Black Notebooks: Ronit

March 29th 6:15 PM, March 30th 7:45 PM, March 31st 4:45 PM

Farewell, Mr. Haffmann

1h 55min | NR

Occupied Paris, 1941: all members of the Jewish community are instructed to come forward and identify themselves to authorities. Dedicated jeweller Joseph Haffmann (Auteuil), fearing the worst, arranges for his family to flee the city and offers his employee François Mercier (Gilles Lellouche) the chance to take over his store until the conflict subsides. But his own attempts to escape are thwarted, and Haffmann is forced to seek his assistant’s protection. It’s a risky proposition for both men, and one that Mercier’s wife Blanche (a wonderful Sara Giraudeau) is sceptical of. As the couple move into the Haffmann home, the agreement turns into a Faustian bargain, one that will forever change the fate of all…

Superbly directed by Cavayé, FAREWELL, MR. HAFFMANN masterfully guides the viewer through the world of Vichy France, where lives are irrevocably shaped by the twin scourges of war and the black market. Rich in moral complexity and empathy, with several twists too good to spoil, this is grand, big-screen adult entertainment at its finest.

Black Notebooks: Ronit

Coming March 31st 12:30pm

Ran

2h 40min | R

The 1985 classic Ran is a masterful film by Akira Kurosawa, offering a captivating reimagining of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” set in 16th century Japan. This epic tale delves into the themes of war, betrayal, and the intoxicating allure of power. As an elderly warlord decides to retire, he bequeaths his empire to his three sons, underestimating the corrupting influence that power will have on them. In a tragic turn of events, the newfound authority leads to a tumultuous struggle among the sons and their father, ultimately tearing their family apart. Ran stands as one of Kurosawa’s most remarkable accomplishments, showcasing his unparalleled storytelling and profound exploration of human nature.

Black Notebooks: Ronit

Coming April 6th 12:15pm

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

2h 44min | R

Director Martin Scorsese’s controversial and thought-provoking portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ comes to life in The Last Temptation of Christ. Featuring Willem Dafoe in a powerful and captivating performance, the film delves into the internal struggles and doubts faced by Jesus as he grapples with his divine purpose and battles with the temptations of a normal human life. Through themes of faith, sacrifice, and redemption, Scorsese presents a unique and contemplative perspective on the life of Jesus. Accompanied by the evocative film score composed by Peter Gabriel, The Last Temptation of Christ stands as a visually stunning and emotionally resonant exploration of one of history’s most influential figures.

Q&A w/ Scorsese biographer Mary Pat Kelly will follow the screening

Black Notebooks: Ronit

Coming April 7th 12:15 pm

Ennio

2h 36m | NR

Giuseppe Tornatore, director of the beloved CINEMA PARADISO, turns his camera on his longtime collaborator Ennio Morricone (1928 – 2020) in a moving and comprehensive profile of the indefatigable composer. Tornatore’s documentary portrait examines the breadth of the maestro’s career, from his early Italian pop songs to the fistful of unforgettable film scores that he wrote, including THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY, THE THING, DAYS OF HEAVEN, and hundreds of others. Packed with insightful commentary from Morricone’s collaborators and contemporaries, ENNIO affords the master one last chance to recount his career and deconstruct his artistic process.

Black Notebooks: Ronit

Coming April 7th 5:30pm

Make Me Famous

1h 33min | NR

Make Me Famous offers a unique lens into the rise and fall of the East Village art scene in 1980s New York City, centering on the little-known neo-expressionist painter Edward Brezinski. Premiering at the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival, this evocative documentary received acclaim from critics and provides a compelling exploration of art, fame, and the cultural landscape of its era.

Q&A with Filmmakers will follow the screening.

Black Notebooks: Ronit

Tickets Available for April 27th, and 28th.

April 26th Cancelled!

April 20th Sold Out!

Heaven Stood Still: The Incarnations of Willy DeVille

1h 27min | NR

There was no one like the American singer Willy DeVille

Leaping out of the 1970s CBGB punk scene in New York City with his band Mink DeVille, Willy DeVille was always coming and going, moving backward and forward through both time and musical genres.

