|
France, 2000, Peter Watkins
During the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), on March 17 and 18, Parisians led an uprising against the national government, which fled the capital and re-established itself in Versailles. The insurgents established a revolutionary, proletarian government in Paris, called the Central Committee of the National Guard, and set March 26 as the date for the election of a municipal council. This council became known as the Commune of 1871, and its members as Communards.
In LA COMMUNE (PARIS, 1871), more than 200 actors interpret characters of the Commune, especially the Popincourt neighborhood in the XIth arrondissement. They voice their own thoughts and feelings concerning the social and political reforms.
In memory of the radical filmmaker Peter Watkins (Punishment Park, The War Game) who passed away in 2025, this event is a combined screening and discussion of his docu-fiction film which examines one of the most significant experiments in and of freedom in modern history. A rare screening of the full-version of this work, this event will enable participants to fully immerse themselves in Watkins’ cinematic inventiveness and have the opportunity to discuss it with their peers after, following the tradition of public debate that the film itself puts to the center. This screening will also provide a unique chance to reflect on what freedom means in our current social-political present. Post-screening discussion led by Patrick Lyons, Assistant Professor of French at Case Western Reserve University. Subtitles. 345 minutes plus discussion.
A Cleveland Humanities Festival event, sponsored by the Baker-Nord Institute for the Humanities.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided free of charge during the intermission. To eliminate financial barriers to access, free tickets will be available at the box office. Please reach out to bsisman@cia.edu to inquire.
Sunday 2:00 pm
Watch the trailer below:
| |
|
Turkey, 1953, Mehmet Muhtar
DRACULA IN ISTANBUL receives its US Premiere! Taken to be the oldest horror film in Turkish cinema, this cult classic blends the iconography and dramatic plot of Bram Stoker's novel with local cultural codes and everyday life of Istanbul to provide an important addition to the history of Dracula onscreen. Significant for its production design and striking cinematography, some sources cite the film as the first one in which Dracula is directly linked to Vlad the Impaler, as well as the first time the vampire's canine fangs are visible. Restoration by Kadikoy Sinematek/Sinema Evi in Istanbul. Subtitles. 102 min.
Old Blood, New Blood. US Premiere. New Digital Restoration.
Thursday 8:45 pm
| |
|
Switzerland/Germany, 2025, Petra Volpe
With a warm smile and positive attitude, Floria arrives at the surgical ward of the Swiss hospital where she works as a nurse on the overnight shift. With one colleague out sick and no replacement on deck, just two nurses and a nervous trainee will have to cover more than two dozen patients. Surrounded by fluorescent lights, the steady beeping of monitors, and echoing footsteps, Floria struggles to fight off exhaustion and maintain her professional demeanor. With LATE SHIFT, director Petra Volpe (The Divine Order) skillfully uses real-time tension to examine the emotional cost of frontline care work and the quiet, unglamorous triumph of keeping people alive in a pitiless system. Subtitles. 91 min.
Cleveland premiere. Official Swiss submission for the 98th Academy Awards.
Friday 7:00 pm & Saturday 6:45 pm
Watch the trailer below:
| |
|
Italy, 2025, Gianfranco Rosi
Naples is a city forever marked by the looming presence of Mount Vesuvius. Beneath the quiet threat of eruption, people go about their days, archaeologists unearth the past, children learn as the earth hums, firefighters wait for the next call. The result is a portrait at once local and universal, a reflection on humanity's capacity to live, love, and rebuild in the shadow of the unimaginable. POMPEI: BELOW THE CLOUDS is a monumental work from the great documentarian Gianfranco Rosi (Notturno, Fire at Sea). Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival. Subtitles. 114 min.
Cleveland premiere.
Thursday, 6:30 pm & Saturday 4:30 pm
Watch the trailer below:
| |
|
Japan, 1987, Mamoru Oshii
In a dystopian near-future, law and order is enforced by a brutal paramilitary police unit. However, when their extreme methods spark public outcry, the government moves to dismantle the unit. Disobeying orders to disband, a trio of officers stage a rebellion—but only one, Koichi Todome, escapes. Three years later, Koichi returns to Tokyo after living in exile, seeking to reunite with his former comrades and uncover the truth behind the crackdown, but he soon finds himself in a surreal and dreamlike city—a shadow of its former self, filled with strange characters, elusive memories, and Kafkaesque absurdity. A philosophical blend of film noir, political allegory, and existential mystery, THE RED SPECTACLES is a visually striking black comedy that meditates on justice, memory, and the cost of loyalty. It also serves as Mamoru Oshii’s foray into live-action filmmaking and his first feature installment in The Kerberos Saga. Subtitles. 116 min.
New 4K Restoration.
Friday 8:55 pm & Saturday 8:40 pm
Watch the trailer below:
| |
| | Sign up, support us, sport our logo, or subscribe!
| |
|
Engage with the Cinematheque beyond attending screenings.
Thanks!
(Above photo: Bilgesu Sisman talks to filmmaker Philip Dolin after Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse 3.6.25.)
| |
|
| This Week
Thu., Mar. 19, 6:30 pm
Sun., Mar. 21, 4:30 pm
POMPEI: BELOW THE CLOUDS
$12/$9
Thu., Mar. 19, 8:45 pm
Old Blood, New Blood
US Premiere
DRACULA IN ISTANBUL
New Digital Restoration
$12/$9
Fri., Mar. 20, 7:00 pm
Sat., Mar. 21, 6:45 pm
LATE SHIFT
$12/$9
Fri., Mar. 20, 8:55 pm
Sat., Mar. 21, 8:40 pm
THE RED SPECTACLES
New 4K Restoration
$12/$9
Sat., Mar. 22, 2:00 pm
Special Screening
In Memory Of Peter Watkins
LA COMMUNE (PARIS, 1871)
$12/$9
| |
|
Next Week
DEAD MOUNTAINEER'S HOTEL
THE LIVING DEAD GIRL
A MAGNIFICENT LIFE
ALPHA
PORT OF SHADOWS
| |
|
