Jun 17, 2019
Check out what’s playing at Cinematheque in the Now Playing section and purchase advance tickets. Download a PDF copy of the July/August program guide.
July and August at the Cinematheque is full of amazing titles, but there are two absolute must-see movies. Tasha Hubbard’s brilliant and profoundly moving documentary about Colten Boushie can’t be missed. Her award winning and critically acclaimed film nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up is a glorious amalgam of a personal journey, a biographical portrait, an indictment of racism and a stirring examination of the perversions of Canada’s Justice System as it pertains to Indigenous people. The glorious 4K restoration of Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali needs to be seen by anyone and everyone who hasn’t seen it, but also, even if you have seen it, see it again!!! I’ve seen it 30+ times and every viewing feels like I’m seeing it for the first time. Not only is Ray’s classic film an astonishing slice of neo-realism, but it has an exquisite score by Ravi Shankar. It was a groundbreaker in Indian Cinema and still feels fresh and vital. — Greg Klymkiw, Executive Director
No room at the beach? Then why aren’t YOU spending every weekend at the Cinematheque. Gonna be a great summer. Mary Kay Place (The Big Chill, Being John Malkovich) gives a fantastic performance in Kent Jones’ little known gem Diane as an older woman facing the trials of life with her son and family. nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up will rip your heart out when you hear Indigenous filmmaker Tasha Hubbard’s dramatic story about the Canadian justice system and the tragic death of Colten Boushie in Saskatchewan. You also must see Shella Record — A Reggae Mystery — a story as spellbinding as Searching for Sugarman. Record fanatic Chris Flanagan becomes obsessed by a singer’s voice on a 10-cent record he bought in a thrift store and sets off to Jamaica to find if this woman is still alive. The answer may surprise you. I also highly recommend the new 4K Restoration of Pather Panchali, the legendary Indian director Satyajit Ray’s masterpiece and the first in the Apu Trilogy. — Dave Barber, Senior Cinematheque Programmer
If you haven’t checked out one of our Cream of the Crap events yet, I’d highly recommend you come to both this summer! We are trying something new in July – instead of watching a dirty old VHS tape unearthed from the depths of the thrift store, we are showing a beautiful new restoration of the dreadfully bad-good Hard Ticket to Hawaii — Andy Sidaris’ nonsensical “sex” and violence crapterpiece! We’ll be skyping in producer Arlene Sidaris after the screening, which will be filled with movie trivia, drinking games and prizes (courtesy of Sidaris herself) and from our VHfriends over at Lunchmeat. In August we’re back in the Black Lodge and will be watching one of my most insane $1 finds from the flea market — you’ll regret not attending this one for the rest of your life! — Jaimz Asmundson, Cinematheque Programming Director
If there is only one movie you can see in July, it should be Hard Ticket to Hawaii. It has everything: explosions, Playboy Playmates, Ridge Forester from The Bold and the Beautiful and one of the greatest theme songs to grace the silver screen. — Eric Peterson, Cinematheque Head Projectionist
You’ll have your chance to catch up with two of the best performances in film this year: Mary Kay Place in Diane and Elisabeth Moss in Her Smell. Standing at opposite ends of the emotional and psychological spectrum, they both nonetheless display a depth of humanity and commitment to role not often witnessed in contemporary American film. I’m intrigued by The Raft’s story of a psycho-sexual social experiment that could have only happened in the 70s. Feels ripe for a dramatized version. I’m thrilled about a few new restorations in August: Hyenas — full of rich colours and biting social commentary; Between the Lines — incredible director Joan Micklin Silver’s (please make another film) astute ensemble piece; Hard Ticket to Hawaii — a totally bonkers badass bombshell of a film! — David Knipe, Cinematheque Manager of Operations & Special Programming
