national gallery of art fall 08 film program
FILMINDIANSNOW!
Qualité SuiSSe:NEWSWISSCINEMA
JULESDASSIN,AMERICANABROAD
ROMANRUINSREBUILT
JOSEFVONSTERNBERG,MASTEROFMOOD
PéTERFORGáCS
DAVIDLEANRESTORED
4th Street and Constitution Avenue nw, washington, dC Mailing address 2000B South Club drive, Landover, md 20785
fall08coverD
ishonored(Pho
tofest)
pag
e onethe exiles(Milesto
ne)
pag
e two
Sikumi(O
n the ice)(CaryFukunag
a)
pag
e threethe last Days of Pom
peii(Pho
tofest)
pag
e fourMad
eleine(BritishFilm
Institute),Oliver tw
ist (Photo
fest),
Missu
niverse of 1929(CesarM
essemaker)
calendar p
aged
etailsfrom
the exiles,Mad
eleine,this Hap
py B
reed
(BritishFilm
Institute),the last Days of Pom
peii,in the land
of the Head
hunters
(UC
LAFilm
&Televisio
nArchive),Rififi(Pho
tofest),and
Oliver tw
ist
one
FilmEvents
DerekWashingtonpremiereSunday October 5 at 4:30
TildaSwintonandIsaacJulienpooledtalentstocreatethisexperimentalportraitoftheirfriendandmentor,Britishartist-directorDerekJarman(1942–1994).Jarman’sdaringtheaterdesignsandboldfilmssuchasCaravaggioandedward iimadehimoneofEngland’smostcontroversialtwentieth-centurypersonalities.Hismilieucomesaliveinthefilm’sdramaticsequencesandhomemovies.(IsaacJulien,2008,digitalbeta,76minutes)
alberto giacometti, eyes on the HorizonWednesday October 8 at 12:30
Thursday October 9 at 12:30
Friday October 10 at 12:30
AnewdocumentaryontheSwissartistdrawsfromGiacometti’sécrits(Writings),memoriesoffriendsandcollectors,andbrilliantlocationcinematographyofthespaceswherehelivedandworked.(HeinzBütler,2006,digitalbeta,58minutes)
new masters of european Cinema Dernier maquis (the last Underground)WashingtonpremiereRabahAmeur-ZaïmecheinpersonSunday October 19 at 4:30
ThispremiereeventispartofanongoingquarterlyprogramspotlightingtheworkofyoungEuropeanfilmdirectors.Dernier maquis’beautifullyorchestratedshotsandplan-séquencesdiscloseaseriesofgrimcomplicationsamongMuslimworkersataremoteindustrialsiteinaParissuburb.DirectorRabahAmeur-Zaïmeche(whoplayssiteforemaninthefilm)willbepresenttodiscusshiswork.(2008,35mm,Frenchwithsubtitles,93minutes)unconfirmed
new Short films from europeSunday November 2 at 4:30
AselectionofnewshortfilmsfromEuropeincludesenchantinglive-actionandanimatedworks,amongthemMic Jean-louis(CathySebbah,2007),l’escale(ShalimarPreuss,2007),Résistance aux tremblements (OlivierHems,2008),taxi wala(LolaFrederich,2006),la Svedese(NicolasLiguori,2007),andauf der Strecke(On the line)(RetoCaffi,2008).
