkable true story, it chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery, agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horseracing knowledge. Against all odds, with the help of veteran trainer, Lucien Laurin, she manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering perhaps the greatest living racehorse of all time. Starring Diane Lane, John Malkovich, and James Cromwell.
SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE is an intimate portrait of life, death, friendship and the movies, as recalled by some of Hollywood’s greatest cinematic artists. Academy-Award nominated filmmaker Daniel Raim captures the late life coming together of renowned art directors Robert Boyle, Henry Bumstead and Albert Nozaki, along with legendary cinematographers Haskell Wexler and Conrad Hall. This deeply engaging, thought-provoking celebration of these octogenarian artists, responsible for some of the greatest films of Hollywood’s Golden Era, chronicles iconic scenes from our collective imaginations through snapshots, drawings, paintings, interviews, and vintage footage. Far more than mere nostalgia, SOMETHING’S GONNA LIVE explores the artist’s moral obligation to truthfully portray the human condition.
LOVELY, STILL is a mysterious and tender love story, starring Academy Award winners Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn. What begins as an awkward encounter quickly blossoms into a new chance for romance. This uncommonly lovely tale of an elderly couple’s affair takes us on a heartfelt and wonderful journey, revealing an unexpected twist. Skillfully and sensitively directed by Nik Fackler, with music by Conor Oberst.
GENIUS WITHIN: THE INNER LIFE OF GLENN GOULD weaves together an unprecedented array of never-before-seen footage, photographs and excerpts from Gould’s private home recordings and diaries, along with personal interviews with his most intimate friends and lovers, reconstructing his thoughts on music, art, society, love and life. The enigmatic musical poet and world-renowned pianist continues to captivate 28 years after his untimely death. Variety calls “GENIUS WITHIN” a must-see for serious music fans.”
A MOTHER’S COURAGE is a new documentary which charts the journey of a mother trying to unlock the mind of her autistic son. Consumed by the search for treatments for her son, she travels from Iceland to the US and Europe meeting with top experts, advocates and other families touched by struggles with autism. From the challenges of doctor visits, experimental treatments, the inability to communicate and perform daily tasks, to the hope of innovative therapies, a mother’s pain and suffering is lifted by the hope that her son might be able to express himself on a level she never thought possible. Narrated by Kate Winslet and with music by Sigur Ros and Bjork, Variety calls A MOTHER’S COURAGE, “A mystery replete with miracles. Will leave audiences stunned and rethinking what has long been considered a disorder devoid of hope.”
ARPA FILM FESTIVAL, SEPT 21 - 26th, Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., LA, CA 90028, PH: 323-461-2021. Offering over 40 feature films, shorts, documentaries, videos and animated films, including the first Armenian feature, the restored 1926 silent film "Namous."
NESHOBA: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM tells the story of the Mississippi County still divided over the meaning of justice 40 yrs after the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. With unprecedented access to Edgar Ray Killen, the 80 yr. old Baptist preacher and notorious racist indicted in 2005 by the State, the award winning filmmakers take viewers on a journey into the mindset of a man who still feels that the murders were justified as “self defense” of a way of life and the rage and denial that still exist within the wildly disparate views within the community. NESHOBA: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM opens Sept. 10th at Laemmle’s Music Hall and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
TEZA (or MORNING DEW) is Haile Gerima’s tale of an idealistic young intellectual, from his origins in a small Ethiopian village, through his years as a med student in Europe, his return to Ethiopia, where he ends up a casualty of the Marxist military revolution that overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, and his exile to West Germany where he becomes a victim of racism. TEZA examines the displacement of African intellectuals at home and abroad and the internal struggle to stay true to one’s self and one’s homeland through memory and the right to own one’s past in the midst of powerlessness and the dissolution of humanity and social values.
SOUL KITCHEN, winner of the Special Jury Prize and Young Cinema Award for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival, centers on a disorganized young German-Greek restauranteur and his motley assortment of patrons. Down on his luck and mending a broken heart, he leaves his Soul Kitchen in the hands of his ex-con brother, leading to disastrous results. With soul music at its core, SOUL KITCHEN features music by Kool and the Gang, Quincy Jones, Sam Cooke mixed with a Hamburg hip hop and Hans Albers. SOUL KITCHEN opens September 3rd at Laemmle’s Royal Theatre at 11523 Santa Monica Blvd.in West Los Angeles.
MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN, short-listed for the Academy Awards, is an acclaimed documentary that exposes the battle of one white farmer who refused to back down, against Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and his land reappropriation policy which ultimately became gifts to Mugabe’s supporters. Seeking to protect the family farm and the livelihoods of 500 black workers who live and work there, Mike Campbell, a 75-year old grandfather, took the unprecedented step of challenging Mugabe’s Land Reform in international court. Shot with the risk of imprisonment, MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN is the only documentary to come out of Zimbabwe in recent years, where a total press ban still exists, perhaps the only glimpse inside Mugabe’s modern-day Zimbabwe. MUGABE AND THE WHITE AFRICAN opens August 13th at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
HENRI CLOUZOT'S INFERNO. In 1964, inspired by Felini’s 8-1/2, master filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot began L’ENFER, an obsessive tale of jealousy, suspicion, cruelty, madness and contaminated relationships. Starring Romy Schneider and Serge Reggiani, the calamitous project was riddled with problems - lack of discipline, out of control budgets and special effects, temperamental actors, as well as the filmmaker’s own collapse. Clouzot’s widow locked away the footage for decades, eventually turning the 185 cans of surviving material over to archivist Serge Bromberg. The result is an extraordinary documentary, HENRI CLOUZOT’S INFERNO. HENRI CLOUZOT’S INFERNO opens July 30th at Laemmle’s Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.
