Girls Rock!
(PG, 90 min., USA, English)
June 22 at 7:00
June 23 at 4:00 & 7:00

At Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp, girls ranging in age from eight to 18 are taught that it’s OK to sweat like a pig, scream like a banshee, wail on their instruments with complete and utter abandon, and that “it is 100% okay to be exactly who you are.” The girls have a week to select a band, an instrument they may have never played before, and write a song. In between, they are taught by indie rock chicks such as Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney various lessons of empowerment from self-defense to anger management. At the end of the week, all the bands perform a concert for over 700 people. The film follows several campers: Laura, a Korean adoptee obsessed by death metal; Misty, who is emerging from a life of meth addiction, homelessness and gang activity; and Amelia, an eight-year-old who writes experimental rock songs about her dog Pipi. The girls are given a temporary reprieve from being sexualized, analyzed and pressured to conform.

The Counterfeiters
(R, 98 min., Austria/Germany, German)
June 15 at 7:00
June 16 at 4:00 & 7:00

The Counterfeiters is the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. Salomon “Sally” Sorowitsch is the king of counterfeiters. He lives a mischievous life of cards, booze, and women in Berlin during the Nazi-era. Suddenly his luck runs dry when arrested by Superintendent Friedrich Herzog. Immediately thrown into the Mauthausen concentration camp, Salomon exhibits exceptional skills there and is soon transferred to the upgraded camp of Sachsenhausen. Upon his arrival, he once again comes face to face with Herzog, who is there on a secret mission. Hand-picked for his unique skill, Salomon and a group of professionals are forced to produce fake foreign currency under the program Operation Berhard. The team, which also includes detainee Adolf Burger, is given luxury barracks for their assistance. But while Salomon attempts to weaken the economy of Germany’s allied opponents, Adolf refuses to use his skills for Nazi profit and would like to do something to stop Operation Bernhard’s aid to the war effort. Faced with a moral dilemma, Salomon must decide whether his actions, which could prolong the war and risk the lives of fellow prisoners, are ultimately the right ones.

The Band’s Visit
(PG-13, 87 min., Israel, English/Arabic/Hebrew)
June 8 at 7:00
June 9 at 4:00 & 7:00

On an ordinary day, the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrives in Israel from Egypt for a cultural event, only find there is no delegation to meet them, nor any arrangements to get to their destination of Petah Tiqva. When they find their own ride, they arrive instead at the remote town of Beit Hatikva. Stuck there until the next morning’s bus, the band, lead by the repressed Tawfiq Zacharaya, gets help from the worldly lunch owner, Dina, who offers to put them up for the night. As the band settles in as best it can, each of the members attempts to get along with the natives in their own way. What follows is a special night of quiet happenings and confessions as the band makes its own impact on the town and the town on them.

The Band’s Visit
(PG-13, 87 min., Israel, English/Arabic/Hebrew)
June 8 at 7:00
June 9 at 4:00 & 7:00

On an ordinary day, the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrives in Israel from Egypt for a cultural event, only find there is no delegation to meet them, nor any arrangements to get to their destination of Petah Tiqva. When they find their own ride, they arrive instead at the remote town of Beit Hatikva. Stuck there until the next morning’s bus, the band, lead by the repressed Tawfiq Zacharaya, gets help from the worldly lunch owner, Dina, who offers to put them up for the night. As the band settles in as best it can, each of the members attempts to get along with the natives in their own way. What follows is a special night of quiet happenings and confessions as the band makes its own impact on the town and the town on them.

The Counterfeiters
(R, 98 min., Austria/Germany, German)
June 15 at 7:00
June 16 at 4:00 & 7:00The Counterfeiters is the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. Salomon “Sally” Sorowitsch is the king of counterfeiters. He lives a mischievous life of cards, booze, and women in Berlin during the Nazi-era. Suddenly his luck runs dry when arrested by Superintendent Friedrich Herzog. Immediately thrown into the Mauthausen concentration camp, Salomon exhibits exceptional skills there and is soon transferred to the upgraded camp of Sachsenhausen. Upon his arrival, he once again comes face to face with Herzog, who is there on a secret mission. Hand-picked for his unique skill, Salomon and a group of professionals are forced to produce fake foreign currency under the program Operation Berhard. The team, which also includes detainee Adolf Burger, is given luxury barracks for their assistance. But while Salomon attempts to weaken the economy of Germany’s allied opponents, Adolf refuses to use his skills for Nazi profit and would like to do something to stop Operation Bernhard’s aid to the war effort. Faced with a moral dilemma, Salomon must decide whether his actions, which could prolong the war and risk the lives of fellow prisoners, are ultimately the right ones.

