Fall 2023

9/18  Theater Camp  (2023, USA, d. Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman) 94 min PG-13

When the owner of an Adirondacks based theater camp falls into a coma, it’s up to her ill-equipped son to join forces with the quirky staff and students to keep it from falling to pieces. Theater Camp has been praised for its authentic depiction of theater culture, and drawn comparisons to mockumentary-maestro Christopher Guest (A Mighty Wind). “Earnest and ridiculous in equal measure, [the film] makes clear that places like AdirondACTS are microcosms of magical weirdness.” (Shirley Li, The Atlantic). (some strong language and suggestive/drug references)

9/25  20 Days in Mariupol  (2023, Ukraine, d. Mstyslav Chernov) 95 min NR

20 Days in Mariupol is a harrowing documentary that chronicles the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine from inside the besieged city of Mariupol. The film is told through the eyes of Mstyslav Chernov and fellow Ukrainian journalists from the Associated Press, stuck inside the city, who are trying to document the atrocities of war and capture the spirit of the city’s inhabitants. Critics called the film vital and unforgettable, with Alan Hunter in Screen Daily calling it "a compelling record of senseless destruction and death, and a salute to the enduring resilience of a people who refuse to surrender their home."  (graphic images of war, language)

10/2  BlackBerry  (2023, Canada, d. Matt Johnson)  120 min R

The BlackBerry phone isn’t even on a blip on the social radar in 2023. But 20 years ago it was the prognosticator of the world to come, a culture in which interconnectivity is everything. BlackBerry tells the somewhat true story of the unlikely partnership between a tech innovator and a ruthless investor and their meteoric rise - and cataclysmic failure. Featuring blistering performances by Jay Baruchel (This is the End) and Glenn Howerton (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), BlackBerry is “one of those whip-smart, character- and story-driven gems that grabs you from the start and never lets go.” (Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times).  (language)

10/16  Joy Ride  (2023, United Kingdom/ United States, d. Adele Lim)  95 min R

When four people take the trip of a lifetime to track down their friend’s birth mother in China, their experience teaches them the true meaning of friendship. Joy Ride is audacious, laugh out loud funny, unapologetically ribald, and features some of the rising stars of stand-up comedy including Sabrina Wu. “Layered writing and game performances make Joy Ride a memorable romp that will have you wiping away tears of laughter before feeling a lump in your throat.” (Victoria Luxford, City AM). (strong and crude sexual content, language throughout, drug content, brief graphic nudity)

10/23  Return to Seoul / Retour à Séoul (2022, France/Germany/etc., d. Davy Chou) 115 min R

Raised in France by adoptive parents, Freddie unexpectedly finds herself on her native South Korean soil after 25 years when she impulsively visits friends. While there, she embarks on a journey to reconnect with her roots and, perhaps, with her birth parents. Return to Seoul is a visceral, exciting, and free-flowing type of film which is all too rare in modern cinema. It has received multiple accolades from international film festivals around the world, including “Best Film” at the Belfast Film Festival. (nudity, language, brief drug use)

10/30  How to Blow Up a Pipeline  (2022, United States, d. Daniel Goldhaber)  104 min R

Based on the controversial book of the same name, the film follows eight activists who find themselves at the front lines of a plot to destroy an oil pipeline. Hailed for its careful depiction of its anti-heroes and the debate it sparks about the morality of sabotage in the fight for climate justice, How to Blow Up A Pipeline is a tense thriller which does not pull its punches. “A nervy eco-thriller that doubles as a persuasive piece of activist messaging, Daniel Goldhaber’s film vibrates with urgency.” (Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair). (language, some drug use)

11/6   Joyland  (2022, Pakistan, d. Saim Sadiq)  126 min NR

When the youngest son of a Pakistani family falls in love with a strong-willed trans woman, his family is forced to reckon with its traditional values and embark on a journey of self-discovery and liberation. Joyland is the first Pakistani film in history to be shortlisted for the Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards, and won several awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times called the film a “richly textured, effortlessly compassionate portrait of LGBTQ identity and desire.”

11/13  Alcarràs  (2022, Spain/Italy, d. Carla Simón)  120 min NR

The Solè family have been peach farmers for generations, but when their property is sold off with intentions of decimating the land and installing solar panels, the family risks losing their culture as much as their livelihood. An authentic portrayal of the tenuous nature of lineage and heritage, Alcarràs features performances that feel genuine  while presenting a family drama balanced by the film's political conscience. Winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, “Persuasively lived-in performances... give the Catalan-language picture both its urgent naturalism and its potent sense of anger and injustice.” (Wendy Ide, Observer). (language, some animals are killed, thematic elements)

11/27 Past Lives  (2023, United States/South Korea, d. Celine Song) 105 min PG-13

After spending two decades apart, two childhood friends from South Korea reunite for an unforgettable week in New York City that teaches them to confront notions of destiny, romance, and identity. Past Lives has been lauded for its charm, wit, and cinematography, as well as the directorial prowess of first-time filmmaker Celine Song. Linda Marric of The Jewish Chronicle called the film “simply sublime from start to finish.” (language)

12/4   Scrapper   (2023, United Kingdom, d. Charlotte Regan)  84 min NR

After 12-year-old Georgie’s mother dies, she spends her days alone in London, living in a world of whimsy. That is until her estranged father suddenly shows up and throws her magical world into upheaval. Critics praised newcomers Lola Campbell for her portrayal as the spunky Georgie, and director Charlotte Regan, for whom Scrapper is a directorial first. “Watching these two mutually suspicious strangers stumble toward forming a family makes Scrapper an invigorating treat, like finding wild flowers bursting out of broken pavement.” (Kyle Smith, Wall Street Journal).