City Guide
February Films
Everyone's a Critic: arborweb's culture blog
Ann Arbor District Library. FREE. 327-4555. AADL multipurpose room (lower level), 343 S. Fifth Ave.
Feb. 1: “Poto and Cabengo” (Jean-Pierre Gorin, 1980). Documentary about identical twins who use a private language unintelligible to anyone else. 7-8:15 p.m.
Ann Arbor Docu Fest. Screening of a different documentary film every Mon. FREE. 929-9979. Café Ambrosia, 326 Maynard, 7 p.m.
Feb. 6: “The Last Mountain” (Bill Haney, 2011). Documentary about consequences of mining and burning coal, with a particular focus on the use of a method for coal strip-mining in Appalachia commonly known as mountaintop removal.
Feb. 13: “Guerilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst” (Robert Stone, 2004). Documentary about the 1974 kidnapping of the media heiress by the revolutionary Symbionese Liberation Army.
Feb. 20: “King: Man of Peace in Time of War” (Henry Stephens, 2007). Documentary about MLK featuring a candid TV interview with King himself.
Feb. 27: “Kymatica” (Ben Stewart, 2009). Documentary exploring the relevance of ancient myths and history for the social and political organization of modern life.
Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth. $5 suggested donation. 327-0270. 704 Airport Blvd., 8 p.m.
Feb. 18: “Spiritual Cinema.” Screening of a feature film or several shorts TBA with spiritual themes. Followed by discussion.
Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice “Economic Root Causes Movie Series.” FREE. 663-1870. First United Methodist Church Wesley Foundation Lounge, 602 E. Huron, 7 p.m.
Feb. 23: “The Money Fix” (Alan Rosenblith, 2009). Documentary about the profound and largely misunderstood influence of money on modern life. Preceded at 6:30 p.m. by refreshments.
Jewel Heart Buddhist Center. FREE. 994-3387. Jewel Heart (1129 Oak Valley Dr. between Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. & Ellsworth), 7 p.m.
Feb. 17: “Buck” (Cindy Meehl, 2011). Moving documentary about Buck Brannaman, a leading horse trainer who was the inspiration for the main character in The Horse Whisperer. One review calls it “a movie that actually could make the world a better place.” Followed by discussion.
Michigan Theater Foundation.Unless there is a live show in the main theater, 2 or 3 different films are shown, usually twice, almost every night. For complete, updated schedules, see michtheater.org or call 668-TIME. This schedule also includes some State Theater films that have been announced in advance. For an updated schedule, see michtheater.org/state. Tickets (unless otherwise noted): $10 (children under 12, students with ID, seniors age 55 & older, & U.S. veterans, $8; MTF members, $7.50; films before 6 p.m., $7). Michigan Theater (unless otherwise noted), times TBA unless otherwise noted.
Jan. 29 & other dates TBA: “Le Havre” (Aki Kaurismaki, 2011). An aging shoe shiner takes pity on an African boy who arrives by cargo ship in the French port city of Le Havre. French, subtitles.
Feb. 4: “No Regret” (Leesong Hee-il, 2006). A touching, funny drama about a young man who moves to Seoul to make money and eventually falls in love with a man from his past. Sponsored by the U-M Center for Korean Studies. Korean, subtitles. FREE, 2 p.m.
Feb. 5 & other dates TBA: “The Skin I Live in” (Pedro Almodóvar, 2011). Thriller that stars Antonio Banderas as a brilliant plastic surgeon who creates indestructible synthetic skin and tests it on a volatile woman. Spanish, subtitles.
Feb. 5: “Curious George” (Matthew O’Callahan, 2006). Animated adaptation of H.A. and Margret Rey’s stories about a mischievous monkey. Kids under 12, free. 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 6: “The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi” (Andrew Thomas, 2009). Documentary about the renowned jazz-pop composer-pianist, best known for his scores for the various Peanuts animations. 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 & other dates TBA: “Pina” (Wim Wenders, 2011). Visually stunning 3D dance film and documentary based on the life and work of the late German choreographer Pina Bausch. German & French, subtitles.
Feb. 10 & other dates TBA: “Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2012.” Live-action and animated short films.
Feb. 11: “Happy: The Movie” (Roko Belic, 2011). Documentary exploring the nature of happiness through a survey of stories of people around the world who have found happiness in ordinary or even unfortunate lives. $10. Noon.
Feb. 12: “Journey to Jamaa” (Michael Landon Jr. & Brian Bird, 2010). Documentary about two orphaned children from Uganda who make the journey from Kampala to Kasangombe in a heartbreaking bid to overcome poverty and experience hope. Presented by Huron Hills Church. FREE. 7 p.m.
Feb. 13: “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” (Sam Jones, 2002). Black-and-white documentary about the alt-country band Wilco’s falling out with its label over the commercial viability of its 4th album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. 7 p.m.
Feb. 14: “From Here to Eternity” (Fred Zinnemann, 1953). Powerful, Oscar-winning portrait of a hardheaded army private stationed in Hawaii who gets into trouble on the eve of Pearl Harbor. Based on the novel by James Jones. Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra. 7 p.m.
