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THE HARDER THEY FALL
“The Harder They Fall” is a 2021 Western film written and directed by British filmmaker and musician Jeymes Samuel, also known as The Bullitts, and produced in part by Jay-Z. The film features a predominantly Black cast portraying fictionalized versions of real historical Black figures from the American West, including outlaws, lawmen, and others. It…
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SACRED HOUSES: THE PARAMOUNT THEATER, OAKLAND, CA
In this edition of the “Sacred Houses Series,” we pay homage to The Paramount Theater in Oakland, California, as we continue to honor notable movie theaters worldwide. The Paramount Theatre is a premier example of Art Deco architecture in the United States and a centerpiece of Oakland’s cultural scene. A National Historic Landmark since 1931,…
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LA CHINOISE
“La Chinoise” is a radical political film directed by Jean-Luc Godard in 1967, during one of the most turbulent and intellectually vibrant periods of his career. Filmed in the summer of 1967—almost a year before the May 1968 student uprisings that would shake France—the movie is strikingly prophetic. It captures the mood, rhetoric, and internal…
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THE FLAMINGO KID
“The Flamingo Kid” (1984) is a coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Garry Marshall, set in New York during the summer of 1963. The film follows a working-class teenager from Brooklyn who gets a job at an exclusive beach club on Long Island. There, he is captivated by the glamour and easy confidence of a wealthy car…
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THE DEATH OF STALIN
“The Death of Stalin” is a 2017 black political satire directed by Armando Iannucci, based on the French graphic novel by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin. The film portrays the chaotic power struggle that ensued among Soviet leaders immediately after Joseph Stalin’s death in March 1953. Despite its dark subject matter, the film is presented…
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COFFEE & CIGARETTES
“Coffee & Cigarettes” is a 2003 anthology film directed by Jim Jarmusch, consisting of eleven short vignettes filmed in black-and-white. The film is united by a common theme: people sitting at tables, drinking coffee, and smoking cigarettes. It was created over nearly two decades, with some segments originally produced as short films for television in…
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DER AMERIKANISCHE FREUND aka THE AMERICAN FRIEND
“Der amerikanische Freund” aka “The American Friend” is a 1977 neo-noir crime drama directed by Wim Wenders. It is loosely adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s novels “Ripley’s Game” and “Ripley Under Ground.” The film combines elements of existential drama and suspense, exploring themes of friendship, moral compromise, and the quiet desperation of ordinary lives. The story…
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SHORT FILM: LE BALLON ROUGE aka THE RED BALLOON
“Le Ballon Rouge” aka “The Red Balloon” is a whimsical short film from 1956, directed by Albert Lamorisse. Set in the working-class neighborhoods of Paris, especially the steep streets and stairways of Montmartre, the film is told almost entirely without dialogue. It follows the quiet adventure of a young boy and the mysterious red balloon…
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BIRTH
“Birth” is a psychological drama released in 2004, directed by Jonathan Glazer and written by Jean-Claude Carrière and Milo Addica. The film delves into themes of grief, belief, and the disconcerting idea of reincarnation. Set within an elegant upper-class Manhattan backdrop, it follows Anna (played by Nicole Kidman), a widow who remains emotionally affected by…
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LE CHARME DISCRET DE LA BOURGEOISIE aka THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE
“The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie” is a 1972 surreal satirical comedy directed by Luis Buñuel in which a group of affluent friends repeatedly attempt—and continually fail—to sit down and enjoy a proper dinner together. Through a series of absurd interruptions, dreams within dreams, and bizarre coincidences, Luis Buñuel constructs a sharp critique of upper-middle-class…
