The Hope College Knickerbocker Theatre has announced its Winter Film Series, continuing its tradition of showing new independent and foreign films for West Michigan.
The series will begin with “Lucky” on Jan. 22-27, followed by “Faces Places” on Jan. 29-Feb. 3, “Te Ata” on March 12-17 and “Hotel Salvation” on April 9-14. All films are at 7:30 p.m.
“Lucky,” showing on Monday-Saturday, Jan. 22-27, stars Harry Dean Stanton in one of his final on-screen roles before his death in September 2017. The film follows the journey of 90-year-old Lucky, a fiercely independent atheist who finds himself at the precipice of life, staring down his dwindling days and struggling to make peace with “the nothing” that awaits his end. In his directorial debut, actor John Carrol Lynch explores the road to enlightenment, meditating on morality, loneliness, spirituality and human connection. The film is not rated.
The series continues on Monday-Saturday, Jan. 29-Feb. 3, with the French documentary “Faces Places.” Named one of the top 10 films of 2017 by Time Magazine, the film is a collaboration of kindred spirits, director Agnes Varda and photographer and muralist JR, that follows their travels around the villages of France. Together, they meet locals and learn their stories, often producing epic-size portraits and revealing the humanity in their subjects and themselves. The film is rated PG and is in French with English subtitles.
On Monday-Saturday, March 12-17, the series will feature “Te Ata,” which is based on the inspiring true story of Mary Thompson Fisher. Fisher, best known as Te Ata, was raised on the songs and stories of her Chickasaw culture and traversed cultural barriers to become one of the greatest Native American performers of all time. The film sprawls from Oklahoma to New York as Te Ata rises in fame across the world, portraying the isolation, love and discovery she experiences along the way. The film is rated PG.
The series will end with the subtle family comedy-drama “Hotel Salvation” on Monday-Saturday, April 9-14. The film follows the journey of a father and son to the holy city of Varanasi, India, after 77-year-old Dayanand Kumar tells his son Rajiv he wants to take his last breath there and attain salvation. The two check into a guesthouse devoted to people wishing to die there, and while Daya blossoms, Rajic struggles with the balance of being a dutiful son and keeping up with responsibilities back home. The film is not rated and is in Hindi with English subtitles.
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.