Spring Cinematheque Series 2009
March ~ May

a
	THE EXILES 1961 – USA – d: Kent MacKenzie – 1 hr 12 min – b&w – 35mm County: Mar 2 Mon 7:00 Ambler: Mar 5 Thu 7:00 This sparkling, moody, black-and-white film from 1961 chronicles one night in the lives of a group of young Native Americans living in downtown Los Angeles. It tells a classic American story of aspiration and tragedy that is both beautiful and devastating. This recently restored film is a revelation – a lost treasure – and a must see for all cineastes.
	Filmmaker Matthew von Monahan THE BOOK OF CALEB 2008 – USA – d: Matthew von Monahan – 1hr 46 min - digital County: Mar 9 Mon 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Shot in Bucks County, THE BOOK OF CALEB is the story of twenty-something Caleb, who returns to live at home. There, in his home town, he is reunited with his childhood friends and soon becomes involved with their serial pranks and adventures. We are happy to welcome filmmaker Matthew von Manahan, who will introduce and discuss this accomplished film. Program length is approx two hours. Free for members.
	Filmmaker LeAnn Erickson DESCENT: THREE STORIES OF FAMILY Ambler: Mar 12 Thu 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS DESCENT brings together three award-winning documentaries in which memory and reality, fact and fiction collide. The three films, Folk Songs, Images of Flying and Falling, and No Man is an Island, explore familial relationships, personal stories and cultural traditions. The screening will be introduced by Philadelphia filmmaker and program curator LeAnn Erickson. Program length is approx two hours. Free for members.
	Hitchcock in HD! REAR WINDOW 1954 – USA – d: Alfred Hitchcock – 1 hr 52 min – color – digital w/ James Stewart, Grace Kelly Ambler: Mar 17 Tues 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Yes, we’re showing classic Hitchcock in High Definition Digital – not 35mm! (Oh, the horror!) Come and join us for the beginning of the next chapter of movie theater projection. REAR WINDOW is a perfect test to see if digital projection is worthy of classic Hollywood on the big screen. You be the judge. Free for members.
	LE DOULOS 1962 – France – d: Jean-Pierre Melville – 1 hr 48 min – b&w – 35mm – w/subtitles County: Mar 16 Mon 7:00 Ambler: Mar 19 Thu 7:00 From master director Jean-Pierre Melville, LE DOULOS descends into the morally clouded world of hoodlums, cops and informants in a gritty story of crime and betrayal. Full of hardboiled dialogue, visual poetry, and twisting plot, this tough French noir is superb on all counts. Starring Jean-Paul Belmondo.
	ZOMBIE DOUBLE FEATURE AND BOOK SIGNING County: Mar 20 Fri 9:30 The County Theater is teaming up with the Doylestown Bookshop to present a zombie-filled evening featuring award-winning horror author Jonathan Maberry. Following a book signing of PATIENT ZERO at the Bookshop, Mr. Maberry will come to the County to introduce two zombie films: 28 DAYS LATER and a special selection of his own. Tickets are $10 or $5 with purchase of one of Mr. Maberry’s books at the Bookshop.
	Filmmaker Tom Quinn THE NEW YEAR PARADE 2008 – USA – d: Tom Quinn – 1 hr 30 min – digital County: Mar 23 Mon 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Ambler: Mar 26 Thu 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS The always colorful Mummers Parade bookends a clear-eyed portrait of divorce in this Philadelphia film. Winner of the Slamdance Grand Jury Prize, Tom Quinn’s first feature combines local actors with hundreds of actual band members to yield a very authentic look at a family reeling from parental discord. The screenings will be introduced by and discussed by filmmaker Tom Quinn. Free for members.
a
	OPERA AT THE AMBLER THEATER Individual Tickets (now available online or at box office 10 days in advance) Ambler Members: $22 General Public: $26 For More Information: (215) 348-1878 or AmblerTheater.org All run times shown include one 20-minute intermission
a
	OPERA AT THE AMBLER THEATER
	IL TRITTICO Puccini – Conducted by Riccardo Chailly and directed by Luca Ronconi at La Scala Starring Juan Pons, Miro Dvorski, Paoletta Marrocu 3 hr 20 min Ambler: Mar 22 Sun 1:00 IL TRITTICO is comprised of three one-act operas – Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi. This 2008 production, directed by Luca Ronconi and conducted by Riccardo Chailly, was performed at La Scala to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Puccini’s birth.
	FOCUS ON ANIMATION
	Animation Film Forums With Critic Sam Adams FOCUS ON ANIMATION County: Mar 30 Mon 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Ambler: Apr 2 Thu 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Join us as we kick off our Focus on Animation series with a special discussion on“Contemporary Issues in Animation” led by film critic Sam Adams. The presentation will feature film clips from an assortment of animated films and touch on topics such as digital versus hand-drawn animation and how animation is no longer “just for kids”. Program length approximately two hours. Free for members.
	FOCUS ON ANIMATION
	2009 BLACK MARIA FILM FESTIVAL - ANIMATION ONLY County: Apr 6 Mon 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Bryn Mawr: Apr 7 Tue 7:30 - FREE FOR MEMBERS We are delighted to welcome back the Black Maria Film and Video Festival, an award-winning festival committed to the exhibition of cuttingedge independent films. This year will focus exclusively on animation. Each evening will showcase a different program. Free for members.
