Film Notes

Friday, Oct 15, 7:30pm, Rafael 7 PRISONERS (7 Prisioneiros) ¡VIVA EL CINE! / SURPRISE / WORLD BRAZIL 2021, 93 min Director Alexandre Moratto From a distance, this lush green landscape is paradise, but up close, life within it is unsustainable. So, Mateus (Christian Malheiros, a compelling talent) and his friends venture to São Paulo, a sprawling gray megalopolis, seeking to improve their fortunes. But the promise of room, board, and a salary in change for their toil quickly evaporates as they find themselves trapped cogs in the modern-day slavery machine. Brazilian leading man Rodrigo Santoro delivers a startling but subtle turn as a kind of dissipated Simon Legree who sees promise in canny Mateus. With world-cinema powerhouses Fernando Meirelles (City of God) and Ramin Bahrani (The White Tiger) among its producers, Alexandre Moratto’s (Socrates) slow-burning sophomore outing makes confident use of quick cuts and a constantly moving camera to build dread in this powerful morality tale. There is a way out for Mateus, but the price of freedom may be too steep. In Portuguese with English subtitles –Shari Kizirian

SPONSORED BY LUCASFILM LTD.

Monday, Oct 11, 8:15pm, Sequoia Tuesday, Oct 12, 7:30pm, Sequoia Streaming (US only) AMERICAN GADFLY US / DOCS US 2020, 95 min Director Skye Wallin In 1971, Alaskan US Senator Mike Gravel famously made public the “Pentagon Papers,” exposing the worst of our government’s secret policies during the Vietnam War. Nearly a half-century later, having retired after decades as a progressive public servant, he ran for POTUS—at age 89. Why? Because some New York teenagers asked him to. Skye Wallin’s documentary offers a humorous, inspiring look at whip-smart, social-media-savvy high schoolers running a national presidential campaign. Their goal is not to “win,” but simply to pressure the Democratic Party establishment into addressing the issues important to their generation, many of which Gravel championed long before they were born. While learning some bitter truths about real politics, they also succeed beyond their wildest imaginations. American Gadfly is a stirring rebuke to cynicism and disengagement, proving that the ordinary citizen without special connections or great wealth can rattle the halls of power, to democracy’s benefit. –Dennis Harvey

Friday, Oct 8, 6:00pm, Sequoia Monday, Oct 11, 12:00pm, Rafael

Thursday, Oct 14, 7:30pm, Sequoia Saturday, Oct 16,7:00pm, BAMPFA Streaming (US only) ANIMA (Mo Er Dao Ga) MIND THE GAP / GROW / WORLD CHINA 2020, 120 min Director Jinling Cao What happens to our moral compass when we disrupt the harmony of the world around us? How can we reverse course before it’s too late? Brothers Linzi (Eric Wang) and Tutu (Si Ligeng) work together on a logging crew in the rural Mongolian city of Moerdaoga. Dire circumstances force them to cut down more ancient trees than the legal limit, inviting ecological catastrophe. The guilt-ridden Linzi knows he must protect the last remaining virgin forest in the area—which means revisiting a scene of fraternal and tribal trauma, and, with the help of a local widow (Qi Xi), restoring the balance of nature that he upset long ago. Gorgeously scored by Lim Giong (Ash Is Purest White), lensed by Mark Lee Ping-bing (In the Mood for Love), and filmed on location in Mongolia’s stunning Moerdaoga National Forest Park, the directorial debut of screenwriter Cao Jinling is an invitation into the soul of a forest—and a thrilling family drama about tradition and fate. In Chinese with English subtitles –David Fear WEST COAST PREMIERE

SPONSORED BY GORDON RADLEY

BAD ATTITUDE: THE ART OF SPAIN RODRIGUEZ MIND THE GAP / ¡VIVA EL CINE! / LAUGH US 2021, 71 min Director Susan Stern Described by R. Crumb as a “working-class Latino crossed with left-wing radical crossed with crazy artist,” Zap Comix mainstay Spain Rodriguez was among those who revolutionized a hitherto disrespected, even demonized art form in the underground comics wave of the late 1960s. Their work was transgressive, provocative, sometimes offensive—and in real life, this swaggering Buffalo, NY, biker-gang member turned San Francisco counterculture celebrity didn’t fall so far from the outrageous page. Though famed for the Trashman comix and other cult faves, his beautifully rendered illustrations also encompassed everything from Sherlock Holmes stories to a Che Guevara biography. In this fond yet questioning documentary, Rodriguez’s filmmaker widow Susan Stern interviews ex-girlfriends, colleagues, and buddies to measure a life lived large, as well as an artistic legacy that remains dazzling if often wildly at odds with today’s cultural norms. –Dennis Harvey

Saturday, Oct 9, 12:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) THE BEARS’ FAMOUS INVASION (La Fameuse invasion des ours en Sicile) FAMILY / GROW FRANCE/ITALY 2019, 82 min Director Lorenzo Mattotti In his feature debut, celebrated Italian illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti crafts a mesmerizing, visually stunning fairy tale about an epic clash between two worlds: those of bears and humans. Based on a classic 1945 Italian children’s book, the story inhabits a timeless mythic terrain, as the bear king Léonce leads his clan into the “valley of men” in search of his lost son. Thus begins an exciting, upbeat adventure—with snowy battles, giant monsters, an evil duke, a hapless magician, power and prejudice, surprising betrayals, and unexpected kindness. Bold, impressionistic animation brings it all to life: Sculpted mountains, bristly forests, corrugated seas, chunky bears, and beanpole humans are rendered in brilliant, vivid blocks of color. Imbuing his tale with gentle lessons about goodness, judgment, and tolerance, Mattotti leaves us wishing for more time to linger in this lovely, bittersweet fantasy, and to appreciate the beauty in every frame. In French with English subtitles Age 7+ –Jeff Campbell FAMILY FILM ONLINE OPENING NIGHT SELECTION SPONSORED BY BELLAM SELF STORAGE & BOXES

+ CFI FRENCH CINEMA SPONSOR TV5MONDE

Friday, Oct 15, 7:30pm, Sequoia Saturday, Oct 16, 11:00am, Rafael Streaming (California only) BECOMING COUSTEAU MIND THE GAP / GROW / DOCS US 2021, 92 min Director Liz Garbus “I am miserable out of the water,” he says early on, setting a tone in stark contrast with the convivial Jacques Cousteau we might recall from TV interviews or one of his many documentaries. But as the explorer, inventor, and filmmaker brought millions on a journey to discover the “silent world” below the ocean surface, he also undertook a probing journey of his own. Becoming Cousteau presents a man in search of equilibrium, with all his contradictions laid bare: family obligations versus obsessive work, fantastic vision against hard realities, and the transition from big-oil exponent to passionate conservationist. That essential arc between aficionado and advocate is at the core of this deeply researched and exquisitely edited film. Director Liz Garbus (All In: The Fight for Democracy, MVFF 2020) comprehends both the man and the legacy; perhaps Cousteau’s greatest gift, on full display here, was his way of raising awareness not through fear but with wonder. –Edward Dunn DOCUMENTARY ONLINE OPENING NIGHT SELECTION

Friday, Oct 15, 6:30pm, Rafael Saturday, Oct 16, 2:00pm, Sequoia

Sunday, Oct 10, 6:00pm, Rafael Friday, Oct 15, 7:00pm, BAMPFA BELFAST HEART / WORLD UK 2021, 97 min Director Kenneth Branagh

Belfast is beautiful work: From the outset, Branagh draws us right into the heart and soul of a city and its people with an immediacy that captures the moment. A young boy grows up amidst the 1960s’ Troubles in a working-class family in a place where conflict and whimsy, wisdom and passion daily inform their lives. Charming newcomer Jude Hill delights in the central role of Buddy, with warmly winning turns from Caitríona Balfe and Jamie Dornan as his parents, and Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds as his grandparents, their performances perfectly complemented by the film’s soulful Van Morrison-infused soundtrack and stylish black-and-white cinematography. Viewing a time of conflict with such love and humanity is something rare: Perhaps it takes a native sensibility to do that. As Branagh once said of himself, “I don’t think you can take Belfast out of the boy,” and here you have it: That compassionate eye on his hometown, coupled with his extraordinary artistry, makes for compelling cinema. –Lily Buchanan

SPONSORED BY JENNIFER COSLETT MacCREADY

BERGMAN ISLAND MIND THE GAP / SURPRISE / WORLD FRANCE/SWEDEN/GERMANY 2021, 112 min Director Mia Hansen-Løve

The iconic island of Fårö—the home of Ingmar Bergman and the setting of some of his greatest films—provides a vivid backdrop to this drama focused on Chris (Vicky Krieps), a writer-director who accompanies her more established filmmaker husband Tony (Tim Roth) there for a working vacation. Somewhat alienated from her partner, who’s preoccupied with his own projects and entranced by Bergman’s legacy, Chris struggles to find her voice. One of Mia Hansen-Løve’s most autobiographical films to date continues her compelling exploration of the existential dynamic between work and love, previously illustrated in films that include Things to Come (MVFF, 2016). Denis Lenoir’s limpid cinematography foregrounds the beauty of Fårö’s white buildings, sparkling seashore, light-filled days, and soft summer nights. Structuring her tale to contain a film within a film (featuring Mia Wasikowska and Anders Danielsen Lie), Hansen-Løve layers elements of documentary and fiction, and past and present, allowing for resonant moments of humor, mystery, and self-realization. –Kate MacKay

CFI FRENCH CINEMA SPONSOR TV5MONDE

Sunday, Oct 10, 6:00pm, Sequoia Tuesday, Oct 12, 2:00pm, Rafael BERNSTEIN’S WALL CREATE / DOCS US 2021, 100 min Director Douglas Tirola “A note only has meaning in relation to the notes around it,” Leonard Bernstein liked to say, and clearly, to this great composer, conductor, music educator, and overall American cultural eminence, context mattered a lot. Bernstein’s Wall examines his personal and professional relationships and their effect on his art; using archival footage, Bernstein’s own autobiographical recordings, and, most revealingly, his letters, Douglas Tirola’s documentary gets to know the man by way of his most meaningful context. In his work and in his life, Bernstein fought for civil rights and the antiwar movement, for international cooperation, and for peace. Through the arc of it all, as this complex portrait reveals, two resounding notes would become motifs: his repressed homosexuality and his hard feelings for his father. At once epic and intimate, Bernstein’s Wall also becomes a poignant survey of how art can give form to the emotions we struggle to realize. –Edward Dunn

Tuesday, Oct 12, 7:30pm, Rafael Thursday, Oct 14, 12:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) BOILING POINT CREATE / WORLD UK 2020, 96 min Director Philip Barantini

Food films tend to start gently, with idealistic chefs ensuring their herbs are fresh and peaches ripe; only later do challenges appear, as manufactured tension not very threateningly mounts. Boiling Point will have none of that. Writer-director Philip Barantini’s riveting drama, brilliantly staged in a single take, unsparingly starts in the thick of it with a London restaurant staff already in over their heads on the last Friday before Christmas and assumes tragic proportions from there. Head chef Andy (the ever-magnetic Stephen Graham) has all manner of disaster imminent: The sous chef struggles to open an oyster; the health inspector has more than a few questions; Andy’s former partner arrives unannounced to collect a debt and brings a famous food critic as his date. What ensues is a harrowing, pitiless—yet humane— appraisal of the fine-dining subculture. Graham leads a brilliant ensemble, with Vinette Robinson also a standout. –Ravinder Kingra NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Monday, Oct 11, 6:30 pm, Sequoia Tuesday, Oct 12, 4:00 pm, Sequoia Streaming (California only) BORN IN CHICAGO CREATE / DOCS US 2020, 77 min Directors Bob Sarles, John Anderson

Encompassing a wealth of explosive archival performance footage and no shortage of players steeped in blues heritage, Born in Chicago pays loving tribute to a distinctly American art form. This joyous doc traces the origins of Chicago blues from the Deep South to the South Side, as white prodigies such as Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, and Barry Goldberg seek out and fall in with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, and other Black legends, learn from them, perform with them, and introduce their musical tradition to a new generation of fans. Proving the blues revival of the 1960s went beyond Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and The Rolling Stones, directors John Anderson and San Francisco’s Bob Sarles (Bang! The Bert Berns Story, MVFF 2016) meticulously showcase the era and conditions that made Chicago the epicenter of the American blues scene. Enthusiastically narrated by blues fan (and Blues Brother) Dan Aykroyd. –David Riedel NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

SPONSORED BY BIOMARIN PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.

