Free event: The Island President

Upcoming films in the Independent Lens series of documentaries at the Cultural Center include The Island President. The President of the Maldives islands fights global warming.

The Island President
Saturday, April 20, 2013
2:00 p.m.
Cultural Center
Claudia Cassidy Theatre
77 E. Randolph Street

Free event: William Friedkin: The Friedkin Connection

Chicago's Harold Washington Library Center ends their short program celebrating director William Friedman. Previously this month they screened The French Connection and The Exorcist, two classic and influential films.

This event sounds like a talk with some Q&A and is hosted by Filmspotting's Adam Kempenaar. Friedkin's book The Friedkin Connection will also be available for purchase and signing.

I also encourage you to check out Filmspotting, a locally produced film podcast, which broadcasts on local NPR station, WBEZ, and also available online.

William Friedkin: The Friedkin Connection
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
400 S. State Street

Free event: The Manchurian Candidate

Back to Frank Sinatra films at the Northbrook Public Library. For a change of pace, a serious film, The Manchurian Candidate. A Korean War POW is brainwashed to become an assassin.

The Manchurian Candidate
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Northbrook Public Library
1201 Cedar Lane
Northbrook, IL 60062

Free event: Amour

The Northbrook Public Library takes a break from their run of Frank Sinatra films to present something totally different--recent award winner Amour. The plight of an elderly couple is portrayed after one of them has a stroke.

Amour
Saturday, April 13, 2013
2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Northbrook Public Library
1201 Cedar Lane
Northbrook, IL 60062

Free event: Robin and the 7 Hoods

The Northbrook Public Library continues their film screenings with a run of Frank Sinatra films. Next on the list during April is Robin and the 7 Hoods. Along with his Rat Pack group of singers/actors friends like Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra plays a gangster in the Prohibition era. It is a swinging re-telling of the Robin Hood legend!

Robin and the 7 Hoods
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Northbrook Public Library
1201 Cedar Lane
Northbrook, IL 60062

Free event: The Exorcist

April continues to be a good month for free screenings. Chicago's Harold Washington Library Center is hosting another film directed by William Friedkin. The Exorcist was the first movie that really scared me, to the point that I couldn't sleep! And this was the tv version which was probably cut down somewhat for broadcast, although I am not sure if back then the tv channels would cut out all the graphic visuals like they would do nowadays for broadcast, non-cable tv. You can't deny that many modern day horror movies owe something if not a lot to The Exorcist and how horror was visually depicted in the movies.

The last event in this series takes place on April 16, when Mr. Friedkin speaks and will sign his new book. Mark your calendars!

The Exorcist
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
400 S. State Street

Free event: Cosmonaut

The Italian Institute of Chicago continues with a couple of screenings this month. The next one, Cosmonaut, depicts the life of a young communist during the space race era. Although the event is free you need to register here. 

Cosmonaut
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago
500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450

Free event: The French Connection

April looks like a good month for free screenings.  Another good pick this month is being hosted by Chicago's Harold Washington Library Center. The French Connection, starring Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, is part of a program celebrating director William Friedman. The story is a police action/thriller based on a true story.

Related events include a screening of The Exorcist on April 9, and the director himself speaks at the library on April 16. Mark your calendars!

The French Connection.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
400 S. State Street

Free event: Pal Joey

The Northbrook Public Library continues their film screenings with a run of Frank Sinatra films. First up for April is Pal Joey, where a night club singer has to choose between two women--a chorus girl or a rich widow. I will leave it up to you to guess which of the two costars, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak, play which role.  The film also includes a song made pretty famous by Sinatra, The Lady is a Tramp.

Pal Joey
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Northbrook Public Library
1201 Cedar Lane
Northbrook, IL 60062

Free event: Giulia Doesn't Date at Night

There are several films taking place this month at the Italian Cultural Institute. The first is Giulia Doesn't Date at Night. A successful family man is tempted by a charming swimming instructor. Although the event is free you need to register here.

Giulia Doesn't Date at Night
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
6:00 p.m.
Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago
500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450

Free: Peace on Earth Film Festival

The Peace on Earth Film Festival starts today.  I believe all screenings are free.  This fest attempts to bring social issues to a broader audience.  Check out their blog.  I hope to catch one or two as my schedule permits.

