The Hope College Knickerbocker Summer Film Series will open with “Of Mind and Music” on Monday-Saturday, May 16-21, at 7:30 p.m.
The series continues the Knickerbocker Theatre’s tradition of showing new independent and foreign films for the West Michigan community. Four films are planned for May and early June.
Directed by Richie Adams, “Of Mind and Music” is a drama about a street musician suffering from memory loss and a neuroscientist who insists on helping her. This collision of music and mind brings together the city of New Orleans and the jazz music that made it famous.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck has said, “With its overall effect further enhanced by superb cinematography and gorgeous musical score, ‘Of Mind and Music’ is a quiet gem.” Sheri Linden of the Los Angeles Times has said, “Adams conjures flights of visual poetry.”
Researcher Alvaro Cruz, played by Joaquim de Almeida, loses his mother to Alzheimer’s while he is away at a conference, and in his grief and guilt finds solace in the music of New Orleans, which his mother also loved. He is impressed by the talented singer and street performer Una Vida, played by Aunjanue Ellis, who he realizes also struggles with Alzheimer’s and dementia. He hopes to be able to help her more than he could help his late mother, and dedicates himself to finding her long-lost son.
The film is rated PG-13.
Following “Of Mind and Music,” the Knickerbocker Summer Film Series will continue with “A La Vie,” showing Monday-Saturday, May 23-28; “Sweet Bean,” showing Tuesday-Saturday, May 31-June 4, due to the Memorial Day holiday; and the final film of the series, which is to be determined and will be showing Monday-Saturday, June 6-11. All films begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the individual films are $7 for regular admission and $6 for senior citizens, Hope College faculty and children. Tickets will be sold at the door but are also available in advance at the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.