The Knickerbocker Theatre at Hope College has announced its lineup for a spring film series featuring another group of foreign and independent films.
The theatre will present four films from Monday, Feb. 2, through Saturday, March 6.
The series will open with “The Circle,” which will run Monday-Friday, Feb. 2-6, and Monday-Thursday, Feb. 9-12, with shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Banned in Iran, “The Circle” by Jafar Panahi is a spare yet moving drama about the suffering of women in Iran. Though inherently political and timely, Panahi’s film involves story of a small group of women recently released from prison and their struggles in the male-dominated nation.
The film is in Farsi with subtitles. It is unrated and contains no objectionable material, but does deal with adult subjects.
“Autumn Spring” will run Friday-Saturday, Feb. 13-14, and Monday-Wednesday, Feb. 16-18, with shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., and on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 9 p.m.
“Autumn Spring” focuses on an elderly gentleman who defies his age by ignoring physical reality and moving on with life, embracing every moment with humor and zeal. His penchant for playing con games contrasts and comes into conflict with his wife’s more serious approach to life, prompting him to turn over a new leaf.
The film is in Czech with subtitles and is rated PG-13.
The animated film “The Triplets of Belleville” will run Saturday, Feb. 21, and Monday-Saturday, Feb. 23-28, with 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. showings.
The work of French cartoon artist and director Sylvain Chomet, “The Triplets of Belleville” blends comedy and satire. The quirky film centers on Madame Souza as she seeks to rescue her grandson, who she is preparing to be a world-class cyclist, after he is kidnapped during the Tour de France. She is aided by the Belleville Sisters, an aged song-and-dance trio.
“The Triplets of Belleville” is in French with subtitles and is rated PG-13.
The film series will close with “The Butterfly,” which will run Monday-Saturday, March 1-6, with shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“The Butterfly” tells of the growing friendship between a grumpy old man and an eight-year-old girl. A dedicated entomologist, Julien has traveled in search of the elusive Isabella butterfly. Elsa is at first an annoying stow-away to him, but he comes to enjoy telling her stories--and through her sense of wonder he appreciates anew the beauty of nature.
The film is in French with subtitles and is rated PG.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for senior citizens, and will be sold at the door. Additional information may be obtained by calling the Knickerbocker Information Line at (616) 395-7403 or visiting www.hope.edu/arts/knick.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. 8th St.