Barrie Film Festival

Burn Your Maps - 7PM
2017-05-03 19:00 (America/Toronto) | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: May 3, 2017 – 7:00 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Written and Directed by: Jordan Roberts
Principle Cast: Vera Farmiga, Jacob Tremblay, Virginia Madsen, Marton Csokas, Suraj Sharma
Adventure/Drama, PG mature thematic elements including some mature sexual material and brief strong language, 102 minutes (USA)

Based on the short story of the same name by Robyn Joy Leff. In this film adaptation, an eight-year-old boy named Wes (Jacob Tremblay, The Room) has an existential epiphany after a family tragedy, and becomes convinced that he is actually a Mongolian goat herder. He uses the help of an aspiring filmmaker to convince his parents to take a soul-searching journey to a village in Mongolia, where Wes believes he belongs.
Awards:
Won – Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Calgary International Film Festival, 2016
Won – 1st Place, American Indie Competition, Leiden International Film Festival, 2016
Won – Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Gold Coast International Film Festival, 2016

Sponsored By:

Burn Your Maps - 9:15PM
2017-05-03 21:15 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening:
May 3, 2017 – 9:15 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Jordan Roberts
Principle Cast: Vera Farmiga, Jacob Tremblay, Virginia Madsen, Marton Csokas, Suraj Sharma
Adventure/Drama, PG mature thematic elements including some mature sexual material and brief strong language, 102 minutes (USA)

Based on the short story of the same name by Robyn Joy Leff. In this film adaptation, an eight-year-old boy named Wes (Jacob Tremblay, The Room) has an existential epiphany after a family tragedy, and becomes convinced that he is actually a Mongolian goat herder. He uses the help of an aspiring filmmaker to convince his parents to take a soul-searching journey to a village in Mongolia, where Wes believes he belongs.
Awards:
Won – Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Calgary International Film Festival, 2016
Won – 1st Place, American Indie Competition, Leiden International Film Festival, 2016
Won – Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Gold Coast International Film Festival, 2016

Sponsored By:

Burn Your Maps - 4PM
2017-05-04 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: May 4, 2017 – 4:00 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Jordan Roberts
Principle Cast: Vera Farmiga, Jacob Tremblay, Virginia Madsen, Marton Csokas, Suraj Sharma
Adventure/Drama, PG mature thematic elements including some mature sexual material and brief strong language, 102 minutes (USA)

Based on the short story of the same name by Robyn Joy Leff. In this film adaptation, an eight-year-old boy named Wes (Jacob Tremblay, The Room) has an existential epiphany after a family tragedy, and becomes convinced that he is actually a Mongolian goat herder. He uses the help of an aspiring filmmaker to convince his parents to take a soul-searching journey to a village in Mongolia, where Wes believes he belongs.
Awards:
Won – Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Calgary International Film Festival, 2016
Won – 1st Place, American Indie Competition, Leiden International Film Festival, 2016
Won – Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Gold Coast International Film Festival, 2016

Sponsored By:

Burn Your Maps - 7PM
2017-05-04 19:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: May 4, 2017 – 7:00 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Jordan Roberts
Principle Cast: Vera Farmiga, Jacob Tremblay, Virginia Madsen, Marton Csokas, Suraj Sharma
Adventure/Drama, PG mature thematic elements including some mature sexual material and brief strong language, 102 minutes (USA)

Based on the short story of the same name by Robyn Joy Leff. In this film adaptation, an eight-year-old boy named Wes (Jacob Tremblay, The Room) has an existential epiphany after a family tragedy, and becomes convinced that he is actually a Mongolian goat herder. He uses the help of an aspiring filmmaker to convince his parents to take a soul-searching journey to a village in Mongolia, where Wes believes he belongs.

Awards:
Won – Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Calgary International Film Festival, 2016
Won – 1st Place, American Indie Competition, Leiden International Film Festival, 2016
Won – Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, Gold Coast International Film Festival, 2016

Sponsored By:

After the Storm - 4PM
2017-05-18 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
After the Storm (Umi yori mo mada fukaku)
Screening: Thursday, May 18, 2017 – 4:00 pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Cast: Hiroshi Abe, Yoko Maki, Kirin Kiki and Lily Franky
Drama, 117 minutes, Language: Japanese with English subtitles (Japan)

“Japanese master Kore-eda Hirokazu delivers one of his most satisfying efforts to date with his tender look at a disintegrating family and what truly remains of the love that was once there in abundance.” – Ken Eisner, Georgia Straight
“Kore-eda chronicles all this with his customary warmth and patience, [exploring] themes of familial and generational conflict while barely raising his voice above a whisper.” – Kenji Fujishima, Movie Mezzanine
Dwelling on his past glory as a prize-winning author, Ryota (Hiroshi Abe) wastes the money he makes as a private detective on gambling and can barely pay child support. After the death of his father, his aging mother (Kirin Kiki) and beautiful ex-wife (Yoko Make) seem to be moving on with their lives. Renewing contact with his initially distrusting family, Ryota struggles to take back control of his existence and to find a lasting place in the life of his young son (Taiyo Yoshizawa) – until a stormy summer night offers them a chance to truly bond again.
Awards:
Nominated, Un Certain Regard Award, Cannes Film Festival, 2016
Nominated, Best Feature, Chicago International Film Festival, 2016

Program is Sponsored by:

After the Storm - 8PM
2017-05-18 20:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
After the Storm (Umi yori mo mada fukaku)
Screening: Thursday, May 18, 2017 – 8:00 pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Cast: Hiroshi Abe, Yoko Maki, Kirin Kiki and Lily Franky
Drama, 117 minutes, Language: Japanese with English subtitles (Japan)

