Calendar
Free The Mind
Seattle premiere! Presentation from Project Welcome Home Troops at Wednesday 7pm screening!
Jul 26 - Aug 01, 2013
(Phie Ambo, Denmark, 2012, Blu-ray, 80 min)
In 1992 Professor Richard J. Davidson (one of the world’s leading neuroscientists) met the Dalai Lama, who encouraged him to apply the same rigorous methods he used to study depression and anxiety to the study of compassion and kindness. Dr. Davidson, who was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2006, did just that: the results of his studies at the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds are portrayed in this fascinating new documentary about the science behind meditation. The film poses two questions: What is consciousness, and how does it manifest in the brain and body? Is it actually possible to change the brain physically through mental practices alone?
Post Tenebras Lux
Seattle premiere!
Jul 26 - Aug 01, 2013
(Carlos Reygadas, Mexico, 2012, 35mm, 115 min)
A blend of memoir, observations of Mexican life and a paean to the country’s beautiful landscape, Post Tenebras Lux is a bold, visually arresting film from Mexican master Carlos Reygadas. This is arguably the only film to ever feature the devil (all red luminescence) in such a dramatic manner! Reygadas has once again created a complex work that may initially confound, but is also, like its predecessors, richly rewarding.
The Fearless Freaks
Wayne Coyne in attendance!
Jul 28, 2013
(Bradley Beeseley, USA, 2005, Blu-ray, 100 min)
What better way to get your groove on for the finale of the Capitol Hill Block Party than a matinee of The Fearless Freaks? This documentary about The Flaming Lips, 15 years in the making, follows the group as they go from Norman, Oklahoma punk band to free-floating rock and roll circus act, complete with blasting confetti canons and man-sized plastic bubble for front man Wayne Coyne.
The Machine Which Makes Everything Disappear
U.S. premiere!
Aug 02 - Aug 08, 2013
(Tinatin Gurchiani, Georgia, 2012, Blu-ray, 101 min)
A Georgian director wants to make a film about growing up in her home country, and puts out a casting call for young adults, aged 15 to 23. She travels through cities and villages interviewing the candidates who responded and filming their daily lives, looking for commonalities across social and ethnic lines. Together, their tales weave a kaleidoscopic tapestry of war and love, wealth and poverty, creating an extraordinarily complex vision of a modern society that still echoes with its Soviet past.
Revenge of the Pearl Queen
Sponsored by The North American Post
Aug 02, 2013
(Toshio Shimura, 1956, 90 min, Digital)
When Shintoho's voluptuous new "discovery" Michiko Maeda undressed for Revenge of the Pearl Queen, she hit the screens with a seismic force, A new star was born; not only that, but a new genre too—the female pearl diver film. The film’s central plotline is based on the true story of 19 Japanese men who were discovered on Anatahan, in the Marianas Islands, in 1951. Refusing to accept Japan’s defeat in the Pacific War, they had been scraping out a bare existence while scheming and fighting over the one woman in their midst.
Strange Creatures
Aug 03, 2013
The Pacific Northwest has more than its share of curious creatures: this series of animated films, made by contemporary independent animators from Seattle and curated by Tess Martin, showcases the relationship between humans and the natural world in our wet and wild city.
Flesh Pier
Part of our Double Feature: Sold Into Prostitution! Sponsored by The North American Post Special Saturday 7pm Double Feature introduction from Justin Jesty, University of Washington!
Aug 03 - Aug 04, 2013
(Teruo Ishii, Japan, 1958, Blu-ray, 75 min)
Yoshioka, an undercover cop, has been assigned to unveil a dubious Tokyo flesh ring. While working undercover he reunites with his old flame – Rumi. Fashion clubs, nude modeling, and matchmaking businesses are all part of the conspiracy, but who is running the show? With Rumi’s passion rekindled by Yoshioka’s presence, he becomes the focus of secret eyes in the club. It’s only a matter of time before his cover is blown.
Yellow Line
Part of our Double Feature: Sold Into Prostitution! Sponsored by The North American Post
Aug 03 - Aug 04, 2013
(Teruo Ishii, Japan, 1960, Blu-ray, 70 min)
A hitman is hired to take out a Tokyo Customs Officer, but his employer betrays him and sends the cops. Seeking cover, he grabs Emi from a telephone booth and makes her his “newlywed” in order to board a train to Kobe. Born in a prison and raised in an orphanage, the woman hating-hitman blends into the seedy Casbah of Kobe easily (although Emi, his female prisoner, stands out like a diamond in the rough). As the hitman hunts for the employer that betrayed him, Emi leaves clues for her boyfriend in hopes of finding help. But being in the hitman’s grasp might be safer than she thinks... help isn’t what it seems, when you’re on the Yellow Line.