Sunday, Oct 10, 12:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) BULADÓ FAMILY / SPIRIT CURAÇAO/NETHERLANDS 2020, 86 min Director Eché Janga This visually spellbinding feature from Dutch director Eché Janga brims with a sense of wonder that occasionally recalls Benh Zeitlin’s magical-realist drama Beasts of the Southern Wild as tragedy and heartache lurk beneath folklore and fantasy. On the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao, otherworldly beliefs permeate the solitary life of fiery 11-year-old Kenza (the sublimely spunky Tiara Richards), who plays hooky from school and tries to sell lizards in her free time. Ostracized by classmates and grieving the loss of her mother, the willful Kenza feels caught between her strict police-officer father’s cynicism and her grandfather’s shamanic ways, rooted in the local slave traditions. With a lyrical soundtrack, lush colors, and stunning cinematography that eschew the easily picturesque, Janga’s quietly seething film manages a sensuous toughness, and celebrates its young protagonist’s resilience. In Papiamento and Dutch with English subtitles Age 12+ –Ela Bittencourt WEST COAST PREMIERE

Tuesday, Oct 12, 6:00pm, Rafael Thursday, Oct 14, 4:30pm, Sequoia C’MON C’MON HEART / US CINEMA US 2021, 108 min Director Mike Mills One of the most tender and beautiful familial love stories we’ve seen in years, Mike Mills’s new drama is as aesthetically stunning as it is emotionally resonant. Joaquin Phoenix plays a radio journalist who interviews kids across the country about the future of the world, and supervises his 8-year-old nephew (Woody Norman, an astonishing discovery) while the boy’s mom (Gaby Hoffmann) helps his dad (Scoot McNairy) through a mental-health crisis. With its singular balance of scruffy humanity and sharp composition—DP Robbie Ryan’s gorgeous black-and-white imagery seems to embrace all that it beholds—C’Mon C’Mon has all of Mills’s hallmarks: intelligence, compassion, deep attunement to family dynamics, and outstanding style. Led by Phoenix at his most endearing and Hoffmann as radiantly intuitive as ever, the fine ensemble, also including Jaboukie Young-White and a lovely bunch of young non-actor interviewees, achieves a whole new standard of relatability. –Jonathan Kiefer

SPONSORED BY VICKIE SOULIER

Wednesday, Oct 13, 6:30pm, Rafael Streaming (California only) CELTS MIND THE GAP / HEART / WORLD SERBIA 2021, 106 min Director Milica Tomović In 1993 Belgrade, a family hosts a party to celebrate their daughter Minja’s eighth birthday, opening their doors to friends and family who bring over their children, new lovers, and simmering resentments. Kids circle around Minja’s handmade Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume in one room while adults smoke and pass around drinks in another, the whole house growing fraught with squabbles and passions. At the heart of it is Minja’s mother Majka, growing increasingly numb amidst the frenetic atmosphere, craving something genuine and new. First-time director Milica Tomović beautifully evokes the intimate chaos of an off-the-rails house party, with perfectly rendered period details reflecting the collapse of Yugoslavia. A girl sheltering from the rain under her father’s coat; drunken partygoers falling into formation on a stair landing; an errant frog resting amid the leftover cake: countless moments resonate like visceral memories for characters and audience alike. In Serbian with English subtitles –Drea Clark US PREMIERE

Sunday, Oct 10, 6:30pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) CENTER DIVIDE US / US CINEMA US 2021, 136 min Director Rob Nilsson A longtime favorite of MVFF, Bay Area auteur Rob Nilsson returns with a mind-expanding exploration of life on society’s rough edges. The second film in Nilsson’s Nomad Trilogy (after Arid Cut, MVFF 2019), Center Divide delves deep into the everyday realities of several complex characters as they retreat from the West Coast. Rail and Mitra are a young couple flying down the road on a stolen motorcycle, searching for a connection to the past as they plot an unknown future. Along the way they encounter like-minded travelers; people in the trenches who struggle against a cold, corporate existence. This surprising road-trip flick is hypnotic and harrowing at once, complete with joyful dancing and penetrating exchanges. Nilsson delivers breathtaking images of contemporary America in all its natural splendor and manmade misfortune. Totally improvised by a group of magnetic actors, the film takes us inside captivating personal experiences while seeking to reveal truths about a world turned upside down. –Brendan Peterson WORLD PREMIERE

Sunday, Oct 10, 5:30pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) LA CIVIL MIND THE GAP / ¡VIVA EL CINE! / SURPRISE / WORLD MEXICO/ROMANIA/BELGIUM 2021, 140 min Director Teodora Ana Mihai

In her debut fiction feature, Romanian director Teodora Ana Mihai mines a familiar topic—the senseless cruelty of Mexico’s cartel violence—for fresh, chilling insights. In this implacable tale inspired by real events, moral corruption stems not just from wounds inflicted by criminals on the innocent, but also from victims’ desperate need for swift justice, which, when denied, stirs outrage and vengeance. Mexico’s drug trade has inspired plenty of crime drama, from the popular series Narcos to controversial auteur fare like Heli, but Mihai opts for a distinctly intimate, socially aware approach. Mexican actress Arcelia Ramírez lends a steely resolve to her role as Cielo, a mother who investigates her daughter’s kidnapping. Texas-born Chicano Habacuc Antonio De Rosario’s dense script and Marius Panduru’s murky cinematography, with its tight, sometimes willfully blurred shots, bring out the story’s moral ambivalence. The result, which won this year’s Cannes Courage Prize, feels like narrative quicksand, at once enveloping and relentless. In Spanish with English subtitles –Ela Bittencourt NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Friday, Oct 8, 7:00pm, Rafael Sunday, Oct 9, 1:00pm, Rafael CLARA SOLA ¡VIVA EL CINE! / MIND THE GAP / SPIRIT / WORLD SWEDEN/COSTA RICA/BELGIUM/GERMANY 2021, 106 min Director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén

In Nathalie Álvarez Mesén’s quietly seething feature debut, a Costa Rican woman rebels against her family’s regressive, controlling ways. The titular Clara is a shy, revered healer in a Costa Rican village but her heavenly gift is also a worldly prison. Her mother insists that Clara remain a virgin and that she forgo necessary surgery that could help her walk without pain—all to keep her “special.” Dancer Wendy Chinchilla Araya plays Clara with mesmerizing ambiguity, bringing both vulnerability and power to this eros-driven, increasingly rebellious rural mystic, whose anger will literally shake this world. In the dimmed and lushly smoky textures of her forest environs, so richly rendered by cinematographer Sophie Winqvist, Clara’s enlightenment feels like a real epiphany. Clara Sola effortlessly melds an earthy tale of familial stricture with genuine spiritual wonder. In Spanish with English subtitles –Ela Bittencourt WEST COAST PREMIERE

Monday, Oct 11, 7:00pm, Rafael Thursday, Oct 14, 3:00pm, Rafael Streaming (California only) COEXTINCTION MIND THE GAP / ACTIVE CINEMA / GROW / DOCS CANADA 2021, 94 min Directors Gloria Pancrazi, Elena Jean

As the salmon they rely on for sustenance dwindles and the noise from tankers and pleasure boats disrupt their hunt for those elusive fish in the Pacific Northwest’s Salish Sea, the orca population shrinks. Now numbering less than 100, extinction of the Southern Resident killer whales looms and that’s not all, as this stunning documentary illustrates. Filmmakers Gloria Pancrazi and Elena Jean, activists and central characters in their film, illustrate not only the threats to the whales but also to the salmon, and how their diminishing numbers affects First Nations fisheries, grizzly bears, and potentially the entire human race. Reversing course to save the orcas and the salmon presents a challenge but one that activists, including many tribal leaders, are prepared to meet—if ineffectual politicians and rapacious big business would stop blocking common-sense measures. Gorgeous cinematography highlights the beauty and vulnerability of the whales in an absorbing film that is also a pressing call to action. –Pam Grady

