The Hope College Knickerbocker Theatre has announced its summer line up of independent films for its summer series.
The series features six films featuring a range of genres and topics, and will run from Friday, July 22, through Tuesday, Sept. 13. The six films are: "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "Look at Me," "Millions," "Ladies in Lavender," "The Chorus" and "Hotel Rwanda."
The series will open with "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" running Friday-Saturday, July 22-23, and Monday-Thursday, July 25-28, nightly with shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. This acclaimed documentary follows the fall from grace of the Enron corporation in 2001, showcasing a picture of hubris and greed. From Ken Lay's gamble on energy deregulation to the basing of profits on "expected" profits, the film goes beyond business concerns. Although not rated, the film is recommended for older audiences.
The French film "Look at Me" shows nightly on Monday-Saturday, Aug. 1-6, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. While at first glance the film looks like a typical French drama about a dysfunctional family, it goes deeper by examining the common flaw of self-absorption and lack of communication prevalent in modern society. A domineering father cannot look past his daughter's physical appearance to hear her extraordinary singing voice. The girl's voice coach hears the voice, but sees the girl as a vehicle to gain entry for the coach's husband into another career. The conflicts climax in a weekend trip during which reality is addressed. Rated PG-13, "Look at Me" is in French with English subtitles.
Danny Boyle's "Millions" runs Monday-Friday, Aug. 8-12, with nightly showings at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The film asks what happens when two young brothers living in the suburbs of Liverpool suddenly find 265,000 British pounds. One sees the money as the ticket to status and possessions, while the other wants to give the money to the poor. Not only do they have to deal with the man looking for the stolen money he lost, but they also have just one week before Euro day, after which the money is worthless. "Millions" is rated PG.
Two grand dames of British film, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, put together "Ladies in Lavender," showing Monday-Saturday, Aug. 15-20, and Monday-Thursday, Aug. 22-25, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Two older sisters share an uneventful, but pleasant, life on a seaside cottage until a strange young man washes up on their shore. The sisters take over the handsome man's care, and the disruption in their lives causes tensions in their relationship. The film is rated PG-13.
The successful French film, "The Chorus," runs Monday-Thursday, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, with 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. showings nightly. The film is the inspiring story of a teacher who is hired to work at a boarding school in 1949 and finds himself caught between undisciplined boys and a strict headmaster. He creates a chorus for the boys to funnel their energy, and the result is surprising. Rated PG-13, the film is in French with English subtitles.
The series ends with powerful film, "Hotel Rwanda" running Monday-Saturday, Sept. 5-10, and Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 12 and 13, with show times at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. In 1994, more than one million members of the Tutsi tribe were massacred while United Nations personnel were forced to stand aside. Paul Rusesabagina is a Hutu married to a Tutsi, and runs a four-star hotel. Rusesabagina used his status and his hotel as a way to save more than 1,200 people. Starring Don Cheadle and Nick Nolte, the film is rated PG-13, and is in English and French with English subtitles.
Rusesabagina himself will be speaking at Hope College on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel as a precursor to the college's annual Critical Issues Symposium. The symposium will be held two weeks later, on Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 27-28, and is titled "From Auschwitz to Darfur: Genocide in the Global Village." Admission to Rusesabagina's talk, and to the symposium, will be free.
Tickets for all films are $6 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Additional information on the movies may be obtained by visiting www.hope.edu/arts/knick or calling the Knickerbocker Information Line at (616) 395-7403.