“Japanese master Kore-eda Hirokazu delivers one of his most satisfying efforts to date with his tender look at a disintegrating family and what truly remains of the love that was once there in abundance.” – Ken Eisner, Georgia Straight
“Kore-eda chronicles all this with his customary warmth and patience, [exploring] themes of familial and generational conflict while barely raising his voice above a whisper.” – Kenji Fujishima, Movie Mezzanine
Dwelling on his past glory as a prize-winning author, Ryota (Hiroshi Abe) wastes the money he makes as a private detective on gambling and can barely pay child support. After the death of his father, his aging mother (Kirin Kiki) and beautiful ex-wife (Yoko Make) seem to be moving on with their lives. Renewing contact with his initially distrusting family, Ryota struggles to take back control of his existence and to find a lasting place in the life of his young son (Taiyo Yoshizawa) – until a stormy summer night offers them a chance to truly bond again.
Awards:
Nominated, Un Certain Regard Award, Cannes Film Festival, 2016
Nominated, Best Feature, Chicago International Film Festival, 2016

Program is Sponsored by:

Land of Mine - 4PM
2017-06-07 16:00 - 17:40 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Land of Mine (Under Sandet)
Screening: June 7, 2017 – 4pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Martin Zandvliet
Principle Cast: Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann, Emil Belton and Joel Basman
Drama/War, 14A for gory scenes, disturbing content, graphic violence, some language, not suitable for sensitive or young viewers, 100 minutes, English, Danish and German with English subtitles (Denmark/Germany)

As World War II comes to an end, a group of German POWs, boys rather than men, are captured by the Danish army and forced to engage in a deadly task – to defuse and clear land mines from the Danish coastline. With little or no training, the boys soon discover that the war is far from over. Inspired by real events, Land of Mine exposes the untold story of one tragic moment in post-war history.

Awards (26 wins, 20 nominations):
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, 2017
Won, Audience Award World Cinema, AFI Fest, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Louis Hofmann), Beijing International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards: Cinematography, Costume Design, Hair & Makeup, European Film Awards, 2016
Won, 2 awards: Audience Award and MovieZone Award, Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2016
Won, SIGNIS Award, Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards, Jameson CineFest – Miskolc International Film Festival, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann), Tokyo International Film Festival, 2015
Won, Audience Award, Gijón International Film Festival, 2015

Sponsored By:

Land of Mine - 7PM
2017-06-07 19:00 - 20:40 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Land of Mine (Under Sandet)
Screening: June 7, 2017 – 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Martin Zandvliet
Principle Cast: Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann, Emil Belton and Joel Basman
Drama/War, 14A for gory scenes, disturbing content, graphic violence, some language, not suitable for sensitive or young viewers, 100 minutes, English, Danish and German with English subtitles (Denmark/Germany)

As World War II comes to an end, a group of German POWs, boys rather than men, are captured by the Danish army and forced to engage in a deadly task – to defuse and clear land mines from the Danish coastline. With little or no training, the boys soon discover that the war is far from over. Inspired by real events, Land of Mine exposes the untold story of one tragic moment in post-war history.

Awards (26 wins, 20 nominations):
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, 2017
Won, Audience Award World Cinema, AFI Fest, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Louis Hofmann), Beijing International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards: Cinematography, Costume Design, Hair & Makeup, European Film Awards, 2016
Won, 2 awards: Audience Award and MovieZone Award, Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2016
Won, SIGNIS Award, Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards, Jameson CineFest – Miskolc International Film Festival, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann), Tokyo International Film Festival, 2015
Won, Audience Award, Gijón International Film Festival, 2015

Sponsored By:

Land of Mine - 9PM
2017-06-07 21:00 - 22:40 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Land of Mine (Under Sandet)
Screening: June 7, 2017 – 9pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Martin Zandvliet
Principle Cast: Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann, Emil Belton and Joel Basman
Drama/War, 14A for gory scenes, disturbing content, graphic violence, some language, not suitable for sensitive or young viewers, 100 minutes, English, Danish and German with English subtitles (Denmark/Germany)

As World War II comes to an end, a group of German POWs, boys rather than men, are captured by the Danish army and forced to engage in a deadly task – to defuse and clear land mines from the Danish coastline. With little or no training, the boys soon discover that the war is far from over. Inspired by real events, Land of Mine exposes the untold story of one tragic moment in post-war history.

Awards (26 wins, 20 nominations):
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, 2017
Won, Audience Award World Cinema, AFI Fest, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Louis Hofmann), Beijing International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards: Cinematography, Costume Design, Hair & Makeup, European Film Awards, 2016
Won, 2 awards: Audience Award and MovieZone Award, Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2016
Won, SIGNIS Award, Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards, Jameson CineFest – Miskolc International Film Festival, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann), Tokyo International Film Festival, 2015
Won, Audience Award, Gijón International Film Festival, 2015

Sponsored By:

Land of Mine - 4PM
2017-06-08 16:00 - 17:40 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Land of Mine (Under Sandet)
Screening: June 8, 2017 – 4pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Martin Zandvliet
Principle Cast: Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann, Emil Belton and Joel Basman
Drama/War, 14A for gory scenes, disturbing content, graphic violence, some language, not suitable for sensitive or young viewers, 100 minutes, English, Danish and German with English subtitles (Denmark/Germany)

As World War II comes to an end, a group of German POWs, boys rather than men, are captured by the Danish army and forced to engage in a deadly task – to defuse and clear land mines from the Danish coastline. With little or no training, the boys soon discover that the war is far from over. Inspired by real events, Land of Mine exposes the untold story of one tragic moment in post-war history.

