Coming Soon: Sept-Oct 2006
Every now and then, C-U Blogfidential will highlight limited-run screenings in the area which often receive little to no press in traditional news outlets. The following events are “coming soon” in September and October; please support this diverse film programming in our community by attending and spreading the word. Multiplexes and television sets are no substitute for a true cinema experience!
For many months running, Boardman’s Art Theatre has played host to weekend matinees of Indian cinema. The easiest way to find out about them is to look for colorful one-sheets tacked up at the Art as well as Indian-owned businesses. Of course, joining their Mailing List is another fine option, through which we learned that the 2006 comedy LAGE RAHO MUNNA BHAI will play on Saturday, September 23, 10 p.m., and Sunday, September 24, 12 p.m. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, this sequel to MUNNA BHAI M.B.B.S. (2003) finds the title gangster character (Sanjay Dutt) on a quest to win the heart of vivacious radio personality Jhanvi (Vidya Balan). Among several misadventures shared with loyal friend Circuit (Arshad Warsi), Munna Bhai unexpectedly comes face to face with the Mahatma Ghandi! The Art is located at 126 W. Church St., Champaign, IL.
Coming to the area courtesy of the Normal Theatre, 209 North St., Normal, IL, is the ninth annual Manhattan Short Film Fest (MSFF), for which the “Best of Fest” will be chosen by theatre audiences in more than 80 locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Our chance to participate will take place on Saturday, September 23, 7 p.m., while the final tally will be counted and the winner announced after the penultimate show at Union Square Park in New York City on Sunday night. This year’s 12 finalists, chosen from hundreds of entrants by celebrity and industry judges, hail from Ireland, Poland, Cuba, Spain, Germany, England, Australia, Israel, and the United States; further MSFF history and details can be found right here.
Finally, fans of silent-era films have two opportunities next Thursday, September 28, to view classics seldomly screened for the public. Back at the Normal Theatre, an early adaptation of DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1920) starring John Barrymore will be presented at 9:30 p.m. with live accompaniment by the Devil Music Ensemble, a Boston trio that presumably composes original music similar to that of Overlooked Film Festival regulars, the Alloy Orchestra. On the home front, the Krannert Art Museum (KAM), 500 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL, on the University of Illinois campus, will augment its current “Surrealist Interventions” exhibit with a presentation of UN CHIEN ANDALOU (Luis Bunuel/Salvador Dali, 1929) and L’AGE D’OR (Luis Bunuel, 1930) at 5:30 p.m. in the KAM Auditorium.
A second Bunuel double-feature, EATING SEA URCHINS (1930) and LAND WITHOUT BREAD (1933), is scheduled for Thursday, October 19, 5:30 p.m., also in the KAM Auditorium.
– Jason Pankoke