SPONSORED BY JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS

Friday, Oct 8, 4:00pm, Rafael Sunday, Oct 10, 4:00pm, BAMPFA Streaming (US only)

Tuesday, Oct 12, 6:00pm, Sequoia Thursday, Oct 14, 4:00pm, Rafael COURTROOM 3H DEBATE / DOCS SPAIN/US 2020, 115 min Director Antonio Méndez Esparza Raw and powerful, Courtroom 3H marks a confident documentary debut from director Antonio Méndez Esparza (Life and Nothing More, MVFF 2017). Shot in a single courtroom over the course of a month, the film takes viewers inside Florida’s Tallahassee Unified Family Court, which focuses on parental rights, juvenile delinquency, and other issues relating to minors. A fly-on-the-wall approach provides a window into the many factors and frustrations for families embroiled in Florida’s legal system. Méndez Esparza’s camera bears silent witness as heart-wrenching cases play out with stakes that couldn’t be higher for the children, parents, and legal representatives involved. Shining a needed light on the economic disparities underlying so much of what occurs in our justice system, Courtroom 3H is a sometimes shocking, sometimes uncomfortable, but nuanced and necessary look into a world too few people know about. –Zaki Hasan

COW MIND THE GAP / GROW / WORLD UK 2021, 93 min Director Andrea Arnold There’s a depth and beauty in the soulful eyes of Luma, an English dairy cow, whose life and times provide the subject for Andrea Arnold’s first foray into nonfiction filmmaking. Arnold is a director whose works have been distinguished by exploration and observation of character; films like Fish Tank and American Honey confirmed the originality of her voice and vision, making her a Cannes Film Festival favorite. With Cow, Arnold again finds the heart of her subject, as she follows Luma up close and personal through birthing, milking, mating, all the circumstances that make up the life cycle of a working animal. It’s a revelation, centering the animal’s perspective and rarely opening to language—just the occasional words from the farmers offscreen. The film is like rural social realism; Arnold lets her powerful images speak for themselves and to us, opening the door to empathy. It’s a profound and moving journey. –Zoë Elton

Thursday, Oct 7, 6:00, Rafael + Sequoia CYRANO HEART / WORLD UK/ITALY/CANADA/US 2021, 120 min Director Joe Wright This new musical adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac shares the original’s 17th-century setting but offers a few tricks of its own. Cyrano (Peter Dinklage) is a gifted poet and skilled duelist who secretly loves the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett) but believes himself unlovable. After she confides in him her passion for the handsome cadet Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), Cyrano ghostwrites love letters to Roxanne on behalf of the tongue-tied suitor. Filming during the pandemic, director Joe Wright says he was determined to make something “really beautiful.” With songs and score by members of The National, as well as colorful costumes and choreography, this sumptuous production fits that bill, but the show’s secret weapon is Dinklage, who perfectly embodies Cyrano’s pride, wit, and romantic yearning. Wright adds, “It feels like it’s the kind of movie that I need to be making, especially now.” –Richard Peterson

SPONSORED BY PROJECT NO. 9

Sunday, Oct 10, 2:00pm, Sequoia Sunday, Oct 17, 3:00pm, BAMPFA DRIVE MY CAR HEART / WORLD JAPAN 2021, 179 min Director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi Freely adapted from Haruki Murakami’s story of the same name, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s (Happy Hour, Asako I & II) latest film weaves an enchanting narrative around the complexities of human relationships. Yûsuke, a wellknown actor and theater director reeling from a series of familial tragedies, is invited to Hiroshima to direct an international production of Uncle Vanya. Against his wishes, he’s assigned a driver, Misaki, a taciturn young woman, who comes from an abusive background. Through their time together in Yûsuke’s red Saab, the two slowly unburden themselves of their personal traumas. Complicating matters further, a brash young actor connected to Yûsuke’s past comes to audition for the play. Winner of the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes, Drive My Car is an exquisitely crafted mosaic, where Chekhov’s timeless play refracts the main characters’ attempts at connection amid their respective emotional circumstances and their aspirations to move beyond them. In Japanese with English subtitles –Rod Armstrong WEST COAST PREMIERE

Tuesday, Oct 12, 4:30pm, Rafael Saturday, Oct 16, 3:30pm, Sequoia Streaming (CA only) THE DROVER’S WIFE: THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON MIND THE GAP / HEART / WORLD AUSTRALIA 2021, 109 min Director Leah Purcell Americans will recognize the cinematic terrain, the dust on the plains, the scrub on the hills, the view down a rifle barrel, all punctuated with twangy bursts on the soundtrack—for this is a western, complete with the pounding gallop of horses against widescreen landscapes and a new sheriff in town. Acclaimed Aboriginal-Australian writer, director, and actor Leah Purcell adapts Henry Lawson’s 1892 short story for the third time after a play and a novel, seeking to fold neglected truths into her country’s Outback myths. Purcell stars as Molly Johnson, left to fend for herself and her children in rural isolation while her husband works far away, who becomes caught up in the hunt for an escaped Aboriginal prisoner. Purcell works plot twists driven by a deep understanding that, for a woman, even the the familiar can be threatening, in an enthralling drama that lays bare colonial Australia’s sorry history of racial and domestic violence. –Shari Kizirian WEST COAST PREMIERE

Wednesday, Oct 13, 6:00pm, Rafael + Sequoia DUNE SPIRIT / US CINEMA US 2021, 155 min Director Denis Villeneuve

This dazzling adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary science-fiction novel is the realization of a longtime dream for director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, MVFF 2016). Set thousands of years in the future, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young man propelled by fate into an intergalactic power struggle. Paul’s father, Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), assumes stewardship of Arrakis, a forbidding desert planet populated by the indigenous Fremen, made hazardous by colossal sandworms, and the sole source of a priceless element called Spice. With a competing family intent on undermining their efforts, the stage is set for war and Paul’s journey to fulfill an ancient prophecy. This monumental tale features an equally spectacular cast, including—among others—Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, Dave Bautista, Chang Chen, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. With superb design in all its sights and sounds, Dune is, in Denis Villeneuve’s own words, “a love letter to the big screen.” –Richard Peterson