Awards (26 wins, 20 nominations):
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, 2017
Won, Audience Award World Cinema, AFI Fest, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Louis Hofmann), Beijing International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards: Cinematography, Costume Design, Hair & Makeup, European Film Awards, 2016
Won, 2 awards: Audience Award and MovieZone Award, Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2016
Won, SIGNIS Award, Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards, Jameson CineFest – Miskolc International Film Festival, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann), Tokyo International Film Festival, 2015
Won, Audience Award, Gijón International Film Festival, 2015

Sponsored By:

Land of Mine - 7PM
2017-06-08 19:00 - 20:40 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Land of Mine (Under Sandet)
Screening: June 8, 2017 – 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Written and Directed by: Martin Zandvliet
Principle Cast: Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann, Emil Belton and Joel Basman
Drama/War, 14A for gory scenes, disturbing content, graphic violence, some language, not suitable for sensitive or young viewers, 100 minutes, English, Danish and German with English subtitles (Denmark/Germany)

As World War II comes to an end, a group of German POWs, boys rather than men, are captured by the Danish army and forced to engage in a deadly task – to defuse and clear land mines from the Danish coastline. With little or no training, the boys soon discover that the war is far from over. Inspired by real events, Land of Mine exposes the untold story of one tragic moment in post-war history.

Awards (26 wins, 20 nominations):
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, 2017
Won, Audience Award World Cinema, AFI Fest, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Louis Hofmann), Beijing International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards: Cinematography, Costume Design, Hair & Makeup, European Film Awards, 2016
Won, 2 awards: Audience Award and MovieZone Award, Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2016
Won, SIGNIS Award, Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2016
Won, 3 awards, Jameson CineFest – Miskolc International Film Festival, 2016
Won, Best Actor (Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann), Tokyo International Film Festival, 2015
Won, Audience Award, Gijón International Film Festival, 2015

Sponsored By:

Bill Evans: Time Remembered - 4PM
2017-06-11 16:00 - 17:24 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Bill Evans: Time Remembered
Screening: Sunday, June 11, 2017 – 4:00 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Admission: Adults $10, Seniors/Students $8
Directed by: Bruce Spiegel
Documentary/Biography, NR, 84 minutes (USA)

Eight years in the making, over forty interviews, over 30 archival photographers
“The film Bill Evans, Time Remembered took me 8 years to make. Eight years of tracking down anybody who knew Bill and who played with him, to try and find out as much as I could about the illusive and not easy to understand Bill Evans. I feel very honored to have had the chance to interview and get to know good guys that spent a lot of time with Bill: Billy Taylor, Gene Lees, Tony Bennett, Jack DeJohnette, Jon Hendricks, Jim Hall, Bobby Brookmeyer, Chuck Israels, Paul Motian, Gary Peacock, Joe LaBarbera. It was a once in a life time experience talking to these gifted talented guys about their time in jazz music, about their “Time Remembered“ with Bill Evans.” – Bruce Spiegel

In partnership with:

I Called Him Morgan - 7PM
2017-06-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
I Called Him Morgan
Screening: Sunday, June 11, 2017 – 7:00 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Admission: Adults $10, Seniors/Students $8
Written and Directed by: Kasper Collin
With: Lee Morgan, Helen Morgan, Wayne Shorter
Biography/Documentary, PG, 89 minutes (USA/Sweden)

“Musicians sometimes paraphrase Debussy, or one another, in saying that music is the silence between the notes. I Called Him Morgan has it all – the notes and the silence, plus the music of spoken language, pitched in rueful tones of recollection.” – Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
“I Called Him Morgan” works as a jazz documentary as well as a bizarre true crime tale about a mysterious crime of passion. All these years later, many questions remain.” – Adam Graham, Detroit News

On a snowy night in February 1972, celebrated jazz musician Lee Morgan was shot dead by his wife Helen during a gig at a club in New York City. The murder sent shockwaves through the jazz community, and the memory of the event still haunts those who knew the Morgans. This documentary by Swedish filmmaker Kasper Collin is a love letter to two unique personalities and the music that brought them together. A film about love, jazz and America with cinematography by Bradford Young.
Awards:
Nominated, Best Music Supervision for a Documentary, Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, 2017
Won, Best Local Feature/Nominated, Best Documentary, Philadelphia Film Festival, 2016
Nominated, Best Documentary, Stockholm Film Festival, 2016

In partnership with:

Weirdos - 4PM
2017-06-15 16:00 - 17:30 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: Thursday, June 15, 2017 – 4:00 pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Bruce McDonald
Written by: Daniel MacIvor
Cast: Julia Sarah Stone, Dylan Authors, Molly Parker, Allan Hawco
Drama, 14A, 89 minutes, note: filmed in glorious Black & White (Canada)

“one of Bruce McDonald’s sweetest films” – Toronto Star
“It’s ultimately Stone who walks away with the picture. Adding an impatient clarity to the old-soul watchfulness she displayed in Wet Bum, she slowly becomes Weirdos’ moral centre. And it’s something to see.” – Norm Wilner, Now Magazine
“What’s not to love about Canuck hipster Bruce McDonald’s return to a genre of which he’s a master – the indie road movie with a distinctly Canadian flavour and endearingly peculiar characters?” – Michael D. Reid, Victoria Times Colonist, British Columbia

