Dear Readers,
This is one of those rare weeks lacking in new reviews to publish from our wonderful volunteer contributors. There are, of course, many great offerings (including a 35mm print of Josef von Sternberg's THE BLUE ANGEL, Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz's four-hour NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY, and Cine-File favorite David MacKenzie's new film STARRED UP) to take note of this week. You'll find a summary below.
If you see something you would have loved to write about, consider volunteering for Cine-File! Email editors@cine-file.info with a brief note and writing sample.
SCREENINGS AND EVENTS
Chicago Filmmakers and Gallery 400 (400 S. Peoria St., UIC) present Suzan Pitt's Perverse Imaginarium on Monday at 7pm. The program features five of Pitt's animated films: CROCUS (1971, 16mm), JEFFERSON CIRCUS SONGS (1973, 16mm), ASPARAGUS (1979, 16mm), JOY STREET (1995, Digital Projection), and EL DOCTOR (2006, Digital Projection). Approx. 94 min total.
The Nightingale (1084 N. Milwaukee Ave.) presents Lost in the Woods: Works by Olivia Ciummo and Christopher Meerdo on Wednesday at 8pm, with Ciummo and Meerdo in person. Screening are Ciummo's VICTORIA (2012), IN REPS OF LONG-PLAY (2013), ON THE EVENING (2014), (ON FRACTURED WATER) (2014), and INVERT AND ALL THAT IS SOLID (2014); and Meerdo's AN ODE TO R.S. (2013), UNTITLED (REDACTIONS) (2014), ANTHOLOGY (2014), CIPER II (excerpt, 2014), and WESSERUNSETT (2014). Approx. 50 min total. Unconfirmed Formats.
Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark St.) presents Chicago's Own: Self-Deportation - Recent Asian American Shorts (2008-14, approx. 96 min, Digital Projection - Unconfirmed Format) on Saturday at 8pm. The program repeats on Wednesday at 6:30pm at Columbia College Chicago - Hokin Hall (623 S. Wabash, Room 109). Screening are Eugene Sun Park's film SELF-DEPORTATION: THE UNTOLD TALE OF A MARGINAL WOMAN, Daniel Izui's GAMAN - PORTRAITS OF CHICAGO NISEI WWII VETERANS, Jason Matsumoto's THE KANSHA PROJECT, Monica Eng's OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION and COMING HOME, and Lydia Fu's PERMUTE and PATRIARCHY. Select artists in person.
Chicago Film Archives presents CFA Crashers: THE-DRUM at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia Ave.) on Tuesday at 6pm. The program is guest curated by Chicago production duo The-Drum (Jeremiah Chrome and Brandon Boom). Screening are FIRE DANCE (Joe Bonica and Movie Newsreels Inc., c. 1952, 1 min), LIE BACK AND ENJOY IT (JoAnn Elam, 1982, 8 min), PAS DE DEUX (Norman McLaren, 1968, 13 min), TERMINAL SELF (John Whitney Jr., 1971, 8 min, slightly faded), CITIES: SKIDMORE, OWINGS AND MERRILL (1984, 6 min), FALLING WATER (Bert Van Bork for Encyclopedia Britannica, 1976, 13 min), INTERGALACTIC ZOO (Mort Goldsholl, c. 1960s, 3 min), and DISCOVERING ELECTRONIC MUSIC (1970, 22 min). All 16mm.
Black Cinema House (7200 S. Kimbark Ave) and Chicago Film Archives present a re-scheduled screening of Movies Under the Stars: Possessed on Sunday at 4pm. Screening are the 1971 documentary DANCING PROPHET (Franciscan Communications, 15 min, DVD Projection) and D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus' 1984 made-for-PBS documentary DANCE BLACK AMERICA (87 min, DVD Projection). There will also be a potluck. Free admission, but limited seating; RSVP at www.blackcinemahouse.org.
The Spertus Institute (610 S. Michigan Ave.) screens Julie Cohen's 2014 documentary THE STURGEON QUEENS (52 min, Video Projection - Unconfirmed Format) on Sunday at 2:30pm. Mark Russ Federman, who ran Russ & Daughters from 1978 to 2008 and is the author of a new book on the NYC store, in person. The event will also include a herring and liqueur pairing. Visit http://spertus.edu for more info and to purchase tickets.
