Philadelphia Weekly

The City of Lost Children
This film by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet is the third installment of Landmark Theatres/Ritz at the Bourse’s Saturday midnight-movie screenings. This one is classic midnight-movie fare, in that it’s foreign and completely weird. If you like the work of the Brothers Quay, Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, you’ll probably enjoy this fantastic tale of an evil man who steals children so he can have their dreams. Visually, it’s stunning and scary and utterly bizarre, and probably best watched late at night. The directors did Delicatessen before City, which makes sense, and Amelie after, which is sad. With Ron Perlman, natch. Sat., May 16, midnight. Ritz at the Bourse, 400 Ranstead St. 215.925.7900. landmarktheatres.com

Earthlings
Before Joaquin Phoenix disappeared into his weirdo-beardo persona, he narrated this disturbing PETA-style film, which investigates puppy mills, pet stores, factory farms, the fur trade, scientific research and other ways humans treat animals like crap. It’s no surprise who provided the music for this one: Moby. Sat., May 16, 7:30pm. Free. Wooden Shoe Books, 508 S. Fifth St. 215.413.0999. woodenshoebooks.com

Leaving Las Vegas/Q&A with director Mike Figgis
Remember after you saw Leaving Las Vegas with Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue and you wanted to shoot yourself in the face? Tonight is your opportunity to ask the director/screenwriter what the hell he was thinking when he crafted this excellent multiple-award-winning chronicle of two miserable, suicidal people who briefly bring joy to each other’s horrible, ill-fated lives. Wed., May 13, 7pm. Free. Bossone Research Center’s Mitchell Auditorium, 3128 Market St. 215.895.1649. drexel.edu/westphal

Panique/The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe/Monsieur Hire
It’s an evening of suspense courtesy Andrew’s Video Vault at the Rotunda. Monsieur Hire, from 1989, stars the lovely Sandrine Bonnaire and the very creepy Michel Blanc in this film by Patrice Leconte (Ridicule, Girl on the Bridge, Mon Mellieur Ami). But just because Hire is creepy, does that make him a murderer? Hire is based on the 1947 film Panique, which is based on Georges Simenon’s novel about murder and unrequited love. Sandwiched between those two French doozies, Andrew offers this early Poe biopic that focuses on the women in his life. Neither Panique nor Poe are on VHS or DVD, so don’t think you’ll be Netflixing this shit. The only way to see them is to see them here. Thurs., May 14, 8pm. Free. Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. www.armcinema25.com  

Renaissance on Sacred Ground
Scribe comes to Center City with a screening of a documentary about the history and cultural import of Ife Ife, or the House of Love, on Germantown Avenue. Founded in the 1960s by dancer/choreographer Arthur Hall, the cultural center was a locus for African history in the heart of a black neighborhood. Hall founded the Afro American Dance Ensemble in order to further the knowledge of African heritage, and he still stands as an important figure in preserving the history of the neighborhood. (To learn more about Hall, go to ileife.org/ah/ah.html). Fri., May 15, 7pm. Prince Music Theater, Black Box, 1412 Chestnut St. scribe.org

Shoot the Piano Player
Shoot the Piano Player, directed by François Truffaut—who brought you The 400 Blows and Jules et Jim—stars the charming Charles Azvanour as a piano player who’s down on his luck. Based on a Port Richmond-set noir novel by David Goodis, Shoot is supposedly Truffaut’s homage to American jazz and B movies. Does it work? Let us know. To our great shame, we haven’t seen it. Thurs., May 14, 7pm. Ambler Theater, 108 E. Butler Ave., Ambler. 215.345.7855. amblertheatre.org

They Live By Night
This one is delicious. In this classic 1948 film noir by Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause), Farley Granger (Rope, Strangers on a Train) escapes from prison and tries to rebuild his life with a poor, earnest girl played by Cathy O’Donnell. Despite themes of hopeless love, it’s unsentimental; if remade today, it would be all goopy. It’ll be followed by 1959’s Crimson Kimono, in which an Anglo woman falls in love with a Japanese-American cop. When his partner gets jealous of the relationship, issues of race surface, making things mighty uncomfortable in that squad car. Both films will be introduced by Richard Brody, film critic and editor at The New Yorker. Sat., May 16, 7pm. $5-$7. International House, 3701 Chestnut St. 215.387.5125. ihousephilly.org

2009 Diamond Film Festival
Think it takes millions of dollars and the backing of Hollywood studios to make a film? Think again. Temple’s Film School seniors and grad students offer examples of their work across three evenings (May 18, 19 and 21) of this fest at Ambler, Bryn Mawr and County theaters. For more information, go to countytheater.org.

What’s Under Your Hat?
Judith Scott—a deaf woman with Down Syndrome—spent 36 years of her life in a mental institution, where no one knew she had fantastic artistic talents. She’s just one of the people profiled in this documentary about the Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, Calif., by Spanish filmmakers Lola Barrera and Iñaki Peñafiel. Presented in conjunction with the Foundation for Self-Taught American Artists. Wed., May 13, 7:30pm. $5-$7. (Opening reception with InLiquid.com at 6pm.) International House, 3701 Chestnut St. 215.387.5125. ihousephilly.org