Canadian master Bruce McDonald teams with veteran playwright and screenwriter Daniel MacIvor for a coming-of-age road movie with the perfect blend of magic and naturalism. It’s July 1976, and the USA is celebrating its bicentennial. But, north of the border in the small Nova Scotian town of Antigonish it’s a weekend like any other, which means not much is going on. Music-loving 15-year-old Kit (Dylan Authorsm) spends his time either alone in his room listening to Elton John albums, or hanging out with his platonic girlfriend, Alice (Julia Sarah Stone, a 2014 TIFF Rising Star for her performance in Wet Bum). Like Kit, Alice feels out of place, and her divorced parents have too many issues of their own to offer much comfort. Craving a turning point in their lives, the two decide to hitchhike to Sydney on Cape Breton Island to visit Kit’s glamorous but unstable mother, Laura (Molly Parker) — a journey guided, by a laconic Andy Warhol apparition (Rhys Bevan-John). Through their quest for something bigger and better — both on the road and at their destination — they’ll face some truths about themselves that will point the way to a more honest, fully lived future. Accompanied by a suitably killer ’70s soundtrack, and shot in softly sunlit black and white, this film is grounded in its quiet and life-affirming moments; the film’s offbeat sense of humour arises organically from the differences in the ways its characters express their love. These sweet weirdos are temporarily lost, but they’re about to help each other find out where they’re headed.
Awards:
Nominated, Generation 14plus BEST FILM, Berlin International Film Festival, 2017
Nominated, Performance by an Actress in Supporting Role (Molly Parker), Canadian Screen Awards, CA, 2017
Nominated, Performance by an Actress in Supporting Role (Molly Parker), Vancouver Film Critics Circle, 2017

Program is Sponsored by:

Weirdos - 8PM
2017-06-15 20:00 - 21:30 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: Thursday, June 15, 2017 – 8:00 pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Bruce McDonald
Written by: Daniel MacIvor
Cast: Julia Sarah Stone, Dylan Authors, Molly Parker, Allan Hawco
Drama, 14A, 89 minutes, note: filmed in glorious Black & White (Canada)

“one of Bruce McDonald’s sweetest films” – Toronto Star
“It’s ultimately Stone who walks away with the picture. Adding an impatient clarity to the old-soul watchfulness she displayed in Wet Bum, she slowly becomes Weirdos’ moral centre. And it’s something to see.” – Norm Wilner, Now Magazine
“What’s not to love about Canuck hipster Bruce McDonald’s return to a genre of which he’s a master – the indie road movie with a distinctly Canadian flavour and endearingly peculiar characters?” – Michael D. Reid, Victoria Times Colonist, British Columbia

Canadian master Bruce McDonald teams with veteran playwright and screenwriter Daniel MacIvor for a coming-of-age road movie with the perfect blend of magic and naturalism. It’s July 1976, and the USA is celebrating its bicentennial. But, north of the border in the small Nova Scotian town of Antigonish it’s a weekend like any other, which means not much is going on. Music-loving 15-year-old Kit (Dylan Authorsm) spends his time either alone in his room listening to Elton John albums, or hanging out with his platonic girlfriend, Alice (Julia Sarah Stone, a 2014 TIFF Rising Star for her performance in Wet Bum). Like Kit, Alice feels out of place, and her divorced parents have too many issues of their own to offer much comfort. Craving a turning point in their lives, the two decide to hitchhike to Sydney on Cape Breton Island to visit Kit’s glamorous but unstable mother, Laura (Molly Parker) — a journey guided, by a laconic Andy Warhol apparition (Rhys Bevan-John). Through their quest for something bigger and better — both on the road and at their destination — they’ll face some truths about themselves that will point the way to a more honest, fully lived future. Accompanied by a suitably killer ’70s soundtrack, and shot in softly sunlit black and white, this film is grounded in its quiet and life-affirming moments; the film’s offbeat sense of humour arises organically from the differences in the ways its characters express their love. These sweet weirdos are temporarily lost, but they’re about to help each other find out where they’re headed.
Awards:
Nominated, Generation 14plus BEST FILM, Berlin International Film Festival, 2017
Nominated, Performance by an Actress in Supporting Role (Molly Parker), Canadian Screen Awards, CA, 2017
Nominated, Performance by an Actress in Supporting Role (Molly Parker), Vancouver Film Critics Circle, 2017

Program is Sponsored by:

Doctor Strange - Outdoor screening
2017-06-21 21:15 | 2021 Short Film Competition Awards
Doctor Strange
Wednesday, June 21 (RD Jun 22)
Heritage Park, Barrie
Starts at dusk (approx. 9:15 pm)
Rated PG – mature theme and violence, 115 min.
Stephen Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Before long, Strange is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

Sponsored by:

Their Finest - 4PM
2017-07-05 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: July 5, 2017 – 4pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Lone Scherfig
Principle Cast: Bill Nighy, Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan and Richard E. Grant
Comedy/Drama, 14A for coarse language and sexual content, 117 minutes (United Kingdom)

“Their Finest is the sort of crowd-pleaser that knows the difference between satisfying its viewers and flattering them, all the while showcasing surprising performances from Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin, and an entirely unsurprising one from Bill Nighy — a master scene-stealer pulling off yet another brazen heist.” – Andrew Barker, Variety

“Sherfig perfectly balances the comedic romance & period drama elements to make Their Finest a pleasantly entertaining watch.” – Matthew Pejkovic, Matt’s Movie Reviews

A true favourite in the industry, Lone Scherfig directs a sterling British cast in this period comedy-drama based on the novel, Their Finest Hour and a Half, by Lissa Evans about a group of filmmakers struggling to make an inspirational film to boost morale during the Blitz of London in World War II. Young screenwriter Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) is charged with bringing a female perspective to war films produced by the British Ministry of Information’s Film Division. Her current project is inspired by stories of British civilians rescuing soldiers after the retreat at Dunkirk. While on location in Devon, Catrin begins to come into her own and earn the respect of her peers, including the haughty veteran actor Ambrose Hilliard (Bill Nighy). Their Finest pops with witty banter, flows with exquisite period detail and functions as a positive affirmation of women in film thanks to a fine performance from Gemma Arterton and superb direction from Lone Scherfig.

