Cinematheque Schedule

United States | 2018 | Tom Surgal

Cleveland’s Albert Ayler is one of the musicians—along with Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, and others—examined in this new history of the free jazz movement. Emerging in the 1950s alongside Abstract Expressionism and Beat literature, this avant-garde variant on commercial jazz was mostly ignored by mainstream media and audiences at the time (and by Ken Burns in his recent epic overview of jazz). But its popularity and influence have grown since then....

Hong Kong | 1994 | Wong Kar-wai

One of the most celebrated works by Wong Kar-wai (In the Mood for Love) is a fast, funny, fizzy romance that tells of two lovelorn cops and two wigged-out women with whom they become involved. Expired cans of pineapple and The Mamas & The Papas’ “California Dreamin’” also factor into the delightful mix. With Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Brigitte Lin; stunning color cinematography by Christopher Doyle. Subtitles. DCP. 102 min.

Japan | 2019 | Joe Odagiri

In this exquisite new work of classical cinema that was shot by frequent Wong Kar-wai collaborator Christopher Doyle, an elderly, rural ferryman in Meiji-era Japan who transports people, livestock, and goods across a river finds his life transformed—not only by a soon-to-be-built bridge, but also by a mysterious woman he saves from drowning. Has a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes (as of 11/24). “[A] Zen-like, meditative and gleaming feature film debut…Luminous cinematography.” –Boston Herald....

United States | 1969 | Sam Peckinpah

For the fourth film in his eight-film “carte blanche” series (continuing thru April 2022), retiring Cleveland Institute of Art President + CEO Grafton Nunes has selected Sam Peckinpah’s notorious western, one of the most controversial (and also celebrated) films of the past 52 years. William Holden, Robert Ryan, Edmond O’Brien, Ernest Borgnine, Warren Oates, and Ben Johnson star in the movie, which follows a band of aging, anachronistic outlaws on the Texas-Mexico border early in...

Iran, United States | 1921/1973 | Charles Chaplin/Abbas Kiarostami

This program includes two short features about orphans in big cities. The Kid is a stellar mix of slapstick and sentiment in which Charlie Chaplin’s tramp character adopts a mischievous but adorable foundling (Jackie Coogan). This landmark silent movie, the first feature that Chaplin directed and a huge box office hit, established the template for his subsequent features that also deftly blend comedy and pathos. 35mm. Music track. 53 min. The Kid will be followed...

United States | 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock

One of Hitchcock’s greatest (and most enjoyable) comedy thrillers! Cary Grant plays an advertising executive who is mistaken for a spy, framed for murder, and chased cross-country by lawmen and real spies. The crop-duster sequence and the climax on Mount Rushmore are iconic, but this film is so much more—laughs, romance, sex, plot twists, paranoia, and a great Bernard Herrmann score! With Eva Marie Saint and James Mason. Cleveland revival premiere. DCP. 136 min.