The Cinema Lounge
On Monday, October 16, 2023 at 8:00pm please join the Cinema Lounge, the DC Film Society's monthly film discussion group. We will be online again.
TOPIC: Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! with Will Harris
Audiences in 1980 had no idea what they were in for when they saw Airplane! On the surface the film was simply a parody of disaster films prevalent in the 1970s. The writing-directing team of Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker had much higher goals. They redefined movie comedy with rapid-fire jokes, both through the story and through individual scenes that stood by themselves. Nothing was off limits. "ZAZ" also broke the rules by casting mostly dramatic actors such as Robert Stack, Peter Graves, and Lloyd Bridges and then having them play it straight. Airplane! showed a new side of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and launched a second career for Leslie Nielsen.
Will Harris returns to the Cinema Lounge to discuss his work on Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!, a new oral history of the landmark film (available on October 3) with the participation of Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker. Will is a Virginia-based pop culture journalist who has written for A.V. Club, Decider, Vanity Fair, Variety, Vulture, among others.
Please RSVP to atspector@hotmail.com and you'll get the Zoom link 1-2 days before the discussion.
The Cinema Lounge, a film discussion group, meets the third Monday of every month (unless otherwise noted) at 8:00pm 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. WE ARE MEETING ONLINE THIS MONTH. 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.
Calendar of Events
FILMS
American Film Institute Silver Theater
The 34th Latin American Film Festival (September 21-October 11). International film festival favorites, award winners, local box office hits and debut works by promising new talents are shown from Latin American countries plus Spain and Portugal. The Opening Night film is Totem (2023 from Mexico followed by Q&A with actor Mateo Garcia Elizondo. The Closing Night film is Pictures of Ghosts (2023) from Brazil followed by Q&A with filmmaker Kleber Mendonca Filho. Many other films have Q&As or receptions. A festival pass is available.
"Noir City DC" (October 13-26) is now in its 20th year and all of the films shown are celebrating their 75th year. Titles are Ruthless, Force of Evil, Roadhouse, The Big Clock, Pitfall, So Evil My Love, Act of Violence in 35mm, The Hunted in 35mm, Key Largo, Raw Deal, Larceny, The Amazing Mr. X, Walk a Crooked Mile, All My Sons, The Naked City, Sleep My Love, They Live by Night, Hollow Triumph, Unfaithfully Yours, Night Has a Thousand Eyes, Sorry Wrong Number, Call Northside 777, The Velvet Touch, He Walked by Night, and Cry of the City Film Noir Foundation founder Eddie Muller will introduce films October 13-15 and film historian Foster Hirsch will introduce select films October 20-22. A festival pass is available.
"AFI Silver After Dark" is a new series of midnight-style movies. The October film is Cure (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1997) from Japan.
"Halloween on Film" (October 24-November 2) begins with an extended Director's cut of The Exorcist (William Friedkin, 1973) in a new 4K version for its 50th anniversary. Also celebrating a 50th anniversary are Don't Look Now; Ganja and Hess in a restored Director's cut and The Wicker Man. Count Gore De Vol presents Phantom of the Paradise (Brian de Palma, 1974). Also Halloween (1978); Suspiria (1977) in a 4K restoration; Phantom of the Opera (1922) with live musical accompaniment by the Silent Orchestra. Finally, a live shadowcast by Bloody Mayhem Theatrical of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).
Freer Gallery of Art
On October 11 at 2:00pm is the horror film Cure (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1997). Part of the "Japanese Classics" series.
On October 15 at 2:00pm is the documentary A Revolution on Canvas (Sara Nodjoumi and Till Schauder, 2023) about the Iranian artist Nikzad Nodjoumi who ran afoul of the Iranian government after the revolution. The two co-directors and the film's subject Nikzad Nodjoumi will be present for Q&A. On October 22 at 2:00pm is Night Fishing (Park Chan-wook and Park Chan-kyong, 2011), a short film which won a Golden Bear at Berlin. Park Chan-kyong will be present for discussion. On October 31 at 7:00pm is a 25th anniversary screening of the horror film The Ring (Hideo Nakata, 1998) in a new 4K restoration. Halloween costumes encouraged.
