The Knickerbocker Theatre of Hope College has announced the films for its 2001 Fall Film Series.
Beginning on Friday, Oct. 26, the series will feature award-winning foreign and independent films from China, the Czech Republic, France and the United States.
The first film of the series is "The Road Home," directed by Zhang Yimou. Set in modern China, with multiple flashbacks from the past, "The Road Home" tells the story of a young man uncovering his parents' legendary courtship. The film stars Zhang Ziyi, familiar to American audiences through her roles in "Rush Hour 2" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." The film is rated G and runs 100 minutes, with English subtitles. "The Road Home" will run from Friday, Oct. 26, through Thursday, Nov. 1, playing at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly.
The Knickerbocker will play the Czech film "Divided We Fall" on Friday, Nov. 2, and Monday-Thursday, Nov. 5-8. Based on a true story, "Divided We Fall" was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign film. The story centers on a childless couple who hide a Jewish man in their home after the Nazis occupy their town. Rated PG-13, "Divided We Fall" will play at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. nightly. The film is in Czech and German with English subtitles.
The third film in the series is a documentary from acclaimed French director Agnes Varda. "The Gleaners and I" follows the ancient custom of gleaning in modern-day France from the field to the supermarket dumpster. The documentary received the People's Choice Award at the Montreal Festival of New Cinema. It is not rated and is in French with English Subtitles. It runs at the Knickerbocker on Friday, Nov. 9, and Monday-Friday, Nov. 12-16, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly.
The Fall Film Series closes with the American film, "Songcatcher." Staring Aidan Quinn and Janet McTeer, the film tells the story of a turn of the century musicologist who leaves the academy to explore the roots of rural Appalachian music. The soundtrack of the film includes some of the same artists found on the soundtrack for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" "Songcatcher" received the Sundance Film Festival award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. The film is rated PG-13. It runs Friday- Thursday, Nov. 23-29, at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. nightly.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is closed on Sundays. Tickets for the series can be purchased at the Knickerbocker Theatre, located in downtown Holland at 86 E. 8th St. between College and Columbia avenues, or can be ordered by calling (616) 395-7403.