in the land of the HeadhuntersCoastOrchestra,liveappearanceSunday November 9 at 6:30
In1914,eightyearsbeforeRobertFlaherty’srenownedNanook of the North,photographerEdwardS.CurtismadeadramaticfeaturewithcastdrawnentirelyfromBritishColumbia’sKwakwaka’wakw(Kwakiutl)Nation.Longforgotten(thefilmhadonebriefrevivalinthe1970s),in the land of the Headhuntershasnowcomeintoitsownwithafullrestorationoftheprintandtheoriginalorchestralscore.(EdwardS.Curtis,1914,35mm,liveaccom-panimentbytheall-nativeCoastOrchestra,76minutes)
Herb and Dorothy HerbandDorothyVogelandMegumiSasakiinpersonSunday November 16 at 4:30
Withmodestmeans,postalclerkandlibrarianHerbertandDorothyVogelbeganbuyingcontemporaryarttogetherinthe1960sandeventuallyamassedoneofthefinestcollectionsanywhere.Followingthisscreeningofhernewdoc-umentary,directorMegumiSasakiwillleadanaudiencediscussion.(MegumiSasaki,2008,digitalbeta,89minutes)
the exilesFriday November 28 at 1:00 and 3:00
Saturday November 29 at 1:00
Aneglectedbutnowrestoredjewel,the exiles portrays,inimpromptustylereminiscentofJohnCassavetes,therelocationofAmericanIndiansfromtheirruralreservationstodowntownLosAngelesinthelate1950s.“BritishdirectorMackenziehasanearforthepoetryofritualizedinteraction,”wroteonecritic,“andaneyefortheglintofhardlightsoncitystreets.”(KentMackenzie,1961,35mm,72minutes)
the private life of a Christmas masterpiece: the annunciationWednesday December 10 through Friday December 12 at 12:30
Wednesday December 17 through Friday December 19 at 12:30
Wednesday December 24 and Friday December 26 at 12:30
ConservatorsandcuratorsfromtheUKandUSdisclosedetailsofthehistory,iconography,andpreservationofoneofthegreatworksbyJanvanEyckintheNationalGallery’scollection.(BBC,2006,digitalbeta,50minutes)
FilmIndiansNow!
in association with the national museum of the american indian, this series of films and discussions focuses on the portrayal of american indians in contemporary moving-image culture. featuring eight separate events — four at the national gallery and four at the national museum of the american indian — the series is offered in conjunction with the exhibi-tions George de Forest Brush: The Indian Paintings at the gallery and Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian at the nmai. for a complete listing of all eight events at both museums go to www.americanindian.si.edu.
part 1: pretty picturespocahontasprecededby ConversionSaturday October 4 at 2:00
Free-spiritedPocahontaslivesacarefreelifewithheranimalfriendsandgrandmotheruntilEnglishsettlersarrive.AchanceencounterwithCaptainJohnSmithestablishesafriendshipthataltersbothsocieties,EnglishandIndian,forever.(MikeGabrielandEricGoldbergforWaltDisneyPictures,1995,35mmanimation,84minutes)
InConversion’sremotecorneroftheNavajoNationcirca1950,amissionary’svisithascatastrophicconsequencesforafamily.“Ashrewdassessmentofthe
twentieth-century’sversionofhistoricaggression—conversiontoChristianity.”(NanobahBecker,2006,8minutes).
ModerateddiscussionwithPatriciaAufderheide,directoroftheCenterforSocialMedia,AmericanUniversity,filmmakerNanobahBecker(Navajo),andGabrielleTayac(Piscataway),researchassistant,NationalMuseumoftheAmericanIndian,willfollowthescreenings.
part 2: Unité Urbaine tkaronto Saturday November 1 at 2:00
Inthemidstoftkaronto’svast,banalcityscape(tkarontoistheoriginalMohawkwordforToronto),RayandJolene,nativethirty-somethings,experienceanunex-pectedbutpleasantlylife-alteringtruth.Theyfindsolaceineachother’sstruggleforasenseofaculturalself.(ShaneBelcourt,2007,35mm,102minutes)
ModerateddiscussionwithfilmmakersShaneBelcourt(Métis)andChristineVachonwillfollowthefilm.
part 3: a future realized films By today’s indianSaturday November 22 at 2:00
AnafternoonofnewworksfromsomeofthebestAmericanIndianfilmmakersincludesthe Colony(JeffBarnaby,2007,23minutes);Nikamowin(KevinLeeBurton,2007,11minutes);Sikumi(On the ice)(AndrewOkpeahaMacLean,2007,15minutes);a Return Home(RamonaEmerson,2008,31minutes);4-Wheel War Pony(DustinnCraig,2007,5minutes).
ModerateddiscussionwithcuratorGeraldMcMaster(PlainsCreeandmemberoftheSiksikaNation)andfilmmakersJeffBarnaby(Mi’kmaq),KevinLeeBurton(SwampyCree),DustinnCraig(WhiteMountainApache/Navajo),RamonaEmerson(Navajo),andAndrewOkpeahaMacLean(Iñupiaq)willfollowpresentationofthefilms.
part 4: mainstream native america the godfatherSaturday December 6 at 2:00
In1972,AmericanIndiansapplaudedCoppola’scompellingsaga,createdalmostentirelybyItalianAmericans,aboutdeeplysocietalexperience.Epicthemesofculturaldisplacement,familyallegiance,andrivalrystillresonatetoday,suggest-ingparallelswithmanypresent-dayIndianissues.Thisprintofthe Godfather(thefirstinstallmentinthetrilogy)isParamount’snewlyremasteredversion.(FrancisFordCoppola,1972,35mm,175minutes)
ModerateddiscussionwithfilmmakerChrisEyre(Cheyenne/Arapaho)andKevinGover(Pawnee),directoroftheSmithsonianInstitution’sNationalMuseumoftheAmericanIndian,willfollowtheprogram.
Qualité Suisse:NewSwissCinema
Discovering art in diverse and incongruous places is the pretext behind this stellar presentation of documentaries and fictional works from Swiss directors thomas imbach, peter liechti, georges gachot, Christoph Schaub, and michael Schindhelm, all members of Switzerland’s rising independent film community. featuring six area premieres, the series coincides with a celebration of Swiss music in the gallery’s garden court. Special thanks to Swissfilms for support.
roman Signer: Signer’s KofferFriday October 10 at 2:00
ControversialartistRomanSignercombineseccentricrawmaterials(bicycles,balloons,water,andfurniture)withbrutephysicalforces(pressure,gravity,wind,andfire)tocreatesculpturethatisbothprovocativeandaccessible.(PeterLiechti,1996,35mm,Swiss-Germanwithsubtitles,80minutes)
Hardcore Chamber musicSaturday October 11 at 12:30
ThreeSwissmusicians(HansKoch,MartinSchuetz,andFredyStuder)condenseabroadspectrumofmusicalcompositionsrangingfromBélaBartóktoBobMarleyintoauniqueformtheycall“hardcorechambermusic.”(PeterLiechti,2006,35mm,Swiss-Germanwithsubtitles,72minutes)
Bird’s nest: Herzog and de meuron in ChinaSaturday October 11 at 2:00
Switzerland’sstararchitects,JacquesHerzogandPierredeMeuron,traveltotheircelebratedsitesinChina:thenationalstadiumforthe2008summerOlympicgamesinBeijingandaneighborhoodintheprovincialtownofJinhua.(ChristophSchaubandMichaelSchindhelm,2008,digitalbeta,88minutes)
i Was a Swiss Banker followedby lenzSaturday October 11 at 4:00
ThecareerofayoungSwissbankerbecomesfodderforfolklegendwhen,abruptly,hedivesintoLakeConstancewithabagfullofmoney.Singingmer-maidsandotherenchantedcreaturestakeoverinImbach’sloopyunderwaterfairytale.(ThomasImbach,2007,35mm,English,Swiss-German,andDanishwithsubtitles,75minutes)
