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Cinema Listings
THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT | June 2017
*Unless specific times are listed, please check the theater for times. Theater locations are subject to change.
Czech How to Shake Off a Bride (Jak se zbavit nevesty) Directed by Tomás Svoboda (Czech Republic, 2016, 89 min.) Eva owns a pastry shop, raises her son and takes care of her quirky, formidable mother. She gets on beautifully with her ex-husband, until she discovers his love for another woman — a beautiful, likeable and sophisticated pianist named Linda. To top it all off, they want Eva to make the wedding cake for their upcoming nuptials. The Avalon Theatre Wed., June 14, 8 p.m.
Danish The Commune (Denmark/Sweden/Netherlands, 2017, 111 min.) Personal desires, solidarity and tolerance clash in a Danish commune in the 1970s. Landmark’s E Street Cinema
English Abacus: Small Enough to Fail Directed by Steve James (U.S., 2017, 88 min.) Accused of mortgage fraud, Abacus becomes the only U.S. bank to face criminal charges in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. The indictment and subsequent trial forces the Sung family to defend themselves – and their bank’s legacy in the Chinatown community – over the course of a five-year legal battle. Landmark’s Theatres Opens Fri., June 23
Alien: Covenant Directed by Ridley Scott (U.S./U.K./Australia/New Zealand/ Canada, 2017, 122 min.) The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must attempt a harrowing escape. Angelika Mosaic Atlantic Plumbing
Beatriz at Dinner Directed by Miguel Arteta (U.S., 2017, 83 min.) A holistic medicine practitioner attends a wealthy client’s dinner party after her car breaks down. Angelika Mosaic Opens Fri., June 16
The Beguiled Directed by Sofia Coppola (U.S., 2017, 94 min.) At a girls’ school in Virginia during the
Maudie
Their Finest
Directed by Aisling Walsh (Ireland/Canada, 2017, 115 min.) An arthritic Nova Scotia woman works as a housekeeper while she hones her skills as an artist and eventually becomes a beloved figure in the community. Angelika Mosaic Opens Fri., June 16
Directed by Lone Scherfig (U.K., 2017, 117 min.) A British film crew attempts to boost morale during World War II by making a propaganda film after the Blitzkrieg. The Avalon Theatre
Megan Leavey
Photo: Salon Churchill Ltd
Brian Cox stars in the wartime drama “Churchill” about the iconic British statesman and the period leading up to the D-Day landings in 1944.
Civil War, where the young women have been sheltered from the outside world, a wounded Union soldier is taken in. Soon, the house is taken over with sexual tension, rivalries and an unexpected turn of events. Angelika Mosaic Opens Fri., June 30
The Big Sick Directed by Michael Showalter (U.S., 2017, 119 min.) A couple deals with their cultural differences as their relationship grows. (English and Urdu). Angelika Mosaic Opens Fri., June 30
Buena Vista Social Club: Adios Directed by Lucy Walker (Cuba/U.S., 2017, 109 min.) The musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club exposed the world to Cuba’s vibrant culture with their landmark 1997 album and Academy Awardnominated documentary “Buena Vista Social Club.” Now, against the backdrop of Cuba’s captivating musical history, hear the band’s story as they reflect on their remarkable careers and the extraordinary circumstances that brought them together (English and Spanish). Angelika Mosaic Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema
Churchill Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (U.K., 2017, 98 min.) Tensions mount for the beleaguered British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the days leading up to infamous Allied D-Day landings in Normandy, France in June, 1944. Fearful of repeating his deadly mistakes from World War I in the Battle of Gallipoli, exhausted by years of war, plagued by depression and obsessed with his historical destiny, Churchill is reluctant to embark on the large-scale campaign. The Avalon Theatre Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., June 2
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Citizen Jane Directed by Matt Tyrnauer (U.S., 2017, 92 min.) Writer and urban activist Jane Jacobs fights to save historic New York City during the ruthless redevelopment era of urban planner Robert Moses in the 1960s. Landmark’s E Street Cinema
owned a computer and lives according to his own common sense moral code. But after a heart attack leaves him unable to work and the state welfare system fails him, the stubbornly self-reliant Daniel must stand up and fight for his dignity. Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., June 2
The Dream of Shahrazad
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Directed by François Verster (Multiple countries, 2015, 107 min.) Drawing on the stories known collectively as “The Arabian Nights,”“The Dream of Shahrazad” contextualizes recent upheavals across the Middle East within a broader historical and cultural legacy. The Jerusalem Fund Sun., June 11, 2 p.m.
