The 2007-2008 Film Series is dedicated in loving memory to Shirley Samuels; art lover, teacher, friend and long-time member of the Film Series Advisory Committee.
Series Sponsor: M & T Bank
Film ticket coupon books can only be order through the ticket office.
All films are shown in the Museum or Art Auditorium
on Wednesdays and Fridays, unless otherwise indicated.
Tickets are on sale 30 minutes prior to each screening.
Matinee Admission: MWPAI Members $4; General Admission $6; Students $3.
Evening Admission: MWPAI Members $5; General Admission $7; Students $3.
Film Passbooks: For 10 discounted admissions are available for
$50 for General Admission or for $35 for
MWPAI members at the Performing Arts Ticket Office.
For more information or to be added to the Film Series E-mail List,
contact the Performing Arts Ticket Office 797-0055, 800-754-0797.
Married Life
Directed by Ira Sachs
2008, United States, Rated PG-13, 90 minutes
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Friday, May 16, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Dark humor, romantic deception and stylish melodrama with an invigorating dash of suspense characterize this wry, unconventional fable for grown-ups about the irresistible power and utter madness of love. After decades of marital contentment, Harry (Chris Cooper) concludes that he must kill his wife Pat (Patricia Clarkson) because he loves her too much to let her suffer when he leaves her. Harry has fallen hard for the young and lovely Kay (Rachel McAdams), but his best friend Richard (Pierce Brosnan) wants Kay for himself. As Harry implements his inept plans for murdering his wife, the other characters are entangled with their own deceptions.
A Suspenseful and Clever Domestic Fable
The Year My Parents
Went on Vacation
Directed by Cao Hamburger
2006, Brazil, Rated PG, 105 minutes, Subtitled
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Friday, May 23, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
This poignant and humorous coming of age story, set in Brazil in the turbulent year 1970, thrusts 12-year-old Mauro (Michel Joelsas) into a maelstrom of political and personal upheaval. When his left-wing militant parents are forced to go underground, Mauro is left in the care of his Jewish grandfather’s neighbor in Sao Paulo. Suddenly finding himself an exile in his own country, he is forced to create an ersatz family from the religiously diverse and colorful population of his new neighborhood. Mauro befriends tomboyish, street smart Hanna (Daniela Piepszyk) and develops a crush on Irene (Liliana Castro), a pretty waitress. Irene works in a local bar where everyone—including Mauro, an ardent soccer fan—gathers to watch iconic star Pelé in the 1970 World Cup championship which Mauro hopes to watch with his parents if they return to Brazil in time.
A Sensitive, Warm and Involving Drama
The Counterfeiters
Directed by Stefan Ruzowitsky
2007, Germany, Rated R, 99 minutes, Subtitled
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Friday, May 30, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
This 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 he is arrested by the Nazis and thrown into the Mauthausen concentration camp. Soon, his exceptional skills merit him a transfer to the upgraded camp, Sachsenhausen. Upon his arrival, he becomes a key figure in “Operation Bernhard.” Hand-picked for his unique skill, Salomon and a group of professionals are forced to produce fake foreign currency to fuel the German war effort while simultaneously undermining the Allied economies. The apolitical Sally clashes with the political activist Adolf Burger (August Diehl), who refuses to use his skills for Nazi profit. 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.
Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film
Shine a Light
Directed by Martin Scorsese
2008, United States, Rated PG-13, 122 minutes
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Friday, June 6, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Martin Scorsese's extraordinary musical film shows the Rolling Stones as they've never been seen before. Filming at the famed Beacon Theatre in New York City in fall 2006, Scorsese assembled a legendary team of cinematographers to capture the raw energy of the legendary band, utilizing more than 18 cameras to pan and zoom in on every conceivable bit of the action. Shine a Light focuses on the music, dispensing with the talking-head device and opting instead for spare vintage newsreel and TV footage as the only non-performance-based commentary on the band. In his quest to document their performance, their stage presence, their camaraderie, Scorsese also captured the Stones' legendarily pumped up shows—concerts that absolutely belie their respective ages while electrifying fans.
Hoping to provide a better life for her son, Rosario (Kate del Castillo) works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for nine-year-old Carlitos (Adrian Alonso) back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. Along the way, mother and son face challenges and obstacles but never lose hope that they will one day be together again. Director Patricia Riggen's film is not only a heartwarming family story, but also a subtle commentary on the much-debated issue of illegal immigration. This film co-stars America Ferrera (Ugly Betty).
Compelling, Humorous and Profoundly Moving
Chicago 10
Directed by Brett Morgen
2007, United States, Rated R, 110 minutes
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Friday, June 20, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Writer/director Brett Morgen's (The Kid Stays in the Picture) unique perspective on contemporary history mixes bold animation with extraordinary archival footage as it explores the Chicago Conspiracy Trial of Abbie Hoffman, Tom Hayden, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale and others. At the 1968 Democratic Convention, protestors repeatedly clashed with a Chicago Police department, resulting in riots witnessed live by a television audience of more than 50 million. The soundtrack features rebellious agitprop tracks by the Rage Against The Machine, Black Sabbath, Steppenwolf and recontexualized songs by the Beastie Boys, Eminem and Billy Preston. Chicago 10 is the story of young Americans speaking out and taking a stand in the face of an oppressive and armed government. Featuring the voices of Hank Azaria, Dylan Baker, Nick Nolte, Mark Ruffalo, Roy Scheider, Liev Schreiber and Jeffrey Wright.
A Vibrant and Unconventional Documentary
The Visitor
Directed by Tom McCarthy
2008, United States, Rated PG-13, 108 minutes
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Thursday, June 26, 2008
2 and 7:30 pm in the Museum of Art Auditorium
Veteran character actor Richard Jenkins stars as Walter, a disillusioned and widowed Connecticut economics professor, who comes to New York City to attend a conference. When he enters his musty apartment, he finds a young couple squatting there. Tarek, a young Syrian man, and Zainab, his Senegalese girlfriend, are victims of a real estate scam and have nowhere else to go. Walter reluctantly allows the couple to stay with him. Touched by his kindness, Tarek, a talented musician, insists on teaching the aging academic to play the African drum. The instrument’s exuberant rhythms revitalize Walter’s faltering spirit. As the friendship between the two men deepens, the differences in culture, age and temperament melt away. When Tarek is arrested, held as an undocumented illegal and set for deportation, Walter finds himself compelled to help his new friend with a passion he thought he had lost long ago.