Awards:
Won, Audience Award for Best Feature Film, Göteborg Film Festival, 2017

Sponsored By:

Their Finest - 7PM
2017-07-05 19:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: July 5, 2017 – 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Lone Scherfig
Principle Cast: Bill Nighy, Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan and Richard E. Grant
Comedy/Drama, 14A for coarse language and sexual content, 117 minutes (United Kingdom)

“Their Finest is the sort of crowd-pleaser that knows the difference between satisfying its viewers and flattering them, all the while showcasing surprising performances from Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin, and an entirely unsurprising one from Bill Nighy — a master scene-stealer pulling off yet another brazen heist.” – Andrew Barker, Variety

“Sherfig perfectly balances the comedic romance & period drama elements to make Their Finest a pleasantly entertaining watch.” – Matthew Pejkovic, Matt’s Movie Reviews

A true favourite in the industry, Lone Scherfig directs a sterling British cast in this period comedy-drama based on the novel, Their Finest Hour and a Half, by Lissa Evans about a group of filmmakers struggling to make an inspirational film to boost morale during the Blitz of London in World War II. Young screenwriter Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) is charged with bringing a female perspective to war films produced by the British Ministry of Information’s Film Division. Her current project is inspired by stories of British civilians rescuing soldiers after the retreat at Dunkirk. While on location in Devon, Catrin begins to come into her own and earn the respect of her peers, including the haughty veteran actor Ambrose Hilliard (Bill Nighy). Their Finest pops with witty banter, flows with exquisite period detail and functions as a positive affirmation of women in film thanks to a fine performance from Gemma Arterton and superb direction from Lone Scherfig.

Awards:
Won, Audience Award for Best Feature Film, Göteborg Film Festival, 2017

Sponsored By:

Their Finest - 4PM
2017-07-06 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: July 6, 2017 – 4pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Lone Scherfig
Principle Cast: Bill Nighy, Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan and Richard E. Grant
Comedy/Drama, 14A for coarse language and sexual content, 117 minutes (United Kingdom)

“Their Finest is the sort of crowd-pleaser that knows the difference between satisfying its viewers and flattering them, all the while showcasing surprising performances from Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin, and an entirely unsurprising one from Bill Nighy — a master scene-stealer pulling off yet another brazen heist.” – Andrew Barker, Variety

“Sherfig perfectly balances the comedic romance & period drama elements to make Their Finest a pleasantly entertaining watch.” – Matthew Pejkovic, Matt’s Movie Reviews

A true favourite in the industry, Lone Scherfig directs a sterling British cast in this period comedy-drama based on the novel, Their Finest Hour and a Half, by Lissa Evans about a group of filmmakers struggling to make an inspirational film to boost morale during the Blitz of London in World War II. Young screenwriter Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) is charged with bringing a female perspective to war films produced by the British Ministry of Information’s Film Division. Her current project is inspired by stories of British civilians rescuing soldiers after the retreat at Dunkirk. While on location in Devon, Catrin begins to come into her own and earn the respect of her peers, including the haughty veteran actor Ambrose Hilliard (Bill Nighy). Their Finest pops with witty banter, flows with exquisite period detail and functions as a positive affirmation of women in film thanks to a fine performance from Gemma Arterton and superb direction from Lone Scherfig.

Awards:
Won, Audience Award for Best Feature Film, Göteborg Film Festival, 2017

Sponsored By:

Their Finest - 7PM
2017-07-06 19:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: July 6, 2017 – 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Lone Scherfig
Principle Cast: Bill Nighy, Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan and Richard E. Grant
Comedy/Drama, 14A for coarse language and sexual content, 117 minutes (United Kingdom)

“Their Finest is the sort of crowd-pleaser that knows the difference between satisfying its viewers and flattering them, all the while showcasing surprising performances from Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin, and an entirely unsurprising one from Bill Nighy — a master scene-stealer pulling off yet another brazen heist.” – Andrew Barker, Variety

“Sherfig perfectly balances the comedic romance & period drama elements to make Their Finest a pleasantly entertaining watch.” – Matthew Pejkovic, Matt’s Movie Reviews

A true favourite in the industry, Lone Scherfig directs a sterling British cast in this period comedy-drama based on the novel, Their Finest Hour and a Half, by Lissa Evans about a group of filmmakers struggling to make an inspirational film to boost morale during the Blitz of London in World War II. Young screenwriter Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) is charged with bringing a female perspective to war films produced by the British Ministry of Information’s Film Division. Her current project is inspired by stories of British civilians rescuing soldiers after the retreat at Dunkirk. While on location in Devon, Catrin begins to come into her own and earn the respect of her peers, including the haughty veteran actor Ambrose Hilliard (Bill Nighy). Their Finest pops with witty banter, flows with exquisite period detail and functions as a positive affirmation of women in film thanks to a fine performance from Gemma Arterton and superb direction from Lone Scherfig.

Awards:
Won, Audience Award for Best Feature Film, Göteborg Film Festival, 2017

Sponsored By:

Beauty and the Beast - Outdoor screening
2017-07-15 21:00 | 2021 Short Film Competition Awards
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Saturday, July 15 (NEW – due to weather),
Heritage Park, Barrie
Starts at dusk (approx. 9-9:15pm), weather permitting
Rated PG – violence and some scary scenes, 129 min.
Belle (Emma Watson), a bright, beautiful and independent young woman, is taken prisoner by a beast (Dan Stevens) in its castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the beast’s hideous exterior, allowing her to recognize the kind heart and soul of the true prince that hides on the inside.

