When Fanny (de Laâge) unexpectedly reunites with an old acquaintance (Schneider), he unveils a long-held crush, initiating a clandestine series of meetings over drinks and lunches. Meanwhile, Fanny navigates the delicate art of concealing these encounters from her possessive, affluent husband (Poupaud). For his 50th theatrical feature, writer-director Woody Allen has returned to themes of crime and punishment that he previously explored in Crimes and Misdemeanors and Match Point. A compelling tale of fate and murder with a sardonic sense of humor, Coup de Chance “​​looks and plays like many of [Allen’s] recent movies, only better; it sounds like them, too, except that it’s in French” (Manohla Dargis, The New York Times).

Ozu's first movie made after World War II is set in a Tokyo neighborhood where a stoic middle-aged widow begrudgingly shelters an abandoned child, their initially chilly relationship thawing over time. With humor, poignancy, and a stark lack of sentimentality, the film delicately unveils the unlikely bond that forms between them amidst the rubble of war. “If Ozu had only made this seventy-two minute film, he would have to be considered one of the world’s great directors” (David Bordwell). 35mm print courtesy Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater Research.

Danish writer/director von Trier's scathing, riveting drama is set in a secluded Rocky Mountain village during the 1930s. The story follows Grace (Kidman), a woman running from her past whose presence disrupts the tightly woven fabric of the community, slowly revealing the small-town’s duplicity and bigotry. This sprawling saga, told from an outsider’s perspective with a bare minimum of sets and production design, provides viewers with an audacious challenge to American society.  Kidman leads a stellar ensemble that also includes Paul Bettany, Lauren Bacall, Ben Gazzara, Philip Baker Hall, Patricia Clarkson, and James Caan.

After a chance encounter at a karaoke bar in contemporary Helsinki, Ansa (Pöysti) and Holappa (Vatanen) encounter a series of obstacles, including misplaced contact information, alcoholism, and an endearing stray dog. Amidst the trials of lost connections and unexpected companions, the duo navigates a poignant and heartwarming path towards happiness in this charming tale. Filled with deadpan comic touches and homages to other filmmakers like David Lean, Leo McCarey, Yasujiro Ozu, and Jim Jarmusch, Fallen Leaves is also one of the most touching and pleasurable movies of this century. Don’t miss your chance to experience it in a cinema with an audience.

Winner of the top prize at the 1985 Venice Film Festival, Vagabond begins with the discovery of the lifeless, frozen body of the young hitch-hiker Mona (Bonnaire). Through flashbacks recounted by individuals who crossed paths with her (portrayed predominantly by amateur actors), Varda constructs a fragmented depiction of this mysterious woman, crafting a mosaic-like portrayal that the director playfully referred to as “Rashomona.” Bonnaire’s multi-faceted turn won her several awards, including France’s Cesar, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association prize for Best Actress. The presentation of a 35mm print, courtesy Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater Research, will be followed by David Bordwell’s video essay discussing plotting in Vagabond (2019, 15 min.)

In director Sarafian’s existential car chase classic, Newman stars as Kowalski, a society dropout recruited to bring a Dodge Challenger R/T from Denver to San Francisco. Hoping to make it in record time, Kowalksi drives at such high speeds that police in three states quickly become obsessed with capturing him. Along the way, the driver is helped to avoid the cops by a network of hippies and outsiders, most notably radio DJ Super Soul (memorably played by a pre-Blazing Saddles Cleavon Little). The camera and driving stunt work in Vanishing Point will take your breath away and the desert scenery is gorgeous. “What I like best about the film…is its depiction of a coast-to-coast network of weirdos, dropouts, and misfits ready to help wayfaring strangers – this was one of the finer aspects of sixties-seventies counterculture” (Danny Peary, Guide for the Film Fanatic). Copies of the new book Vanishing Point Forever by Robert M. Rubin will be available for sale at our screening. On a new episode of our Cinematalk podcast, listen to Robert M. Rubin discuss his book and the movie with the Cinematheque's Jim Healy.

Junhee, a disillusioned novelist, meets a film director during a visit to an old friend, reigniting her passion for storytelling. As she bonds with Kilsoo, a renowned actress grappling with her own artistic identity, Junhee decides to embark on a unique cinematic journey, envisioning a film that defies conventions and reflects her own creative vision. For his 27th feature film, the prolific and immensely gifted Hong Sang-soo holds a mirror up to his own artistic process and asks what exactly it is we’re looking for from a work of art. “One of the director’s sweetest films, registering ultimately as a touchingly sincere tribute to his life in filmmaking, and to love discovered through art-making” (Matt Turner, Little White Lies).

In this HK buddy cop drama in the tradition of Lethal Weapon, Chow Yun-Fat stars as a clownish, womanizing Sergeant more interested in flashy shirts than fighting crime, until he's paired with a serious rookie (Conan Lee) to bust a cocaine ring. As they attempt to uncover the criminal masterminds, the pair are led to a final showdown involving shotguns-on-strings and flying chainsaws, one of the most jaw-dropping sequences in the celebrated history of Hong Kong action movies. “Such flagrantly loopy combat is quite exciting, even exhilarating….Artificially shaped grace can be tremendously arousing. Don’t forget how people get carried away watching dancing, acrobatics, or basketball” (David Bordwell). 35mm print courtesy Academy Film Archive.