The General: Vietnam in the Age of To Lam traces the rise of Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam, who cemented his position at the top of Vietnam’s leadership in the most recent 14th Party Congress. As To Lam’s power has grown, so has the expansion of Vietnam’s security apparatus that no longer stops at national borders. Asylum seekers, activists, and even insiders who challenge the system find themselves surveilled, harassed, and silenced wherever they flee. 

Through firsthand testimony and investigative reporting, the film asks what prosperity truly costs when economic growth is built on repression. In reviewing the film, human rights lawyer Dang Dinh Manh states: “I owe documentary filmmaker Laura Brickman my gratitude for telling the story of our country—an anguished cry from within, conveyed with honesty and depth.” 

Lawyer Manh sought asylum in the US in 2023 due to political repression from Vietnamese authorities. Many of the human rights defenders in the film were his clients.

Laura Brickman is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience in digital media, broadcast, and print. She has worked for Politico, BBC, 60 Seconds Docs, Insider, and other media outlets. The General: Vietnam in the Age of To Lam is her directorial debut. 

This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.

Darkness has awakened. The Containment is coming to The Frida Cinema!

A girl is possessed by a dark and mysterious entity. She will fight with all the elements at her disposal to get rid of it. Neither her mother, nor traditional medicine, nor a supposed expert in exorcisms, will be able to make the demon disappear, until a nun gets involved in the case and sows a doubt more terrible than the possession itself.

Darren Lynn Bousman’s 2008 cult classic Repo! The Genetic Opera is back at The Frida, brought to life with a live shadowcast performance by our resident Repo! performance troupe Addicted To The Knife!

Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, Repo! The Genetic Opera is a rock opera set in a dystopian future where a megacorporation, GeneCo, provides organ transplants for a society ravaged by organ failures. Those who cannot keep up with their payments face the terrifying fate of having their organs repossessed by Repo Men. The story follows Shilo Wallace (Alexa Vega), a young girl with a rare blood disease, who uncovers a dark family secret: her father, Nathan Wallace (Anthony Head), leads a double life as a Repo Man!

Featuring an ensemble cast including Paul Sorvino, Sarah Brightman, and Paris Hilton, all of whom deliver powerful musical performances that blend horror, drama, and dark humor, Repo! The Genetic Opera quickly developed a dedicated cult following for its unique style and bold storytelling. The film’s soundtrack, featuring original songs that range from rock to operatic ballads, complement the film’s elaborate gothic visuals and set it apart from more conventional musicals.  Join us as the costumed players of Addicted To The Knife bring this dark fantasy to life!

Please note: this performance is being recorded for an eventual 4K blu ray re-release, so guests will be asked to sign a very standard video release form prior to entering the auditorium!

This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff. Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid.

Doors open at 11:30PM. Movie begins at midnight!