SPONSORED BY DANIEL KENYON and MICHELLE MARCHETTA KENYON

Friday, Oct 8, 12:00pm, Rafael Saturday, Oct 9, 7:30pm, Sequoia THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN CREATE / WORLD UK 2021, 111 min Director Will Sharpe Modern commentary on the English artist Louis Wain tends to focus on the mental illness he suffered later in life, and while that descent is dramatized in Will Sharpe’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, this deliciously vibrant and entertaining biopic is more a love story than an attempt at psychoanalysis. We see the eccentric Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch) fall in love with his sisters’ governess, Emily Richardson (Claire Foy), prompting a Victorian-era scandal. Soon after, she is diagnosed with cancer and the couple takes in a foundling kitten, the animal comforting Emily and introducing Louis to a new passion that will transform his art: cats. Even as his reality dims, Wain’s whimsical, often anthropomorphized feline illustrations assure his legacy. Sharpe’s cast is a roster of fine talent, and the art direction and clever cinematography pay homage to Wain’s playful sensibilities. –Edward Dunn

SPONSORED BY WAREHAM DEVELOPMENT + NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION

Saturday, Oct 16, 6:30pm, Rafael FOUND MIND THE GAP / PASSAGES / DOCS US 2021, 97 min Director Amanda Lipitz Three American teenagers, each a single daughter adopted from China, discover they are cousins through 23andMe, spurring them to confront long-withheld questions about their origins and lost histories. Filmmaker Amanda Lipitz (Step, DOCLANDS 2017) artfully documents Chloe, Sadie, and Lily from tentative first virtual meetings from their suburban homes through deepening connections as they share their private musings over why they were given up and what it would mean to find their birth parents. They decide to travel together to China in search of answers. Found masterfully braids the tender strands of each girl’s story with those of parents who suffered under China’s strict one-child policy, as well as the orphanage workers who cared deeply for the abandoned infants. The film is clear-eyed and gentle with its subjects through joyful and heart-wrenching moments, ultimately crafting an enduring portrait of the ways in which we are all profoundly connected. –Deanna Quinones

Sunday, Oct 17, 5:00pm, Rafael + Sequoia THE FRENCH DISPATCH LAUGH / WORLD GERMANY/US 2021, 103 min Director Wes Anderson Wes Anderson’s films are intricate little universes, each a playground of impeccable production design and delightfully droll characters. With The French Dispatch, he pays homage to the literary world of The New Yorker, imagining the rich history of a long-running fictional American publication in France by way of vignettes about different writers at work on their most enduring pieces. Fans of The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel will relish the director’s attention to detail, while enjoying keenly idiosyncratic performances from the likes of Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, and Jeffrey Wright. Visually, this may be Anderson’s most dazzlingly dense creation, with one viewing hardly sufficient to absorb all the jokes, cultural references, and stylistic tricks on display. Journalism may be under attack in the modern age, but The French Dispatch makes the case for that venerable institution’s artistry and importance—finding poignancy and humor along the way. –Tim Grierson

SPONSORED BY CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH FAMILY + JACKSON SQUARE PARTNERS

Saturday, Oct 16, 2:00pm, Rafael THE HAND OF GOD (È stata la mano di Dio) PASSAGES / WORLD ITALY 2021, 130 min Director Paolo Sorrentino Oscar®-winning (The Great Beauty) Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (Youth, MVFF 2015) returns with his most personal movie to date, about an awkward young man (Filippo Scotti) growing up in ’80s Naples, for whom life isn’t easy: There’s trouble brewing between his parents, his favorite aunt may be suffering from mental illness, he has the teenage hormonal-free-fall blues, and his post-school future is a giant question mark. When news spreads that Argentine soccer godhead Diego Maradona will soon be playing for Napoli, our hero and his equally football-obsessed dad (Sorrentino regular Toni Servillo) consider it an equivalent of the second coming. Then tragedy, and a legendary film director arriving in their quaint coastal city for a shoot, changes everything. Filmed in Sorrentino’s hometown, this cinematic roman à clef brims with humor, tenderness, beauty, and the modern-day auteur’s own signature brand of Fellinesque surrealism. It’s an absolute masterpiece. In Italian with English subtitles –David Fear

Wednesday, Oct 13, 7:00pm, Sequoia Friday, Oct 15, 3:00pm, Rafael HAUTE COUTURE MIND THE GAP / CREATE FRANCE 2021, 119 min Director Sylvie Ohayon Nearly 50 years after her film debut in Truffaut’s Day for Night, French icon Nathalie Baye plays Esther, head of the dressmaking studio at Christian Dior. After her purse is stolen on the way to work, it’s reluctantly returned by streetwise Jade (rising star Lyna Khoudri) and an unlikely mentor-protégé relationship is born. This winning and winsome feature is no formulaic Cinderella story: Esther and Jade have complicated lives of their own, and matching bullheadedness and biases to overcome. Nor is the high-end fashion milieu, in style capital Paris itself, an easy mistress to serve. But with its fascinatingly meticulous attention to stunningly detailed couture creation, writer-director Sylvie Ohayon’s beguiling film turns us—and the initially resistant Jade—into converts. The film also deftly weaves into its fabric the ways that the Parisian old guard of high fashion is steadily giving way to new talent, reflecting the increasingly diverse demographics of gifted young creatives. In French with English subtitles –Dennis Harvey NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

SPONSORED BY CAROLINE LABE + CFI FRENCH CINEMA SPONSOR TV5MONDE

Saturday, Oct 9, 7:00pm, BAMPFA Sunday, Oct 10, 2:30pm, Rafael A HERO (Ghahreman) DEBATE / WORLD IRAN 2021, 127 min Director Asghar Farhadi Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, whose intricate dramas A Separation and The Salesman (MVFF, 2016) both won Oscars®, returns with another gripping, incisive study of human frailty. In this year’s Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winner, Rahim (Amir Jadidi) languishes in prison for an unpaid debt but hopes that he can pay what he owes after his girlfriend stumbles on a bag of gold coins. When the found money proves far more complicated than expected, Rahim’s unusual response sends A Hero on an unpredictable journey. Farhadi methodically maps out a moral dilemma, astutely examining how folk heroes put on pedestals can be quickly knocked off them. Jadidi’s excellent performance is one of increasing anxiety and nicely modulated ambiguity, and Farhadi constantly shifts our loyalties, resulting in a fascinating portrait of a world in which everyone owes something to someone. In Farsi with English subtitles –Tim Grierson

INDIA SWEETS AND SPICES MIND THE GAP / LAUGH / US CINEMA US 2021, 101 min Director Geeta Malik Writer-director Geeta Malik’s family dramedy, set in an affluent Indian-American suburb, feels like an irresistible peek behind an ornate silk curtain. The film offers a biting portrayal of the snobbery, pettiness, keeping up with the Joneses, and general drama in posh Ruby Hill, NJ; it’s not pretty. But underneath the social rebuke lies an adult coming-of-age story as college student Alia (Sophia Ali) comes home for the summer. The progressive firebrand confronts the jarring reality that parents are human, too, when shocking and complicated family truths come to light. The revelations rock Alia’s core, all while she’s also navigating pressures, boundaries, and expectations, and figuring out how tradition fits into her very modern life. There are laughs along the way, but this is a game-changing journey—for Alia, her parents, and maybe even for Ruby Hill itself. –Celia C. Peters

