In Audrey Diwan's quietly radical film HAPPENING, Anne, a bright young student in early 1960s France, discovers that she's pregnant. The law, as the doctor who breaks the news to her tells her, "is unsparing." Her closet friends abandon her when she confesses her plight. The father of the unborn child absolves himself of responsibility. This is the face of a woman who deserves much more respect - for her very life - than society affords her. "It feels like it was made for this moment. Eerily prescient." -NPR. "If 'Happening' often feels like a punch to the solar plexus, that's exactly what it should be." -Entertainment Weekly. "[A] rousing portrait of female resolve and bravery in the face of misogynistic hardship." - Daily Beast
Judging by attendance this past weekend, and comments from customers, THE DUKE and PETITE MAMAN are definite crowd-pleasers. Both are holding over for a second week.
There are two reasons as to why I'm looking forward to Ted Walch's presentation this Saturday of BRIEF ENCOUNTER and A PLACE IN THE SUN. Ted's presentations are always fun, thoughtful, illuminating and accessible. The other reason is actually a surprise. He called today to say that he owns something from one of the films, and that he was shipping it to me to share with the audience on Saturday. I won't spill the beans, but you'll likely want to touch it. And one of Ted's favorite films, and the subject of his new book - THE 400 BLOWS - is streaming through the Rose Theatre Film Library.
Attention Downton Abbey fans! Next Thursday (5/19) we will have a sneak preview of DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA in the Rose at 7:00. Tickets are on sale now.
THE BOWMAKERS, directed by Ward Serrill, profiled the world-renowned work of five Port Townsend bow makers. His new, which I'm also producing, focuses on another Port Townsend subject - renown translator Red Pine (Bill Porter). See the box below for information about this new project, in collaboration with Copper Canyon Press.
Cinematically yours,
Rocky