Our second Volunteer of the Month is Alex Alcala, who has chosen Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread as his VOTM pick!
Set in 1950s London, the film follows renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his tightly controlled life dedicated to crafting exquisite couture for high society. Reynolds’ world is upended when he meets Alma (Vicky Krieps), a headstrong young woman who becomes his muse and lover. As their relationship deepens, a battle of wills emerges, with Alma challenging Reynolds’ rigid ways and asserting her own desires. Their dynamic becomes a haunting and unconventional love story, steeped in power struggles and mutual dependence.
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Join us as we continue or Tribute To Bud Cort series his wonderful performance in Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude, making its annual return to The Frida Cinema.
The young Harold (Bud Cort) lives in his own world of suicide-attempts and funeral visits to avoid the misery of his current family and home environment. Harold meets an 80-year-old woman named Maude (Ruth Gordon) who also lives in her own world yet one in which she is having the time of her life. When the two opposites meet they realize that their differences don’t matter and they become best friends and love each other.
Beloved for its quirky humor and tender tone, Harold and Maude is fondly remembered as a black comedy with serious heart.
Beloved character actor Bud Cort built a career out of making the unusual unforgettable. From his odd bird performance in Brewster McCloud to his tender, offbeat turn in Harold And Maude, he gave us a lifetime of bringing humanity to the outsiders he inhabited. Join us in March 2026 as we pay tribute to his work.
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Celebrate Black History Month with our Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame series, starting off with Barry Jenkins’ 2016 coming-of-age drama Moonlight.
The film chronicles the life of Chiron, a young Black man, through three transformative chapters: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Growing up in a rough Miami neighborhood, Chiron navigates the challenges of a drug-addicted mother (Naomie Harris), bullying, and his own burgeoning sense of self. Guided by the compassion of a local drug dealer, Juan (Mahershala Ali), and his partner Teresa (Janelle Monáe), Chiron begins to grapple with his sexuality and inner turmoil. As he matures, his journey becomes one of self-acceptance and vulnerability in the face of a world that demands toughness.
With its nuanced performances, stunning cinematography, and emotionally resonant storytelling, Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture, cementing its place as a groundbreaking and profoundly human cinematic achievement.
Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame is a series that explores the profound relationship between Black Cinema and the cities that shape its narratives. Each film in the series not only tells a compelling story, but also positions the urban environment as a central character—its streets, culture, and communities influencing the lives, struggles, and triumphs of its inhabitants. By highlighting stories that intertwine identity, culture, and place, this series invites audiences to reflect on the dynamic interplay between people and the environments they call home, showcasing how these cities pulse through the heart of Black storytelling.
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Preach (Glynn Turman), an aspiring writer, and Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), a talented basketball player with a bright future, navigate the joys and challenges of adolescence in their predominantly Black neighborhood. Their carefree days of mischief, romance, and camaraderie take a tragic turn after a series of poor decisions lead to unforeseen consequences, testing their friendship and shaping their paths.
Renowned for its authentic portrayal of youth, the film features a soulful Motown soundtrack and is celebrated as a groundbreaking work in Black cinema.
Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame is a series that explores the profound relationship between Black Cinema and the cities that shape its narratives. Each film in the series not only tells a compelling story, but also positions the urban environment as a central character—its streets, culture, and communities influencing the lives, struggles, and triumphs of its inhabitants. By highlighting stories that intertwine identity, culture, and place, this series invites audiences to reflect on the dynamic interplay between people and the environments they call home, showcasing how these cities pulse through the heart of Black storytelling.
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The Frida is partnering with Muzeo Museum to present Bonnie and Clyde, Arthur Penn’s groundbreaking crime drama. This collaborative series features classic films inspired by the posters on display in “Painted for the Pictures: The Illustrative Art of Classic Movie Posters.” A discussion on this subject will follow each screening.
The film chronicles the infamous exploits of Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) and Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty), two Depression-era lovers turned bank robbers. Disenchanted with their mundane lives, the pair embarks on a spree of robberies across the American South, joined by Clyde’s brother Buck (Gene Hackman), his wife Blanche (Estelle Parsons), and a young accomplice, C.W. Moss (Michael J. Pollard). Their daring escapades and celebrity status as outlaws are juxtaposed with the inevitable consequences of their actions, culminating in a violent and tragic finale.