Latin-American Showcase presents 4 novel films from Argentina, Mexico and Columbia including: MUNDO ALAS, a concert/road film (featuring the music of Leon Gieco) about a group of musicians, singers, dancers and painters on a tour which culminates in a concert in Buenos Aires. Gieco, Argentina’s most important folk-rock singer/songwriter will perform a brief set before each nightly screening. CONOZCA LA CABEZA DE JUAN PEREZ, a comedy in which the head of a low-life circus magician recalls what led him to his decapitation. MUSICA EN ESPERA (MUSIC ON HOLD), an Argentinian romantic comedy about a music composer with writers’ block, and a bank assistant who inadvertently gives him just the melody he needs when she places him on hold. And EL VUELVO DEL CANGREJO, set in the Afro-Columbian community of La Barra on the Pacific Coast, CRAB TRAP depicts a young man trying to feel his past and the clash between a remote village and modernity.
2010 USA-Australia Film Showcase brings you a bit of “down under” with three award-winning, as yet unreleased films including: ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, a bittersweet comedy, starring Geena Davis, about a dysfunctional urban family coping with the consequences of a tragedy; THE WAITING CITY, directed by Claire McCarthy, starring Radha Mitchell. Most recently the closing gala film of the Indian Film Fest, an Australian couple travel to India to adopt a baby, but the overwhelming power of India pulls them in unexpected directions. And CHARLIE and BOOTS, which follows the efforts of a son to bring his grieving father out of depression by taking him on the fishing trip of a lifetime.
MESRINE, PART 2: PUBLIC ENEMY NO.1, directed by Jean-Francois Richet, continues the story of the legendary French gangster of the 60’s and 70’s, chronicling his incredible life of crime while manipulating the media, government and police. Planning his last and greatest escape from France, seeking to leave behind the iconic character he created and became, MESRINE, PART 2: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1 stars the charismatic, award-winning Vincent Cassel, opens September 3rd at Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.
HIGHWATER, Writer-Director Dana Brown follows in his famous father, Bruce Brown’s footsteps, with the surfing documentary HIGHWATER, which follows the men and women who gather each year for the “Seven Mile Miracle” on Oahu’s North Short, the ultimate big wave surfing challenge, the Triple Crown. This compelling look at the 55-day, 3-tiered granddaddy of surfing competitions, combines awesome footage, interviews and the North Shore zeitgeist. “If there’s such a thing as too much beauty in a film, the surfing documentary HIGHWATER is guilty of it. HIGHWATER opens Sept. 3 at Laemmle’s Monica-4 Plex, 1332 2nd Street, in Santa Monica.
GET LOW is a magical, moving blend of folk tale, fable and real-life legend from first time director Aaron Schneider.Starring Academy Award winner Robert Duvall in one of his finest performances as Felix Bush, a hermit who plans and attends his own funeral, revealing a shocking confession to the townspeople who have ostracized and demonized him. GET LOW costars Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, and Lucas Black in a remarkable tale of secrets, heartbreak and a desire for redemption. GET LOW is currently playing at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
ANIMAL KINGDOM is the remarkable feature debut of Australian writer/director David Michod. Starring Guy Pierce in a tale from the underworld of a Melbourne crime family, in the tradition of the Krays and Ma Barker, you’ve never seen a matriarch quite like Smurf Cody, in a masterful performance byJackie Weaver. With the death of his troubled mother, Joshua Cody is reluctantly taken into the family gangster business amidst a minefield of witness protection, corrupt cops, slippery lawyers and a paranoid, vengeful relatives. He comes to realize in order to survive he must determine how the game is played and choose his place in the cunning and brutal animal kingdom. ANIMAL KINGDOM opens at AMC Century 15, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WTIH FIRE is the second film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's literary sensation, MILLENIUM TRILOGY. The unforgettable Lisbeth Salander, the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker returns, this time as a prime suspect in the murder of two journalists on the verge of exposing trafficking in Eastern Europe and Sweden. Alone in his belief of Lisbeth's innocence, publisher Mikael Blomkvist plunges into an examination of the slaying, implicating highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government. Meanwhile, Lisbeth is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she herself is the prey, compelling her to revisit her dark past. THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WTIH FIRE opens at Laemmle's Fallbrook, Monica, 4-Plex, Playhouse 7, Town Center and Claremont on Friday, July 9th.
STAR TREK, the 2009 film directed by JJ Abrams which chronicles where it all began for the young Kirk and Spock, before they unite aboard the Enterprise to fight Nero, a Romulan who threatens the United Federation. STAR TREK, the 11th and most recent film in the franchise.
