Hudson Valley Crucial Viewing: March 28- April 11

Hello movie friends. It’s been a wildly eventful March over here in Kingston Film Foundation-land. There’s lots of potential new screenings on the horizon that we can’t wait to tell you about! But we have to wait; such is the nature of event planning. In the meantime, there are some great options over the next two weeks, including a unique exhibition of short films, two French classics on consecutive Thursdays at UPAC, and another chance at a new Tarkovsky restoration. Enter…

Spike Jonze's ADAPTATION
Headstone Gallery, Kingston – Saturday, March 30, 7:00pm

It’s the third and final installment in our Movies About Movies series at Headstone! What do you do when you’re struggling to adapt a book into a screenplay? If you’re writer Charlie Kaufman, you go meta. Nicolas Cage plays Kaufman as well as his fictional twin brother Donald, Meryl Streep plays writer Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief (technically the source material), and Chris Cooper plays John Laroche, the subject of Orlean’s novel. All three turn in top shelf performances, and Jonze and Kaufman create a wildly original world, equal parts playful and anxiety-ridden. (2002, 115min)

Agnès Varda's CLEO FROM 5 TO 7
UPAC, Kingston – Thursday, April 4, 7:30pm

Varda’s second film is also the one that introduced her directorial skill to the world. The real-time story of a singer waiting on the results of a biopsy, Cleo doubles as a document of early 1960s Paris. All of the hallmarks of Varda’s style are here; beautiful cinematography, clever sound design, and storytelling that blurs the line between fact and fiction. The only critique is that it should really be “from 5 to 6:30”, but I doubt you’ll mind the time discrepancy once you’re swept up in Cleo’s magic. As with all Bardavon/UPAC screenings, this one’s free, plus it’s preceded by a Happy Hour starting at 6:30, with half price beer and wine, plus free snacks. (1962, 90min)

Andrei Tarkovsky's NOSTALGHIA
Starr Cinema, Rhinebeck – Opens April 5

This new 4k restoration of Nostalghia has been making the rounds: it was at Time and Space in Hudson last month, now it comes to the Starr Cinema in Rhinebeck. Here’s what I wrote then: 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! (1983, 125min)

Doug LeClaire's ASBURY SHORTS
Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale – Saturday, April 6, 4:00pm & 7:30pm

Here’s something a little different! Asbury Shorts is a non-competitive touring exhibition of exciting short films from around the world. Expect a mix of outstanding comedy, drama and animated shorts in a fast paced, eclectic lineup including Oscar nominees, “Best of Show” awardees from U.S. film festivals and international honorees. Included in the program this year will be a local spotlight selection from award-winning director Lisa Thomas entitled: “Candy Store”, featuring music and performance by the Dust Bowl Faeries. Brian Mahoney, Editorial Director at Chronogram, will serve as guest host for the 7:30pm screening. (150min)

Jacques Tati's PLAY TIME
UPAC, Kingston – Thursday, April 11, 7:30pm

Of all the great films screening in this year’s Bardavon/UPAC film series, this is the one I’m the most excited about, because it’s really meant for the biggest screen possible. Play Time isn’t a narrative film so much as it’s a Where’s Waldo book that doubles as a critique of 1960s modernity and tourism. The massive set and expensive production bankrupted both Tati and the studio. Was it worth it? I certainly think so. Not to be missed, especially for free, and as with all Bardavon/UPAC screenings, it’s preceded by a Happy Hour starting at 6:30, with half price beer and wine, plus free snacks. (1967, 124min)