Sponsored by:

The Commune - 4PM
2017-07-20 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: Thursday, July 20, 2017 – 4:00 pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Thomas Vinterberg
Cast: Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen and Helene Reingaard Neumann
Drama, 18A for mature thematics, sexuality and some nudity, 112 minutes,
Danish with English Subtitles (Denmark/Sweden/Netherlands)

The new film by lauded Danish director Thomas Vinterberg (“The Celebration,” Oscar® nominated “The Hunt”) examines the fallout from the social upheavals of the 1970s through the microcosm of a Copenhagen commune. Anna (Trine Dyrholm, who won Best Actress at the 2016 Berlinale for her performance) is a television newswoman; her husband, Erik (Ulrich Thomsen), teaches architecture at a university, but the grim reality of mentoring people whose career prospects are brighter than his own has left him disgruntled and bored. When Erik’s father passes away, the couple must decide what to do with the huge house that Erik grew up in, as it’s too expensive for them to occupy on their own. Erik prefers selling, but Anna — who has become frustrated with Erik’s dour outlook and longs for something new — suggests that they use this opportunity to experiment with communal living (which was all the rage in Scandinavia at the time). Energized by the era’s relaxed taboos, Anna and Erik assemble a diverse, rather motley crew of cohabitants and embark on their adventure, but soon take very different paths. Driven by brilliant lead performances from Vinterberg’s “Celebration” stars Thomsen and Dyrholm and supporting turns from Lars Ranthe and Fares Fares, THE COMMUNE is a sharply observed study of how new values can quickly come into conflict with old habits and affiliations.

Awards:
Won, Best Actress (Dyrholm), Berlin International Film Festival 2016
Won, Best Actress (Dyrholm), Bodil Awards 2017
Nominated, Best Feature, Chicago International Film Festival 2016
Nominated, Narrative Feature Competition, Montclair Film Festival (MFF) 2017

Program is Sponsored by:

The Commune - 8PM
2017-07-20 20:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Screening: Thursday, July 20, 2017 – 8:00 pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Thomas Vinterberg
Cast: Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen and Helene Reingaard Neumann
Drama, 18A for mature thematics, sexuality and some nudity, 112 minutes,
Danish with English Subtitles (Denmark/Sweden/Netherlands)

The new film by lauded Danish director Thomas Vinterberg (“The Celebration,” Oscar® nominated “The Hunt”) examines the fallout from the social upheavals of the 1970s through the microcosm of a Copenhagen commune. Anna (Trine Dyrholm, who won Best Actress at the 2016 Berlinale for her performance) is a television newswoman; her husband, Erik (Ulrich Thomsen), teaches architecture at a university, but the grim reality of mentoring people whose career prospects are brighter than his own has left him disgruntled and bored. When Erik’s father passes away, the couple must decide what to do with the huge house that Erik grew up in, as it’s too expensive for them to occupy on their own. Erik prefers selling, but Anna — who has become frustrated with Erik’s dour outlook and longs for something new — suggests that they use this opportunity to experiment with communal living (which was all the rage in Scandinavia at the time). Energized by the era’s relaxed taboos, Anna and Erik assemble a diverse, rather motley crew of cohabitants and embark on their adventure, but soon take very different paths. Driven by brilliant lead performances from Vinterberg’s “Celebration” stars Thomsen and Dyrholm and supporting turns from Lars Ranthe and Fares Fares, THE COMMUNE is a sharply observed study of how new values can quickly come into conflict with old habits and affiliations.

Awards:
Won, Best Actress (Dyrholm), Berlin International Film Festival 2016
Won, Best Actress (Dyrholm), Bodil Awards 2017
Nominated, Best Feature, Chicago International Film Festival 2016
Nominated, Narrative Feature Competition, Montclair Film Festival (MFF) 2017

Program is Sponsored by:

The Secret Life of Pets - Outdoor screening
2017-07-27 21:00 | 2021 Short Film Competition Awards
The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
Thursday, July 27 (NEW – due to weather)
Heritage Park, Barrie
Starts at dusk (approx. 9pm), weather permitting
Rated G – some scary scenes, cartoon/animation action, 90 min.
Max (Louis C.K.) is a spoiled terrier who enjoys a comfortable life in a New York building until his owner adopts Duke, a giant and unruly canine. During their walk outside, they encounter a group of ferocious alley cats and wind up in a truck that’s bound for the pound. Luckily, a rebellious bunny named Snowball swoops in to save the doggy duo from captivity. In exchange, Snowball demands that Max and Duke join his gang of abandoned pets on a mission against the humans who’ve done them wrong.

Sponsored by:

Frantz - 4PM
2017-08-02 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Frantz

Screening: August 2, 2017 – 4pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: François Ozon
Principle Cast: Paula Beer, Pierre Niney, Marie Gruber, Ernst Stotzner, Johann Von Bulow, Anton Von Lucke
Drama, PG for mature thematic elements including brief war violence, 114 minutes, filmed in glorious black & white, Language: French, German with English subtitles (France/Germany)

“A fine bilingual cast, haunting period detail and a provocative approach to a twisting story carry the day.”
– Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail
“A richly imagined and superbly assembled period piece. ”
– Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter
“It’s a rare beauty, this odd-duck of a period piece from the great French director François Ozon”
– Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

In the aftermath of World War I, a young German woman mourning the death of her fiancé forms a bond with a mysterious Frenchman visiting her beloved’s grave. Telling a familiar tale of love, remembrance, grief, and mourning in new and surprising ways, Frantz is a brilliant addition to the filmography of François Ozon. The war has just ended and Anna (Paula Beer) is still living with Frantz’s parents, who are shattered over their son’s death. Meanwhile, the citizens of Anna’s small German town are just beginning to emerge from the shadow of the war. Spying a stranger laying a bouquet of roses on Frantz’s grave one day, the quietly grieving Anna is both surprised and intrigued. Hesitantly, the visitor reveals he is a French soldier, but with the horrors of the war still so raw in everyone’s minds, the small community makes it clear he’s not welcome among them. Adrien (Pierre Niney) soon reveals he knew Frantz prior to the war, as the two became fast friends over their shared love of art and music. Anna and Frantz’s parents eventually warm to the sensitive Frenchman, grateful for the chance to relive a connection to Frantz. But despite Adrien’s initial charms, his past slowly reveals itself to be more mysterious and murky than it seems.