THE TILLMAN STORY is the true story behind the tragic death of NFL star Pat Tillman, and subsequent covered up by the military. This essential and infuriating documentary follows his family’s tireless efforts to penetrate the official lies. Directed by Amir Bar Lev. Playing at Laemmles.
TOPANGA FILM FESTIVAL, offers a socailly-conscious slate of films including KPFK favorites, “South of the Border, “Dirt,” “Save the Farm,” and “Blue Gold,” as well as “Lost Angels” about the marginalized on Skid Row, a Haiti Cine Institute student showcase and an international day with short films from India, Ireland, and Switzerland. The opening night’s screening of “Easy Rider” honors the late Dennis Hopper, while other honorees include David Lynch and Patricia Arquette. Go to topangafilmfestival.com for full roster of films, venues and directions.
STAR TREK: NEMESIS. In 2002’s NEMESIS, the 10th feature in the franchise series, a final generation’s journey begins, when the Federation is threatened by a Capt. Picard clone who takes control of the Romulan empire. With a special in-person appearance by Will Wheaton, this 70 mm galactic sized print landed at Laemmle's Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles.
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION. When the peaceful Ba’ku are threatened, Capt Picard and crew must defend their harmonious natural existence and the regenerative radiation that gives them to live long and prosper. Directed by Jonathan Frakes, 1998’s STAR TREK: INSURRECTION stars F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy and Anthony Zerbe. Also screening an extra added bonus, the short film parody “Brokeback Enterprise.”
THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL, celebrates the happy ending with films that make audiences laugh and capture the beauty of our world.It promises to be entertaining, optimistic, humorous, heartwarming and leave the audience feeling good. Screenings offered to Film Club members include:
A MI ME GUSTA: How do you change a country and improve its conditions?After years of portraying Venezuela as a violent country, this is the first romantic comedy with no drugs, violence, prostitution or guns, answering the question, “Why do people stay?” Margarita Garcia has a dream to become a great chef in London. She leaves everything behind to start a new life, but she is forced to return to Venezuela and start all over. Paul Welsare, the admired British Cook comes to Venezuela to work for Christmas. If she only manages to receive a recommendation, she will have the passport to success in her hands. Between family, friends and kitchen stove ignites this love story between a cold English man and a passionate Latin woman only to prove that – home is where the heart is.
ACCIDENTAL ICON: THE REAL GIDGET STORY, She gave Sally Field her start, Former Motion Picture Academy President Frank Pierson calls Gidget a “proto-feminist figure,” and Former US Surf Champion Jericho Poppler Bartlow says, “I remember thinking, Gidget could do it…I know I can.” This one-hour documentary narrated by Jorja Fox (“CSI”) and produced by Brian L. Gillogly and Robert Masters, explores the largely untold story of the real “Gidget,” Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, and how her account of surfing Malibu in the mid-50’s became the basis for a best-selling novel by her father Frederick Kohner. A half century later, “Gidget” is celebrated as an enduring Hollywood movie/TV franchise and a slice of Americana, with considerable impact on popular culture and the sport of surfing.
ART HOUSE: A household of under-achiever art students face eviction by a dishonest college dean and a philistine big donor who have the intention of turning the students' colorfully rundown home into a golf-team dormitory. When the students fight to preserve their home, known for decades as a hard-partying haven for artists and artist-wannabes, their friendships are tested, secret loves confessed and futures put on the line. It's time to prove they're more than posers.
TALES FROM EARTHSEA, based on Ursula K. LeGuin’s book series, considered one of the greatest in fantasy literature, is an epic tale of redemption and self-discovery. Goro Miyazaki and the famed Japanese animators at Studio Ghibli present this sweeping adventure set in a mythical world filled with magic and bewitchment. It follows a master wizard as he searches for the force behind a mysterious disturbance that has caused an imbalance in the land of Earthsea. Suddenly crops and livestock are dwindling, dragons have reappeared and humanity is giving way to chaos. With voices of Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin, and Mariska Hargitay.
AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN is legendary director,Jacques Rivette’s tale of lost love, chance encounters and the transformative power of art. AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN stars Jane Birkin and Sergio Castellitto. On a winding mountain road, Vittorio stops to help Kate whose car has broken down, later finding an intriguing story which leads him into the world of her family’s travelling circus and the lives of its performers. The New York Times calls AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN “As transporting and graceful as a ride in a balloon.” Deemed “an ephemeral 85 minute daydream,” by Artforum.
MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON is acclaimed French director Stephane Brize crafts a modern day, “Brief Counter,”an elegant, moving tale of an unexpected romance between a married man and his son’s teacher and their attempt to restrain their desires. Crafted with grace and subtlety MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON.
VIDEOCRACY, is Erik Gandini's critically-acclaimed documentary about the carnivalesque world of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and its effect on his country's culture, examines the mercenary underbelly of the high-glitz, low-politics, skin-baring media culture promulgated by Berlusconi's use of his ownership of the majority of Italy's television stations as a powerful tool to shape public opinion for financial and political benefit. Gandini gains remarkable access to the opulent world of Berlusconi's associates and the armies of willing wannabes that swarm around them, examining the key players (and their conflicted interests) and unveiling a modern Italy as both comedy and tragedy.
