Repertory

A weekly roundup of what else is screening around town.

by Matt Prigge

Ambler Theater

$3.50-$8.50. 108 E. Butler Ave. 215.345.7855. www.amblertheater.org

Arctic Tale

(2007) (Shown on DVD): Ostensibly meant to show the harsh realities of living way up north, this doc cutes up walruses and a family of polar bears, complete with a fart scene. You know, for the kids. Queen Latifah narrates. (Not reviewed.) Sat., March 1, 11am.

Bryn Mawr Film Institute

$3.50-$9.25 (unless otherwise noted). 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr. 610.527.9898. www.brynmawrfilm.org

Empire of the Sun

(1987) (Shown on DVD): On the heels of One Book, One Philadelphia comes One Film, One Philadelphia, which, like Dave Eggers’ What Is the What, focuses on living through war. Adapted by Tom Stoppard from J.G. Ballard’s quasi-memoir, Steven Spielberg’s early attempt at seriousness finds a rich British boy residing in Shanghai (Christian Bale, giving a great child performance), separated from his parents after the Japanese invasion. Be sure to catch one of the many screenings over the second week; if you can’t make any of them be sure to rent it. For more events check the site. B- Wed., Feb. 27, 7pm.

(1982) (Shown on DVD): After famously leading a group of animators away from Disney, Don Bluth (An American Tail) premiered this vibrantly animated feature, which only slightly tones down the Robert C. O’Brien original, featuring escaped lab rats, a widow protagonist and even someone dropping the D-word. B Sat., March 1, 11am.

(2005) (Shown on DVD): Making it to Philly after a brief Manhattan run, Joseph Cedar’s Israeli war drama focuses on the Israeli Defense Forces, who occupied the titular Lebanese castle from 1982 all the way to 2000. Cedar’s film catches soldiers in the final months before pull-out and the absurdities of following through on military tradition when said tradition is about to become extinct. (Not reviewed.) Sun., March 2, 7pm.

(2006) (Shown on film): Not so much slow as purposefully inert, Philip Gröning’s doc on the Chartreuse Monastery in the French Alps forgoes facts, background and even interviews (except at the end) in order to fully immerse the audience in the non-lives of monks. Transporting stuff, even (especially?) for the merrily godless, though its total lack of shape is bound to suffer when removed from the cathedral of a movie theater. Hell, I’m not sure why it was even released to DVD. Consider this screening a blessing from God herself. B+ Wed., March 5, 7pm.

Chestnut Hill Film Group

Free. Screening room at the Chestnut Hill Branch of the Free Library, 8711 Germantown Ave. 215.248.0977. www.armcinema25.com

Lancelot du Lac

(1974) (Shown on film): Late in his career French minimalist Robert Bresson (Pickpocket) tackled the Arthurian legend with predictably out-there results: There’s no Excalibur, no Merlin, no magic—just a rotting empire. Set in the final days after the pursuit of the Holy Grail has proved futile, du Lac finds its titular knight returning to Camelot right when a series of in-fights literally put the kingdom on the scrap heap of history. Bresson almost seems to be smirking as he puts his fondness for elusive plotting and flat actors in the legend—a midfilm tournament scene is almost comically whittled down—and the film calmly builds to a brazenly elided climax. Monty Python dorks take note: The Black Knight scene wouldn’t have happened without this one’s gory opening. A- Tues., March 4, 7:30pm.

Colonial Theatre

$4-$7. 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville. 610.917.0223. www.thecolonialtheatre.com

Dr. No

(1962) (Shown on film): The Bond franchise got off to an inauspicious start with this relatively scaled-down production, featuring more of an emphasis on sex than gadgets. Starring that Scotsman from Darby O’Gill and the Little People, Ursula Andress’ bikini and a pre-Hawaii Five-O Jack Lord. B Sun., March 2, 2pm.

County Theater

$3.50-$8.50. 20 E. State St., Doylestown. 215.345.6789. www.countytheater.com

Charlotte’s Web

(1973) (Shown on DVD): Apparently the Dakota Fanning version hasn’t usurped the animated take on the E.B. White novel. Good, if only because every kid should get hear Paul Lynde as Templeton. B Sat., March 1, 11am.

Free Library

Free. Montgomery Auditorium, 1901 Vine St. 215.567.7710. freelibrary.org

Empire of the Sun

(1987) (Shown on DVD): See Bryn Mawr Film Institute. B- Sat., March 1, 1pm.

Free Library, Independence Branch

Free. 18 S. Seventh St. 215.685.1633. freelibrary.org

Empire of the Sun

(1987) (Shown on DVD): See Bryn Mawr Film Institute. B- Sat., March 1, 2pm.

