national gallery of art fall 08 film program · iconography, and preservation of one of the great...

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NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART FALL 08 FILM PROGRAM FILM INDIANS NOW! QUALITé SUISSE: NEW SWISS CINEMA JULES DASSIN, AMERICAN ABROAD ROMAN RUINS REBUILT JOSEF VON STERNBERG, MASTER OF MOOD PéTER FORGáCS DAVID LEAN RESTORED 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC Mailing address 2000B South Club Drive, Landover, MD 20785

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Page 1: national gallery of art fall 08 film program · iconography, and preservation of one of the great works by Jan van Eyck in the National Gallery’s BBCcollection. ( , 2006, digital

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

Page 2: national gallery of art fall 08 film program · iconography, and preservation of one of the great works by Jan van Eyck in the National Gallery’s BBCcollection. ( , 2006, digital

fall08coverD

ishonored(Pho

tofest)

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e onethe exiles(Milesto

ne)

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e threethe last Days of Pom

peii(Pho

tofest)

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e fourMad

eleine(BritishFilm

Institute),Oliver tw

ist (Photo

fest),

Missu

niverse of 1929(CesarM

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calendar p

aged

etailsfrom

the exiles,Mad

eleine,this Hap

py B

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(BritishFilm

Institute),the last Days of Pom

peii,in the land

of the Head

hunters

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LAFilm

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nArchive),Rififi(Pho

tofest),and

Oliver tw

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.