LET IT RAIN is Agnes Jaoui's intimate portrait of a feminist writer, workaholic politician who returns to her childhood home in the South of France to help her sister sort out their mother's affairs. In the course of filmming an amateurish documentary on "successful women" to help out two blundering filmmakers, their lives begin to unravel as each character examines and faces their own values and individual life choices. An Academy Award nominee for "The Taste of Others," this bittersweet comedy is currently playing at Laemmle's Sunset 5 in Hollywood, Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and Fallbrook in Woodland Hills.
EYES WIDE OPEN, a haunting tale of a doomed Orthodox Jewish gay couple, tells the tale of Aaron, a respectable butcher in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox community. Married and a dedicated father of four, he hires Ezri, a handsome 22-year-old student as an apprentice and soon develops feelings for him. Forboding, guilt, inner torment and intense condemnation from the community catch up with him leading to a radical decision. Deemed the Best New Feature at the Palm Springs Film Fest, "Variety" calls EYES WIDE OPEN "soberly fascination, intense, and restrained."
JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, follows the 76-year-old brash, irreverent, legendary comedy icon over the course of 14 months. With unprecedented access, filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg capture the behind-the-scenes reality of one of the most resilient survivors in show business, revealing her struggles and breakthroughs in a male-dominated field. Brutally honest and self-aware she shares the private dramas and trauma of dealing with financial ruin and her husband's suicide, her rising and falling out with Johnny Carson andher ultimate triumph as a Tony-nominated, Emmy Award-winning talk show host, successful QVC entrepreneur and "Celebrity Apprentice" victor. A quintessential story of determination and career reinvention, this surprisingly intimate portrait reveals the vulnerabilities and resourcefulness of this consummate performer and pioneer.
RESTREPO, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, chronicles the deployment of a platoon of US soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley at a 15-man unit called “Restrepo” named after a medic killed in action. Author Sebastian Junger and photographer Tim Hetherington take you through an entirely experiential portrait of war that is emotionally harrowing and devastating in its immediacy. Their cameras never leave the valley, with no intervention from politicians, generals or diplomats, solely through the lense of the soldiers’ life in one of the military’s most dangerous outposts, RESTREPO is unforgettable and shattering experience of war.
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS lands on Stardate seven-thirty-one-twenty-ten as the voyages of the Star Ship Enterprise continue into the next Generation. Trekkees set your phasers on stun and your time-space coordinates for 11:55 pm to beam you to STAR TREK: GENERATIONS. Capt. Picard must enlist the help of a supposedly dead Capt. Kirk, to stop Soren (played by the inimitable Malcolm McDowell), a renegade scientist willing to murder on a planetary scale in order to enter a space matrix. Patrick Stewart takes over the helm in this 1994 film, along Jonathan Frakes, Levar Burton, Brent Spiner and the rest of the Next Generation crew, along with your favorites from the original Star Trek Cast. With a special in-person appearance by Dennis McCarthy, the film’s composer along with an bonus screening of the short film, The Hasty Hare, STAR TREK GENERATIONS, lands at Laemmle’s Royal Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Los Angeles, midnight on July 31st
RIVER OF LOVE is Michael Tobias’ moving documentary of the life, mission, and work of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known as Amma. It follows the internationally acclaimed humanitarian and spiritual leader, known as “the hugging” holy woman from her childhood struggles in Southwestern India to her teachings and healing work in a unique embodiment of love and compassion. RIVER OF LOVE will screen Sunday, August 1 from 12:30 – 4:45 pm at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica at 1328 Montana Avenue. With sacred sounds and music by the Kirtan group Bhakti Ma, and Sheela Bringi, whose music is now featured in the film “Eat, Pray, Love.
OLIVER STONE’S SOUTH OF THE BORDER, takes you across five countries to explore ongoing social and political movements, as well as the mainstream media’s misperception of South America. Gaining unprecedented access to seven elected presidents, including Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Evo Morales of Bolivia, Lula da Silva of Brazil, Cristina Kirchner of Argentina, Fernando Lugo of Paraguay, Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Raul Castro of Cuba, Stone sheds new light on these regional transformations through the surprising intimacy of casual conversations with these leaders.
FRITZ LANG’S “METROPOLIS”, considered one of the greatest films in cinematic history returned to The Silent Movie Theatre, 611 N. Fairfax, in a newly-restored 2-1/2 hr. version, the result of two-years of painstaking restoration of a negative found in an Argentinean archive. This 1927 pioneering sci-fi epic brings alive the Zeitgeist of Lang’s Expressionist Tomorrowland, producing indelible images that have lost none of their power to astonish, featuring Brigitte Helm in the dual performance of Maria and the Machine man made in her image.