Themiddle-agedfilmmakeroflenzleaveshiscitylifebehindtoliveintheHautes-Vosgesandresearchtheworksofnineteenth-centurynovelistGeorgBüchnerandromanticpoetJ.M.RLenz.Theturbulentinnerlivesofall—filmmaker,poet,andnovelist—aremirroredinthejaggedbeautyofthelandscape.(ThomasImbach,2006,35mm,Germanwithsubtitles,92minutes)
maria Bethânia: music is perfumeGeorgesGachotinpersonSunday October 12 at 4:00
ThefirstoftwodocumentariesbyGeorgesGachotcapturesthecharismaticBraziliandivaMariaBethâniaonstageandinprivateasheruniquechemistrywithaudiencesandothermusiciansisslowlyunveiled.“Samba,”Mariaintones,“isasadnessthatcradlesus.”(GeorgesGachot,2005,35mm,PortuguesewithEnglishsubtitles,82minutes)
martha argerich: evening Conversations precededby a little Symphonic poem told by antonín Dvor̆ákSunday October 12 at 5:45
StunningArgentinepianistMarthaArgerich,reputedlyuncompromisingandunwillingtosustaininterviews,agreedtoafewexchangeswithSwissfilmmakerGeorgesGachot.Theireveningchatsbecameoccasionsfilledwithmusicanddiscourse.(GeorgesGachot,2003,35mm,English,French,Germanwithsubtitles,63minutes)
Ina little Symphonic Poem told by antonín Dvor̆ákthefirstmovementoftheNew World Symphonyinspiresashortstory.(1990,digitalbeta,12minutes)
JulesDassin,AmericanAbroad
american director Jules Dassin (1911 – 2008), son of a barber from Connect-icut, abandoned a promising Hollywood career during the blacklisting era of the 1950s and resettled in europe. marrying actress and, later, greek culture minister melina mercouri, he shared a passion for greek art and even urged the return of the parthenon sculptures to greece. Dassin died on march 31. His stance toward his life abroad is apparent in his work.
phaedraSaturday October 18 at 2:30
InspiredbyEuripides’Hippolytus,PhaedrawasavehicleforMelinaMercouri,whoiscastasthewealthywifeofGreekshippingmagnateRafVallone.Inthemanneroftheoriginaltragedy,shehasanaffairwithheryoungerstepson,playedbyAnthonyPerkinsinatour-de-forceperformance.(1962,35mm,115minutes)
rififi (Du rififi chez les hommes)IntroductionbyJayCarrSunday October 26 at 4:30
Dassin’sParisiangangsterthrillermaintainsaplaceinfilmhistoryforthefamouslydetailedandwordlessheistincidentatitscenter.Thefilm’sstylishuseofParisianlocations,however,isevenmoreimpressive,betrayinganoutsider’skeenlysusceptibleawarenessofplace.(1955,35mm,122minutes)
RomanRuinsRebuilt
Complementing the exhibition Pompeii and the Roman Villa, this program features three variations on the theme of reconstructing the ancient roman world — the arenas, houses, baths, and temples — for the cinema. martin m. Winkler, professor of classics at george mason University, introduces each program. Winkler has edited the essay collections Classical Myth and Culture in the Cinema; Gladiator: Film and History; Troy: From Homer’s Iliad to Hollywood Epic; and Spartacus: Film and History.