Free event: My Mexican Shivah

Morirse esta en Hebreo (My Mexican Shivah)
Tuesday, January 8, 2012
6:00 p.m.
UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico)
350 W. Erie Street

This comedy Mexican Jews who have to perform shivah, a funeral/death rite, when one of them dies. Many of the deceased’s friends and family gather to see him off, but they are all petty and selfish with their own agendas for being there. Meanwhile, two Jewish “angels” watch over them, adding up points for and against the deceased, to see where he will end up, in heaven or hell.

I was hoping this would show me some cultural differences or show the mix of these two cultures I haven’t seen together before. The comedy tends to instead show stereotyped characters such as that Hispanics are lovers and Jews are money grubbers. Here and there were interesting characters or a small storyline that was interesting.

Free event: The Awful Truth

This is a screwball comedy starring veterans Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.  They are a married couple who think the other is unfaithful.

The Awful Truth
Monday, January 7, 2013
8:00 p.m.
Transistor
3819 N. Lincoln Avenue

Free event: Pegasus

If you prefer heavy drama, check out this film in the Chicago Public Library's Global Lens series of foreign films.

In Pegasus, an emotionally stressed psychiatrist tries to connect to a young, traumatized woman who refuses to speak. The story of the psychiatrist herself may have similarities to the woman's problem.

Pegasus
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
6:00 p.m.
Chicago Public Library, Bezazian Public Library
1226 W. Ainslie Street

Free event: Swing Time

Get away from holiday stress today and catch a musical!

The Northbrook Public Library continues with another Fred Astaire film. Swing Time is one of the better known of the Astaire and Rogers films, but the premise is just as flimsy to build some songs and dances around. This film includes the Bojangles of Harlem song and dance routine, where Fred dances in blackface to copies of his shadow. It is meant to be a tribute to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, who as the song states, is more famous than the President (who, in 1936 when this film was made, was Franklin Roosevelt).

Swing Time
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Northbrook Public Library
1201 Cedar Lane
Northbrook, IL 60062

Free event: The Entrepreneur

A man inherits a dying business which he hopes will be acquired, but his marriage also begins to fail.

The Entreprenuer
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
6:00 p.m.
Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago
500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450

Free event: Monsieur Lazhar

Transistor, the record shop and art gallery, continues to offer free films. Today's offering is not music-related, but was Oscar-nominated last year as Best Foreign Film.

The film involves several cultures, as a substitute Algerian teacher in Montreal deals with his own grief after filling in for another teacherwho committed suicide.  This film is from Belgium.

Monsieur Lazhar
Monday, December 17, 2012
8:00 p.m.
Transistor
3819 N. Lincoln Avenue

Free event: The Prize

In this film from Mexico, a mother and daughter leave Buenos Aires while it is under military rule. At the daughte's new school, students are asked to write a patriotic essay on those same dictators who may have made her father "disappear."

The Prize
Thursday, December 13, 2012
6:00 p.m.
Chicago Public Library, Lincoln Belmont Public Library
1659 W. Melrose Street

Free event: Roberta

The Northbrook Public Library seems to be starting a series of Fred Astaire screenings. This first film, Roberta, is a mishmash of characters, co-starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, although the main headliner is Irene Dunne, as you can see from the poster. The premise is that a football player (a wholesome Randolph Scott) has inherited his aunt's fashion shop, where he falls for the aunt's true designer, played by Irene Dunne. There is no character named Roberta in the film, in fact it is the name of the fashion shop (although the aunt who owns it is named Minnie--confusing, huh?) The original source material is a novel called "Gowns by Roberta."

Roberta
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Northbrook Public Library
1201 Cedar Lane
Northbrook, IL 60062

Free event: Being John Malkovich

I wonder how this film would have turned out if it was "Being" someone else? "Being Meryl Streep," "Being Nicolas Cage," "Being Charlie Chaplin?" It would make for an interesting discussion at your next party, especially if you have some film buffs on your guest list!

Being John Malkovich
Monday, December 10, 2012
8:00 p.m.
Transistor
3819 N. Lincoln Avenue