TRIBUTE TO DENNIS HOPPER, "BLUE VELVET," "RIVER'S EDGE," "HOOSIERS," and "TRACKS." A truly larger-than-life original wildman and gifted writer/actor/director who created some of the most memorable movies and movie roles of the silver screen. The Silent Movie Theatre, at 611 N. Fairfax in Los Angeles, honors three of his greatest performances from the ultimate creep, Frank Booth BLUE VELVET, to his Oscar-nominated turn in HOOSIERS as “SHOOTER” who knew “Everything there is to know about the greatest game ever invented,” to Feck in THE RIVERS EDGE, in which he plays a hollowed-out ex-biker which “only an actor who’s truly been to hell and back can convey.”
STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME, the fourth in the movie series, was directed by Leonard Nimoy and starring William Shatner and all of your original Star Trek favorites. 1986's STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME takes Kirk and crew back to 20th Century Earth to recover two humpback whales, the only beings who can communicate with a mysterious space probe which is endangering the oceans and threatening to destroy 23rd Century Earth. With a special in-person appearance by Nichelle Nichols, STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME landed for one night only Stardate seven-ten-twenty-ten, to continue the ongoing summer midnight screening series at Laemmle's Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles.
STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK is the third in the Star Trek movie series. Directed by Leonard Nimoy and starring William Shatner, and Christopher Lloyd as Krug, 1984's "STAR TREK III: The Search for Spock," explores the sacrifices made for friendship, when the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. With surprise in-person guests, thie 70 mm galactic-sized print landed for one night only, Star date six-twenty-six, twenty-ten at Laemmle's Royal Theatre, where the series continues for 11:55 pm, midnight screenings, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Los Angeles.
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, in a galactic 70 mm print, stars Ricardo Montalban and features the film debut of Kirstie Alley. Special in-person appearance by the film's director, Nicholas Meyer.
GANGSTER'S PARADISE, JERUSALEMA, is an unflinching look into the crime, corruption, and the transgressions of those looking to survive in the most crime-infested district of Johannesburg. Directed by Ralph Ziman and starring Rapaulana Seiphemo ("Tsotsi") and Robert Hobbs, Kenneth Nkosi ("District 9"), it tells the story of Lucky Kunene, a small-time criminal who graduates to bigger, more aggressive acts. Eventually, his trouble with the law, coupled with an escalating war between local drug lords creates a tense standoff. With both sides closing in, Kunene mus stay one step ahead or his empire and his life will come crashing down.
STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. This sixth in the series, released in 1991, Directed by Nicholas Meyer, stars Kim Cattrall, Brock Peters, and the great Christopher Plummer as General Chang. When the Klingon moon explodes, the Enterprise must leads a quest for a peace treaty. When plans go array, the Enterprise and the Excelsior, commanded by Capt. Sulu, head for a deadly rendezvous with General Chang. With a special in-person appearance by Mr. Sulu himself, George Takei.
STAR TREK, THE MOTION PICTURE, 1979's first Star Trek adventure for the big screen, blasts off this Star Trek Spectacular series of Midnight screenings shown in a galactic 70 millimeter-size print. Trekkies set your phasers on stun and your time-space coordinates for 11:55 pm on June 12 to beam you to this first cinematic voyage of the Star Ship Enterprise. In-person appearance by actress Arlene Martel (Vulcan princess T'Pring from the original series episode "Amoke Time.") Playing one night only at Laemmle's Royal Theatre at 11523 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Los Angeles.
THE PAINTER SAM FRANCIS, artist Jeffrey Perkins' lyrical, intimate portrait of a friend, mentor, and leading light of American abstract art, was forty years in the making. Through interviews with friends, family and fellow artists, including Ed Ruscha, Bruce conner and James Turrell, Perkins illuminates a mysterious and complex personality and his singular, diverse body of work. For Francis, art was a parth to transcendence; for Perkins, Francis was art. "THE PAINTER SAM FRANCIS" is a labor of love, a moving portrait of a friend and tribute to the power of art. Currently playing at Laemmle's Monica 4-plex at 1332 2nd Street in Santa Monica.
BREATHLESS, Jean Luc Godard's revolutionary debut film and hallmark of the French New Wave, stars cinematic icon, Jean Paul Belmondo as a small-time hood and the rapturous Jean Seberg, as his Herald-Tribune-hawking girlfriend. Rialto Pictures presents this breathtaking 50th Anniversary restoration of the 1960 masterpiece, with newly revised subtitles. "BREATHLESS"remains stunningly original. The NY Times says, "Breathless still has the power to defy conventional expectations about what a movie should be, while providing an utterly captivating movie experience. Much as it may have influenced what was to come later, there is nothing quite like it. Even at 50, it is still cool, still new." BREATHLESS opens May 28th at Laemmle's Royal in West Los Angeles.
AFTER THE CUP: SONS OF SAKHNIN UNITED tell the story of a soccer team that couldn't create a new Middle East, but showed the world what it could look like. Bnei Sakhnin is the first team from an Arab town to win the Israeli Cup and represent Israel in European competition. Fielding Arab, Jewish, and foreign-born players, owned by an Arab and coached by a Jew, Bnei Sakhnin's success has begun to represent a symbol of co-existence, a potential bridge between the Arabs and Jews. "AFTER THE CUP" opens on May 28th at Laemmle's Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. A special "Talkback" will be held with the director in conjunction with the Levantine Center, on May 30th.