National Gallery of Art
Films in the series "Art Films and Special Screenings" are Lakota Nation vs. United States (Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli, 2022) on October 7 at 2:00pm, a documentary about the Land Back movement. On October 22 at 2:00pm is the documentary Lift (2022) with filmmaker David Petersen present for discussion. On October 28 at 2:00pm is Sanrizuka-Heta Village (Shinsuke Ogawa, 1973) and on October 29 at 1:00pm is Magino Village: A Tale (1986), both documentaries about traditional Japanese farming and customs.
The series "His Little Loves: Jean Eustache Stories" begins October 8 at 2:00pm with The Lost Sorrows of Jean Eustache, a series of interviews with colleagues of Eustache. Three short films follow: Hieronymous Bosch's Garden of Delights (1981), Alix's Pictures (1980), and Employment Offer (1982). On October 14 at 1:00pm is The Mother and the Whore (1973). On October 15 at 2:00pm is My Little Loves (1974).
All are in the East Building Auditorium. Registration is required.
National Museum of the American Indian
On October 1 at 1:00pm is the educational multimedia production "Native Voices of the Grand Canyon" using music, dance, short films and testimonies. The short films are Voices of the Grand Canyon (perspectives on ancestral connections to the Grand Canyon); Too Precious to Mine (struggles of the Havasupai Tribe against uranium mining on their land near the Colorado River); and Paatuwaqatsi: Water Is Life (importance of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River to the Hopi). Films are shown in the Rasmuson Theater.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
On October 23 at 7:00pm, October 25, 26, and 29 at 2:00pm is gOD-Talk, a documentary exploring the intersection of religion and culture in African American history. A panel discussion follows the screening.
National Portrait Gallery
"1898 Film Series" is a film program presented in conjunction with the exhibition "1898: U.S. Imperial Visions and Revisions." On October 1 at 2:00pm The Spanish American War, a 22 minute compilation of newsreels of the War of 1898 and Foreign in a Domestic Sense (Natalia Lassalle Morillo and Sofia Gallisa Muriente), about Puerto Ricans who have migrated to central Florida. A panel discussion with the filmmakers follows.
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
On October 18 at 6:00pm is Ancient Sea Peoples of the North Atlantic (T.W. Timreck, 2022), a documentary about the early ocean-adapted, Native civilization that once existed along the now submerged Atlantic coastlines of North America going back to the Ice Age. A panel discussion with the filmmaker follows the film. Location: the Q?rius Theater.
Washington Jewish Community Center
On October 5 at 7:00pm is Dirty Dancing (1987).
The documentary Call Me Dancer (Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmour, 2023), about a talented street dancer from Mumbai is shown on October 15 at 7:00pm, and 17, 18 and 19 at 7:30pm.
Cinema Arts Theater
On October 15 at 2:30pm is Farewell Mr. Haffman (Fred Cavaye, 2022) from Belgium. Shown in cooperation with the Washington Jewish Community Center.
French Embassy
On October 2 at 7:00pm is "Quartiers Lointains: Metamorphose(s)" a program of four short films highlighting PanAfrican and French multicultural filmmakers. A Q&A follows with filmmakers Claire Dao and Aude N’Guessan Forget.
On October 11 at 7:00pm is Delicious (Eric Besnard, 2022), part of a series of film about Gastronomy and Movies.
As part of "Kids Euro" the animated film Ratatouille (Brad Bird, 2007) will be shown on October 26 at 6:00pm.
Alliance Francais
On October 26 at 7:00pm is Beauty and the Beast (Jean Cocteau, 1946). On October 27 at 7:00pm is a discussion about the film and Jean Cocteau's diary, which he kept while making the film. NYC-based film expert and translator Nicholas Elliott will join us to discuss his new English translation of Diary of a Film.
Cinema Arts Bethesda
"Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series held at Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema. On October 15 at 10:00am is The Worst Person in the World (Joachim Trier, 2021) from Norway.
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.
The Avalon
On October 4 at 8:00pm is Theater Camp (Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman, 2023) for the "Programmer's Choice" series.
