Exclusive: Film Forum Announces Summer Slate, Including New Films From Jonathan Demme and Jafar Panahi
Film Forum has announced its summer lineup, and as expected, it’s an eclectic and exciting mix of docs and dramas, relative newcomers and respected veterans, and all films are of interest.
The season begins on May 7th with a weeklong run of a pair of documentaries about artists. The first, “Sol LeWitt,” explores the life and work of shy and modest but highly respected East Coast conceptual artist LeWitt. The second film takes a look at his polar opposite: “Llyn Foulkes One Man Band” showcases the furious, narcissistic, fascinating West Coast painter and musician in all of his glory.
The next week shows Moroccan film “Horses of God,” a portrait of young boys growing up in poverty amidst widespread violence and mental illness. The boys dream of escaping to Western Europe or becoming famous soccer players, but nearer are the religious fanatics who entice them with promises of “a community of new brothers” for those who will join their terrorist causes. The film, said to be a heartbreaking character study, is directed by Nabil Ayouch,” the acclaimed director of “Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets,” and is presented by Oscar-winning filmmaker Jonathan Demme.
Demme has his own film on the way on July 27th — “A Master Builder.” An adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play, the film stars Wallace Shawn as an egomaniac architect who wishes to make peace with himself as his life approaches its end, as he’s plagued by guilt for how he’s treated his wife (Julie Hagerty), employees and mistresses. The film is based on Shawn’s translation of the play, which was directed on stage by his “My Dinner with Andre” co-star and co-writer Andre Gregory (who also stars in the film). It is Demme’s first narrative film since 2008’s “Rachel Getting Married.”
Other highlights include “Burning Bush,” the new film by “Europa Europa” director Agnieszka Holland about the self-immolating, anti-Soviet Czech activist Jan Palach and his family’s legal efforts to clear his name; “Through a Lens Darkly,” a documentary about how black photographers define themselves, their people, and their culture; and “Closed Curtain,” the new film by director Jafar Panahi which combines documentary and fictitious elements to comment on his house arrest and ban from filmmaking in Iran.
The full list of films is after the break, along with the films’ planned runs.
MAY 7 – 13 (1 WEEK)
SOL LEWITT
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY CHRIS TEERINK
THE NETHERLANDS 2013 72 MINS.
IN ENGLISH AND DUTCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
ICARUS FILMS
LLYN FOULKES ONE MAN BAND
DIRECTED BY TAMAR HALPERN AND CHRIS QUILTY
USA 2013 88 MINS.
MAY 14 – MAY 27 (2 WEEKS)
HORSES OF GOD
DIRECTED BY NABIL AYOUCH
PRESENTED BY JONATHAN DEMME
MOROCCO / FRANCE / BELGIUM 2012 115 MINS.
IN MOROCCAN ARABIC WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
KINO LORBER
MAY 28 – JUNE 10 (2 WEEKS)
THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF DORIS PAYNE
DIRECTED BY MATTHEW POND AND KIRK MARCOLINA
USA 2013 74 MINS.
FILMS TRANSIT
JUNE 11 – 24 (2 WEEKS)
BURNING BUSH
DIRECTED BY AGNIESZKA HOLLAND
CZECH REPUBLIC 2013 PART 1: 160 MINS. PART 2: 80 MINS.
IN CZECH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
KINO LORBER
JUNE 25 – JULY 8 (2 WEEKS)
YVES SAINT LAURENT
DIRECTED BY JALIL LESPERT
FRANCE 2014 104 MINS. IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
JULY 9 – 22 (2 WEEKS)
CLOSED CURTAIN
DIRECTED BY JAFAR PANAHI AND KAMBOZIA PARTOVI
IRAN 2013 106 MINS. IN FARSI WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
JULY 23 – AUGUST 5 (2 WEEKS)
A MASTER BUILDER
DIRECTED BY JONATHAN DEMME
USA 2014 127 MINS.
AUGUST 6 – 19 (2 WEEKS)
WEB JUNKIE
DIRECTED BY SHOSH SHLAM AND HILLA MEDALIA
USA / ISRAEL 2014 79 MINS.
IN MANDARIN CHINESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
KINO LORBER
AUGUST 20 – 26 (1 WEEK)
EXPEDITION TO THE END OF THE WORLD
DIRECTED BY DANIEL DENCIK
DENMARK / SWEDEN 2013 90 MINS.
IN ENGLISH AND DANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
ARGOT PICTURES
AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 9 (2 WEEKS)
THROUGH A LENS DARKLY: BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE EMERGENCE OF A PEOPLE
DIRECTED BY THOMAS ALLEN HARRIS
USA 2014 92 MINS.
ZEITGEIST FILMS