the last Days of pompeiiIntroductionbyMartinWinklerBurnettThompsononpianoSaturday October 25 at 2:00
TwoadaptationsofEdwardGeorgeBulwer-Lytton’sbest-selling1834novel—the1935RKOversionbyErnestB.Schoedsackandanewrestorationofarare1913silentItaliancostumedrama—willbediscussedfollowingthescreenings.Schoedsack’sRKOfilm,withstunningsetsandscintillatingeffects,carriesadisclaimersayingithaslittleincommonwiththenovelexceptavolcaniceruption.The1913ItalianhistoricaldramabyEleuterioRodolfiattemptstorevivethecharactersandplotelementsofthebook.(Totalrunningtimeapproximately198minuteswithintermission)
two
antony and Cleopatra (marcantonio e Cleopatra)IntroductionbyMartinWinklerJamesDoeringonpianoPremiereoforiginal1914scoreSaturday November 15 at 3:00
A1913Italianproduction(theonlyextantcopyisthisslightlyshorter1917re-release)presentsaclassicEast-Westconfrontationonanepicscale.ShotonlocationinItalyandEgyptandbolsteredbyornatesetsandahugecast,thefilmcaughttheattentionofinfluentialAmericanfilmpromoterGeorgeKleine,whoboughtdistributionrightsandhiredGeorgeColburntocomposeascorefortheAmericanpremiere.Colburn’sthememusic,researchedandrecentlyadaptedforpianobyJamesDoering,hasnotbeenperformedinpublicsince1914.(EnricoGuazzoniforCinès,1913,16mm,80minutes)
a funny thing Happened on the Way to the forumIntroductionbyMartinWinklerSunday November 23 at 4:30
InspiredbytheRomancomicplaywrightPlautusandbasedonStephenSondheim’s1960smusical,thisperiodfarcefindsdisreputableslaveZeroMostelconnivingtoobtainfreedombyhelpinghisyoungmasterwooawoman.BusterKeaton,inhislastfilm,playsthecharactercalledErronius.Interestingly,thefilm’ssetsweremodeledonPompeii.(RichardLester,1966,35mm,100minutes)
JosefvonSternberg,MasterofMood
although Josef von Sternberg’s oeuvre is often linked with actress marlene Dietrich, this director’s relatively unknown early work was accomplished largely without the german diva. a six-film series includes two silent films that established his reputation as a poet of setting and mood. Special thanks to il Cinema ritrovato, Bologna, library of Congress, and to the UCla film and television archive for 35 mm prints.
the Salvation HuntersAndrewSimpsononpianoSaturday November 8 at 2:00
JosefvonSternberg’sfirstsoloventurewasanexpressionistictaleofthreedriftersaboardamuddydredgeinthemidstofaharbor.Withitsminusculebudgetandimmenseartisticaspiration,criticsdubbedthefilm“America’sfirstavant-gardefeature.”“Ihadinmindavisualpoem,”repliedVonSternberg.(1925,35mm,silentwithliveaccompaniment,79minutes)
Children of DivorceAndrewSimpsononpianoSaturday November 8 at 4:00
TheyoungandbeautifulloversClaraBowandGaryCooperaretheleadplayersinanassignmentthatSternbergsalvagedandpartlyreshotfromanotherfilmoriginallymeantforanother’sdirection.ForSternberg,Children of DivorcewashisfirstmajorprojectforParamount,thestudiothatultimatelyreleasedhismostsuccessfulfilms.(1927,35mm,silentwithliveaccompaniment,70minutes)thunderboltSaturday November 15 at 12:30
Surprisinglyfullofdelightfulexperimentaltouchesandtwists,Sternberg’sfirsttalkingpictureisagangsterfilmthat,wroteAndreSarris,“isthestuffofgrandopera.”Amongotherenchantments,wearyprisonersondeathrowharmonizebluessongsandpopularstandardsfromtheircells.(1929,35mm,95minutes)
the Docks of new yorkDonaldSosinonpiano,JoannaSeatonvocalsprecededbythe immigrantSaturday November 29 at 4:00
PoignantlyevokingManhattan’s1920swaterfrontwithbeautifullyrendereddown-and-outdenizens,the Docks of New Yorkisanearlygem.Whenaship’sstoker(GeorgeBancroft)savesaprostitute(BettyCompson)fromdrowning,hisheroicdeedbecomesadeeplycompassionategesture.(1928,35mm,silentwithliveaccompaniment,96minutes)