For "Avalon Docs" is Bad Press (Rebecca Landsberry-Baker, 2023) on October 11 at 8:00pm.
The "French Cinematheque" pick for October is Madeleine Collins (Antoine Barraud, 2021) on October 18 at 8:00pm.
For "100 Years of Cinema Magic" is Roman Holiday (William Wyler, 1953) on October 15 at 10:30am.
New York University Abramson Family Auditorium
On October 2 at 6:30pm is The Agreement (Trevor Birney, 2023), a documentary about the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement that ended three decades of conflict known as the Troubles and brought peace to Northern Ireland. A Q&A follows the screening.
On October 7 at 7:00pm is Go-Go City: Displacement and Protest in Washington, DC (Samuel George, 2022), a documentary about the go-go movement with protests and marches. A discussion follows the screening.
National City Christian Church
On October 27 and 28 at 6:30pm is Phantom of the Opera (Rupert Julian, 1925) with live organ music by Tedde Gibson.
Library of Congress
The Mary Pickford Theater shows Cornered (Edward Dmytryk, 1945) starring Dick Powell on October 5 at 7:00pm. On October 19 at 7:00pm is Creepshow (George Romero, 1982), an anthology with five stories.
Howard Theatre
Cine-Concert: Claudio Simonetti's band "Goblin" performs
Dario Argento's Demons (Lamberto Bava, 1985) on October 2 at 8:00pm. Ticket prices $35-$50.
Landmark's E Street Cinema
"Retro Replay" is a series of classic films shown Tuesdays at 4:00pm and 7:30pm (note that the times may vary). This month's theme is "80s Horror Film Fiends." On October 3 is Friday the 13th (1980); on October 10 is A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); on October 17 is Child's Play (1988); on October 24 is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986); and on October 31 is Halloween II (1981).
Landmark's E Street Cinema
The 4-film retrospective pairing filmmaker Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio continues in October with The Departed (2006) on October 7, 8 and 11. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is on October 14, 15 and 18. See the website for times and more information.
Kennedy Center
On October 1 at 3:00pm is Art and Krimes by Krimes (Alysa Nahmias, 2021), a documentary about an incarcerated artist. On October 8 at 3:00pm is the documentary Lakota Nation vs. the United States (Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli, 2022). On October 15 at 3:00pm is Sarafina (Darrell Roodt, 1992). On October 22 at 3:00pm is Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960). On October 29 at 3:00pm is Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974) starring the late Gene Wilder. All are shown at the Kennedy Center's Justice Forum. Also see the music section below for a film-related concert.
Atlas Performing Arts Film Series
On October 22 at 4:00pm is Across to Singapore (William Nigh, 1928) starring Ramon Novarro and Joan Crawford. Live music by Andrew Simpson.
Old Greenbelt Theater
On October 19 at 8:00pm is Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991). On October 2 at 1:00pm and October 5 at 8:00pm is A Place in the Sun (George Stevens, 1951) starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.
Alden Theater
On October 5 at 1:00pm and October 11 at 6:30pm is Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Pedro Almodovar, 1988), from Spain in the foreign films series.
On October 19 at 1:00pm is Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Terry Hughes, 1982), starring Angela Lansbury, part of the "Performing Arts Movie" series.
Angelika Film Center Mosaic
The Harry Potter series continues in October with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II (2011) on October 28 at 11:00am.
"Classics in Black and White" features a classic B&W film on the third Monday of each month. On October 16 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm is Bride of Frankenstein (1935) starring Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester.
For the "Angelika Classic" series is Friday the 13th (1960) on October 2 at 7:00pm
This year's "Hitchcocktober" has five titles: Rear Window (1954) on October 4 at 7:00pm; To Catch a Thief (1955) on October 11 at 7:00pm; Vertigo (1958) on October 18 at 7:00pm; Shadow of a Doubt (1943) on October 25 at 7:00pm and Psycho (1960) on October 31 at 7:00pm.
"Four Weeks of Christmas" (Wednesdays at 7:00pm) starts November 29 at 7:00pm with Bridget Jones's Diary (2001). More in December.
FILM FESTIVALS