	FOCUS ON ANIMATION
	Inquirer Critic Steven Rea SPIRITED AWAY 2001 – Japan – d: Hayao Miyazaki – 2 hr 5 min Ambler: Apr 9 Thu 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS County: Apr 13 Mon 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award winning masterpiece, SPIRITED AWAY, is drawn animation at its very best. Chihiro, a ten year-old girl, is transported into the spirit world and must pass a series of tests to escape. The film will be introduced and discussed by Philadelphia Inquirer Film Critic Steven Rea. Free for members.
	FOCUS ON ANIMATION
	2008 OSCAR ANIMATED SHORTS Bryn Mawr: Apr 14 Tue 7:30 Ambler: Apr 16 Thu 7:00 The short animated films that were nominated this year for the 2008 Academy Awards are all shown in this program. They showcase innovative, visually stunning work created by exceptional artists. The films include This Way Up and Presto, and run the gambit from laugh-out-loud crowd pleasers to experimental masterpieces.
a
	OPERA COMES TO THE AMBLER
	RIGOLETTO Verdi – Conducted by Massimo Zanetti and directed by Stefano Vizioli at the Teatro Regio, Parma (Verdi Festival 2008) – Starring Leo Nucci, Francesco Demuro, Désirée Rancatore 2 hr 30 min Ambler: Apr 19 Sun 1:00 This classical production of RIGOLETTO, one of Verdi’s most beloved operas, earned rave reviews at this year’s Verdi Festival in Parma. Master baritone Leo Nucci’s haunting performance as the title character steals the show, and no wonder – he’s performed the role over 400 times.
	FOCUS ON ANIMATION
	CARTOONS FROM THE LOU DiCRESCENZO COLLECTION County: Apr 20 Mon 7:00 Ambler: Apr 23 Thu 7:00 The Ambler and County Theaters welcome back film preservationist Lou DiCrescenzo for a funfilled evening of animated shorts. Join us as we celebrate Bugs Bunny, Popeye, Tom & Jerry and other animated classics. The theaters will show different programs: Animation Mania at the County and Cartoon Chaos at the Ambler. (Consult both websites for program specifics.)
	A Film Forum With Chris Collier FROM WAGNER TO STAR WARS: SCORING MYTHIC MOTIFS County: Apr 27 Mon 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Ambler: Apr 30 Thu 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS From the opening music of King Kong to the closing credits of Return of the Jedi, film scores have used the music of Richard Wagner to bring myth to life. Join film music scholar Christopher Collier for an exploration of film scores and Wagner in such films as Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Laura, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Numerous film clips and music examples will be presented in this program, which is suited for a general audience. Free for members.
	GREENFIELD YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL Ambler: May 4 Mon 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS The Greenfield Youth Film Festival, open to students at five Philadelphia-area high schools, will present films in multiple categories, under the tutelage of media professionals and professors. The films are judged by a prestigious panel of mediamakers, and scholarship prizes will be awarded at the screening. This public screening at the Ambler Theater is free and open to the public. Program to last approx 2 hours. Free for members.
a
	Filmmaker Jeremiah Zagar IN A DREAM 2008 – USA – 1 hr 20 min - digital County: May 4 Mon 7:00 Bryn Mawr: May 5 Tue 7:30 Ambler: May 7 Thu 7:00 A stirring documentary, IN A DREAM chronicles the life of renowned mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar who for the past four decades has covered more than 40,000 feet of Philadelphia with his whimsical creations. This intimate film, made by the artist’s son, also reveals the turmoil and darker side of an artist’s imagination. These screenings will be introduced and discussed by the film’s director, Jeremiah Zagar. Free for members.
a
	SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER 1960 – France – d: Francois Truffaut – 1 hr 21 min – b&w – 35mm – w/subtitles County: May 11 Mon 7:00 Ambler: May 14 Thu 7:00 A masterpiece of the French New Wave, Truffaut’s second film is part thriller, part comedy and part tragedy. Charles Aznavour stars as a mild-mannered piano player who stumbles into both a whirlwind love affair and the criminal underworld as he tries to forget his past. This is a razor-sharp homage to the American gangster film and it’s pure playful fun.
aa
	OPERA AT THE AMBLER THEATER
	THE CORONATION OF POPPEA Monteverdi – Conducted by Emmanuelle Haïm and directed by Robert Carsen at the Glyndebourne Festival – Starring Danielle de Niese, Sonya Yoncheva, Simona Mihai 2 hr 20 min Ambler: May 17 Sun 1:00 International star Danielle de Niese returns to Glyndebourne as Poppea, the amoral and relentlessly ambitious heroine of Claudio Monteverdi’s last opera. Baroque specialist Emmanuelle Haïm conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
a
	2009 DIAMOND SCREEN FILM FESTIVAL County: May 18 Mon 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Bryn Mawr: May 19 Tue 7:30 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Ambler: May 21 Thu 7:00 - FREE FOR MEMBERS Join us for three different evenings of the most creative and outstanding student work from Temple University’s Film School, including documentary, narrative, experimental, and animated films and videos. Each evening will feature a different selection of Senior and Graduate works. Presented by the filmmakers and Temple University’s Department of Film and Media Studies. Free for members.
a
	OPERA COMES TO THE AMBLER
	JULIUS CAESAR Handel – Conducted by William Christie and directed by David McVicar and Robin Lough at the Glyndebourne Festival – Starring Sarah Connolly, Danielle de Niese 3 hr 46 min Ambler: Jun 7 Sun 12:30 Director David McVicar sets this acclaimed production of the Handel favorite in the early 20th century, during a period of British colonialism in Egypt. A highlight is the brilliant performance by Danielle de Niese, one of opera’s youngest stars, in her breakout role as Cleopatra.