Born to Royalty
Aug 04, 2013
(Lucy McDowell, 2013, UK, DCP, 75 min)
When Prince William married Catherine Middleton on April 29, 2011, millions of people watched the couple take their vows in Westminster Abbey. When, 19 months later, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child (a child that will one day be King or Queen), the news made headlines around the world. In this insightful documentary from BBC Films, we celebrate the birth of William and Kate's baby, the great-grandchild of Elizabeth II, in a fascinating film portrait of the life that lies ahead for a child who is born to reign.
Ghost Story of Yotsuya
Part of our Double Feature: Tainted Love Rises from the Dead! Sponsored by The North American Post Special Monday 7pm Double Feature introduction from Justin Jesty, University of Washington!
Aug 05 - Aug 06, 2013
(Nobuo Nakagawa, Japan, 1959, Blu-ray, 78 min)
Heated passion is the downfall of Lemon, the shunned samurai of Ghost Story. After being refused marriage to his love Iwa, his sword spills blood in a fit of rage. The servant Naoske quickly comes to Lemon’s aid, helping him cover up the murders that he witnessed. But good deeds come with a price – Naoske would like some blood spilt himself, so that he can acquire Iwa’s sister, Sode.
Ghost Cat of Otama Pond
Part of our Double Feature: Tainted Love Rises from the Dead! Sponsored by The North American Post
Aug 05 - Aug 06, 2013
(Yoshihiro Ishikawa, Japan, 1960, Blu-ray 75 min)
The engaged couple Sagawa and Keiko find themselves lost at Otama Pond, a place where Sagawa grew up. While trying to find shelter for the night, Keiko is cursed with the mark of death by a cat. With exorcism his only option, Sagawa tries to make sense of all that is happening. Soon we discover that both Sagawa and Keiko are part of a long-feuding bloodline, whose tragic end all began with a young couple in love who were forbidden to be together. This Romeo & Juliet tale takes a spooky turn as the dead rise up for vengeance.
Death Row Woman
Part of our Double Feature: Busting Out of Bars! Sponsored by The North American Post
Aug 07 - Aug 08, 2013
(Nobuo Nakagawa, Japan, 1960, Blu-ray, 78 min)
During a heated argument with her father, Kyoko defies his wishes for her to marry Aiko, and instead informs him she is having a child out of wedlock with Siochi. After refusing to leave when he orders her gone, she leaves him to simmer; the next day he is dead. With all evidence pointing to Kyoko, she is quickly found guilty and sentenced to death. Desperate to see her baby and prove her innocence, Kyoko escapes from prison with a cellmate, after narrowly escaping rape at the hands of another female prisoner. With the police hot on her trail and her emotions on full throttle, Kyoko’s trust in who to rely on falters. Will she be able to find her father’s killer before she is captured?
The Horizon Glitters
Part of our Double Feature: Busting Out of Bars! Sponsored by The North American Post
Aug 07 - Aug 08, 2013
(Michiyoshi Doi, Japan, 1961, Blu-ray, 89 min)
This black comedy about a prison break gone wrong was unlike anything else Shintoho made. Released just before the studio’s collapse, The Horizon Glitters is a brilliant one-off that doesn’t fit in the usual genre boxes, made with a freedom and an energy that verges on the anarchic. A motor-mouthed proto-punk breaks out of prison with his cellmates, in search of a large cache of diamonds. Director Michiyoshi Doi spices the journey with incidents and antics that are a mix of slapstick and surreal.
Music Craft: Miles Davis
Sponsored by KPLU 88.5
Aug 08, 2013
Join us for four rare filmed performances by Miles Davis spanning decades, from a 1959 NYC television recording to a 1991 Parisian gig (Miles died three months after filming). Part of Music Craft, our regular series featuring rare concert footage from music legends.
André Gregory: Before and After Dinner
Seattle premiere!
Aug 09 - Aug 15, 2013
(Cindy Kleine, 2013, United States, Blu-ray, 101 min)
Lampooned, adored and destined to land on every movie lover’s walk of fame, André Gregory's furious philosophical pronouncements made the director a mystery to all who know him. Now his fellow director and wife, Cindy Kleine, takes a loving and hilarious look at the storyteller’s own story, from his upbringing in a Russian-Jewish household to his decades-long friendship with funnyman Wallace Shawn. Injected with moments of Gregory’s own dramatic narrative style, this portrait is a wild ride that gives new meaning to the romance between author and creation.
Vampire Bride
Sponsored by The North American Post
Aug 09, 2013
(Kyotaro Namiki, Japan, 1960, Blu-ray, 80 min)
Fujiko, a dance student with a horrific facial scar, seeks help from a sorceress in the mountains, who ultimately transforms her into a powerful monster. After undergoing a ritual that results in her temporary death, she returns to life as a fanged, hairy beast. Vampire Bride is a deeply odd take on the vampire theme, with a suitably deranged performance by young actress Ikeuchi Junko.