At the Gene Siskel Film Center this week: Lav Diaz's 2013 Filipino film NORTE, THE END OF HISTORY (250 min, DCP Digital) is on Saturday at 3pm (it will have a second screening on September 27); Preston Sturges' CHRISTMAS IN JULY (1940, 67 min, 35mm) is on Friday and Tuesday at 6pm, with an introduction by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum at the Tuesday screening; Steve James' 2014 documentary on Roger Ebert LIFE ITSELF (115 min, DCP Digital) plays for a week, with James in person at the Monday screening; Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palermo's 2014 documentary RICH HILL (92 min, DCP Digital) screens on Friday at 7:45pm, Sunday at 5:15pm, and Wednesday at 8:15pm; Ari Folman's 2013 animated feature THE CONGRESS (122 min, DCP Digital) plays for a week; Mike Clattenburg's 2014 film TRAILER PARK BOYS: DON'T LEGALIZE IT (95 min, DCP Digital) screens on Saturday at 8pm and Monday at 8:30pm; and Yusuhiro Yoshiura's 2013 animated film PATEMA INVERTED (98 min, DCP Digital) is on Sunday (dubbed) at 3pm and Monday (subtitled) and Thursday (dubbed) at 6pm.
At the Music Box Theatre this week: Jeff Baena's 2014 film LIFE AFTER BETH (89 min) and Maria Sole Tognazzi's 2013 film A FIVE STAR LIFE (85 min) both open; Charlie McDowell's 2014 film THE ONE I LOVE (91 min) continues; David Lynch's 2011 concert film DURAN DURAN: UNSTAGED (121 min) is on Wednesday at 7:30pm; Josef von Sternberg's THE BLUE ANGEL (1930, 124 min, 35mm) is on Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am; and Tobe Hooper's 1974 film THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (83 min) and Hayato Date's 2012 anime ROAD TO NINJA: NARUTO THE MOVIE (109 min) are on Friday and Saturday at Midnight. Unconfirmed Formats except where noted.
At Facets Cinémathèque this week: David MacKenzie's 2013 British film STARRED UP (106 min, Video Projection - Unconfirmed Format) plays for a week's run.
The Logan Square International Film Series at Comfort Station in Logan Square (2579 N. Milwaukee Ave.) and The Cinema Culture present Fritz Donnelly's 2014 independent feature I LIKE YOU (70 min, Digital Projection) on Wednesday at 8pm. Free admission.
The Chicago Cultural Center screens Sharon Karp and Silvia Malagrino's 2014 documentary A SONG FOR YOU (87 min, Video Projection - Unconfirmed Format) on Friday at 7pm, with filmmaker Karp and Malagrino in person; and the Cinema/Chicago presentation of Ryszard Bugajski's 1990 Polish film INTERROGATION (118 min, Video Projection - Unconfirmed Format) screens on Wednesday at 6:30pm. Free admission.
At Chicago Public Library locations this week: Steven Sebring's 2008 documentary PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE (109 min, Video Projection - Unconfirmed Format) screens at the Bezazian Branch (1226 W. Ainslie St.) on Wednesday at 6pm. Free admission.
The Portage Theater hosts a screening of Michael Lansu's 2014 action film HOOD (100 min, Unconfirmed Format) on Saturday at 7:30pm.
ONGOING FILM/VIDEO INSTALLATIONS
Washington Park Arts Incubator (301 E. Garfield) continues the exhibition How To Make A Hood through October 10. Included is "The Hood We Live In," a sculpted 3 channel video installation by Amir George. More info at www.htmah.com.
SAIC's Sullivan Galleries (33 S. State St., 7th Floor) continues the show Surface Tension through October 4. Included is Kevin B. Lee's 3-D version of his video TRANSFORMERS: THE PREMAKE.
glitChicago: An Exhibition of Chicago Glitch Art continues at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (2320 W. Chicago Ave.) through September 28. Work from 24 artists explores glitch across a variety of media.
Bruce Nauman's 1987 four channel video installation Clown Torture (60 min loop) is on view at the Art Institute of Chicago through September 28.
UPDATES/CLOSURES
The Northbrook Public Library film series is on hiatus during renovations at the library. Expected completion is Spring 2015.
The Portage Theatre has resumed occasional screenings (from Blu-Ray/DVD only we believe).
As of July 2014 the Patio Theater is up for sale.
The Northwest Chicago Film Society is again on hiatus for their weekly series, with the closing of the Patio Theater. They plan to do occasional screenings as opportunities arise.