Changing his persona to match his adventurous musical forays, he was a Latin Street Crooner, a Fairytale Prince, a New Orleans Riverboat Gambler, a Southwest Border Jumper and finally a man who must come face to face with his true self.

His musical odyssey lasted 35 years across two continents and a million records sold. Yet in the US, his home he is almost completely unknown.

He wielded a big voice, an obsessive dedication to his own muse and a serious drug problem across two continents for 35 years. He sold over a million records. Yet, in his home country he is almost completely unknown.

Longtime J Geils Band front man Peter Wolf said, “There is a mystery about Willy DeVille. When you get it, it’s atomic, it’s huge.”

“He was an old soul and didn’t know it.” The Legendary Ben E King

“He was in a bubble of his own creation.” Chris Frantz, drummer Talking Heads

“A deep, hurtful feeling that had a real effect on you.” Freddy Koella, guitarist Mink DeVille Band, Bob Dylan Band

“He stood out, his voice and presentation ought to have gotten him in (Rock N Roll Hall of Fame) by now.” Bob Dylan

“You are going to the leave the theater with some new favorite songs” Upstate Films

Black Notebooks: Ronit

Coming April 28th

A Life’s Work

1h 30min | NR

What’s it like to dedicate your life to work that won’t be completed in your lifetime? 15 years ago, filmmaker David Licata focused on four projects and the people behind them in an effort to answer this universal question.

The subjects include Jill Tarter, Director of the SETI Institute, who has been involved in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence since the 1970s; David and Jared Milarch, father and son tree farmers and co-founders of the Champion Tree Project, who clone old-growth trees to combat climate change; gospel music archivist Robert Darden, who founded the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project, an organization that is trying preserve at-risk recordings from the black gospel music tradition; and Paolo Soleri, controversial architect behind Arcosanti, a town designed to test his theories about housing an overpopulated planet.

We discover what inspired them to begin, what obstacles they face, what drives and sustains them, and how they measure success of an endeavor they will not live to see completed.

Black Notebooks: Ronit

Coming April 28th

Badlands (1973)

1h 34m | PG

Director Terrence Malick’s directorial debut, Badlands, has cemented its status as an American neo-noir crime drama classic. Starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek, the film delves into the story of Holly Sargis, a 15-year-old girl who joins forces with her partner, Kit Carruthers, in a chilling killing spree. With Malick’s artistic vision, Badlands captivates audiences with its exploration of love, violence, and the complexities of the human psyche.

Black Notebooks: Ronit

Coming June 9th 3:15 PM

Julia Scotti: Funny That Way

1h 14m | NR

With breathtaking emotional honesty, this tender, funny, and powerful portrait of transgender comedian Julia Scotti explores the unrelenting courage and humor it takes to be Julia. In the comedy boom of the 1980’s Rick Scotti was a busy guy–appearing in clubs across the country, on bills with Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld, when he came to the dawning realization that nothing felt right. At a time when the words gender dysphoria and gender reassignment surgery were rarely heard, Rick’s true awakening at age forty-seven led to a new identity as Julia Scotti. And then everyone turned away–former wives, friends, family, comedy world buddies, and most painfully Julia was shut out from any contact with her children. Julia reinvented herself, spent a decade teaching, and then several years ago, stepped back on stage and began her journey back to the world she loves, and her children reached out to her after 15 years of silence. Shot over a period of five years, the film tracks Julia’s triumphant comeback and the complex process of reuniting with her children, as comedy becomes the shared language of identity, healing, and joy.

Post film discussion with the writer and director Susan Sandler and special guest, Julie Klausner.

Susan Sandler is an American writer and currently a professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has numerous writing credits but is probably best known for her play Crossing Delancey, which she also adapted into a film with the same name starring Amy Irving and directed by Joan Micklin Silver.

Julie Klausner created the Hulu series “Difficult People.” She wrote two books, hosted the How Was Your Week podcast and currently co-hosts the Double Threat podcast with Tom Scharpling. She writes for television, film and theater and frequently performs live solo shows in New York City, where she lives.