December 2018

Posted December 1, 2018. Additions made December 7.

Contents

  • Results from "Coming Attractions Trailer Night"
  • The Cinema Lounge
  • The 62nd BFI London Film Festival
  • We Need to Hear From You
  • Calendar of Events

    A printer-friendly version.

    Last 12 issues of the Storyboard.


    Coming Attractions Trailer Night Winter 2018

    Audience favorites from the recent "Coming Attractions Trailer Night Winter 2018" are:

    (story to be posted soon)

    The Cinema Lounge

    The Cinema Lounge meets Monday, December 17, 2018 at 7:00pm. Our topic is Typecasting.

    Sean Connery struggled for years to be recognized as something other than James Bond. Christopher Reeve up until his accident was trying to escape Superman's shadow. Actors may want to snag a role that etches them into public consciousness, but also fear being so associated with one role that they are not seen as anything else. What actors today are typecast? How can they break free?

    The Cinema Lounge, a film discussion group, meets the third Monday of every month (unless otherwise noted) at 7:00pm at     Teaism in Penn Quarter, 400 8th St., NW in Washington, DC (closest Metro stop is Archives, also near Metro Center and Gallery Place). NOTE: We will meet in the downstairs area. You do not need to be a member of the Washington DC Film Society to attend. Cinema Lounge is moderated by Adam Spector, author of the DC Film Society's Adam's Rib column.


    The 2018 BFI London Film Festival

    By Ron Gordner, DC Film Society Member

    The 62nd BFI London Film Festival was held October 10-21, 2018, almost a week later on the calendar than in 2017. There were 225 feature films and over 100 shorts from 77 countries this year showing the global changes of the past year, and including films on immigration, the environment, action. Horror, women’s issues and many family and marital dramas. The new Festival director Tricia Tuttle said they had a very strong women’s presence this year, having 38% of the films with female directors. This was up from 14% last year's representation of female directors’ films in the festival. Additional statistics included that the overall festival attendance was up by 12% with the greater London and some areas of the U.K. audience reaching 205, 630.

    Categories or Sections of films included: Headline and Strand Galas, Special Presentations, Competitions, Love, Debate, Laugh, Debate, Thrill, Cult, Journey, Create, Family, Treasures, and Experimenta.

    Screen talk programs were held with actor: Keira Knightley, directors: Alfonso Curon, Lee-Chang Dong; and writer: David Hare.

    The Surprise film turned out to be Green Book. Two of the larger Odeon theatres at Leicester Square were no longer available; one was being turned into a hotel and the other being revamped to reopen as a movie theatre again.

    14 venues in mid- and suburban London were used and the film Peterloo was shown in Manchester.

    There were fewer large hotel press conferences this year after screenings, but red carpet screenings were many at some of the larger venues with blocked off areas where photographers and the general public thronged to see or take photos of the stars and directors.

    Although my dear friend James McCaskill travelled with me to London and attended the festival and some theatre, he sadly passed away a few weeks after returning home on November 5, 2018. Jim was an active educator in the Arlington School District before retiring and was active in his church. He was a regular contributor to Storyboard and had reported on a number of international film festivals in the past including Toronto, London, Edinburgh and Rotterdam. I will save the aisle seat for Jim along with other reserved seats for a number of other cineastes, DCFS members or friends who have passed away in the past several years including Tom Van Der Vort, John Suozzo, Ginny DuPont, John Anderson, Raoul Kulberg, and Anita Glick; all who are greatly missed at screenings. We also miss Linda Posen, Mike Weimar, Bill Henry and Joe Barber.


    MUST SEE FILMS:

  • Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy Blache (Pamela Green, U.S., 2018). A fascinating documentary about the first female director who worked in 1896 at the Gaumont studio in Paris, and later in New York/New Jersey movie studios and also in Hollywood. The film is narrated by Jodie Foster and much about Alice, who directed, produced or wrote over 1,000 films has been missing from many film histories. Many of her techniques of using color, special effects, children and families were adapted by others and she is credited by some of the best known directors like Eisenstein and Hitchcock for her work and influence.

  • Burning (Lee Chang-Dong, South Korea, 2018). From the director of Poetry comes this slow burning thriller and murder mystery. It scored highest ever in Cannes by critics for selected films by Screen Daily and is South Korea’s submission for best foreign language film. It played recently at Landmark and Angelika theatres in the DC area.