Inthe immigrant,CharlieChaplin’ssilentcomicmasterpiece,poorpeasantCharlielandsinNewYorkharbor.(CharlesChaplin,1917,35mm,30minutes)
an american tragedySunday November 30 at 4:30
InSternberg’sperceptiveadaptationofDreiser’snovel(“theunderstatedoppo-siteofGeorgeStevens’laterversion,”writeshistorianJanetBergstrom),PhillipsHolmesplaystragicheroClydeGriffithswithanequalmeasureofself-doubtanddetermination.Luredupsociety’sladderbyrichdebutanteSondra(FrancesDee),heisundonebyhisdestructiveliaisonwithpoortextileworkerRoberta(SylviaSydney).(1931,35mm,94minutes)
DishonoredSunday December 14 at 4:30
AnearlyandunusualcollaborationwithMarleneDietrich,Dishonoredisargu-ablythemostbeautifulSternbergfilmafterMorocco.Setinthedirector’snativeVienna,thestoryrestructurestheMataHarilegendwiththegloriouslycos-tumedDietrichintheserviceofAustriamainlytounmaskaRussianspy(VictorMcLaglen).“Theabsurdities,”writescriticRaymontDurgnat,“makeSternbergoneofthescreen’ssurrealistpoetsof l’amourfou.”(1931,35mm,90minutes)
PéterForgács
the photographs, films, and media installations of Hungarian avant-garde artist péter forgács captivate with their unique combination of style and layered historical content. While his themes are not easy — family, war, philosophy, vanishing times and places — the films themselves are magical, constructing ephemeral spaces from amateur footage and forgotten texts. forgács’ introductory lecture will be followed by three recent films.
film, memory, and amnesia LecturebyPéterForgácsSunday December 7 at 2:00
ThelivesofordinaryHungariansareexposedandexaminedintheworkofmediaartistPéterForgács.Throughexamplesofforgottenhomemoviesfromthe1920sand1930sthathehasrecast,Forgácsdiscusseshisuniqueapproachtomediaandhisdevelopmentasanartist,whileprovidingageneralintroductiontothefilmsthatfollow.(Approximately50minutes)this program is made possible by funds given in memory of Rajiv Vaidya.
miss Universe of 1929 Sunday December 7 at 3:30
ThedelicatestoryofcousinsLislGoldarbeiterandMarciTänzer,bothbornin1907toalargemiddle-classAustro-HungarianJewishfamily,isretoldlargelythroughMarci’shomemoviesofhisbelovedLisl,whoserisetobeautypageantstardomculminatedinhercrowningasthefirstMissUniverse.(PéterForgács,2006,digitalbeta,Germanwithsubtitles,70minutes)
three
own DeathSunday December 7 at 5:00
Poeticallydetailingthesensationofanearfatalheartattack,Own DeathisForgács’firstforayintofiction,basedonHungarianwriterPéterNádas’biographicalnovella.AseeminglyobjectivemeditationonlifeisrenderedsubjectivethroughNádas’first-personvoiceoverandForgács’useofrichevocativeimagery.(PéterForgács,2007,digitalbeta,118minutes)
i am Von HöflerSaturday December 13 at 2:00
TiborHöfler,lastlivingmemberoftheHungarianleathermanufacturingdynastyfromPécs,retellshisfamily’shistorythroughnarrative,letters,photographs,andhomemovies.AspersonalstoriesunfoldagainstpivotalmomentsincentralEuropeanhistory,Tibor’sfateintertwineswiththatofGoethe’syoungWerther,acharactermodeledonhisowneighteenth-centuryancestorJakobvonHöfler.(PéterForgács,2008,digitalbeta,Hungarianwithsubtitles,160minutes)
DavidLeanRestored
the early films of Sir David lean (1908 – 1991) have been restored for his centennial by the British film institute national archive, granada interna-tional, and Studio Canal. although lean’s later 70 mm epics are generally better known, these films of the 1940s are so elegant and alive, so well written and constructed that, penned critic David thomson, “they seem in love with the screen’s power.”