Feb. 15: “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” (Robin Fryday & Gail Dolgin, 2011). Award-winning documentary short about James Armstrong, an 85-year-old WWII veteran and an original flag bearer for the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” march from Selma to Montgomery, who for half a century ran a voter education program out of his barbershop. Followed at 7:30 p.m. by a program celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan, with talks by director Fryday, Birmingham (AL) Civil Rights Activists Committee director Shirley Gavin Floyd, and FHC cooperating attorney John Obee. FREE. 7 p.m.
Feb. 17, 19, & 20: “The Little Mermaid” (Ron Clements & John Musker, 1989). Sing-along version of this animated Disney classic adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. The program features a costume parade, goodie bags, and prize giveaways. $16 (kids under age 12, $11; students with ID, seniors, U.S. veterans, & MTF members, $14) in advance at Ticketweb.com and by phone at (866) 777-8932, and at the door. 7:30 p.m. (Feb. 17) & 1:30 p.m. (Feb. 19 & 20).
Feb. 18: “Double Feature: Two Housemaids.” Screening of 2 feature-length Korean films. The Housemaid (Kim Ki-young, 1960) is one of the most influential films in the history of Korean cinema, and it tells the story of a family’s collapse when a sexually predatory femme fatale enters the household. Followed by a screening of Im Sang-soo’s 2010 remake. FREE. 2 p.m.
Feb. 20: “A Trip to the Moon” and “Joy Division.” Double bill. A Trip to the Moon (George Melies, 1902) is a B&W silent sci-fi film based on novels by Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. This painstakingly restored print features a soundtrack by the French dream-pop duo Air. Joy Division (Jon Savage, 2007) is a documentary about the influential late-70s English rock band. 7 p.m.Feb. 22: “Forest of Bliss” (Robert Gardner, 1986). Landmark documentary about everyday life in Benares, India, that played at the 1986 Ann Arbor Film Festival. On loan from the Harvard Film Archive as part of the AAFF’s 50th anniversary retrospective series. Tickets $10 (students, seniors, & Michigan Theater members, $7; AAFF members, $5) in advance at aafilmfest.org. 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 27: “8 Mile” (Curtis Hanson, 2002). Eminem stars in this semi-autobiographical drama about a young white rapper growing up in Detroit. 7 p.m.
Temple Beth Emeth “Movie Wednesday.” FREE. 665-4744. 2309 Packard, 1 p.m. Followed by discussion. Snacks.
Feb. 15: “Late Marriage” (Dover Kosashvili, 2001). Drama that centers on a 31-year-old Israeli man whose parents try to arrange a marriage for him while he’s secretly dating a 34-year-old divorcee. Hebrew, subtitles.
U-M Center for Chinese Studies Documentary Film Series.FREE. 764-6308. Angell Hall Auditorium A (entrance at the Fishbowl on the east side of the bldg.), 7:10 p.m. Mandarin, subtitles.
Feb 4: “Petition” (Zhao Liang, 2009). Documentary about the Dickensian suffering of Chinese citizens who travel to Beijing to file grievances against their local governments.
Feb. 18: “Martian Syndrome” (Xue Jianqiang, 2009). Fictional documentary about a Martian who arrives in Beijing, where he is demoralized by the experience of being treated as any young immigrant who travels there seeking opportunities. Adult themes.
U-M Center for Southeast Asian Studies. FREE. 764-5261. 1022 Thayer Bldg., 202 S. Thayer, 3 p.m.
Feb. 19: “>Emak Ingin Naik Haji (Mama Wants to Go on a Pilgrimage)” (Aditya Gumay, 2009). Drama about a poor young painter who tries to get enough money to help an elderly Muslim woman go on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
U-M Japanese Animation Film Society. U-M campus admission policy: no one under 18 admitted without an adult. FREE. umichanime.com. MLB, 812 E. Washington at Thayer, 10 a.m.-midnight.
Feb. date TBA: “Animania.” Monthly anime-a-thon of feature films and episodes from Japanese TV series.
U-M Romance Languages & Literatures.FREE. 764-5344. 2435 North Quad, 105 S. State, 4 p.m.
Feb. 14: “The Witches of Gambaga” (Yaba Badoe, 2010). Documentary about the experiences of a community of ostracized women in northern Ghana condemned to live as witches. Named Best Documentary at the 2010 Black International Film Festival. French, subtitles.
U-M Theme Semester on Language/U-M Language Resource Center. FREE. 647-0759. North Quad Space 2435, 105 S. State, 7 p.m.
Feb. 8: “L’Enfant Sauvage” (Francois Truffaut, 1970). Drama set in 1798 about a doctor who tries to educate a wild child found in the forest who’s unable even to walk or speak. French, subtitles.
Feb. 22: “The Linguists” (Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, & Jeremy Newberger, 2008). Documentary about linguists who document languages on the verge of extinction.
UMMA “UMS on Film.” A series of films designed to expand understanding of the artists and cultures represented in the University Musical Society’s season of performances. FREE. 763-UMMA. Helmut Stern Auditorium, 525 S. State, 7 p.m.
Feb. 13: “The Legend of Leigh Bowery.” Filmmaker Charles Atlas introduces his 2002 documentary about the artist and performer who was known for his outrageous costumes and his London club Taboo. The screening is followed by Q&A with Atlas.
WCBN-FM. FREE admission. 763-3500. Arbor Brewing Company (114 E. Washington), 8:30 p.m.
Feb 8: “X: The Unheard Music” (W.T. Morgan, 1986). Documentary about the seminal L.A. punk band that features “loads of live footage and interviews with dumb record execs.”