  • The Favourite (Yorgos Lanthimos, Ireland/U.K./U.S., 2018). The Greek director of films like Dogtooth, The Lobster, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer has a funny film based on Queen Anne of England and her female court favorites. Olivia Colman plays a funny, dotty Queen Anne and Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone play the two women who want to be her confidant and more. Expect many Academy Award nominations for this film. It opens in late December in the DC area.

  • Girl (Lukas Dhont, Belgium 2018). Lara is 15 and dreams of becoming a ballerina. Lara was born as a boy and is trying to transition to a girl. Her father is very supportive and she is accepted at a ballet academy, but is far behind others in the dance school. The real actor Victor Polster, had some ballet training and said the scenes doing point on ballet shoes were more like a painful documentary for his bleeding feet. The director expressed his concern for trying to find a transgender actor but Victor shines above all others. He used the transgendered woman that the story is based on as a film consultant to provide as much authenticity as possible. This is Belgium’s submission for best foreign language film. It has been picked up by Netflix and will also play during the AFI European Union film festival in December 2018.

  • Green Book (Peter Farrelly, U.S., 2018). The surprise film at the festival, and Toronto Film Festival Audience Award winner. Bouncer Tony “Lip” Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) agrees to drive Dr. Donald Shirley (Mahershala Ali) a famous pianist through the South in the 1960s to concerts and they follow the famous Green Book showing where African-Americans were allowed to stay and eat. Based on the real trip and friendship of the two characters, it opened recently in the DC metro area and has been touted for many Academy Award nominations.

  • If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins, U.S., 2018). Oscar winning director of Moonlight has a new film based on James Baldwin’s second book with a stylistic tale of a young black couple living in 1970s Harlem which deals with their love, injustice on Fonny’s wrongful identification and imprisonment, and national and regional racism.

  • In the Aisles (Thomas Stuber, Germany, 2018). A rare film about the workplace. Christian, (Fransz Rogowski) a new employee at a big box store must learn to use the forklift and meet other employees, including Marion, an abused married woman (Sandra Huber). He also has to deal with just getting out of prison and avoiding his past life. This film also recently was shown at the Film Neu Festival in DC.

  • Monrovia, Indiana (Frederick Wiseman, U.S., 2018). Renowned documentarian Wiseman this time turns his attention to small town in Indiana and without political issues presented, an accurate feeling of middle America is presented in many residents daily lives, going to school and working in various shops and farms. As usual he could have edited out a good 15-20 minutes of repetitive scenes in my opinion but accurately provides a panorama of America. This was recently shown at the AFI Silver Theater.

  • Only You (Harry Wootiff, U.K., 2018). Josh O’Connor (God’s own Country) and Laia Costa (Victoria) play a young couple dealing with the heartbreak of trying to have a baby and dealing with the complicated medical system.

  • They Shall Not Grow Old (Peter Jackson, New Zealand, 2018). Jackson (Lord of the Rings) collates film archives from the BBC and Imperial War Museum to capture the sight and sound of World War I on its centenary anniversary.

  • Three Faces (Jafar Panahi, Iran, 2018). Panahi’s real wife and actress Behnaz plays herself as an actress with Panahi as her director on a road trip to find a missing girl. Three women’s stories are presented about modern Iran from different parts of society.

  • White Crow (Ralph Fiennes, U.K/Serbia/France, 2018). Fiennes directs a biopic about the early life of Russian Rudolf Nureyev and his glory and artistic differences dancing in the Kirov ballet company.

  • Wild Pear Tree (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey/France, 2018). The Turkish director and master filmmaker of other films: Distant, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, and Palm D’Or winner. College graduate Sinan returns to his small rural town and wants to be a teacher like his father. His father however, has created many problems with his gambling. This is Turkey’s submission for best foreign film and had one showing at the Freer.

  • Wild Rose (Tom Harper, U.K., 2018). Rose-Lynn Harlan (Jessie Buckley) lives in Glasgow and wants to be a famous country singer and play the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville someday. She is also a single-mother who due to bad behavior has just gotten out of prison and is on parole. Her mother, played by Julie Walters is frustrated with her daughter's ambitions and her lack of taking parental responsibility. Buckley belts out some wonderful songs on this journey of self-discovery as an artist and a parent.


