The Hope College Knickerbocker Theatre is featuring three films this fall as part of its independent film series.
The films are "Keys to the House," "Mad Hot Ballroom" and "The War Within." The series begins on Saturday, Oct. 29, and continues through Friday, Dec. 2.
The series opens with "Keys to the House," an Italian film showing Saturday, Oct. 29, Monday, Oct. 31, and Tuesday-Friday, Nov 1-4, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly.
Gianni, a young man who appears a bit lost, is accepting "delivery" of his son during the night at a Munich railway station. Having suffered physical and psychological damage at birth, 15-year-old Paolo is disabled, and has since been in constant need of specialized treatment. Initially, Gianni is embarrassed by his inability to care for Paolo and apprehensive of the difficult task at hand, but Paolo guides Gianni and shows his father how he can help. It seems like the beginning of a relationship but something unexpected happens along the way that brings fate back into play.
The film is not rated and is in Italian with English subtitles.
"Mad Hot Ballroom," a big hit during this year's Tulipanes festival, returns to the Knickerbocker for a full run on Monday-Thursday, Nov. 7-10, and Monday-Friday, Nov. 14-18, with showings at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The Wednesday, Nov. 16, showing will be at 9 p.m. only.
In the film, 11-year-old New York City public school kids journey into the world of ballroom dancing and reveal pieces of themselves and their world along the way. Told from their candid, sometimes hilarious perspectives, these kids are transformed, from reluctant participants to determined competitors. Providing unique insight into the incredible cultural diversity that is New York City, the film profiles several kids from three schools at this dynamic age, when becoming that "cool" teenager vies for position with familiar innocence, while they learn the merengue, rumba, tango, the foxtrot and swing.
The film is rated PG and is in English and Spanish with English subtitles. This film is still pending rights for showing at the Knickerbocker Theatre.
The final film is "The War Within," showing Friday-Saturday, Nov. 25-26, and Tuesday-Friday, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. It is the story of Hassan, a Pakistani engineering student in Paris who is apprehended by Western intelligence sources for terrorist activities. Imprisoned and tortured, Hassan is provoked to action and joins a terrorist cell planning action in the United States. Taking refuge with an unsuspecting childhood friend and his family living in the United States, Hassan is torn between his religious beliefs and his feelings for his friend and his new American life.
The film is not rated and is in English.
Tickets are $6 for regular admission and $5 for senior citizens, and may be purchased at the door. Updated information may be obtained by calling the Knickerbocker Information Line at (616) 395-7403.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located at 86 East 8th Street in downtown Holland.