Blithe SpiritFriday December 19 at 2:00
Saturday December 20 at 4:30
RexHarrisonasthecheerfullycynicalnovelistofLean’searlyTechnicolorcomedy(fromaNoëlCowardscript)ishoundedbytheghostofhisfirstwife,anappari-tionawkwardlyvisibleonlytohim.“OneofthefunniestBritishfilmsevermade,”wroteacontemporarycritic.(1945,35mm,95minutes)
in Which We ServeSaturday December 20 at 2:00
OneoffourdirectingcollaborationswithNoëlCoward,in Which We ServewasinspiredbyLordLouisMountbatten’saccountsoflifeonthedestroyerHMSKelly(CowardandMountbattenwerefriends).BesidesitsaccurateportrayalofNavylife,thefilm’smainfascinationwasmirroringthesharpclassdistinctionsthatexistonbothshipandshore.(1942,35mm,114minutes)
this Happy BreedSunday December 21 at 2:00
NoëlCowardconstructedascriptfromhisownplayforLean’sfirstsolodirectingendeavor.SetinasuburbanhouseholdinClaphamduringtheinterwaryears,this Happy Breedisapoignanthomagetoalltheendearingfamilyritualsdeeplythreatenedduringwartime.(1944,35mm,110minutes)
great expectationsSunday December 21 at 4:30
ProfessingtotakeabackseattoDickens,Leantookhiscuesfromthenovelist’sboldrenderingsforthefilm’scastingandsets.TheGothicatmosphere,vividperformancesfromJohnMills,ValerieHobson,andAlecGuinnessamongothers,andexemplaryeditingandcinematographyensureGreat expectations’survivalas“thegreatestofallDickens’films”(RogerEbert).(1946,35mm,118minutes)
oliver twistFriday December 26 at 2:30
Saturday December 27 at 12:30
Lean’ssecondforayintoCharlesDickens’universebringsanotherrobustVictorianvisiontolife.BesidesmeticuloussetsofOliver’sglumsurroundingsandAlecGuinness’expressionisticperformanceasFagan,Oliver twistfulfillsDavidLean’saimtosustainliteraryadaptationthat“mainlyconveyscharacterandepisode...plotissubsidiary.”(1948,35mm,116minutes)
madeleineSaturday December 27 at 3:00
Lean’sscriptfollowsthefactsofafamous1857GlasgowmurdercasewhileexploitingtheenigmaticscreenpersonaofAnnTodd(Lean’swife).MadeleinefallsforapennilessFrencharistocrat,whoinduecourseisthevictimofastrangearsenicpoisoning.(1949,35mm,114minutes)
Brief encounterSunday December 28 at 2:00
RestrainedemotionsmakedelicatemelodramainDavidLean’sdepictionofanamorousrailwayencounterbetweenasuburbanhousewifeandamarrieddoctor.Rachmaninoff’sPianoConcertono.2conveysatonethat,cededonecritic,“expressesthefutilityanduniversalrelevanceoftheirsituation.”(1946,35mm,86minutes)
the passionate friendsSunday December 28 at 4:30
TransposingBrief encounter’sprovincialsettingandpremiseofadulterytoLon-don’sjet-setsociety,the Passionate Friends’triangulartale(fromanH.G.Wellsnovel)findsawomantornbetweenpastandpresentwhenheroldloverdisruptsaholidayinSwitzerlandwithherhusband.“Asever,thecraftofthepiececarriestheemotionalsubtlety”(TrevorJohnston).(1949,35mm,95minutes)
four
Oct
4 sat 2:00 Film Indians Now!Pocahontas;Conversion
5 sun 4:30 EventDerek
8 wed 12:30 EventAlbertoGiacometti,EyesontheHorizon