    VERY GOOD FILMS:

  • The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Joel and Ethan Coen, U.S., 2018). A Netflix production but playing locally at the West End Landmark Theatre, several short dark humor or melancholic tall tales from the West that will leave you still thinking about Zoe Kazan’s wagon train adventure and actions taken.

  • Birds of Passage (Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra, Colombia, 2018). The submission for Colombia for best foreign language film recalls the beginnings of the drug trade in Colombia among indigenous peoples and other gangs. This was shown in September as the opening night film at the AFI's Latin American Film Festival.

  • Consequences (Darko Stante, Slovenia, 2018). Teenager Andrej is sent to a juvenile detention center and has to fit in and also realizes he must hide his growing gay sexuality. Slovenia’s submission for best foreign language film that has won many awards at film festivals this year and can be seen at the European Union Showcase at the AFI Silver theatre in December 2018.

  • Dead Pigs (Cathy Yan, China, 2018). A look at modern China just outside the cities. Pig farmers are having their swine all die mysteriously and there seem to be hundreds of their carcasses showing up in the rivers, while Americans and other are colluding to buy out family homes to build larger condos and commercial centers.

  • Dear Son (Mohamed Ben Attia, Tunisia/Belgium/France/Qatar, 2018). An older couple in Tunis have centered their life around their son Sami and his college life and exams. When he suddenly disappears to Syria the father tries to find his son and understand what has happened to him.

  • Destroyer (Karyn Kusama, U.S., 2018). Nicole Kidman, without make-up and as a tough alcoholic, police detective, estranged from her daughter and with other dark secrets to hide is unrecognizable in the dark crime drama.

  • Donbass (Sergei Loznitsa, Germany/Ukraine/France/Netherlands/Romania, 2018). 13 episodes of recreated tableaus based on some real news or anecdotal events in Russian held Ukraine with difficult to watch scenes. This is Ukraine’s submission for best foreign language film.

  • Florianapolis Dream (Ana Katz, Argentina/Brazil/France, 2018). A family drives to a Brazilian remote resort area and the people the teens and parents meet all change their lives and outlook on life. A fairly wry Bohemian style film that will keep you guessing what’s happening next.

  • Joy (Sudabeth Mortezai, Austria, 2018). Joy is a Nigerian woman lured to Austria to make money to send home but her job turns out to be as a sex worker with many monetary and other chains to keep her down. Winner of Best Film Award this year at BFI London Festival and will be shown at the European Union Showcase at AFI Silver in December 2018.

  • Peterloo (Mike Leigh, U.K., 2018). An historical film based on the working class uprising in Manchester in 1819 and the government’s reaction to peaceful demonstrations and to those trying to rise above their given class status.

  • A Private War (Matthew Heineman, U.K., 2018). The film is currently playing in the DC metro area. Rosamund Pike plays the remarkable war and public conscience reporter Marie Colvin, who travelled to African lands in famine, war-torn Sri Lanka and later Syria to tell the outside world of the daily atrocities in the world.

  • Utoya: July 22 (Erik Poppe, Norway, 2018). A drama recreating the July 22, 2011 mass shooting on Utoya Island in Norway of 69 young people and the survivors’ memorial. This was recently shown in the DC area.

  • Widows (Steve McQueen, U.K/U.S., 2018). A heist thriller similar to Ocean’s 11, where women take the lead in a robbery in Chicago, to survive when they have to pay up what their now dead husband’s owed the mob and others. Currently in area theaters.

  • Woman at War (Benedikt Erlingsson, Iceland/France/Ukraine, 2018). Iceland’s submission for best foreign language film, a female eco-terrorist lives in the beautiful Highlands and fights against corporate greed in depleting Nature.


    GOOD FILMS:

  • Ash is the Purest White (Jia Zhang-ke, China/France, 2018). Qiao is a gangster’s girlfriend in a small mining town and goes through changes as new younger mobsters arrive to assert themselves.

  • Bisbee ’17 (Robert Greene, U.S., 2018). A film with archival footage and re-enactment of the town that in 1917 Arizona when unionists and workers were gathered up and deported to the middle of the desert. The film had a brief showing in DC.

