The penultimate film in our Akira Kurosawa retrospective is his epic 1985 masterpiece, Ran, now restored in glorious 4K thanks to Rialto Pictures!
A grand and visually breathtaking epic that transposes Shakespeare’s King Lear into the chaotic feudal era of 16th-century Japan of Shakespeare’s King Lear, Ran stars screen legend Tatsuya Nakadai as Hidetora Ichimonji, an aging warlord who decides to divide his vast domain among his three sons in hopes of securing peace in his final years. Instead, his decision ignites a violent power struggle, as betrayal and ambition shatter his family and plunge the region into civil war. Stripped of power and driven into madness, Hidetora becomes a ghost of his former self, wandering through the wreckage of a world he once ruled.
With its masterful use of color, and meticulously staged battle sequences, Ran is both an intimate tragedy, and a large-scale historical spectacle. In delivering his haunting and majestic summation of his lifelong explorations of power, betrayal, and the devastating consequences of human ambition, Kurosawa employs sweeping landscapes, intricate battle sequences, and vivid color symbolism to create a world teetering on the edge of chaos.
About the Restoration
Ran’s original 1985 production was made possible through a French-Japanese collaboration between Kadokawa and French producer Serge Silberman, with distribution later handled by companies such as Orion and Studiocanal. That international partnership was rekindled decades later when Kadokawa and Studiocanal brought on French laboratory Éclair to restore the film in 4K under Studiocanal’s supervision, using the original negative as its source. Much of the restoration was completed manually, frame by frame, with color grading approved by Masaharu Ueda, one of Ran’s three cinematographers and a longtime collaborator of Kurosawa.
Read More
Encoring as part of our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is Andrei Rublev, one of the director’s most celebrated and historically significant works. Set in 15th-century Russia, the film follows the life of Andrei Rublev, a monk and icon painter, as he grapples with the brutality of the world around him, the spiritual toll of his calling, and the complexities of artistic creation.
Upon its release, Andrei Rublev faced heavy censorship in the Soviet Union, and it was initially banned for its perceived bleak portrayal of Russian history and spirituality. However, it eventually garnered international acclaim, receiving the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival and securing its place as one of the greatest films ever made.
Andrei Rublev remains a cornerstone of both Tarkovsky’s career and Russian cinema, offering a profound exploration of the intersection between art, faith, and the human condition.
Read More
Up first in our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is Mirror, his 1975 masterpiece, now celebrating its 50th anniversary with a brand new restoration.
A deeply personal and nonlinear exploration of memory, identity, and the passage of time, Mirror weaves together fragmented glimpses of a man’s life through the eyes of his mother, wife, and son. Using a rich tapestry of dreamlike imagery, archival footage, and poetic voiceovers, Tarkovsky crafts a meditative and emotionally charged reflection on the scars of the past, the shifting nature of personal history, and the ineffable connections between generations.
With its non-traditional narrative structure and evocative visuals, Mirror stands as a haunting testament to Tarkovsky’s unparalleled ability to explore the inner landscapes of the human spirit.
Read More
Our 4/20 Weekend comes to a close with the legendary 3 hour documentary Woodstock. This pick comes directly from Finn, who is our second Volunteer Of The Month for April!
An intimate look at the Woodstock Music & Art Festival held in Bethel, NY in 1969, from preparation through cleanup, with historic access to insiders, blistering concert footage, and portraits of the concertgoers; negative and positive aspects are shown, from drug use by performers to naked fans sliding in the mud, from the collapse of the fences by the unexpected hordes to the surreal arrival of National Guard helicopters with food and medical assistance for the impromptu city of 500,000.
Two nights only. Don’t miss this epic picture of peace, music, and love on the big screen!
Read More
Hot off of its Academy Award for International Feature Film, Walter Salles’ I’m Still Here is finally making its way to The Frida Cinema!
Starring the incomparable Fernanda Torres (also nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars), the story is set in 1971, when Brazil’s military dictatorship has reached its height. The Paiva family — Rubens, Eunice, and their five children — live in a beachside house in Rio, open to all their friends. One day, Rubens is taken for questioning and does not return.
Thank you to our friends at Sony Picture Classics for letting us play this wonderful film.
Read More
The nationwide Science on Screen® program returns to The Frida with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which will open with live presentation “Oppenheimer, Quantum Mechanics, and the Structure of Reality” presented by Dr. Jacob Barandes, philosopher of science and mathematical physicist at Harvard.
Read More
Johan Grimonprez’s Soundtrack to a Coup d’État is a gripping documentary that examines the intersection of music, politics, and Cold War-era power struggles in Africa.
The film explores the 1961 assassination of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba, revealing how Western governments —particularly the U.S. and Belgium — manipulated political events to maintain control over Africa’s resources. Against this backdrop of covert operations and geopolitical maneuvering, the documentary highlights the role of jazz musicians, such as Louis Armstrong, who were sent as cultural ambassadors, often unknowingly aiding in political cover-ups.
Read More
Film Club Members are invited to an exclusive screening of Army of Shadows, Jean-Pierre Melville’s gripping depiction of the French Resistance during World War II.
The film follows Philippe Gerbier (Lino Ventura), a stoic resistance leader, as he navigates the perilous world of espionage and betrayal while fighting against Nazi occupation. Alongside a dedicated group of comrades, including the fearless Mathilde (Simone Signoret) and the resourceful Jean-François (Jean-Pierre Cassel), Gerbier undertakes covert operations, rescues, and assassinations, all while facing the constant threat of capture and execution.
Read More
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.
Read More
Our Kubrick Christmas series marches along with Paths of Glory, the director’s 1957 anti-war drama!
The story follows Colonel Dax, portrayed by Kirk Douglas, a principled French officer who is ordered to lead his men in a suicidal assault on an impregnable German position known as the “Anthill.” When the attack fails, the enraged generals scapegoat three soldiers, putting them on trial for cowardice to cover up their own incompetence. As Dax defends the men in a farcical court-martial, the film exposes the callous indifference of the military hierarchy and the brutal realities of war.
Read More