Gershman Y

$10-$12. 401 S. Broad St. www.pjff.org

Family Hero

(2006) (Shown on film): Featuring quite the all-star Francophone cast—Catherine Deneuve, Valérie Lemercier, Claude Brasseur, Miou-Miou and Emmanuelle Béart—Thierry Kilfa’s drama … okay, seriously, do we really need to go on? Watch the heavy-hitters duke it out as a family reunites after inheriting their late patriarch’s cabaret. (Not reviewed.) Sat., March 1, 8pm and Sun., March 2, 2pm.

(2006) (Shown on DVD): Part two of the Jewish Film Festival’s French Weekend concerns a Jewish woman (Cécille de France) and a Muslim (co-writer/director Roschdy Zem) who must reveal their relationship to their no-doubt peeved families when she winds up pregnant. Featuring one of the last performances of Jean-Pierre Cassel, who passed on last April. (Not reviewed.) Sun., March 2, 7pm.

Haverford Township Library

Free. 1601 Darby Rd., Havertown. 610.446.3082. freelibrary.org

Lost Boys of Sudan

(2003) (Shown on DVD): Last year’s celeb-backed doc God Grew Tired of Us was essentially a nonfiction remake of this far superior survey of young Sudanese refugees and their difficulties adjusting to life in America. B Wed., Feb. 27, 2pm.

(1987) (Shown on DVD): See Bryn Mawr Film Institute. B- Wed., March 5, 2pm.

International House

Free. 3701 Chestnut St. 215.387.5125. www.ihousephilly.org

The Music of Regret

(2006) (Shown on Beta SP): Known for her pics of oversized objects (houses, birthday cakes, movie cameras) with human legs, photographer Laurie Simmons graduates to 24 frames per second with this three-act musical short, with inanimate objects engaging in a roundelay of love, loss and regret. Shot by the great Ed Lachman (The Virgin Suicides, Far From Heaven) and featuring Meryl Streep as “the Woman.” Simmons will be present. (Not reviewed.) Tues., March 4, 7pm.

(2001/2005) (Shown on film): Contemporary Slovenian filmmaker Jan Cvitkovic swings by I-House for a screening of two of his films: 2001’s recovering alkie saga Bread and Milk and his most recent film Gravehopping, in which a man earns notoriety as an accomplished professional funeral speaker. More next week. (Not reviewed.) Wed., March 5, 7pm.

Little Theater

$5. 7141 Germantown Ave. 215.247.3020. www.mtairyvideolibrary.com

American Gangster

(2007) (Shown on DVD): Jay-Z did it better (of course). B- Fri., Feb. 29-Sat., March 1, 8pm; and Sun., March 2, 7pm.

National Mechanics

Free. 22 S. Third St. www.philebrity.com

Sweet Smell of Success

(1957) (Shown on DVD): “Watch me run a 50-yard dash with my legs cut off.” “I’d hate to take a bite outta you; you’re a cookie full of arsenic.” “Cat’s in the bag; bag’s in the river.” Hear those and plenty of other snappy one-liners in this New York journalism expose, one of the most quotable movies ever written. The script comes courtesy Ernest Lehman. Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis star. A Thurs., Feb. 28, 7:30pm.

Swarthmore College

Free. Science Center, rm. 199. 500 College Ave., Swarthmore. 610.328.8143. freelibrary.org

Nanjing 1937

(1995) (Shown on video): Part of the One Film, One Philadelphia series, this screening of Wu Ziniu’s documentary should help elaborate on the background of Empire of the Sun, showing the same events from a different perspective. Swarthmore prof Haili Kong will present. (Not reviewed.) Fri., Feb. 29, 7pm.

Trocadero

$3. 1003 Arch St. 215.922.LIVE. www.thetroc.com

30 Days of Night

(2007) (Shown on DVD): Vampires vie for space in today’s zombie-crowded horror marketplace with this take on Steve Niles’ comics about bloodsuckers who take their game up to night-plagued Alaska. (Not reviewed.) Mon., March 3, 7:30pm.

World Cafe Live

Free. 3025 Walnut St. 215.222.1400. freelibrary.org

Critical Thinking: A Panel Discussion of Empire of the Sun

One of the many offshoots of the One Film, One Philadelphia series (check the site for more), this film critic-centric discussion features the Inky’s Carrie Rickey, WHYY’s Patrick Stoner, Philadelphia City Paper’s Sam Adams and yours truly weighing in on Empire of the Sun. Louis Massiah of Scribe Video Center will moderate. Tues., March 4, 7pm.