Cinemateca, June 29–July 5, 2009
José Luis Pick’n’tip:

PVenus Maurice and Ian are successful but aging actors, close friends whose conversation revolves around theatrical shop talk and the infirmities of septuagenarians.

Ian, in particular, is fearful that death is right around the corner, so he agrees to let his niece’s daughter Jessie move in to his flat to care for him. Jessie, a provincial girl in her early twenties, turns out to be a nightmare for Ian, a hard-drinking, rude and dismissive twerp. Maurice sees something else in the girl however—a potential for humanity which blossoms under his kindness and gentle guidance. Something else blossoms, for Maurice, as well—romantic love for a girl fifty years younger. Surprises follow, all around.

The Tip Important: In order to provide the best viewing experience, the show times for some movies may be adjusted to accommodate their length. Be sure to check the schedule carefully. I also want to remind you of our new ticket price: 60 pesos and discount cards buy 12 shows for 550 pesos. Starting Monday, after 11am, buy your tickets in advance for any movie or show of the week. If you have a discount card, collect your pass to secure a seat; don’t take the risk of being locked out. Would you like to receive this info by email? Write to José Luis at alephamour@hotmail.com.  Thank you.

The Movies

Venus (2006/I)
Tuesday, June 30 at 3pm
Friday, July 3 at 5pm
Comedy, drama, English, 95 minutes
Director: Roger Michell
Starring: Peter O’Toole, Leslie Phillips, Philip Fox
Maurice and Ian are old friends, veteran English actors who never hit the big time. Now in their seventies, they continue to work, but their comfortable routines and banter over breakfast in a favorite café are disrupted by the arrival from the provinces of Ian's grand-niece, Jessie. She quickly tries her great-uncle's patience. Maurice is taken with the girl though, and proceeds to show her the cultural sights of the capital. Maurice tries to teach Jessie something about life, but in the process he is surprised to discover how very little he actually knows now that his own life is drawing to a close.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) Monday, June 29 at 2pm Thursday, July 2 at 7pm Drama, romance, English, Catalan, Spanish, 96 minutes Director: Woody Allen Starring: Rebecca Hall, Penélope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson

Oh, the mysteries of the heart… Two children of privilege, friends alike except in how they see love, summer in Barcelona. Vicky is a grad student in Catalan studies, engaged to a safe man; Cristina is finding herself, knowing that safety is not what she wants. Juan Antonio, an artist rumored to have a violent marriage behind him, invites them to spend a weekend with him. They accept. As the summer goes on, their time with Juan Antonio challenges Vicky's assumptions about who she is and suggests to Christina that she may have found herself. Into the mix come Juan Antonio's volatile ex-wife and Vicky’s reliable fiancé. Amidst the passion of Barcelona, can there be resolution?

Winner of Best Documentary in the Boston Film Festival  Lost and Found in Mexico Monday, June 29 at 5pm Documentary, English, 53 minutes Writer/director/producer: Caren Cross

Lost and Found in Mexico explores the question: What lies on the other side of the American dream? This quirky documentary explores the lives of Americans who chose to leave their hard-working, successful, and fast-paced lives to live in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where leisurely conversations take place in the main square, burros walk the streets and people find their hearts engaged in living once again. While many Mexicans are leaving families behind and risking their lives to cross the border to a better life, this film focuses on the Americans who have decided to cross in the other direction—for a simpler life. Questions and Answers with the filmmaker follow the show. All proceeds will benefit the Mexican kids’ scholarships.



Love Is…
Thursday, July 2 at 4pm
San Miguel comedy, English, 98 minutes
Director: Nils Macquarie
Producer: Gerry Holmes
Writer: Christine Foster

Love is in bloom in the enchanted colonial city of San Miguel de Allende, where couples of all ages find romance. This light-hearted look at nine different relationships weaves its magic through cobbled streets, past fountains and flower filled patios. Set against the backdrop of one of the international community’s favorite playgrounds, these intertwined stories offer delightful insights into the twists and turns of the timeless game of love.

Sharkwater (2006)
Monday, June 29 at 7pm 
Friday, July 3 at 7pm
Documentary, English, 89 minutes
Director: Rob Stewart
Starring: Patrick Moore, Erich Ritter

For filmmaker Rob Stewart, exploring sharks began as an underwater adventure. It turned into a beautiful and dangerous life journey into the balance of life on earth. Driven by his passion, fed from a life-long fascination with sharks, Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas. Filmed in visually stunning, high definition video, Sharkwater takes you into the most shark-rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world’s shark populations in the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands. In an effort to protect sharks, Stewart teams up with renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.



Le bonheur est dans la pré (1995)
Tuesday, June 30 at 5pm
Wednesday, July 1 at 7pm
Comedy, French with English subtitles
Director: Étienne Chatiliez
Starring: Michel Serrault, Eddy Mitchell, Sabine Azéma

Francis, the boss of a small plumbing supply company, is harassed by tax collectors, striking employees, and an impossible wife and daughter. His only joy is sharing lunch with his friend Gerard. Then a TV show called “Where are you?” shows a woman from Gers searching for her husband who disappeared 28 years ago. The lost husband looks like an identical twin of Francis.



Kids Movies: Cartoons 
Saturday, June 27 at noon
.