  • The Broker (Azadi Moghadam, Iran, 2018). An interesting documentary about a small office that tries to find dates and matrimonial matches for clients in Tehran.

  • Crystal Swan (Darya Zhuk, Belarus/Russia/Germany/U.S., 2018). A fun film about spunky Velya’s dreams in the 1990’s to win a visa to the U.S. She lies on her application and must travel from the city to a backwater town that has a small crystal making factory to be able to verify that she has worked there. This is a rare film from Belarus and their submission for best foreign language film.

  • Family Tour (Taiwan/Hong Kong/Singapore/Malaysia, 2018). A film banned in Mainland China deals with a family living in political exile. It recently was shown at the Freer Gallery.

  • Little Drummer Girl (Park Chan-wook, S. Korea, 2018). Two Episodes of this tv series that are now showing on AMC based on a John le Carre’ novel about espionage starring Alexander Skarsgard, Michael Shannon, and Florence Pugh.

  • Non-Fiction (Olivier Assayas, France, 2018). Prolific French director this time has Juliette Binoche and Guillaume Canet as a married couple who act or are in the publishing industry. It is sometimes witty and I found at other times head scratching to believe some of the subplots actions.

  • Outlaw King (David Mackenzie, U.K., 2018). Chris Pine plays Scotland’s Robert the Bruce, crowning himself King of Scotland against the wishes and soldiers of King Edward in 1304. Lots of battle scenes where horses, as well as, soldiers did not fare well. This film has been shown in DC.

  • Ray and Liz (Richard Billingham, U.K., 2018). A dark look at Thatcherite England and council housing families, brutally honest in cinematography and narrative. It will have screenings at the European Union Showcase in December 2018 at the AFI Silver Theatre.

  • Styx (Wolfgang Fischer, Gemany/Austria, 2018). A woman sailing on her own encounters a boat of refugees and must test her ethics and conscience on what to do. It will have screenings at the European Union Showcase in December 2018 at the AFI Silver Theatre.

  • Tehran, City of Love (Ali Jaberansari, Iran/U.K./ Netherlands, 2018. A deadpan narrative of three lonely people seeking partners and dating experiences in Iran.

  • That Time of Year (Paprika Steen, Denmark, 2018). Actress/director Steen provides a funny yet serious dysfunctional family holiday narrative that most people will recognize some of their relative and friends in these characters and situations. The film will also have showings at the European Union Showcase in December 2018 at the AFI Silver Theatre.

  • Too Late to Die Young (Dominga Sotomayor, Chile/Brazil/Argentina/Netherlands/Qatar, 2018). A family travels on the road to their get-away cottage in the mountains in the 1990s in Chile and the children including a tomboy drive the narrative of a coming of age film which also has family dilemmas.

  • Wildlife (Paul Dano, U.S., 2018). Directorial debut by actor Dano captures the 1950s of rural small town Montana and the new family’s arrival with marital problems displayed by Jeannette (Cary Mulligan) and Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal, as seen through the eyes of their teenage son Jeff. Still in a few DC theaters.

  • Winter Flies (Olmo Omerzu, Czech Republic/Slovenia/Poland/Slovakia, 2018). Two teenage slackers steal a car and go on a road trip with their strange ideas about women, life and the French foreign legion. This is the Czech Republic’s submission for best foreign language film and will also show at the European Union Showcase.

  • Yomeddine (A.B. Shawky, Egypt, 2018). Another road trip film but with society’s outsiders: an older leper, who is also a Little People and a young boy orphan. Beshay the leper decides to try and find his real parents and why they left him at the leper colony as a child. This is Egypt’s submission for best foreign language film.


    Award Winners

    Official Competition Winner, Best Film: Joy (Sudabeth Mortezai, Austria, 2018). See above for description.

    The First Feature Competition Winner, The Sutherland Award: Girl (Lukas Dhont, Belgium 2018). See above for description.

    Documentary Competition Winner, The Grierson Award: What You Gonna Do When the World is on Fire? (Roberto Minervini, Italy/U.S./France, 2018). Reaction in a Louisiana community after a 2016 unarmed African American man, Alton Sterling was shot and killed by Baton Rouge police.

    Short Film Competition Winner, Best Short Film Award: Lasting Marks (Charlie Lyne, U.K., 2018). The story of gay men arrested in the U.K. as criminals.

    See     the website for more information.


    We Need to Hear From YOU

    We are always looking for film-related material for the Storyboard. Our enthusiastic and well-traveled members have written about their trips to the Cannes Film Festival, Karlovy Vary Film Festival, London Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Edinburgh Film Festival, the Berlin Film Festival, the Palm Springs Film Festival, the Reykjavik Film Festival, the Munich Film Festival, and the Locarno Film Festival. We also heard about what it's like being an extra in the movies. Have you gone to an interesting film festival? Have a favorite place to see movies that we aren't covering in the Calendar of Events? Seen a movie that blew you away? Read a film-related book? Gone to a film seminar? Interviewed a director? Taken notes at a Q&A? Read an article about something that didn't make our local news media? Send your contributions to Storyboard and share your stories with the membership. And we sincerely thank all our contributors for this issue of Storyboard.


    Calendar of Events

    FILMS

     American Film Institute Silver Theater
    The 31st European Union Film Showcase (November 30-December 19) includes films from countries in the European Union. Nearly 50 films are shown, many are award-winners from international film festivals, European box office hits, and official Oscar submissions for Best Foreign Language Film. The Opening Night film is Cold War from Poland, followed by a reception; and the Closing Night film is Stan and Ollie from the UK, followed by a champagne reception. Many films will have special guests and Q&As. Festival passes are available, see the website.

    "Holiday Classics" (November 30-December 24) include many restorations, anniversary showings, and book events. Titles include A Christmas Carol (1938); a 4K restoration of Christmas Evil; the 35th anniversary of A Christmas Story; a 2K restoration of Dial Code Santa Claus; the 30th anniversary of Die Hard with Jeremy Arnold, author of "Christmas in the Movies" at the December 23 show; the 15th anniversary of Elf; a 4K restoration of It's a Wonderful Life and book event with Jeremy Arnold at the December 24 show; Edward Scissorhands, Krampus, Love Actually, Miracle on 34th Street, The Nightmare Before Christmas; Trading Places; Scrooged and a book event with Jeremy Arnold on December 24 for The Muppet Christmas Carol.

    Freer Gallery of Art
    A series of Japanese classic films continues at the Freer. On December 5 at 2:00pm is Dodes' ka-den (Akira Kurosawa, 1970), Kurosawa's first color film.

    The film series "The Legend of Koji Wakamatsu" continues in December. On December 2 at 2:00pm is United Red Army (Koji Wakamatsu, 2007); on December 7 at 7:00pm is Ecstacy of the Angels (Koji Wakamatsu, 1972); and on December 9 at 2:00pm is 11/25 The Day Mishima Chose His Own Fate (Koji Wakamatsu, 2012).

    National Gallery of Art
    On December 2 at 2:00pm is a lecture "Noisy Archives and the Future of Memory," followed by a compilation film at 3:30pm Lost Landscapes of New York (Rick Prelinger, 2017) with lecture speaker Rick Prelinger also introducing his film.

    Other special events in December are Garry Winogrand: All Things Are Photographable (Sasha Waters Freyer, 2018) on December 23 at 2:00pm and December 30 at 2:00pm. On December 30 at 4:00pm is a digital restoration of The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960).

    "Luchino Visconti" (November 3-December 16) is a 12-film series of films by the great Italian director. On December 1 at 4:00pm is Sandra (1966) preceded by Siamo donne, Visconti's segment from the portmanteau film; On December 8 at 4:00pm is Conversation Piece (1974); on December 9 at 4:00pm is Death in Venice (1971); on December 15 at 2:00pm is Ludwig (1973) and on December 16 at 4:00pm is L'Innocente (1976).

    "The Puppet Master: The Complete Jiri Trnka" (December 1-29) is a retrospective of the Czech director's work. On December 1 at 2:00pm is Old Czech Legends (1953); on December 8 at 2:00pm is The Emperor's Nightingale (1948); on December 22 at 2:00pm is Bayaya (1950); on December 23 at 4:00pm is a program of short films from the 1960s; on December 26 at 1:00pm is The Good Soldier Svejk (1954); on December 26 at 3:00pm is a program of six short films from the 1940s; on December 27 at 1:00pm is a program of five short films from the 1950s; on December 27 at 3:00pm is a program of five short films mostly from the 1950s; on December 28 at 2:30pm is A Midsummer Night's Dream (1959); and on December 29 at 2:00pm is The Czech Year (1947).

    Museum of American History
    On December 1 at 10:50am is a 35mm screening of Wonder Woman (Patty Jenkins, 2017); on December 1 at 1:40pm is Meet Me in St. Louis (Vincente Minnelli, 1944); on December 2 at 11:30am is A Christmas Story (Bob Clark, 1983) in 35mm; on December 2 at 1:25pm is Elf (Jon Favreau, 2003) in 35mm. All are part of the Smithsonian Holiday Festival.

    Smithsonian American Art Museum
    On December 5 at 7:00pm artist Stephanie Syjuco discusses her work and involvement in Art21's new "San Francisco Bay Area" episode of Art in the Twenty-First Century, an award-winning television series.

    National Museum of Women in the Arts
    On December 2 at 2:15pm is Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky, 2010), a psychological thriller featuring costumes by Kate and Laura Mulleavy, some of which are on display on the Rodarte exhibit.

    Washington Jewish Community Center
    The JCC will be renovating its space and programs are shown at other locations. On December 5 at 7:30pm is To Dust (Shawn Snyder, 2018) starring Géza Röhrig and Matthew Broderick. Actor Géza Röhrig and filmmaker Shawn Snyder will be present for discussion. Location: Landmark's E Street Cinema.

    On December 20 at 7:30pm is the documentary The Mossad (Duki Dror, 2018), a look at Israel's intelligence agency through interviews, archival footage and personal accounts. Location: Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema.

    Goethe Institute
    Landmark's West End Cinema hosts a new film series "Wunderbar Films: German Cinema 101" - Film and Discussion with Hester Baer, Associate Professor and Head of Germanic Studies at the University of Maryland. Films will be shown once a month and are divided into four categories: contemporary German film, films of the German Democratic Republic (DEFA Studio), films of the Weimar Republic (1920s), and New German Cinema (1970s). The series began in October and continues on December 10 at 6:30pm with Hannah Arendt (Margarethe von Trotta, 2012).

    National Air and Space Museum
    On December 7 at 6:00pm is a screening of First Man presented by James Hansen, author of the Neil Armstrong biography and Josh Singer, screenwriter.

    French Embassy
    As part of the film series "Films Across Borders: Stories of Women," is Montparnasse Bienvenue (Léonor Serraille, 2017) on December 11 at 7:00pm. See below for other locations participating in Films Across Borders.

    On December 4 at 7:00pm is Speak Up (Stéphane de Freitas and Ladj Ly, 2017), about college students preparing for Eloquentia, a contest for the title of best orator. A Q&A and a reception will follow the screening. Part of the Young French Cinema program.

    On December 10 at 6:30pm is Lindy Lou, Juror Number 2 (Florent Vassault, 2017), a documentary about a juror who sentenced someone to death and revisits her decision decades later. In commemoration of International Human Rights Day.

    The Japan Information and Culture Center
    On December 12 at 6:30pm is the anime film Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Shinichiro Watanabe, 2001).

    On December 19 at 6:30pm is a Let's Go, JETS! From Small Town Girls to U.S.Champions?! (Hayato Kawai, 2017), based on the true story of a high school cheerleading team.

    The Textile Museum at GWU
    On December 13 at noon is Shipibo: The Movie of Our Memories (2011), about the textiles of a Peruvian tribe.

    National Archives
    On December 5 at noon are two short documentary films: Earthrise (2018) and Debrief: Apollo 8 (1969), in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 8.

    On December 7 at noon is the fourth and final program in the series of archival film related to the war in Vietnam. Vietnam! Vietnam! (1971) was a controversial documentary from the US Information Agency, produced by John Ford.

    Bethesda Row
    "Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series. On December 16 at 10:00am is This Is Our Land (Lucas Belvaux, 2017) from France, about a working-class woman who gets involved with a far-right political party. Breakfast is at 9:30am, the film is at 10:00am and discussion follows, moderated by Adam Spector, host of the DC Film Society's Cinema Lounge and author of the column "Adam's Rib." A season pass is available.

