Northwest Film Forum

The incomparable Bill Plympton conjures up his memory of an old romance, infuses it with the noirish tone of Double Indemnity, and animates it with watercolor, pen and ink in Cheatin’. 

In a fateful bumper car collision, Jake and Ella meet and become the most loving couple in the long history of Romance. But when a scheming “other” woman drives a wedge of jealousy into their perfect courtship, insecurity spells out an untimely fate. With only the help of a disgraced magician and his forbidden “soul machine,” Ella takes the form of Jake's numerous lovers, desperately fighting through malfunction and deceit as they try to reclaim their destiny.

"better and more romantic than [Plympton's] earlier work, with a particular flair for motion shots, sudden shifts in perspective, and elastic physical gags." —Seattle Weekly

"The hand-drawn animation is painting-like yet pulses with energy and vibrancy. . .playfully delightful." —The Stranger

• On April 16, 18, 19 and 21, Cheatin' screens with:

World of Tomorrow
(Don Hertzfeldt, 2015, DCP, 16 min)

A little girl meets a future clone of herself, and is guided through a very complex and distant future in Don Hertzfeldt’s stunning new foray into digital animation.  World of Tomorrow is quintessential Hertzfeldt: a dense fabric of philosophy, memories, self-doubt, and longing for understanding in an impossibly vast universe, yet never betraying the simple, absurd details - or the cruel, hilarious irony of it all.

• Don’t miss our class with Bill Plympton on April 15!

BEING AN INDIE ARTIST with Bill Plympton
April 15 (Wednesday), 6pm-8pm
Tuition: $45 ($30 for Members)

Join Academy Award-nominated American animator Bill Plympton as he shares stories about his work and career, and offers advice on working professionally as an independent artist. Register Now >

Cheatin' Trailer from Bill Plympton on Vimeo.