April 6, 2011 - "La Moustache" (2005)

Director: Emmanuel Carrere
Origin: France
Languages: French | English | Cantonese
Running time: 87 min

Marc (Vincent Lindon) has worn a mustache all his adult life. One day on a whim, he decides to shave it off. Certain his wife will comment on the drastic change in his appearance, Marc is baffled when neither she nor friends notice at all. Even more disturbing is that once he calls attention to it, everyone insists he's never had a mustache. Emmanuel Carrere's film adaptation of his novel won a 2005 Cannes Directors' Fortnight award. (from Netflix.com)
MPAA rating: Not rated

March 30, 2011 - "Mother" (2009)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Origin: South Korea
Language: Korean
Running time: 128 min

A murder rocks a South Korean town and suspicion quickly falls on a reclusive, mentally challenged -- and alibi-free -- young man (Bin Won). When an inept public defender botches the boy's case, his mother (Hye-ja Kim) sets out to prove her son's innocence. Acclaimed director Joon-ho Bong (Memories of Murder) explores the lengths a mother will go to protect her child in this atmospheric crime thriller. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language, some sexual content, violence and drug use
U.S. box office: $547,292

March 23, 2011 - Flame and Citron (2008)

We're back to Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 239 this week . . .
 


Flame and Citron, 2008


Director: Ole Christian Madsen
Origin: Denmark | Germany | Norway | France | Sweden | Finland | Czech Republic
Languages: Danish | German
Running time: 130 min

Based on actual events, this exciting drama tells the story of World War II Danish Resistance fighters Flame (Thure Lindhardt) and Citron (Mads Mikkelsen). Taking orders from Resistance leader Aksel Winther (Peter Mygind), the two systematically assassinate Danish collaborators and Nazi officers. But they are far from heroic in their personal lives, and filmmaker Ole Christian Madsen explores the serious flaws of these complex men. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Not rated
U.S. box office: $145,109

March 16, 2011 - Please Give

This week only -- this screening will be in Forney Hall, Room B124, while they repair the seats in our regular screening room.

Please Give, 2010
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Origin: USA
Language: English
Running time: 90 min

Life gets knotty when successful Manhattan couple Alex (Oliver Platt) and Kate (Catherine Keener) develop a relationship with the granddaughters of Andra (Ann Morgan Guilbert), the cantankerous elderly woman who owns the apartment next to theirs -- and who must die so they can expand their home. The all-star cast includes Amanda Peet, Rebecca Hall and Lois Smith in this indie feature from writer-director Nicole Holofcener (Friends with Money). (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Rated R for language, some sexual content and nudity
U.S. box office: $4,033,268

March 9, 2011 - Lion's Den

Lion's Den, 2008
Director: Pablo Trapero
Origin: Argentina | South Korea | Brazil
Languages: Spanish | French
Running time: 113 min

After waking to find her apartment a bloody mess, with her ex-lover Nahuel dead and her ex-lover Ramiro (Rodrigo Santoro) wounded, Julia (Martina Gusman) finds herself pregnant and in prison. Incarcerated with other mothers, she gives birth and tries to raise her son behind bars. As she continues to push for a new trial, Julia also deals with her formerly estranged mother, Sofía (Elli Medeiros), who now wants to take her son from her. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Not rated
U.S. box office: $13,689

March 2, 2011 -- Taste of Cherry

Taste of Cherry, 1997
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
Origin: Iran | France
Language: Persian
Running time: 95 min

In Iranian director's Abbas Kiarostami's award-winning drama, Mister Badii (Homayoun Ershadi) drives about Tehran looking for someone to bury him when he commits suicide -- or rescue him if he fails. But it's difficult to find anyone who will help. A taxidermist (Abdolrahman Bagheri) eventually agrees, mostly so he can use the money to care for his sick son. But there's another reason -- he once attempted suicide himself. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: PG
U.S. box office: $311,873

February 23, 2011 - Comedy of Power

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

This is the last of three films we will screen by the late French director, Claude Chabrol.
Comedy of Power, 2006
Director: Claude Chabrol
Origin: France | Germany
Language: French
Running time: 110 min

So relentless she's nicknamed "The Piranha," Judge Jeanne Charmant-Killman (Isabelle Huppert) digs deep when she uncovers corporate malfeasance. But her investigation of an embezzling CEO soon points to the highest levels of government and puts her life in danger. Directed by renowned French filmmaker Claude Chabrol, this suspenseful thriller was inspired by a French corruption scandal known as the Elf Affair. (from Netflix.com)

MPAA rating: Not rated
U.S. box office: $75,937

To find out more about his career, read Claude Chabrol's obituary in the New York Times.