Awards:
Won, Best Cinematography, César Awards, France, 2017
Nominated, Best Director, Best Film, Actor (Pierre Niney), Most Promising Actress (Paula Beer), Best Adapted Screenplay, Original Music, Sound, Editing, Costume Design, Production Design, César Awards, France, 2017
Won, Best Foreign Feature Film, Sedona International Film Festival, 2017
Won, Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress (Paula Beer), Venice Film Festival, 2016
Nominated, Best Screenplay, Best Female Newcomer, Cinematography, Music, Lumiere Awards, France, 2017
Spotlight Selection, Sundance Film Festival, 2017
Best of Fest Selection, Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2017

Sponsored By:

Frantz - 7PM
2017-08-02 19:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Frantz

Screening: August 2, 2017 – 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: François Ozon
Principle Cast: Paula Beer, Pierre Niney, Marie Gruber, Ernst Stotzner, Johann Von Bulow, Anton Von Lucke
Drama, PG for mature thematic elements including brief war violence, 114 minutes, filmed in glorious black & white, Language: French, German with English subtitles (France/Germany)

“A fine bilingual cast, haunting period detail and a provocative approach to a twisting story carry the day.”
– Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail
“A richly imagined and superbly assembled period piece. ”
– Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter
“It’s a rare beauty, this odd-duck of a period piece from the great French director François Ozon”
– Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

In the aftermath of World War I, a young German woman mourning the death of her fiancé forms a bond with a mysterious Frenchman visiting her beloved’s grave. Telling a familiar tale of love, remembrance, grief, and mourning in new and surprising ways, Frantz is a brilliant addition to the filmography of François Ozon. The war has just ended and Anna (Paula Beer) is still living with Frantz’s parents, who are shattered over their son’s death. Meanwhile, the citizens of Anna’s small German town are just beginning to emerge from the shadow of the war. Spying a stranger laying a bouquet of roses on Frantz’s grave one day, the quietly grieving Anna is both surprised and intrigued. Hesitantly, the visitor reveals he is a French soldier, but with the horrors of the war still so raw in everyone’s minds, the small community makes it clear he’s not welcome among them. Adrien (Pierre Niney) soon reveals he knew Frantz prior to the war, as the two became fast friends over their shared love of art and music. Anna and Frantz’s parents eventually warm to the sensitive Frenchman, grateful for the chance to relive a connection to Frantz. But despite Adrien’s initial charms, his past slowly reveals itself to be more mysterious and murky than it seems.

Awards:
Won, Best Cinematography, César Awards, France, 2017
Nominated, Best Director, Best Film, Actor (Pierre Niney), Most Promising Actress (Paula Beer), Best Adapted Screenplay, Original Music, Sound, Editing, Costume Design, Production Design, César Awards, France, 2017
Won, Best Foreign Feature Film, Sedona International Film Festival, 2017
Won, Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress (Paula Beer), Venice Film Festival, 2016
Nominated, Best Screenplay, Best Female Newcomer, Cinematography, Music, Lumiere Awards, France, 2017
Spotlight Selection, Sundance Film Festival, 2017
Best of Fest Selection, Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2017

Sponsored By:

Frantz - 4PM
2017-08-03 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Frantz

Screening: August 3, 2017 – 4pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: François Ozon
Principle Cast: Paula Beer, Pierre Niney, Marie Gruber, Ernst Stotzner, Johann Von Bulow, Anton Von Lucke
Drama, PG for mature thematic elements including brief war violence, 114 minutes, filmed in glorious black & white, Language: French, German with English subtitles (France/Germany)

“A fine bilingual cast, haunting period detail and a provocative approach to a twisting story carry the day.”
– Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail
“A richly imagined and superbly assembled period piece. ”
– Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter
“It’s a rare beauty, this odd-duck of a period piece from the great French director François Ozon”
– Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

In the aftermath of World War I, a young German woman mourning the death of her fiancé forms a bond with a mysterious Frenchman visiting her beloved’s grave. Telling a familiar tale of love, remembrance, grief, and mourning in new and surprising ways, Frantz is a brilliant addition to the filmography of François Ozon. The war has just ended and Anna (Paula Beer) is still living with Frantz’s parents, who are shattered over their son’s death. Meanwhile, the citizens of Anna’s small German town are just beginning to emerge from the shadow of the war. Spying a stranger laying a bouquet of roses on Frantz’s grave one day, the quietly grieving Anna is both surprised and intrigued. Hesitantly, the visitor reveals he is a French soldier, but with the horrors of the war still so raw in everyone’s minds, the small community makes it clear he’s not welcome among them. Adrien (Pierre Niney) soon reveals he knew Frantz prior to the war, as the two became fast friends over their shared love of art and music. Anna and Frantz’s parents eventually warm to the sensitive Frenchman, grateful for the chance to relive a connection to Frantz. But despite Adrien’s initial charms, his past slowly reveals itself to be more mysterious and murky than it seems.