Gustafer Yellowgold
Sponsored by See Kai Run
Aug 11, 2013
Back by popular demand, a little guy who hails from the sun is set to return to Seattle for another out-of-this-world, multimedia family show at Northwest Film Forum. Groovy Gustafer is the creation of illustrator/songwriter/performer Morgan Taylor, who has created a show that is equal parts pop rock concert and hand-drawn animated film. Perfect for the pint-sized set as well as their larger guardians, Gustafer Yellowgold is a blissful blend of pop music, lyrical poignancy and cartoon absurdity. This show will feature sweet new songs from the newest Gustafer DVD as well as award-winners and favorites from past DVDs. All this, plus a chance to meet the newest character in the show, Gustafer's buddy Rock Melon!
My Dinner With André
Aug 09 - Aug 15, 2013
(Louis Malle, 1981, USA, 35mm, 110 min)
Playwright/actor Wallace Shawn sits across the table from avant-garde theatre figure Andre Gregory in a chic SoHo restaurant, circa 1981. They talk over dinner. And talk and talk and talk. But the whirlwind dialogue of ideas about art, life, New York, humanity and the impending doom of civilization keeps the film exciting. Screenwriter/stars Shawn and Gregory make this a one-of-a-kind exchange of ideologies that will keep your noggin on its toes.
Framing Pictures
Free event!
Jan 18 - Sep 13, 2013
Join us for a monthly discussion with three long-time Seattle film critics (and occasional guest commentators) who have much to say on the subject of cinephilia past, present and future. The conversation includes former Film Comment editor Richard Jameson, Everett Herald/KUOW critic Robert Horton and MSN.com critic Kathleen Murphy.
Un Flic
New 35mm print!
Aug 16 - Aug 18, 2013
(Jean-Pierre Melville, France, 1972, 35mm, 98 min)
A swan song from the great Jean-Pierre Melville (mostly famous for his noir gangster films), who was dubbed by Godard the ‘godfather’ of the New Wave, for the stylish existential nature expressed in all his films. Melville’s aura of cool is generally derived from extended sequences of silent action where the audience has to find out what’s going on as the characters perform their tasks. It’s also derived from a collision of noir and modern style – worn fedoras, trenchcoats and faces; a generally muted color scheme; and slow pacing that emphasizes process.
The Pirogue
Seattle premiere!
Aug 16 - Aug 22, 2013
(Moussa Toure, Senegal / France / Germany, 2012, Blu-ray, 87 min)
In Moussa Toure’s powerful, epic fiction film, a group of 30 men sail to Europe in a pirogue, facing the sea—and the possibility of never reaching their destination—in exchange for the myth of a better life in Europe.
Glacial Balance
Aug 17, 2013
Water and its sources have historically been the key factor in the establishment of cities, of civilizations. Along rivers, seas and downstream of mountain snowmelt, humans have depended on these seemingly endless supplies of water since the dawn of recorded history. But we are at a critical point in the environment and mankind’s existence. Glacial Balance takes us from Colombia to Argentina, getting to know those who are the first to be affected by the melting glacial reserve, the canaries in the mine.
Sign Painters
Seattle premiere!
Aug 19 - Aug 22, 2013
(Faythe Levine and Sam Macon, USA, 2013, Blu-ray)
As recently as the 1980s, storefronts, murals, banners, barn signs, billboards and even street signs were all hand-lettered with brush and paint. But, like many skilled trades, the sign industry has been overrun by the techno-fueled promise of "quicker and cheaper." The resulting proliferation of computer-designed, die-cut vinyl lettering and inkjet printers has ushered a creeping sameness into our landscape. Fortunately, there is a growing trend to seek out traditional sign painters and a renaissance in the trade.
Pasolini’s Last Words
Director in attendance! West Coast premiere!
Aug 23, 2013
(Cathy Lee Crane, United States, 2012, Blu-ray, 60 min)
Pier Paolo Pasolini is one of Italy's most important filmmakers, but he made his name first as a poet. This biographical film tells the story of the poet and filmmaker’s shocking murder in 1975, using film footage of his life alongside the texts he published or left unfinished during his last year. A telling account of an artist whose work demands to be re-discovered.
The Hawks and the Sparrows
Aug 23 - Aug 25, 2013
(Pier Paolo Pasolini, Italy, 1966, Digital, 89 min)
The Hawks and the Sparrows stars the beloved, stone-faced clown Totò as an Italian everyman, and Ninetto Davoli as his good-natured but empty-headed son. Roaming the countryside, they meet a speaking crow, who tells them the story of two monks, also played by Totò and Ninetto, who preach the commandment of love to the birds. The Hawks and the Sparrows is Pasolini's profound comedy; of all the films he made, this one was his favorite.
Seattle Bike-In
Co-presented with Sustainable Seattle and The Vera Project Sponsored by Bike Works, Hub and Bespoke, Timbuk2 and YourCapitolHill.com Movie at dusk!
Aug 24, 2013
Named as one of the reasons that Pike/Pine is considered “Top 12 Art Places in America," the Seattle Bike-In has become a staple of the summer outdoor movie calendar. This 8th annual celebration of green transportation, our urban community and summer nights encourages you to grab your bike and grab your friends for our annual event in Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill! The event includes live music and DJs, film and a fair from local cycling organizations and merchants.