Chicago premiere!
ABDUCTION: THE MEGUMI YOKOTA STORY
2006, Chris Sheridan and Patty Kim, Britain, 85 min.
“One of the best movies I’ve seen in the past year, and certainly the best documentary.”--Jay Seaver, efilmcritic.com
Winner of a Slamdance audience award and numerous other prizes, this compelling documentary outdoes any spy story or mystery tale with a bizarre, twist-filled plot that is all too heartbreakingly real. In 1977 a 13-year-old Japanese girl disappeared on her way home from school. She was assumed to be a murder victim or a runaway, until reports began to surface that North Korea had been kidnapping young Japanese men and women for use in training spies. The girl’s devoted, indefatigable parents, along with the relatives of other victims, embarked on a 20-year quest through an ever-shifting maze of official denials, diplomatic gamesmanship, tantalizing revelations, and contradictory evidence that pitted family tragedy against the highest levels of global politics. Executive produced by Jane Campion. Beta SP video. (MR)
January 26--February 1
Fri. and Mon.-Thu. at 6:15 pm and 8:00 pm;
Sat. at 3:00 pm, 4:45 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8:15 pm;
Sun. at 3:15 pm and 5:00 pm
Chicago premiere!
FIRED!
2006, Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache, USA, 71 min.
With Annabelle Gurwitch
It happens to everyone. It happened to actress-writer Annabelle Gurwitch when she was booted off an Off Broadway play by none other than Woody Allen, who added insult to injury by telling her, “You look retarded.” Strangely inspired by the experience of being canned by a cultural icon, Gurwitch sets out to investigate the phenomenon of getting the sack. She compares experiences with her friends, many of whom happen to be top comedians, including Tim Allen, Andy Dick, Jeff Garlin, Anne Meara, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Silverman, and Fred Willard. Gurwitch also quizzes human resources personnel, professional downsizers, laid-off autoworkers, and political eminences such as former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and surprisingly compassionate conservative Ben Stein. The result is a witty, barbed overview that never loses its buoyancy but also never trivializes the hard truths that fuel its laughter: the American worker has never been more insecure, and firing people has become one of the most reliable growth industries in these troubled times. DigiBeta video. (MR)
February 9--15
Fri. and Mon.-Thu. at 6:15 pm and 7:45 pm
Sat. at 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, and 8:15 pm
Sun. at 3:15 pm and 4:45 pm
Director Grigori Poulimas and members of the cast and crew will be present for audience discussion.
Chicago premiere!
DARKON
2006, Andrew Neel and Luke Meyer, USA, 90 min.
“You can’t go wrong with DARKON. It’s an epic fantasy adventure with loads of laughs, starring a bunch of people who, believe it or not, you wish you were.”--Eric Campos, FilmThreat.com
Who knew that so many people long to face down their enemies, and perhaps their inner demons, wielding battle-axes and broadswords? DARKON knows, and this rousingly funny, sympathetic, and hugely entertaining documentary enters the inner sanctum of LARP (live-action role-playing) through the war game Darkon, a medieval fantasy in which the warriors of fictitious kingdoms do obsessive weekend battle in full armor for imaginary lands. It’s all very LORD OF THE RINGS, complete with elves and magic spells, a dream-life world where a stay-at-home dad can swagger as Bannor of Laconia, a software wrangler can triumph as Keldar of Mordom, and an ex-stripper single mom can command her lieges as Queen Nemesis. Beta SP video. (BS)
February 23--March 1
Fri. and Wed. at 8:00 pm
Sat. at 3:15 pm
Mon., Tue., and Thu. at 6:15 pm
Back by popular demand!
SHORTBUS
2006, John Cameron Mitchell, USA, 102 min.
With Sook-Yin Lee, Paul Dawson
“If there’s such a thing as hard-core with a soft heart, this is it.”--Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
“An ode to the joy and sweet release of sex. . . that finds humor where you might least expect it.”--Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
“Sweet, very funny, volcanically romantic.”--Richard Corliss, Time Magazine
A sensation at the Cannes Film Festival, SHORTBUS has been wowing its way through U.S. release as the comedy that proves that serious filmmaking and no-holds-barred sex can add up to a wacky, poignant, and hilarious experience that won’t leave viewers with sweaty palms. Director Mitchell (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH) and his daring ensemble cast frolic their way through an oddly heartwarming tale of sexual dysfunction, search for orgasm, and gay and straight relationship dilemmas that come to a head, so to speak, in the sexual self-help salon “Shortbus,” where all problems are laid bare. 35mm. Note: No one under 18 admitted. (BS)
February 23--March 1