Awards:
Won, Best Cinematography, César Awards, France, 2017
Nominated, Best Director, Best Film, Actor (Pierre Niney), Most Promising Actress (Paula Beer), Best Adapted Screenplay, Original Music, Sound, Editing, Costume Design, Production Design, César Awards, France, 2017
Won, Best Foreign Feature Film, Sedona International Film Festival, 2017
Won, Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress (Paula Beer), Venice Film Festival, 2016
Nominated, Best Screenplay, Best Female Newcomer, Cinematography, Music, Lumiere Awards, France, 2017
Spotlight Selection, Sundance Film Festival, 2017
Best of Fest Selection, Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2017

Sponsored By:

Frantz - 7PM
2017-08-03 19:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Frantz

Screening: August 3, 2017 – 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: François Ozon
Principle Cast: Paula Beer, Pierre Niney, Marie Gruber, Ernst Stotzner, Johann Von Bulow, Anton Von Lucke
Drama, PG for mature thematic elements including brief war violence, 114 minutes, filmed in glorious black & white, Language: French, German with English subtitles (France/Germany)

“A fine bilingual cast, haunting period detail and a provocative approach to a twisting story carry the day.”
– Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail
“A richly imagined and superbly assembled period piece. ”
– Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter
“It’s a rare beauty, this odd-duck of a period piece from the great French director François Ozon”
– Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

In the aftermath of World War I, a young German woman mourning the death of her fiancé forms a bond with a mysterious Frenchman visiting her beloved’s grave. Telling a familiar tale of love, remembrance, grief, and mourning in new and surprising ways, Frantz is a brilliant addition to the filmography of François Ozon. The war has just ended and Anna (Paula Beer) is still living with Frantz’s parents, who are shattered over their son’s death. Meanwhile, the citizens of Anna’s small German town are just beginning to emerge from the shadow of the war. Spying a stranger laying a bouquet of roses on Frantz’s grave one day, the quietly grieving Anna is both surprised and intrigued. Hesitantly, the visitor reveals he is a French soldier, but with the horrors of the war still so raw in everyone’s minds, the small community makes it clear he’s not welcome among them. Adrien (Pierre Niney) soon reveals he knew Frantz prior to the war, as the two became fast friends over their shared love of art and music. Anna and Frantz’s parents eventually warm to the sensitive Frenchman, grateful for the chance to relive a connection to Frantz. But despite Adrien’s initial charms, his past slowly reveals itself to be more mysterious and murky than it seems.

Awards:
Won, Best Cinematography, César Awards, France, 2017
Nominated, Best Director, Best Film, Actor (Pierre Niney), Most Promising Actress (Paula Beer), Best Adapted Screenplay, Original Music, Sound, Editing, Costume Design, Production Design, César Awards, France, 2017
Won, Best Foreign Feature Film, Sedona International Film Festival, 2017
Won, Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress (Paula Beer), Venice Film Festival, 2016
Nominated, Best Screenplay, Best Female Newcomer, Cinematography, Music, Lumiere Awards, France, 2017
Spotlight Selection, Sundance Film Festival, 2017
Best of Fest Selection, Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2017

Sponsored By:

Viva Las Vegas - Outdoor Screening
2017-08-09 20:30 | 2021 Short Film Competition Awards
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
Wednesday, August 9 (RD Aug 10), Heritage Park
Starts at dusk (approx. 8:30pm)
Rated PG, 110 min.
All musically gifted race-driver Lucky Jackson (Elvis Presley) wants in Las Vegas is to score enough money for a new car motor so he can win the Grand Prix. When he encounters sexy swimming instructor Rusty (Ann-Margret), he considers staying around longer. After Lucky loses his winnings in the hotel pool, he’s forced to remain in Vegas long enough to win back his dough — but now he also wants to win Rusty’s heart. Unfortunately, so does his slick racing enemy, Elmo (Cesare Danova).

Sponsored by:

Alone in Berlin - 4PM
2017-08-17 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Alone in Berlin

Screening: Thursday, August 17, 2017 – 4:00 pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Co-written and Directed by: Vincent Perez
Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Emma Thompson and Daniel Brühl
Drama, 14A for mature themes, violence, not recommended for children, 103 minutes, Language: English (UK/Germany/France)

“Gleeson shines here as a man of few words who channels his anger into action.”
– Jim Schembri, 3AW

“It’s that juxtaposition – of the hellish against the ordinary – which gives the film its punch.”
– Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald

“When Alone in Berlin reaches the end of its journey, it’s the performances of Gleeson and Thompson that ensure we’ll never forget the bravery of Otto and Anna.” — Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

Adapted from Hans Fallada’s 1947 novel Every Man Dies Alone and nominated for a Golden Bear, Alone in Berlin follows a couple as they mount a small yet surprisingly effective resistance against the Nazi dictatorship in wartime Berlin. After losing their son on the front line during the Battle of France in 1940, working-class couple Otto (Brendan Gleeson) and Anna (Emma Thompson) find themselves disillusioned with the Nazi regime and frustrated with the war effort. Feeling angry and betrayed by the Führer’s empty promises and the substantial toll of the war, the couple decides to avenge their lost son by spreading doubt and discontent across the German capital. Their postcards, distributed in high-traffic public places across the city, transmit anti-Hitler slogans to their fellow citizens. Their small acts of defiance rattle loudly enough that young police inspector Escherich (Daniel Brühl) mounts a citywide hunt for the postcard-propaganda perpetrators. Gleeson and Thompson have a genuinely moving chemistry with each other, honouring the bravery of the real-life couple on which the story is based. Alone in Berlin offers a peek into the life of Berliners under Nazi rule and serves as a testament to the importance of resistance, big or small, against a totalitarian regime.

Program is Sponsored by:
