The Dietrich Theater’s 3rd Annual Summer Fest, a feast of 23 foreign and independent movies, begins on Friday, July 14 and continues for three weeks, ending Thursday, August 3. Amid the blockbuster movies of the summer come the movies with stories of love, adventure, discovery, and this year, many films all about our humanity and what defines us. Beginning with the Opening Night Gala on Friday, July 14, the extravaganza of award-winning and eye-opening films is underway. Summer Fest is sponsored by People’s Security Bank and Trust. Information about all of the films is available at www.dietrichtheater.com or brochures are available at the theater.
“So often we as a society are divided into different categories of people. Film has always been there to shine a light on a world filled with contentious issues and feelings. The films selected for this year’s Summer Fest at the Dietrich Theater are no different. Some of the films selected for this year’s Summer Film Festival at the Dietrich Theater take those issues to the forefront and combat them head on. These films teach us that we are connected by our humanity and not divided by our differences and that we can learn from each other to form a greater understanding of who we are and what we stand for,” observes Ronnie Harvey, Dietrich Theater film booker.
Many of the films are stories about our humanity and what defines us as humans. 3 Generations tells the tale of a supportive family that is struggling with a son who was identified as a girl at birth, but he knows he is really a boy. Alive and Kicking shows how dancing can elevate the human spirit. Two movies are about heroism – Churchill and The Zookeeper’s Wife. The story about Churchill shows him wrestling with inner demons, and The Zookeeper’s Wife tells the tale of a woman’s heroism during World War II. Frantz tells how war affects us. The subject of happiness is explored in The Wedding Plan. I, Daniel Blake is about the transforming power of empathy. Filmgoers can ask themselves this question after they see each movie: How is our humanity explored in this movie?
Opening Night films include Paris Can Wait, (top) with Diane Lane and Alec Baldwin, a love letter to food, culture, and travel, a comic tale of discovery and exploration. After an intermission for homemade strawberry shortcake, the second movie is Their Finest, (above) the story of the woman script writer who was hired to bring a “woman’s touch” to the propaganda films produced in England to boost morale during World War II. The evening begins with wine and beer from Nimble Hill, cheese and crackers, popcorn and fruit. Opening Night Gala is an evening of two films, light hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, and strawberry shortcake. For the third year the tradition of Summer Fest continues. To reserve $25 Opening Night Gala tickets call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500.
All of the Dietrich Theater Film Festivals end with a Post-Festival Film Discussion, a chance to share thoughts and questions with other moviegoers. On Friday, August 4 at 1:00 p.m., movie booker Ronnie Harvey will be the discussion leader. All are welcome to come and share ideas and meet other film lovers.
The following is a listing of the Summer Fest films, their synopses and showtimes:
3 Generations
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 92 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Gaby Dellal
Starring: Naomi Watts, Elle Fanning, Susan Sarandon
Show times:
July 16 at 7:30 p.m.
July 19 at 2:30 p.m.
July 21 at 5:00 p.m.
July 28 at 9:30 p.m.
August 1 at 2:30 p.m.
3 Generations tells the touching story of a family as they deal with the life-changing transformation of one of their own. Ray knows he’s a boy, even though he was assigned female at birth and is ready to start hormone replacement therapy. His mother must track down Ray’s biological father to get his consent to allow Ray’s transition. Ray’s grandmother is having a hard time accepting that she now has a grandson. They must each confront their own identities and learn to embrace change and their strength as a family in order to find acceptance and understanding.
Alive and Kicking
Rating: not rated
Runtime: 88 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Susan Glatzer
Show times:
July 17 at 12:00 p.m.
July 20 at 4:30 p.m.
July 25 at 2:30 p.m.
July 28 at 7:15 p.m.
August 2 at 4:30 p.m.
Alive and Kicking is an inspirational and uplifting documentary about the transformative power of swing dance. Born out of the Great Depression, swing dancing elevates the human spirit and becomes something bigger, something dazzling, a space without a critic or a judge. Alive and Kickinggives the audience an intimate, insider’s view into the culture of the current swing dance world while shedding light on issues facing modern American society.
Beatriz at Dinner
Rating: not rated
Runtime: 83 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Miguel Arteta
Starring: Salma Hayek, John Lithgow, Chloë Sevigny
Show times:
July 15 at 12:00 p.m.
July 19 at 7:15 p.m.
July 24 at 12:00 p.m.
July 26 at 12:00 p.m.
July 29 at 5:00 p.m.
Starring Selma Hayak and John Lithgow in career defining performances, Beatriz at Dinner is a whip smart and timely film about open dialogue and the differences that make us who we are. One is an immigrant from a poor town in Mexico who has drawn on her kindness to build a career as a health practitioner in Los Angeles, and the other is a cutthroat, self-satisfied billionaire. When these two opposites meet at a mutual friend’s dinner party their worlds collide and neither will ever be the same.
Cezanne et Moi
Rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
Language: in French with English subtitles
Directed by: Danièle Thompson
Starring: Guillaume Canet, Guillaume Gallienne, Alice Pol
Show times:
July 15 at 9:30 p.m.
July 24 at 2:15 p.m.
July 27 at 12:00 p.m.
July 29 at 7:00 p.m.
Cezanne et Moi is a moving portrait about the highs and lows of friendship and the inner workings of brilliant artists and their relationships. This historical drama traces the lifelong friendship between two renowned 19th century French artists — painter Paul Cézanne and writer Emile Zola-from their first meeting as schoolmates to their creative rivalry as fame and success continue to elude Cézanne.
Chuck
Rated: R
Runtime: 98 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Philippe Falardeau
Starring: Liev Schreiber, Elisabeth Moss, Naomi Watts
Show times:
July 20 at 2:45 p.m.
July 23 at 7:30 p.m.
July 31 at 12:00 p.m.
Based on the true story behind the man who inspired the movie Rocky, Chuck stars Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts and Elisabeth Moss and is a refreshingly human tale of resilience and redemption. Chuck tells the story of the pride of Bayonne, a man who went fifteen rounds in the ring with Muhammad Ali. Before all that, Chuck was a liquor salesman with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when he was chosen to take on The Greatest. It’s the beginning of a wild ride through the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of sudden fame.
Churchill
Rating: PG
Runtime: 98 minutes
Language:in English
Directed by: Jonathan Teplitzky
Starring: Brian Cox, Miranda Richardson, John Slattery
Show times:
July 18 at 5:00 p.m.
July 20 at 7:00 p.m.
July 24 at 2:30 p.m.
July 29 at 2:45 p.m.
August 1 at 12:00 p.m.
Starring Emmy Award winning actor Brian Cox, Churchill is a tense political thriller about the 48-hours preceding D-Day. Prime Minister Winston Churchill must prepare a final attempt to crush Hitler’s encroaching army. With the entire war effort ultimately hinging on this decision, the stakes have never been higher. As the wartime leader clashes with his generals, tension builds with the Americans and Churchill must wrestle his inner demons in order to navigate the Allies to victory.
Citizen Jane: Battle for the City
Rating: not rated
Runtime: 92 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Matt Tyrnauer
Show times:
July 16 at 12:00 p.m.
July 21 at 2:30 p.m.
July 25 at 12:00 p.m.
August 1 at 12:00 p.m.
Citizen Jane: Battle for the City is a timely tale of what can happen when engaged citizens fight power for the sake of a better world. Arguably no one did more to shape our understanding of the modern American city than Jane Jacobs, the visionary activist and writer who fought to preserve urban communities in the face of destructive development projects. Citizen Jane: Battle for the City vividly brings to life the 1960’s showdown with a ruthless construction kingpin over his plan to raze lower Manhattan to make way for a highway, a dramatic struggle over the very soul of the neighborhood.
Frantz
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 113 minutes
Language: in French & German with English subtitles
Directed by: François Ozon
Starring: Pierre Niney, Paula Beer, Ernst Stötzner
Show times:
July 18 at 2:30 p.m.
July 21 at 12:00 p.m.
July 27 at 2:30 p.m.
August 1 at 2:15 p.m.
Set in Germany and France in the immediate aftermath of World War I, Frantz recalls the mourning period that follows great national tragedies as seen through the eyes of the war’s “lost generation.” A young German woman whose fiancé was killed befriends a French veteran who shows up in her town, placing flowers on his grave. His presence is met with resistance by the small community and what follows is a surprising exploration of how the characters wrestle with their conflicting feelings – survivor’s guilt, anger at one’s losses, and the desire for happiness despite everything.
The Freedom to Marry
Rating: not rated
Runtime: 86 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Eddie Rosenstein
Show times:
July 17 at 7:00 p.m.
July 22 at 7:30 p.m.
July 30 at 5:00 p.m.
The Freedom to Marry is an intimate documentary which goes behind the scenes to reveal the inner workings and key players of the historic civil rights struggle for same sex marriage. This is a riveting ride alongside the attorneys, plaintiffs and visionaries that took up the challenge to the case against same-sex marriage and won. The Freedom to Marry is a lesson on how to create social change and an inspirational tale of how people can actually make a difference.
Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story
Rating: not rated
Runtime: 94 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Danial Raim
Show times:
July 15 at 2:15 p.m.
July 27 at 5:00 p.m.
July 31 at 5:00 p.m.
Movie fans know the work of Harold and Lillian, even if they don’t recognize the names. Storyboard artist Harold and film researcher Lillian left an indelible mark on classics by Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg and many more. Through an engaging mix of love letters, film clips and candid conversations with Harold and Lillian, and countless actors who were involved in some of their great work, Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story offers both a moving portrait of a marriage and a celebration of the unknown talents that help shape the films we love.
I, Daniel Blake
Rated: R
Runtime: 100 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Ken Loach
Starring: Dave Johns, Hayley Squires, Sharon Percy
Show times:
July 18 at 12:00 p.m.
July 21 at 7:00 p.m.
July 23 at 12:00 p.m.
July 31 at 2:30 p.m.
August 3 at 12:00 p.m.
Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, I, Daniel Blake is a gripping, human tale about the impact one man can make and of the transformative power of empathy. Gruff but goodhearted, Daniel Blake is a widowed woodworker who lives according to his own common sense moral code. But after a heart attack leaves him unable to work and the state welfare system fails him, the stubbornly self-reliant Daniel must stand up and fight for his dignity, leading a one-man crusade for compassion that will transform his life and the lives around him.
The Lost City of Z
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 141 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: James Gray
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller
Show times:
July 18 at 7:30 p.m.
July 20 at 12:00 p.m.
July 23 at 4:30 p.m.
July 26 at 4:15 p.m.
July 29 at 12:00 p.m.
Based on author David Grann’s nonfiction bestseller, The Lost City of Z tells the incredible true story of a British explorer who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment, the determined explorer returns time and again to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case. The Lost City of Z is a stirring tribute to the exploratory spirit and a conflicted adventurer driven to the verge of obsession.
Monterey Pop
Rating: not rated
Runtime: 78 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: D.A. Pennebaker
Show times:
July 21 at 9:30 p.m.
July 26 at 2:15 p.m.
July 29 at 9:30 p.m.
Monterey Pop is the 2017 reissue of the 1968 music documentary that followed the annual Monterey Jazz Festival that we now know as the precursor to Woodstock. Monterey Pop was devised as a non-profit event and for the first time, pop stars themselves were involved in the organization of a rock event. As a result, some of the biggest names in rock and roll were on hand for the concert and Monterey Pop features legendary performances by the Grateful Dead, the Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and many more.
Mr. Gaga
Rating: not rated
Runtime: 100 minutes
Language: in Hebrew with English subtitles
Directed by: Tomer Heymann
Show times:
July 19 at 12:00 p.m.
July 25 at 5:00 p.m.
August 1 at 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Gaga is a unique documentary experience that tells the story of the internationally acclaimed choreographer Ohad Naharin, who created the daring form of dance and “movement language” Gaga. Mr. Gaga traces Naharin’s artistic roots using personal family footage, intimate rehearsal footage, and stunning dance sequences. Mr. Gaga weaves a marvelous tale of what it takes to be a genius, the exhausting toll dance can take on its performers, and the beauty that art can bring to this world.
My Cousin Rachel
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 106 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Roger Michell
Starring: Sam Claflin, Rachel Weisz, Holliday Grainger
Show times:
July 15 at 4:30 p.m.
July 18 at 2:30 p.m.
July 20 at 12:00 p.m.
July 22 at 5:00 p.m.
July 25 at 7:15 p.m.
July 28 at 2:30 p.m.
August 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Starring Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz and based on the bestselling novel of the same name, My Cousin Rachel is a dark romance that tells the story of a young Englishman who plots revenge against his mysterious, beautiful cousin, believing that she murdered his guardian. But his feelings become complicated as he finds himself falling under the beguiling spell of her charms.
Norman
Rated: R
Runtime: 118 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Joseph Cedar
Starring: Richard Gere, Lior Ashkenazi, Michael Sheen
Show times:
July 18 at 12:00 p.m.
July 22 at 9:30 p.m.
July 25 at 2:15 p.m.
July 28 at 12:00 p.m.
August 3 at 12:00 pm
Starring the legendary actor Richard Gere, Norman follows persistent wheeler-dealer Norman who befriends an up and coming Israeli politician on the rise. When the politician is elected prime minister, Norman rises in esteem within the New York Jewish community, even though his social connections might only be a sham. Now Norman must decide if his ambition is leading him down the wrong path.
Paris Can Wait
Rating: PG
Runtime: 92 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Diane Lane, Alec Baldwin, Arnaud Viard
Show times:
July 14 – Opening Night
July 16 at 2:30 p.m.
July 20 at 2:30 p.m.
July 26 at 7:15 p.m.
July 28 at 2:30 p.m.
July 30 at 12:00 p.m.
August 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Starring Diane Lane and Alec Baldwin, Paris Can Wait is a love letter to food, culture and travel. When her busy director husband is occupied with work in Paris, an American woman takes a jaunt with his business associate, a charming man who is happy to take her on a tour of some of the finest meals in Provence. What follows is a road trip comedy that puts you in the passenger seat for a trip of a lifetime.
A Quiet Passion
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 125 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Terence Davies
Starring: Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Ehle, Duncan Duff
Show times:
July 17 at 2:30 p.m.
July 22 at 2:30 p.m.
July 24 at 5:00 p.m.
July 27 at 7:15 p.m.
July 30 at 7:15 p.m.
August 2 at 12:00 p.m.
Starring Cynthia Nixon and based on the life and times of world renowned poet Emily Dickinson, A Quiet Passion follows Dickinson and her deep attachment to her close knit family and follows her through her life while she was creating some of the most recognized and beloved poetry of all time. Nixon delivers a triumphant performance as she personifies the wit and intellectual independence of the poet whose genius only came to be recognized after her death.
Their Finest
Rating: R
Runtime: 117 minutes
Language: in English & Hungarian
Directed by: Lone Scherfig
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy
Show times:
July 14 – Opening Night
July 16 at 5:00 p.m.
July 22 at 12:00 p.m.
July 24 at 7:30 p.m.
July 28 at 12:00 p.m.
July 31 at 2:30 p.m.
August 2 at 7:00 p.m.
August 3 at 5:00 p.m.
Based on the 2009 novel Their Finest Hour and a Half and starring Gemma Arterton and Bill Nighy, Their Finest follows a female script writer who is summoned to help bring a “woman’s touch” to propaganda films created during the war to boost morale among British citizens. As bombs are dropping all around them, the colorful cast and crew work furiously to make a film that will warm the hearts of a nation in turmoil.
Wakefield
Rating: R
Runtime:106 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Robin Swicord
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Garner, Beverly D’Angelo
Show times:
July 17 at 2:15 p.m.
July 25 at 12:00 p.m.
July 28 at 4:30 p.m.
July 31 at 12:00 p.m.
Starring Emmy Winner Bryan Cranston, Wakefield follows successful suburbanite commuter Howard Wakefield who takes an unexpected detour from family life: He vanishes without a trace. Hidden in the attic of his carriage house garage, surviving by scavenging at night, he secretly observes the lives of his wife, children, and neighbors. Wakefield becomes a meditation on marriage and identity, as Howard slowly realizes that he has not in fact left his family, he has left himself.
The Wedding Plan
Rating: PG
Runtime: 110 minutes
Language: in Hebrew with English subtitles
Directed by: Rama Burshtein
Starring: Dafi Alferon, Noa Koler, Oded Leopold
Show times:
July 17 at 12:00 p.m.
July 21 at 2:30 p.m.
July 23 at 2:15 p.m.
July 27 at 2:30 p.m.
August 1 at 7:15 p.m.
An offbeat and poignant romance, The Wedding Plan follows an Orthodox Jewish woman blindsided by her fiancé’s decision to leave her a month before their wedding. Unwilling to return to lonely single life, she decides to put her trust in fate and continue with her wedding plans, believing Mr. Right will appear by her chosen date. As the day of the ceremony grows closer and no suitor appears, she puts everything on the line to find happiness.
A Woman, a Part
Rating: not rated
Runtime: 97 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Elisabeth Subrin
Starring: Maggie Siff, Dagmara Dominczyk, Khandi Alexander
Show times:
July 17 at 4:30 p.m.
July 24 at 12:00 p.m.
July 31 at 7:15 p.m.
August 2 at 2:30 p.m.
A Woman, a Part is an intimate look at life after 40 for career women. An exhausted, workaholic actress, abruptly quits her day job and returns to her past life in New York to reinvent herself. But despite the desire for transformation, she cannot find herself outside of her career. When an upsetting personal betrayal unexpectedly leads to the role of her life, she must confront the reality of her past relationships in order to clear a path forward.
The Zookeeper’s Wife
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 127 minutes
Language: in English
Directed by: Niki Caro
Starring:Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh, Daniel Brühl
Show times:
July 15 at 7:00 p.m.
July 19 at 4:30 p.m.
July 21 at 12:00 p.m.
July 27 at 12:00 p.m.
July 30 at 2:15 p.m.
August 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Starring Academy Award nominated actress Jessica Chastain, The Zookeeper’s Wife is the real life harrowing story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. The Zookeeper’s Wife follows Antonina Zabinski and her husband who oversee the Warsaw Zoo. When their country is invaded by the Germans, they fight back by covertly working with the Resistance. They put into action plans to save lives in what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.