Sunday, Oct 17, 1:00pm, Rafael

Friday, Oct 8, 3:00pm, Rafael Saturday, Oct 9, 11:00am, Rafael JOCKEY US / US CINEMA US 2021, 99 min Director Clint Bentley Accomplished and aging jockey Jackson (Clifton Collins Jr.) is ready for another season on the racetrack. Ruth (Molly Parker), a trainer and longtime friend, has acquired a horse of her own that she and Jackson both feel certain is a champion. There’s just the matter of Jackson’s chronic health problems to deal with, as well as Gabriel (Moisés Arias), a young and promising rider who shows up claiming to be Jackson’s son. Shot on a live racetrack, director and co-writer Clint Bentley’s second feature is steeped in a realism that feels as authentic as a documentary, with beautiful photography and natural performances from Parker, Arias, the incomparable Collins, and a deep well of first-time actors. Jockey is a sober, funny, and touching portrait of a man living with the choices he’s made—or didn’t make—and the effects they have on everyone around him. –David Riedel

Saturday, Oct 9, 2:30pm, Rafael Wednesday, Oct 13, 4:00pm, Sequoia JULIA MIND THE GAP / SPIRIT / DOCS US 2021, 95 min Directors Julie Cohen, Betsy West

Attention all foodies: It’s best to get a snack before watching this sumptuous four-course meal on iconic chef Julia Child. Not only do Oscar®-nominated filmmakers Julie Cohen and Betsy West (the duo behind RBG) tantalize the taste buds with sensual shots of mouth-watering culinary delights, they also create an equally indelible portrait of the California-born trailblazer. Through the use of intimate letters, interviews, and insights gleaned from three major books, Julia surveys the milestones of Child’s life, from her conservative upbringing to her long-running PBS cooking show. Cohen and West excel at capturing Child’s major passions: her amour for French cuisine as well as her enduring love for her supportive husband, Paul. As Julia richly illustrates, she was a game-changer in a male-dominated profession, a shrewd businesswoman, and an individual unafraid to evolve on issues and stand up for change. –Randy Myers

SPONSORED BY XFINITY

Saturday, Oct 9, 4:30pm, Sequoia Wednesday, Oct 13, 12:00pm, Rafael Streaming (California only) LADY BUDS MIND THE GAP / ACTIVE CINEMA / DOCS / GROW US 2021, 96 min Director Chris J. Russo Now that this history can be more openly told, it’s clear that when it comes to marijuana, women have been the most vital pioneers. Chris J. Russo’s amiable documentary celebrates the women and marginalized people who’ve truly tended the roots of cannabis culture, from innovating in medicinal usage and organic agriculture to combating discrimination. Living and working within the so-called Emerald Triangle of Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties, where descendants of back-to-the-landers and new transplants alike carry on the legacy of communal agriculture, the subjects of Lady Buds face a mountain of obstacles, but bravely keep fighting for a greater understanding of cannabis’ healing potential. Russo explores the rapidly changing nature of an only recently legalized industry without ever losing sight of the grassroots farmers, horticulturists, and activists of a once-underground culture now at risk of corporate takeover. –Nadine Smith US PREMIERE

Friday, Oct 8, 7:00pm, Sequoia Streaming (California only) THE LAST BUS HEART / WORLD UK 2021, 88 min Director Gillies MacKinnon

Here’s a film that proves a true hero’s journey can take place on even the humblest of conveyances—public buses. In director Gillies MacKinnon’s heartfelt, humane comedy-drama, Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner, MVFF 2014) stars as Tom, an ailing, elderly widower, who leaves home with little more than his free transit pass and a briefcase that he never lets out of his sight. Transferring from bus to bus, he travels from the village of John o’Groats in northern Scotland to Land’s End in Cornwall, 600 miles away. Flashbacks reveal that Tom, desperately committed to keeping a mysterious promise while he still can, is retracing a path to the spot where he and his wife first fell in love. Spall delivers a once-in-a-lifetime performance, supported by a delightful ensemble of characters who sometimes hinder but more frequently help this unforgettable, understated hero on his epic and heartwarming quest. –David Templeton NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE WORLD CINEMA ONLINE OPENING NIGHT SELECTION

Saturday, Oct 16, 4:00pm, Rafael Sunday, Oct 17, 1:00pm, Sequoia Streaming (California only) LAST FILM SHOW HEART / WORLD / FAMILY INDIA 2021, 110 min Director Pan Nalin A movie about the magic of movies had better be magical, and this one truly is. Pan Nalin’s semi-autobiographical film explores the nature of creation from the perspective of spirited 9-year-old Samay, as he bribes his way into watching a summer’s worth of on-screen wonders from a rundown movie-house projection booth. In this enchanted fable, chock-full of the colors and food of India, there are echoes of Cinema Paradiso. Just as that Italian classic is a paean to cinema, so is Last Film Show—and a love story between a boy and film. Samay and his gang of cinephiles literally chase the light in a quest to make stories come to life. Film transports us all, but in this India it has an even more transportive, transformative quality; Nalin’s drama honors its characters, their struggles, passions, and especially the journeys by which they become dreamers, storytellers, and creators themselves. Time, youth, cinema: all fleeting, all magical. In Gujarati with English subtitles Age 12+ –Ravinder Kingra WEST COAST PREMIERE

Sunday, Oct 10, 5:00pm, Sequoia Monday, Oct 11, 2:00pm, Rafael LIKE A ROLLING STONE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BEN FONG-TORRES MIND THE GAP / CREATE / DOCS US 2021, 102 min Director Suzanne Joe Kai As one of the staffers who transformed Rolling Stone from an underground countercultural magazine to a taste-making national brand, Ben Fong-Torres is the rare journalist who commands admiration from music legends and fans alike. His frank but unassuming interview style endeared him to artists from Jim Morrison to Marvin Gaye to Tina Turner, and Suzanne Joe Kai’s documentary takes a similarly humble approach to profiling the man himself. Expanding its scope beyond his groundbreaking music reporting, the film also limns Fong-Torres’ work at the San Francisco Chinatown newspaper East-West and his sense of journalism as community activism. It is also a loving testament to his mentorship to generations of journalists and writers—including Cameron Crowe, who immortalized Fong-Torres as a character in Almost Famous. With no shortage of rich material from his life and storied career, Like a Rolling Stone presents an intimate portrait of a Bay Area institution. –Nadine Smith

SPONSORED BY BETTER MEDIA

Sunday, Oct 10, 7:00pm, BAMPFA Tuesday, Oct 12, 6:30pm, Rafael LINGUI, THE SACRED BONDS PASSAGES / WORLD CHAD/FRANCE/GERMANY/BELGIUM 2021, 87 min Director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun

Pioneering Chadian auteur Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (Grigris, MVFF 2013) is in blistering form with his latest film, a feminist social realist drama exploring abortion rights in conservative Chadian society. Amina (Achouackh Abakar Souleymane) is an independent woman, exiled by her family after becoming pregnant as a young girl, and now the single mother of a teenager. She finds herself in a race against time and the forces of patriarchy when her daughter Maria (Rihane Khalil Alio) is expelled from school after she gets pregnant. Determined to give her child opportunities that were denied her, Amina supports Maria’s effort to have an abortion, a procedure that is not merely frowned upon but also illegal. Impeccably shot and tenderly realized, Lingui adds to the abortion conversation not with chaos or hubris, but with a curiosity that engages fully with the women who insist on preserving their bodily autonomy despite very real threats of violence. In French and Arabic with English subtitles –Wilfred Okiche

Saturday, Oct 16, 6:00pm, Rafael Sunday, Oct 17, 12:00pm, Sequoia THE LOST DAUGHTER MIND THE GAP / SPIRIT US/UK/GREECE/ISRAEL 2021, 121 min Director Maggie Gyllenhaal For her indelible feature directing debut, Maggie Gyllenhaal (MVFF Mind the Gap Award, 2018) adapts Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel, in which a vacationing professor’s concern for a young mother triggers an uneasy reckoning with her own volatile introduction to parenthood. Oscar®-winner Olivia Colman commands in the prickly lead role, effortlessly navigating a tempestuous sea of subtext. Psychological undertones imbue a rich register of suspense that transcends genre. Gyllenhaal’s provocative, emotionally intelligent sensibility is as finely developed in writing and directing as it has been in her acting, and what’s so bold about The Lost Daughter is its refreshingly frank assessment of the tension between fulfillment in erotic adult life and responsibility for the nurturance of children. Also to Gyllenhaal’s credit, Colman’s shrewdly cast co-stars, including Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, and Peter Sarsgaard, seem like kindred spirits. –Jonathan Kiefer

SPONSORED BY KAISER PERMANENTE

Streaming LUNAFEST FILM FESTIVAL: FILMS BY AND ABOUT WOMEN MIND THE GAP Total program 86 min LUNAFEST features seven short films. Overexposed (Holly Morris, Santa Fe, NM, 12 min): A behind-the-scenes look at the film team that captured the daring story of the Women’s Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition. Knocking Down the Fences (Meg Shutzer, Oakland, CA, 12 min): AJ Andrews, the first woman to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award, struggles to make it as one of the best professional softball players in the world. A Line Birds Cannot See (Amy Bench, Austin, TX, 9 min): Separated at the border, a 12-year-old sets out on a harrowing journey to the U.S. to find her mother. The Scientists Versus Dartmouth (Sharon Shattuck, Brooklyn, NY, 14 min): A young neuroscientist and her colleagues make a life-changing decision to speak up for women in science everywhere. Until She Is Free (Maria Finitzo, Chicago, IL, 14 min): Mixed-media artist Sophia Wallace, best known for her viral project Cliteracy, imagines a world where all people are equal and able to live with rich possibility and purpose. Connection (Ciara Lacy, Honolulu, HI, & Portland, OR, and Tracy Nguyen-Chung, Los Angeles, CA, 8 min): A lifelong angler, Autumn Harry had never fished beyond the waters of her reservation—until she picked up a fly rod. Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business (Christine Turner, Brooklyn, NY, 8 min): At 93, there’s no stopping when it comes to this legendary artist.

Saturday, Oct 16, 3:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE MIND THE GAP / LAUGH / FAMILY US 2021, 81 min Director Kate Tsang Toss a moody teen delinquent into a secret society of magicians, step into her perspective with clever dark humor and fun fantasy scenes, and blaze through an uplifting coming-of-age story that’s both unique and universal. Kate Tsang’s debut feature pairs the perfectly cast Miya Cech (Always Be My Maybe), as angry and rebellious 13-year-old Sammy, and Rhea Perlman (Cheers), as Margot the Marvelous, a children’s party magician giving off grumpy-but-wise grandma vibes. Behind the snarl, cigarettes, and combat boots, Sammy shields a heart fractured by grief over her mother’s death. After stumbling across Margot in a chance encounter, she tiptoes into an unlikely friendship that unlocks the healing they both need. Viewers will wrap their hearts around relatable Sammy, and her fragile, dysfunctional family, as she finds her way to peace by harnessing the special magic of forgiveness and love. Age 11+ –Deanna Quinones Note to family audiences: This film contains profanity, teenage smoking, comedic scenes of fantasized violence, and references to self-harm through stick-and-poke tattooing.

Friday, Oct 8, 7:00pm, BAMPFA Friday, Oct 15, 6:00pm, Rafael MEMORIA ¡VIVA EL CINE! / SURPRISE COLOMBIA/MEXICO/FRANCE/UK/THAILAND/GERMANY/CHINA/ SWITZERLAND 2020, 136 min Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s first feature made outside of Thailand is an expansive exploration of the permeable border between the natural world and spirit realm, strange afflictions, and haunted landscapes. Troubled by a recurrent loud banging which only she can hear, Jessica (Tilda Swinton), a recently widowed botanist living in Colombia, embarks on a meandering journey to determine the source of the mysterious noise. Exquisitely photographed by cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, the film follows Jessica through the modernist institutional environs of Ciudad Universitaria de Bogotá, including a hospital room where she visits her sister, a recording studio, an art gallery where lights flicker off as soon as she arrives, and an archeological laboratory. Her encounters manifest more mysteries than answers, and her quest eventually takes her into the verdant wilderness. Memoria becomes a gentle but insistent reminder that no matter how deeply they are buried, collective traumas continue to burrow into those affected and those around them, emerging as memories or dreams. In Spanish/English with English subtitles –Kate MacKay

Saturday, Oct 9, 6:30pm, Sequoia Friday, Oct 15, 4:00pm, Sequoia Streaming (California only) MISSION: JOY – FINDING HAPPINESS IN TROUBLED TIMES MIND THE GAP / ACTIVE CINEMA / SPIRIT / DOCS US 2021, 90 min Directors Louie Psihoyos, Peggy Callahan

From Oscar®-winner Louie Psihoyos (DocLands Honors Award, 2018) and Peggy Callahan, this illuminating documentary offers an up close and personal look into the friendship between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Taking inspiration from its subjects’ bestseller The Book of Joy, the film allows their deep and abiding relationship to shine through as they field questions from co-author (and former UC Press religion editor) Doug Abrams about anger, happiness, forgiveness, and other big topics. Particularly during our current age of strife and suffering, watching these great minds unpack their experiences and bask in each other’s company makes it impossible not to be won over by their camaraderie. Interspersed with archival footage and animation, Mission Joy offers an engrossing portrait of two influential world leaders who share the ability to find hope––and yes, even joy––in adversity. –Zaki Hasan

