Experience a double feature of Akira Kurosawa’s crime films Stray Dog and The Bad Sleep Well!
In Stray Dog, rookie cop Murakami (Toshiro Mifune) loses his pistol to a pickpocket during a sweltering Tokyo heatwave and embarks on a relentless pursuit to recover it. Teaming up with seasoned detective Sato (Takashi Shimura), Murakami uncovers a connection between the stolen gun and a series of violent crimes. As the investigation progresses, the parallels between Murakami and the desperate criminal they chase blur, reflecting the struggles of a society grappling with poverty and moral decay. Combining gritty realism with profound humanism, Stray Dog is a masterful examination of guilt, redemption, and the thin line between law and lawlessness.
The Bad Sleeps Well follows Koichi Nishi (Mifune), a seemingly loyal employee who marries his boss’s disabled daughter, Yoshiko, to infiltrate a corrupt company responsible for his father’s tragic death. As Nishi uncovers the depths of the company’s greed and malfeasance, his meticulously crafted plan begins to unravel under the weight of human frailty and unforeseen complications. With its noir-inspired aesthetic, sharp critique of postwar corporate Japan, and a chilling sense of inevitability, the film is a powerful exploration of morality, justice, and the personal cost of vengeance.
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Up next in our Wong Kar-Wai Month series is the 1988 crime drama As Tears Go By.
Set in the underworld of Hong Kong’s triads, the film follows Wah (Andy Lau), a small-time gangster torn between loyalty and love. Wah must navigate his turbulent relationship with his reckless, self-destructive protégé, Fly (Jacky Cheung), whose impulsive behavior repeatedly draws them into dangerous conflicts. Meanwhile, Wah finds solace in a tender romance with his cousin Ngor (Maggie Cheung), a woman from a quieter world who offers him a glimpse of redemption and a life beyond violence.
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Our new edition of 21st Century Cult starts with Todd Solondz’s dark 2004 satire Palindromes!
The film follows 13-year-old Aviva, a girl who desperately wants to become a mother but faces the harsh and complex realities of adulthood far too soon. After a traumatic experience leads to her running away, Aviva encounters a series of peculiar and morally ambiguous characters, each influencing her perception of herself and the world. Notably, Solondz uses multiple actors of varying ages, races, and genders to portray Aviva, emphasizing the universality and fluidity of her experiences.
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Wong Kar-Wai Month continues with Days of Being Wild, the director’s 1990 Hong Kong drama.
The film centers on the enigmatic and emotionally detached Yuddy (Leslie Cheung), a charming drifter who seduces and abandons women, leaving emotional devastation in his wake. He becomes romantically involved with the reserved Su Lizhen (Maggie Cheung) and later with the free-spirited dancer Mimi (Carina Lau), yet remains emotionally distant as he grapples with his troubled past and his search for his biological mother. Meanwhile, Lizhen finds solace in a kind-hearted policeman, Tide (Andy Lau), who harbors feelings for her. Through interwoven lives and fleeting connections, Wong crafts a lyrical exploration of love’s impermanence and the yearning for belonging.
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Our Wong Kar-Wai Month opens with Happy Together, the director’s 1997 LGBT romance!
The film follows the turbulent relationship of Ho Po-wing (Leslie Cheung) and Lai Yiu-fai (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), a gay couple from Hong Kong who travel to Argentina in hopes of repairing their fractured bond. Struggling with cycles of passion, jealousy, and heartbreak, their relationship becomes a metaphor for the broader search for identity and connection. As Lai finds solace in a quiet friendship with a co-worker, Chang (Chang Chen), and Ho drifts further into self-destructive behavior, the narrative captures their struggles against the backdrop of Argentina’s stunning landscapes.
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Witness a new 4k restoration of Il Grido, Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1957 road drama.
The film follows Aldo (Steve Cochran), a factory worker who embarks on a desolate journey after his long-term lover, Irma (Alida Valli), ends their relationship upon discovering her feelings for another man. Taking their young daughter, Rosina, with him, Aldo drifts aimlessly through the rural Po Valley, encountering various women who offer fleeting solace but fail to alleviate his profound sense of emptiness. As he struggles to reconcile his inner turmoil with the changing social landscape around him, Aldo’s journey becomes a poignant meditation on love, loss, and the human condition.
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It’s time again for our Marketing Director Bekah to spread some holiday cheer with her annual tradition: Bekah’s Cozy Christmas Classics! This year, she’s curating a double dose of holiday cheer with the unforgettable pairing of Meet Me In St. Louis and Christmas In Connecticut!
First up, let Judy Garland’s unforgettable performance in Meet Me In St. Louis sweep you away in this heartwarming musical transports you to the early 1900s, where the Smith family’s lives are filled with love, laughter, and a touch of nostalgia. With unforgettable songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” this film is a celebration of family, home, and the magic of the holidays.
And then after that, get ready for some romantic holiday fun with Barbara Stanwyck in the delightful holiday comedy Christmas In Connecticut! When a war hero is invited to spend Christmas at the home of a food writer, a series of charming misunderstandings lead to cozy chaos, romance, and a whole lot of holiday cheer. It’s the perfect mix of laughter, love, and Christmas spirit.
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Party Like It’s 1999 and Kubrick Christmas closes with Eyes Wide Shut, the director’s subversive, sexual holiday mystery.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star as William and Alice, a wealthy New York couple trying to get in the holiday spirit. After Alice admits to William that she once almost — key word being almost — cheated on him, William is suddenly inspired to partake in a nightlong sexual odyssey, finding himself in one strange entanglement after another as the possible indiscretion plays out on a loop in his head. His late night sojourn eventually brings him to a secretive occult group that may offer him more excitement than he’s looking for…
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A Kubrick Christmas continues with Barry Lyndon, a visually stunning period drama that chronicles the rise and fall of an ambitious Irish rogue in 18th-century Europe.
The film follows Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal), a charming but unscrupulous young man who climbs the social ladder through duels, deception, and a strategic marriage to a wealthy widow, Lady Lyndon (Marisa Berenson). As he ascends to aristocratic privilege, Barry’s greed, vanity, and lack of foresight ultimately lead to his downfall, exposing the fragile nature of wealth and power.
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Walk on the wild side with Hardcore, Paul Schrader’s 1979 drama that delves into the seedy world of the adult film industry.
The film follows Jake Van Dorn (George C. Scott), a conservative Midwestern businessman whose world is upended when his teenage daughter, Kristen, goes missing during a church trip. After discovering that she has been drawn into the world of pornography, Jake hires a private investigator (Peter Boyle) to track her down, ultimately taking the investigation into his own hands. His relentless search leads him deep into a dark and dangerous subculture, forcing him to confront his own values and vulnerabilities.
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