THE LIVING WAKE, is a dark comedy set in a timeless storybook universe. Self-proclaimed artist and genius, Ke. Roth Binew, has one day to live. He sets out on a bicycle powered rickshaw with his best friend, Mills, to hand out invitations to his final party, a living wake. In a final attempt to probe life's deepest mysteries, he endures ridiculous trials and whimsical adventures, culminating in his final performance on a makeshift stage in an open field. THE LIVING WAKE opens at Laemmle Sunset 5 on May 21st.
FATHER OF MY CHILDREN, follows a seemingly successful film producer who confronts despair and failure and monetary troubles mount with his film company. As his cinematic world unravels, his family is left to cope and start anew. Deemed by "Variety" as a director to watch, Mia Hanson-Love paints a deeply moving portrait of a family undergoing dramatic rupture. THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN opens on May 21st at The Landmark Theatre, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles,
HERE AND THERE, winner for Best Narrative at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, has been called an indie tour de force, comparable to "The Visitor" with a Serbian twist on a timeless theme of what it means to be human. Robert, a depressed and broke middle-aged New Yorker, is being evicted from his apartment and hires Branko, a young Serbian immigrant to help him move out. Desperately wanting his girlfriend to join him in the US, Branko hatched a marriage scheme with Robert to help her obtain a visa, exposing fish-out-of water Robert to the best traditions of Balkan hospitality. Opens May 21st at Laemmle Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., LA
LOOKING FOR ERIC, Ken Loach's latest follows a Manchester postman who finds his life in a downward spiral. After a failed marriage and trying to raise his stepsons in trouble, he is transformed when he turns to his idol, French-born soccer genius and philosopher, Eric Cantona, whose enigmatic advice on life, love, and fellowship inspire him to get his life back on track. LOOKING FOR ERIC is a warm, bittersweet tale combining Loach's trademark realism and compassion for the working man with sweetness, humor, and humanity. Opens May 21st at Laemmle Theatres throughout Los Angeles.
EVERYONE ELSE, Director Maren Ade's film involves a young couple forced to re-examine their fragile relationship as fears and insecurities surface while they vacation in Sardinia. Their relationship is brought to the brink as they compare themselves to a seemingly happier and more successful couple. With a second chance to discover themselves and each other, they strive to be as happy as "everyone else." The Hollywood Reporter deems "Everyone Else" a "brilliant, delicious, accutely observed dissection of the ties between two young lovers." "Everyone Else" opens May 14th at Laemmle Sunset 5. For further info, go to www.laemmle.com
DANCE MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL,at Redcat is Dance Camera West's 9th Annual presentation. Opening with "Screendance: A New Visual Language", it presents a unique cinematic experience focussing on the intersection of cinematography and choreography. From experimental shorts to documentaries, surreal visual abstractions, as well as narratives, it offers a broad range of cinematic styles, exhibition formats, and subject matters which traverse global perspectives. For further info on the entire series, visit: www.dancecamerawest.org.
BEHIND THE BURLY Q, In the early part of the 20th Century, burlesque and vaudeville acts were one of America's most popular forms of entertainment, until cinema drove them from the mainstream. "Behind the Burly Q" reveals the true story of the Golden Age of Burlesque as a part of America's cultural history through the intimate and surprising stories of the women (and men) who lived it. "Behind the Burly Q" open May 7 and Laemmle's Sunset 5, 8000 sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.
ASIAN-PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL Celebrates the 70th Birthday of Bruce Lee with industry panels and a compelling line-up of documentaries and narratives focussing on the Asian Experience from around the world. Some of the highlights include:
In the Matter of Cha Jung Lee, a documentary of self-discovery and the universal question of who we are, tracing the story of filmmaker Borshay Liem's return to Korea to search for the girl under whose name Borshay arrived in the U.S. in 1966.
Mamachas del Ring about the first indigenous women wrestlers of Bolivia, and their fight for rights over their own bodies and desires.
Macho Like Me, a hilarious, self-experimenting documentary sets off to prove the widespread belief among women that men simply have it better, attempting to answer the classic, female inquiry of "If I Were A Boy."
Mao's Last Dancer, Brought to the screen by acclaimed director, Bruce Beresford ("Driving Miss Daisy," and "The Black Robe"), based on an inspiring true story which speaks to personal and cultural freedom, passion and determination.
The Actresses, Six actresses, across different age groups are brought together on Christmas Eve for a once-in-a-lifetime "Vogue" magazine cover shoot. Of course, when working with actresses with their respective entourages and demands, anything can happen. Shot documentary-style, "The Actresses" is rise with industry jokes, low-blows, egos, and insecurities.
PHYLLIS AND HAROLD is an astoundingly frank journey through the ups and downs of a 59-year marriage. With great humor and poignancy, filmmaker Cindy Kleine draws on a lifetime family home movies and interviews over 12 years, mixing reportage, cinema verite, and animation to uncover her family secrets following her father’s death. PHYLLIS AND HAROLD delves into the mysteries and nature of living and the losses faced with the passage of time. Documentarian Ken Burns deems the film a “masterpiece,” devastating, true, sad, and funny. Playwright Wallace Shawn calls it the most outrageously sensual of documentaries,“the graceful, painful music of two people who dance together for a lifetime, but barely touch.” PHYLLIS AND HAROLD is currently playing at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills.
NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS, is directed by Bahman Ghobadi, and co-written by Roxana Saberi, whose book “Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran” has recently caught the world’s attention. “NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS” tells the story of two young musicians, recently released from prison, who decide to form a band, combing the underworld of contemporary Tehran for other players. Forbidden by the Iranian authorities to play their music, they plan to escape and dream of performing in Europe against all odds. Winner of the Special Jury prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Fest., it recently screened at AFI Fest and South by Southwest. Opens april 23rd at Laemmle Town Center 5 in Encino.
PAPER MAN, directed by Michelle and Kieran Mulroney, is a whimsical, funny, touching story of an unlikely friendship between a middle-aged novelist who has never quite grown up and a young girl whose family tragedy has stolen away her youth. As their quirky relationship unfolds, they share their dreams and discover new life. “Paper Man” stars Jeff Daniels, Lisa Kudrow, Ryan Reynolds and Emily Stone is a break-out performance. It opens April 23 at The Landmark, 10850 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.
SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL (SEE FEST) offers films from Southeast European countries, including Hungary, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Turkey and many others. It opens Thursday, April 29th at the Goethe Institut, 5750 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles and closes Monday, May 3rd at the James Bridges Theatre on the UCLA campus. The Festival promotes diversity and cultural exchange through its roster of quality, topical films. KPFK is a proud Media Sponsor and Film Club members are offered a pair of tickets to the screening of their choise, excluding Opening Night. For further info: www.seefilmla.org
FOOTPRINTS is the feature film debut of award-winning writer Steven Peros When a young woman wakes up in the footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre with no idea who she is or how she got there, her dream-like journey of self-discovery through Hollywood begins. Spanning one day, from sunrise to sunset, through the celebrity impersonators, Scientologists, tourguides shopowners and the quirkiness of Hollywood, FOOTPRINTS features poignant performances by Hollywood veterans Pippa Scott and H.M. Wynant. FOOTPRINTS screens at the American Cinemateque at the EGYPTIAN THEATRE in Hollywood, Wednesday, April 28th. Cast and Crew will be in attendance after the screening for Q and A.
REEFER MADNESS, originally called, “Tell Your Children” became a cult classic of misinformation, exposing the dangers of “the devil weed,” which many feared would lead our nation’s youth to violence, insanity, or suicide. Two Special Event screenings celebrated the DVD release of the 75th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors’ Edition of this infamous offering. With over 2 hours of bonus film clips including: The Weed of Death!, Betty Boop in Happy You and Merry me, Marijuana: Threat or Menace?, Hemp for Victory, The Push and feature film, Marihuana: Sins of Youth and More! All attendees will get a DVD. “Reefer Madness” screened for one night only, at the Vine Theater, 6321 Hollywood Blvd. (just west of Vine)
THE INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES, OFFERS THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN CINEMA.
HARISHCHANDRACHI FACTORY, India’s entry into the Oscar race, it celebrates the joy and wonder of moving images as it tells the story a first-time filmmaker who meets with a host of unexpected challenges in trying to film his religious epic.
ROAD, MOVIE, is a beautiful, coming-of-age drama which masterfully blends themes of love, friendship, danger, and wonder in a young man’s journey across the majesty of the Rajasthani desert.
FATSO, is Rajat Kapoor’s witty, romantic comedy showing the lighter side of death, in which the afterlife is a bureaucratic mess and the wrong man finds his life cut short, but even death can’t stop him from trying to reclaim his earthly love.
HARRY BROWN, directed by Academy Award Nominee Daniel Barber, stars two-time Oscar-winner Michael Caine, in a powerful, poignant performance as a man brought to the brink by gang violence and the death of a friend. Set in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Britain, this gritty, provocative drama deals with the struggle of a man who seeks to face loss, avenge his friend's death and cope with the deteriorating world around him. KPFK Film Club members are invited to a special screening of "Harry Brown" at Laemmle's Sunset 5 on Thursday, April 22nd at 7:00 pm.
WHO DO YOU LOVE, directed by Jerry Zaks, starring Alessandro Nivola and Jon Abrahams as Leonard and Phil Chess, founders of legendary Chess Records, home to the blues of Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters, the rock and roll of Bo Diddeley and “At Last” but not least, Etta James. From the childhood dreams of young Leonard and Phil, growing up in Chicago, the sons of Polish immigrants, to the opening of their Macomba Club and a gamble to become record producers, “WHO DO YOU LOVE” features authentic musical performances in a film Marshall Chess deems a “great snapshot of the era in which the music that was to become the foundation of rock and roll was created. Opening April 16th at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, Monicas, and Fallbrook. PLEASE NOTE - CHANGE OF VENUE: PASSES WILL BE HONORED ONLY AT LAEMMLE'S MUSIC HALL, 9036 WILSHIRE BLVD., BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211.
THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, this year’s Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film, from Argentina, involves a retired criminal court employee and would-be author who revisits a case involving the rape and murder of a beautiful young woman. Argentina in 1974 becomes the backdrop for the violence, hate, revenge and death that rule people’s lives and fates. No longer an observer, he becomes a central character in a drama of increasing danger and corruption. In delving into his past choices, he awakens his demons and faces his future, discovering the winding path he must take to understand, justify and find meaning for his own life, facing the woman he still loves after thirty years and the case that continues to haunt them both. Opens April 16th at The Landmark, Westside Pavilion, 10850 West Pico.
41st and CENTRAL, THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE LA BLACK PANTHERS, is the first part in a documentary series that follows the Southern California chapter of the Black Panther Party, from its black power beginnings through its tragic demise. Despite the Party's formation of free medical clinics and childrens' breakfast program, it was also known as the msot violent political group in the U.S. Featuring first-hand accounts by former Party members, along with archival footage, this in-depth study is the inaugural presentation in the Pan African Film Festivals "Encore" series, a monthly offering for which KPFK is a proud Media Sponsor. "41st and Central" continues to run through April 15th at the Culver Plaza Theater, 9919 Washington Blvd. in Culver City.
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, based on Stieg Larsson’s literary sensation, is the highest grossing film in Swedish film history and 2009’s highest grossing film in Europe. Part of Larsson’s “Millenium Triology,” this suspenseful story involves the disappearance of Harriet Vanger from a family gathering of the powerful and secretive Vanger clan. When her uncle employs a financial journalist and a troubled, but resourceful computer hacker to investigate, a dark and appalling family history begins to unravel. currently playing at Laemmle Theaters.
THE ECLIPSE is renowned Tony-award nominated playwright Conor McPherson’s exquisitely-crafted drama of the supernatural, stars Aiden Quinn and Irish actor Ciaran (Keeran) Hinds, winner of the Best Actor award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. When teacher, widow, and father, Michael Farr starts to see strange apparitions in the night, the lives of three people converge in a life-altering collision in this story about the challenges of love, fear of the unknown, loss and grief. THE ECLIPSE is currently playing at Laemmle Theaters.
HAWAII: A VOICE FOR SOVEREIGNTY, a film by Catherine Bauknight, is the first documentary of its kind to feature the Native Hawaiians' journey to sustain their culture, spirituality, and connection to the land. Passes were offered to our members to attend this special screening, panel discussion and cultural ceremony which was held on April 3rd at the Pasadena Convention Center. The event opened with a Cultural Ceremony with Hawaiian elders and special guest Kiowa Gordon from the Twilight Saga, New Moon, addressing the Hawaiian and indigenous cultures.
VENTURA FILM SOCIETY FESTIVAL 2010 running at the historic Elks Lodge in Ventura, the festival offered our members passes to any screening from a slate of over 50 feature films and documentaries, including an 8-film tribute to actor/director Paul Mazursky.
GREEN LIFESTYLE FESTIVAL offered to our members all-day passes to this 2-day "green fest", which took place at the James Bridges Theater on the UCLA campus, with food and yoga demonstrations, music and dance entertainment, and a broad range of films dealing with sustainability and the ecology.
EASIER WITH PRACTICE, Writer/director Kyle Alvarez’ feature film debut “Easier with Practice” first screened at the 2009 AFI fest. It stars (“Hurt Locker’s”) Brian Geraghty in a remarkable, breakthrough performance as fledgling author, Davy Mitchell, who, while on a book tour discovers how phone sex leads to relationship, communication, and ultimately self-revelation. “Easier with Practice” is a funny, sensitive, insightful exploration of the ever-evolving ways that people find each other and themselves in the modern world.
MOTHER, latest award-winning film from Korean director bong Joon-ho, a unique murder mystery about a mother's primal love for her son and her own investigation to find the girl's killer. "In an obsessive quest to clear her son's name, she steps into a world of unimaginable chaos and shocking revelations."
The Red Riding Trilogy is an ambitious, dark, thrilling trilogy of crime drama films set in Yorkshire in the ‘70s and ’80, adapted from David Peace’s cult noir novels.
AFI FILM FESTIVAL. Experience a world class film festival with the 24th Annual AFI Fest. (Go to www.afifest.com for a full schedule and roster of films. Two special screenings offered to KPFK Film Club members:
ERASERHEAD - David Lynch's startling black and white dreamscape, deemed one of the creepiest movies ever made, seething with bodily fluids and mutant, hypnotic beauty. ERASERHEAD screens Sat., Nov. 6th at 3:30 pm at the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. On a double-bill with the classic SUNSET BLVD.
AMIGO - John Sayles' compelling drama about the moral quandaries facing US soldiers and local cooperators a century ago in the Phillipine-American War, with strong parallels to current events. AMIGO screens, Sat. Nov. 6th at 9:45 pm at Grauman's Chinese.
NORA'S WILL, Nora had a plan. It would bring her ex-husband, Jose, and the rest of their family together for a magnificent Passover feast. But there is a flaw in her plan- a mysterious photograph from the past, hidden under the bed, which leads Jose to reexamine their relationship and rediscover their undying love for each other. Starting October 29th at Laemmle Theaters: http://www.laemmle.com/viewmovie.php?mid=5929