Directed by Guy Ritchie (U.S., 2017, 126 min.) Robbed of his birthright, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy whether he likes it or not. Atlantic Plumbing Cinema Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema
Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS
The Lost City of Z
Directed by Sebastian Junger (U.S., 2017, 99 min.) In the National Geographic documentary “Hell on Earth,” best-selling author Sebastian Junger and his Emmy-winning filmmaking partner Nick Quested chronicle Syria’s descent into the unbridled chaos that allowed the rise of the Islamic State, better known as ISIS. Pulling from nearly 1,000 hours of stunningly visceral footage — from that of a family living under ISIS control that finally fled to Turkey, to Kurdish fighters in Sinjar and Shia militias in Iraq — Junger and Quested cover the ISIS catastrophe from multiple angles and feature interviews with top experts from around the world (English, French, Arabic and Kurdish). Landmark’s E Street Cinema Tue., June 6, 7 p.m.
I, Daniel Blake Directed by Ken Loach (U.K./France/Belgium, 2016, 100 min.) Gruff but goodhearted, Daniel is a widowed woodworker who’s never
Directed by James Gray (U.S., 2017, 141 min.) In this incredible true story, British explorer Percy Fawcett journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment, he returns time and again to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case, culminating in his mysterious disappearance in 1925 (English, Spanish, Portuguese and German). West End Cinema
Manifesto Directed by Julian Rosefeldt (Germany/Australia, 2017, 95 min.) “Manifesto” features two-time Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett in 13 astonishing roles that span the gamut of humanity — from punk rocker to anchorwoman, from homeless man to mother delivering Sunday grace before family dinner, from puppeteer to factory worker. Landmark’s Theatres Opens Fri., June 9
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite (U.S., 2017, 116 min.) Based on a true life story, a young Marine corporal whose unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog saves many lives during their deployment in Iraq. Angelika Mosaic Opens Fri., June 9
My Cousin Rachel Directed by Roger Michell (U.S./U.K., 2017, 106 min.) A young Englishman plots revenge against his mysterious, beautiful cousin, believing that she murdered his guardian. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms. Angelika Mosaic Opens Fri., June 9
The Zookeeper’s Wife Directed by Niki Caro (U.S., 2017, 124 min.) The keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, Antonina and Jan Zabinski, help save hundreds of people and animals during the German invasion of World War II. Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema
French Yoshiwara Directed by Max Ophuls (France, 1937, 102 min.) Considered something of a curiosity in French filmmaker Max Ophuls’s oeuvre, “Yoshiwara” is the story of a love triangle between a geisha, a Russian military officer and a family servant, offering an intriguing example of France’s fascination with Japanese culture in the early 20th century. Embassy of France Thu., June 22, 7 p.m.
Paris Can Wait (Bonjour Anne)
German
Directed by Eleanor Coppola (U.S., 2016, 92 min.) Anne is at a crossroads in her life. Long married to a successful, driven but inattentive movie producer, she unexpectedly finds herself taking a car trip from Cannes to Paris with a business associate of her husband. What should be a seven-hour drive turns into a carefree two-day adventure replete with diversions that reawaken her lust for life. Angelika Mosaic Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema Landmark’s E Street Cinema
As We Were Dreaming (Als wir träumten)
Past Life Directed by Avi Nesher (Israel/Poland, 2017, 109 min.) Inspired by true events, “Past Life” tracks the daring 1977 transEuropean odyssey of two sisters — one an introverted ambitious classical music composer, and the other a combative liberal magazine editor (English, German, Polish and Hebrew). The Avalon Theatre
A Quiet Passion Directed by Terence Davies (U.K./Belgium, 2017, 125 min.) Cynthia Nixon delivers a triumphant performance as Emily Dickinson as she personifies the wit, intellectual independence and pathos of the poet whose genius only came to be recognized after her death. The Avalon Theatre
Directed by Andreas Dresen (Germany, 2013-15, 117 min.) Just a few years previously, Dani, Rico, Paul and Mark had still been schoolchildren in the GDR, subject to ideological constraints, but also secure in their manageable daily lives. After German reunification, there no longer seem to be any rules, as the friends enjoy their private anarchy, stealing cars, taking drugs and engaging in acts of vandalism. Goethe-Institut Fri., June 16, 6:30 p.m.
Hebrew The Wedding Plan (Laavor et hakir) Directed by Rama Burshtein (Israel, 2016, 110 min.) Exhausted by single life at 32, spirited bride-to-be Michal is eager for the comfort and companionship of marriage. Then, her fiancé dumps her one month before their wedding. Devastated but undeterred, Michal, an Orthodox Jew, decides to keep her wedding date, leaving it to God to provide a suitable groom. Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema Landmark’s E Street Cinema
Japanese Your Name (Kimi no na wa) Directed by Makoto Shinkai