Check out what’s playing at Cinematheque in the Now Playing section and purchase advance tickets. Download a PDF copy of the July/August program guide.
If you enjoyed Agnieszka Smoczynska’s The Lure from last month as much as I did, and are looking for more powerhouse female cinema, don’t miss Certain Women. Set in the American Northwest, it deals with women’s issues without being an issue film per se, but rather, is an understated and honest character portrait. There’s also a terrific slate of inspiring and incisive documentaries, including Risk, an unprecedented expose on Julian Assange, and Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (I’m always a sucker for a good music doc!).
— Allegra Chiarella, Cinematheque Box Office
This month’s program has one film that I have been waiting for a while now. Laura Poitras is a wonderful filmmaker, whose last film, Citizenfour, won her an Academy Award. Citizenfour was an eye opening film, and did everything documentaries are supposed to do. I am very excited about the follow up, Risk, which follows around infamous Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Risk promises to stun and captivate audiences!
— Milos Mitrovic, Cinematheque Technical Liaison
The Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival Tour is an exciting and important event that will bring three powerful films to Cinematheque. The need to raise awareness of mental health issues never ends, and what better medium than film to do so? Land of Not Knowing will be of special interest to local artists, as it explores how four artists cope with severe mental health issues.
— Jessica Seburn, Cinematheque Box Office
Certain Women explores the lives of three women looking to be seen and heard. The film is quiet, minimal, and melodic, with Michelle Williams, Laura Dern and Kristen Stewart playing women in different stages on their lives looking to others for respect and validation. The stories are unrelated and unlike each other in most ways, but the director uses the stark setting and slow pace to create a cohesive and touching film.
— Stephanie Poruchnyk-Butler, Cinematheque Box Office
One of my favourite filmmakers in recent years is Kelly Reichardt. Her latest film Certain Women, which explores the quiet determination of four women in small town America is getting a run at Cinematheque this August, and I can assure you that its poignant beauty will resonate with those who long for human connection. I’m very pleased to announce that we are kicking off a series of Iranian films with the new documentary 76 Minutes and 15 seconds with Abbas Kiarostami. Check that one out and stay tuned for future films in this series. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the August installment of McDonald at the Movies, which features the brilliantly dark and tender Harold and Maude — one of the finest examples of the American New Wave of the 1970’s.
— David Knipe, Cinematheque Operations Manager
Stuck in the city this summer? No better place to be than watching movies in our newly renovated theatre with plush seats and air conditioning—starting with the incredibly
creative remix of Nell Shipman’s 1920’s silent classic The Grubstake Remix. Featuring new voiceovers and dialogue the film is a wonderful mix of performance documentary and narrative fiction. And later opening August 19th don’t miss Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World, the acclaimed film from Hot Docs with great archival footage and dynamite performances. Two other must sees—curator Jenny Western’s evening of Indigenous Humour and the Rendezvous with Madness Film Tour with programmer Geoff Pevere introducing all work.
— Dave Barber, Cinematheque Programming Coordinator
Jenny Western has put together an amazing program that includes some of my favourite short films with Comedy and Humour in Indigenous Film and Video. Jenny mentions that “in customary teachings, a trickster character often appears to challenge ideas and create mischief”. I can think of no better example of this than the premiere of Darryl Nepinak’s Bannock, when Darryl served delicious slices of bannock to everyone in attendance only to reveal later in the film (as we’re all chowing down on his bannock) that he’d mixed the dough with his feet! So brilliant. I’m looking forward to seeing how the other filmmakers in the program tackle difficult issues and taboo through their own inner trickster.
— Jaimz Asmundson, Cinematheque Programming Director / Interim Co-Executive Director