    National Museum of Natural History
    On December 12 at 6:45pm is The Human Element (Matthew Testa, 2018), shown in conjunction with the Environmental Film Festival. Following the film is a Q&A with producer James Balog and filmmaker Matthew Testa.

    The Avalon
    On December 5 at 8:00pm is Free Solo (Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, 2018), about a climber's ascent of El Capitan without a rope. Part of the "Avalon docs" film series.

    On December 12 at 8:00pm is Fairy Tales for Emma (Rudolf Havlik, 2016), part of the "Lions of Czech Film" series.

    A "Film Studies" program is on December 13 at 7:30pm. The World Before Your Feet (Jeremy Workman, 2018) is followed by a Q&A with director Jeremy Workman and film subject Matt Green.

    On December 19 at 8:00pm is Apparation (Xavier Giannoli, 2018) for this month's "French Cinematheque."

    Italian Cultural Institute
    Celebrate the shortest day of the year with a selection of short Italian films, including Italy's 2018 Oscar pick for Best Animated Short. December 21 at 6:00pm.

    Library of Congress
    The Mary Pickford Theater at the Library of Congress continues its series of films showcasing the Library's collection and including newly preserved films. On December 20 at 7:00pm is Rogue Cop (Roy Rowland, 1954) starring Robert Taylor, George Raft, and Janet Leigh in a story of cop corruption and mobsters.

    Fourteen music-centric films will be shown. On December 6 at 7:00pm is 20 Feet From Stardom (Morgan Neville); on December 13 at 6:30pm is Round Midnight preceded by a book talk; more in January.

    Anacostia Community Museum
    On December 7 at 11:00am is the Frontline/PBS documentary "Poverty, Politics and Profit." A discussion and Q&A will follow, moderated by Dr. Gregory Squires of George Washington University.

    "Capital Classics" at Landmark's West End Cinema
    Classic films are shown at the West End Cinema on Wednesdays at 1:30pm, 4:30pm and 7:30pm. On December 5 is Gremlins (Joe Dante, 1984) and on December 12 is Christmas Story (Bob Clark, 1983).

    Atlas Performing Arts Film Series
    On December 2 at 4:00pm is Wings (William Wellman, 1927) with Andrew Simpson accompanying this classic silent film starring Clara Bow and Richard Arlen.

    Reel Affirmations XTra
    On December 6 at 7:00pm is Buddies (Arthur J. Bressan Jr., 1985), shown in honor of World AIDS Day.

    George Mason University
    On December 7 at 4:30pm is "Colette Burson: Masterclass," part of the GMU Visiting Filmmakers Series. Colette Burson, television writer, screen writer, producer and director, will conduct a masterclass on show running and tv writing. Open to the public.

    The Phillips Collection
    A Nordic film series accompanies the exhibition "Nordic Impressions." On December 13 at 6:00pm is Wonderland (Inari Niemi, 2017) from Finland, about a recent divorcee who spends Christmas on a farm. Followed by a Finnish-themed reception.


    FILM FESTIVALS

    Gala Hispanic Theater Film Festival
    The 7th annual film festival "Reel Time at Gala" (November 28-December 2) is a series of films from Mexico, Argentina and Colombia. Titles in December are Everything Else (2016) from Mexico, Alanis (2017) from Argentina; Dawn (2018) from Colombia; and The Pearl (1947) from Mexico. Most films have discussions and receptions. A festival pass is available.

    AFI European Union Film Showcase
    The 31st European Union Film Showcase (November 30-December 19) includes films from countries in the European Union. Nearly 50 films are shown, many are award-winners from international film festivals, European box office hits, and official Oscar submissions for Best Foreign Language Film. The Opening Night film is Cold War from Poland, followed by a reception; and the Closing Night film is Stan and Ollie from the UK, followed by a champagne reception. Many films will have special guests and Q&As. Festival passes are available, see the website.

    The International Shorts Film Festival
    On December 13 (time TBA) is the "Best of International Shorts 2018" is a collection of short films. Location: Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema.

    Films Across Borders: Stories of Women
    This festival starts October 5 and runs through December 18. More than 50 films are shown in 14 venues. Titles in December include Summer 1993 from the US; Faces Places from France; Montparnasse Bienvenus from France; and Union Maids from the USA. See the website for locations and details.


    Previous Storyboards

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    August 2018
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    December 2017

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