Renowned for its bold storytelling, visceral violence, and compelling performances, Bonnie and Clyde won two Academy Awards and is celebrated as a seminal work that ushered in the New Hollywood era.
The Muzeo Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11:00AM-5:00PM. “Painted for the Pictures” runs from Saturday, February 8 through Sunday, April 20 and is in our Main Gallery. For tickets and more information, please visit: https://muzeo.org/
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Our Concrete Dreams series wraps up with The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Joe Talbot’s poignant 2019 drama.
The film follows Jimmie Fails (playing a semi-fictionalized version of himself) as he dreams of reclaiming his childhood home, a grand Victorian house in San Francisco, which his grandfather supposedly built. With the help of his best friend Montgomery Allen (Jonathan Majors), Jimmie embarks on a heartfelt quest to restore and reclaim the house amidst a city undergoing rapid change. As their journey unfolds, the film delves into the complexities of home, friendship, and the cultural dislocation faced by Black communities in a gentrifying city.
Praised for its lyrical storytelling, stunning cinematography, and heartfelt performances, the film won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance and solidified its place as a modern cinematic masterpiece.
Concrete Dreams: Black Identity in the Urban Frame is a series that explores the profound relationship between Black Cinema and the cities that shape its narratives. Each film in the series not only tells a compelling story, but also positions the urban environment as a central character—its streets, culture, and communities influencing the lives, struggles, and triumphs of its inhabitants. By highlighting stories that intertwine identity, culture, and place, this series invites audiences to reflect on the dynamic interplay between people and the environments they call home, showcasing how these cities pulse through the heart of Black storytelling.
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Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is coming back at The Frida for some matinee encores!
A visually inventive and emotionally raw exploration of love and loss, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind follows Joel (Jim Carrey), a reserved man who discovers that his impulsive ex-girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) has undergone a medical procedure to erase all memories of their relationship.
The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and was nominated for Best Actress (Winslet). It’s often cited as one of the defining films of the 2000s, and a certified Frida Cinema classic that we have thrown on our screens every February for years now. Don’t miss your chance to see this cult classic on the big screen with a crowd!
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Bogie Fest rolls on as we revisit one of the most beloved films of all time: Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca!
The story unfolds in the titular Moroccan city, a haven for refugees seeking passage to the Americas. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), the jaded owner of a popular nightclub, unexpectedly reunites with his former lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), who arrives with her husband, resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). As Rick grapples with lingering feelings for Ilsa, he must decide whether to help the couple escape the clutches of the Nazis, risking his own safety in the process.
With its unforgettable performances and a rich blend of romance and moral dilemmas, Casablanca earned three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and remains one of the most celebrated films in cinematic history. Bogart’s role as Rick continues to be the go-to for fans of hard-shelled man with a soft heart.
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Nicolas Winding Refn’s stylish 2011 action drama Drive is finally back at The Frida Cinema! And this time around, we’re screening it as part of our LA Fires Fundraiser series. Ticket proceeds from this special screening will be donated to American Red Cross California Wildfires Disaster Relief Fund.
Driver (Ryan Gosling) is a skilled Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. Though he projects an icy exterior, lately he’s been warming up to a pretty neighbor named Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her young son Benicio (Kaden Leos). When Irene’s husband (Oscar Isaac) gets out of jail, he enlists Driver’s help in a million-dollar heist. The job goes horribly wrong, and Driver must risk his life to protect Irene and Benicio from the vengeful masterminds behind the robbery.
Impressing critics and audiences alike with its potent combination of striking cinematography and graphic violence, Drive is regarded as one of the definitive portrayals of LA of modern cinema.
For more information on the Red Cross’ California Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund, please visit: https://www.redcross.org/local/california/los-angeles/about-us/our-work/california-wildfires-response-january-2025.html
Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid.
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For the first time ever, The Frida Cinema is proud to present Damien Chazelle’s La La Land, starring the incomparable duo of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. This screening is part of our LA Fires Fundraiser series. Ticket proceeds from this special screening will be donated to American Red Cross California Wildfires Disaster Relief Fund.
Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.
Earning a record-tying 14 nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, La La Land is the heartful celebration of LA that we all need right now.
For more information on the Red Cross’ California Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund, please visit: https://www.redcross.org/local/california/los-angeles/about-us/our-work/california-wildfires-response-january-2025.html
Member discounts and Frida Cinema comp passes not valid.
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