Girls Rock!
(PG, 90 min., USA, English)
June 22 at 7:00
June 23 at 4:00 & 7:00At Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp, girls ranging in age from eight to 18 are taught that it’s OK to sweat like a pig, scream like a banshee, wail on their instruments with complete and utter abandon, and that “it is 100% okay to be exactly who you are.” The girls have a week to select a band, an instrument they may have never played before, and write a song. In between, they are taught by indie rock chicks such as Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney various lessons of empowerment from self-defense to anger management. At the end of the week, all the bands perform a concert for over 700 people. The film follows several campers: Laura, a Korean adoptee obsessed by death metal; Misty, who is emerging from a life of meth addiction, homelessness and gang activity; and Amelia, an eight-year-old who writes experimental rock songs about her dog Pipi. The girls are given a temporary reprieve from being sexualized, analyzed and pressured to conform.

We’ve finished with the six titles in our spring series and its not even feeling like Spring yet! It looks like the Theater is going to get some pretty interesting titles over the next few weeks, keep an eye out. I’m working on Money. Fun! People gotta be paid for these good movies we showed. Then there’s the IRS…

But beyond that, I’m in talks with folks about the film called GIRLS ROCK for sometime in June. Would it be cool to have it during the Chick’s Run?

And I’d love it if any of you would like to provide some suggestion and/or feedback. Either in the comments or by email would be great.

Ten Canoes

(Unrated, 90 Min., Australia, Adventure/Comedy)

March 23 & 24 at 7:00

It is the distant past, tribal times. Dayindi (played by Jamie Gulpilil, son of the great David Gulpilil) covets one of the wives of his older brother. To teach him the proper way, he is told a story from the mythical past, a story of wrong love, kidnapping, sorcery, bungling mayhem and revenge gone wrong. In English storytelling (by David Gulpilil) and subtitled Ganalbingu language, this is a film unlike any you have ever seen.

“Australian writer-director Rolf de Heer is an extremely visual filmmaker, and his images stay with you. Ten Canoes’ authenticity is guaranteed by a close collaboration with the Aboriginal community.” – Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

“Gulpilil is the canny, subtle and funny narrator of 10 Canoes, a film of unutterable beauty, hypnotic fascination and universal humanity.” – Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

“A rare and valuable movie, providing fascinating insight into another culture without pandering or being stuffy. Seek it out — swim if you have to.” – Sam Toy, Empire Magazine

Half Moon
(Unrated, 114 Min., Kurdish, Drama)
March 16 & 17 at 7:00

Mamo, an iconic Kurdish musician in the twilight of his life and in failing health, must lead a dozen of his sons to Iraq for a concert to celebrate the fall of Saddam Hussein and the end of his repression of Kurdish music. Their plan is to drive across the border, but the road will be long and winding and the local wise man has predicted calamity. But first they must pick up Hesho, Mamo’s exiled singer and muse. The “celestial voice” she represents takes on a divine, transformative power, and Mamo is left in a state of grace no one could ever have anticipated.

The Kurds may not yet have a country, but as long as Bahman Ghobadi keeps making movies they have a national cinema. – Ty Burr, Boston Globe

For his poetic fourth feature, Half Moon, Bahman Ghobadi returns to the desolation of the Kurdish borderlands and the enduring optimism of his people. – Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times

Death blurs the frontier between reality and dream, though never dimming the pic’s startling beauty, raucous humor or indomitable ethos. – Ronnie Scheib, Variety

Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead
(Rated R, 117 Min., USA, Drama/Crime/Thriller)
March 9 & 10 at 7:00

When two brothers organize the robbery of their parents’ jewelery store in Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead, the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father and one brother’s wife hurtling towards a shattering climax. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke and Albert Finney.

An invigorating, refreshing and unusual thing to see one done so expertly. – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Sidney Lumet’s Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is such a superb crime melodrama that I almost want to leave it at that. To just stop writing right now and advise you to go out and see it as soon as you can. – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

At a time when family movies are usurped by fantasies of sentimental feelgood, Lumet’s latest — the mangled-heist melodrama Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead — delivers a swift kick straight to the jewels. – Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Gypsy Caravan
(Unrated, 110 Min., USA & others, Documentary)
March 2 & 3 at 7:00

An audience favorite at film festivals worldwide, GYPSY CARAVAN is a gorgeous surround-sound celebration of misery and oppression turned into music. GYPSY CARAVAN is a dazzling display of the musical world of the Roma, juxtaposed to the real world they live in. This rich feature documentary celebrates the luscious music of top international Gypsy performers and interweaves stirring real life tales of their home life and social background. Shot by documentary icon Albert Maysles, the film takes place on tour in Europe and in the USA during the Gypsy Caravan concert tour, as well as on location in Spain, Macedonia, Romania and India.

It’s hardly surprising that Gypsy Caravan, a lively and lovely music documentary, is rife with whirling rhythms, wild, soaring melodic lines, the ululations of singers steeped in centuries of Romany tradition. – Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer 

It’s a two-hour movie, and I’m only sorry it isn’t two or three times as long. Let me read your thoughts: You’re not much interested in Gypsy music, and the historical and cultural stuff might be pretty dry. That’s what I thought too: Wrong and wrong. – Andrew O’Hehir, Salon.com

An eye-opener, an ear-opener and, most important, a heart-opener. – Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune