Hudson Valley Crucial Viewing: March 1- March 14

Hello movie heads! Welcome to March. It’s an exciting month for us here at Kingston Film Foundation, as our Movies About Movies series kicks off with a screening of Godard’s Contempt on March 2! There are also other exciting offerings throughout the Hudson Valley, including an early award-winning Daniel Day-Lewis performance, a new 4K Tarkovsky restoration, and a salute to a legend of the silent era. Behold…

Jim Sheridan's MY LEFT FOOT
Esopus Library, Esopus – Friday, March 1, 6:00pm

March kicks off with the biographical comedy-drama that put Daniel Day-Lewis on the map. It’s based on the true story of Christy Brown, an Irish man born with cerebral palsy and only able to control his titular left foot, who nevetheless became a writer and painter. DDL won his first Best Actor Oscar for the role, and Brenda Fricker won Best Supporting Actress in the role of Christy’s mother. In the words of Roger Ebert, "My Left Foot is a great film for many reasons, but the most important is that it gives us such a complete picture of this man's life….It is the story of a stubborn, difficult, blessed, and gifted man who was dealt a bad hand, who played it brilliantly, and who left us some good books, some good paintings and the example of his courage." Presented with Rosendale Theatre; RSVP recommended at the link above. (1989, 103min)

Andrei Tarkovsky's NOSTALGHIA
Time and Space Ltd, Hudson – Friday, March 1 through Monday, March 4

After running into difficulties with censors in his native Russia, Tarkovsky left for Italy, where he prompty made a movie about…a Russian writer named Andrei, working abroad in Italy, who misses his homeland. How does he come up with this stuff? Of course, like all Tarkovsky, it’s much more than that. A beautiful poem of a film that isn’t always easy to understand, but is uncompromising in its vision. This is a new 4K restoration that probably makes it even more beautiful. Exciting! (19893, 125min)

Jean-Luc Godard's CONTEMPT
Headstone Gallery, Kingston – Saturday, March 2, 7:00pm

Hey look, it’s us! We’re kicking off Movies About Movies with this Godard gem about a writer trying to save a failing adaptation of The Odyssey, and in doing so endangers his marriage. Stressful! Great performances by Brigitte Bardot, Jack Palance, and Fritz Lang playing himself, as well as some beautiful shots of Capri Island. Come out to the movies and say hello. (1963, 101min)

Alex Gibney's IN RESTLESS DREAMS: THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON
w/ editor Andy Grieve (both screenings) and producer Svetlana Zill (3/2 only)
Starr, Rhinebeck – Saturday, March 2, 11:00am
Orpheum, Saugerties – Monday, March 4, 5:00pm

This one’s getting an extremely limited theatrical release, so if you love Paul Simon, this could very well be your only chance to see this extended cut documentary (peep that runtime). The film explores his time with Simon and Garfunkel as well as his solo career, and also captures Simon at work on his latest record, Seven Psalms. Lots of great old archival footage of an important artist in the history of American music. (2023, 209min)

A Salute to HELEN HOLMES
Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale – Sunday, March 3, 2pm

A celebration of early silent film star Helen Holmes, a legendary star, writer, director, producer, and stuntwoman of the early silent film era. The program includes a series of her best shorts, with live piano accompaniment by Marta Waterman, as well as the 2011 documentary Stunt Love which details some of her greatest feats. Plus Helen’s great-granddaughter will be there! (1910s, 120min)

Akira Kurosawa’s STRAY DOG
UPAC, Kingston – Thursday, March 7, 7:30pm

A FREE screening of this early Akira Kurosawa effort that introduced film noir to Japan, featuring a young Toshiro Mifune, aka The Japanese Brando. On a swelteringly hot day, a rookie detective has his gun stolen on a crowded streetcar, and sets out to recover it. The film includes a famous ten-minute montage of Mifune wandering the streets of postwar Tokyo in search of the missing Colt, filmed by AD (and future Godzilla director) Ishiro Honda. A rare chance to see a lesser known work by Kurosawa on the big screen. Plus happy hour starts at 6:30, with half price beer and wine, and free snacks and soda! (1949, 122min)

Paul King's PADDINGTON
Orpheum, Saugerties – Saturday, March 9, 1:00pm
Starr, Rhinebeck – Sunday, March 10, 1:00pm

I’ve heard Paddington referred to as a Wes Anderson movie for children. Maybe it doesn’t quite reach those heights but it oozes charm. A great way to introduce your little one to the world of movies, but also fun for the young-at-heart. These free screenings are part of Upstate Films’ Mighty Blighty series of British children’s films. (2014, 95min)