9 thurs 12:30 EventAlbertoGiacometti,EyesontheHorizon
10 fri 12:30 EventAlbertoGiacometti,EyesontheHorizon 2:00 New Swiss CinemaRomanSigner:Signer’sKoffer
11 sat 12:30 New Swiss CinemaHardcoreChamberMusic 2:00 New Swiss CinemaBird’sNest:HerzoganddeMeuroninChina 4:00 New Swiss Cinema IWasaSwissBanker;Lenz
12 sun 4:00 New Swiss CinemaMariaBethânia:MusicIsPerfume 5:45 New Swiss Cinema MarthaArgerich:EveningConversations; ALittleSymphonicPoemToldbyAntonínDvor̆ák
18 sat 2:30 Jules DassinPhaedra
19 sun 4:30 EventNewMastersofEuropeanCinema:Derniermaquis
25 sat 2:00 Roman Ruins RebuiltTheLastDaysofPompeii
26 sun 4:30 Jules DassinRififi
Nov
1 sat 2:00 Film Indians Now!Tkaronto
2 sun 4:30 EventNewShortFilmsfromEurope
8 sat 2:00 Josef von SternbergTheSalvationHunters 4:00 Josef von SternbergChildrenofDivorce
9 sun 6:30 EventIntheLandoftheHeadhunters
15 sat 12:30 Josef von Sternberg Thunderbolt 3:00 Roman Ruins Rebuilt AntonyandCleopatra
16 sun 4:30 Event HerbandDorothy
22 sat 2:00 Film Indians Now! FilmsbyToday’sIndian
23 sun 4:30 Roman Ruins Rebuilt AFunnyThingHappenedontheWaytotheForum
28 fri 1:00 Event TheExiles 3:00 Event TheExiles
29 sat 1:00 Event TheExiles 4:00 Josef von Sternberg TheDocksofNewYork;TheImmigrant
30 sun 4:30 Josef von Sternberg AnAmericanTragedy
Dec
6 sat 2:00 Film Indians Now! TheGodfather
7 sun 2:00 Péter Forgács Film,Memory,andAmnesia(lecture) 3:30 Péter Forgács MissUniverseof1929 5:00 Péter Forgács OwnDeath
10 wed 12:30 Event ThePrivateLifeofaMasterpiece:TheAnnunciation
11 thurs 12:30 Event ThePrivateLifeofaMasterpiece:TheAnnunciation
12 fri 12:30 Event ThePrivateLifeofaMasterpiece:TheAnnunciation
13 sat 2:00 Péter Forgács IamVonHöfler
14 sun 4:30 Josef von Sternberg Dishonored
17 wed 12:30 Event ThePrivateLifeofaMasterpiece:TheAnnunciation
18 thurs 12:30 Event ThePrivateLifeofaMasterpiece:TheAnnunciation
19 fri 12:30 Event ThePrivateLifeofaMasterpiece:TheAnnunciation 2:00 David Lean BlitheSpirit
20 sat 2:00 David Lean InWhichWeServe 4:30 David Lean BlitheSpirit
21 sun 2:00 David Lean ThisHappyBreed 4:30 David Lean GreatExpectations
24 wed 12:30 Event ThePrivateLifeofaMasterpiece:TheAnnunciation
26 fri 12:30 Event ThePrivateLifeofaMasterpiece:TheAnnunciation 2:30 David Lean OliverTwist
27 sat 12:30 David Lean OliverTwist 3:00 David Lean Madeleine
28 sun 2:00 David Lean BriefEncounter 4:30 David Lean ThePassionateFriends
national gallery of artfall08
Anongoingprogramofclassiccinema,documentary,avant-garde,andareapremieresoccurseachweekendintheNationalGallery’sEastBuildingAuditorium,4thStreetatConstitutionAvenueNW.Filmsareshowninoriginalformat.Programsarefreeofchargebutseatingisonafirst-come,first-seatedbasis.Doorsopenapproximately30minutesbeforeeachshow.Programsaresubjecttochange.Forcurrentinformation,visitourWebsite:www.nga.gov/programs/filmorcall202.842.6799.