SPONSORED BY WAREHAM DEVELOPMENT + NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION

Thursday, Oct 14, 6:30pm, Sequoia Friday, Oct 15, 12:00pm, Rafael MOTHERING SUNDAY MIND THE GAP / HEART / WORLD UK 2021, 110 min Director Eva Husson A final tryst with a well-born lover is the bittersweet memory a woman carries, the pathway to her successful writing career, in Eva Husson’s erotically tinged adaptation of Graham Swift’s prize-winning novel. While the Nivens and the Sheringhams picnic to celebrate mothers—despite both families losing sons during World War I—the Nivens’ maid Jane (Odessa Young) enjoys a stolen afternoon with the surviving Sheringham scion, Paul (Josh O’Connor). Jamie Ramsay’s lush, glorious cinematography underscores not just the beauty of the English countryside but also the naked carnality of the film’s gorgeous young lovers. Colin Firth and Olivia Colman are stunning as the Nivens, whose years-long grief remains fresh, and 85-year-old Glenda Jackson adds a sardonic cameo as elderly Jane. Young rivets as a confident young woman ready to rise above her station in this astonishing drama that weaves through Jane’s life but keeps returning to this day when what begins with such sensual promise takes an abrupt turn. –Pam Grady

Saturday, Oct 9, 6:00pm, Rafael Monday, Oct 11, 3:00pm, Rafael Streaming MY DEAD DAD ¡VIVA EL CINE! / PASSAGES / US CINEMA US 2021, 90 min Director Fabio Frey When ex-skateboarder Lucas’ (Pedro Correa) estranged father dies and leaves him a Los Angeles apartment complex, the young slacker travels there from Reno with a plan to sell the building and forget the man he believes abandoned him. But the apartment’s tenants—including Frank (Raymond Cruz), the longtime superintendent who isn’t buying Lucas’ tough exterior, and Sophie (Courtney Dietz), a young woman who, like Lucas, isn’t sure what she wants from life—remember his dad as a different man from the one Lucas imagined. Other compelling figures include a scene-stealing Simon Rex (Red Rocket). Co-writer/director Fabio Frey and co-writer/star Correa’s coming-of-age drama deftly navigates identity, perception, and the gap between being seen and seeing oneself. As Lucas confronts the pain he’s bottled up since childhood, his journey becomes an endearing exploration of different paths toward happiness and closure. Clearly, the Frey-Correa team is a talent to watch. –Kiko Martinez

Friday, Oct 8, 4:30pm, Sequoia Sunday, Oct 17, 2:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) NINJABABY (Fallteknikk) MIND THE GAP / PASSAGES / WORLD NORWAY 2021, 103 min Director Yngvild Sve Flikke Rakel, a young cartoonist with a messy room and an even messier social life, is surprised when her best friend Ingrid points out the obvious cause of Rakel’s recent body changes: She’s pregnant. Rakel spins out further upon discovering it’s too late to do anything about it. Complicating matters is Mos, the hapless but kind-hearted one-night-stand and presumed father, who becomes yet another unexpected presence in her life. As Rakel flails through decisions with petulant charm, the increasingly (and literally) animated fetus begins to affect her mind as much as her body—even chiming in with opinions on her every move. Enriching the story with illustrations that nod to her graphic-novel source material, director Yngvild Sve Flikke strikes an engaging balance between irreverence and heart. But it’s the choice to let Rakel be as likable as she is caustic that elevates this from raucous comedy to affecting coming-of-age tale. In Norwegian with English subtitles –Drea Clark WEST COAST PREMIERE

Saturday, Oct 9, 3:00pm, Rafael Wednesday, Oct 13, 3:00pm, Rafael

Monday, Oct 11, 5:30pm, Sequoia Wednesday, Oct 13, 7:30pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) THE NOVICE MIND THE GAP / SPIRIT / US CINEMA US 2021, 97 min Director Lauren Hadaway

Writer-director Lauren Hadaway’s debut feature takes a fascinating look into the authentic experience of young womanhood: powerful, intense, relentless, and often ruled by self-imposed expectations. Obsessively driven, college freshman Alex is determined to land a spot on the varsity rowing team despite her lack of experience on the water. Against the backdrop of competitive sports, so often the cinematic domain of men, Hadaway shows us just how real it gets when a woman directs the full force of her energy to her ambitions. The winner of the Best U.S. Narrative Feature Film award at the Tribeca Film Festival, The Novice is a rich audiovisual feast of powerful camerawork and electrifying sound design that Hadaway expertly uses to bring us inside Alex’s experience. Strong performances elevate the story, particularly from Isabelle Fuhrman, who brings nuance to a challenging protagonist. We do want Alex to win, which means first getting out of her own way. –Celia C. Peters

PAPER & GLUE CREATE / DOCS US 2021, 95 min Director JR The French artist known as JR has called the street “the largest art gallery in the world,” and his work is all about communities—uniting them, connecting them to the larger world, and lending dignity and visibility to the unseen. Cineastes will recall his collaboration with Agnès Varda in 2017’s delightful Faces Places (Mind the Gap Gold Audience Award, MVFF 2017). Others were already familiar with his often startling public art projects, in sites from Paris to Times Square to the West Bank. This documentary follows the impish artiste, perpetually in shades and pork pie hat, through several characteristically provocative yet accessible endeavors: one at a Texas maximum-security prison, another in a violence-riddled Rio favela, and so forth. Whether subtly commenting on border politics or societal inequity, his giant photographic blowups and other images affirm the humanity of subjects too often ignored or stereotyped. Paper & Glue is a disarming portrait of non-didactic, often temporary art serving to validate and inspire. In English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish with English subtitles –Dennis Harvey WEST COAST PREMIERE SPONSORED BY JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS

Thursday, Oct 14, 2:00, Rafael Saturday, Oct 16, 7:00pm, Sequoia PARALLEL MOTHERS (Madres paralelas) ¡VIVA EL CINE! / SURPRISE / WORLD SPAIN 2021, 120 min Director Pedro Almodóvar Spain’s most prolific and influential filmmaker, Pedro Almodóvar, surprises us once again with this contemporary melodrama about two women, Janis (Penélope Cruz) and Ana (Milena Smit), whose lives intersect profoundly thanks to a casual encounter in a hospital where they’re both going into labor. Janis, the older of the two, has no regrets and is delighted with the idea of motherhood. But young Ana is regretful and scared. As they walk through the hospital corridor, waiting for their respective new arrivals, just a few words exchanged between them will complicate the women’s lives forever. Almodóvar expands on his earlier cinematic representations of femininity, turning the film’s focus to the many complicated facets of motherhood. A unique offering, Parallel Mothers sits well within the director’s gallery of great films with a bold color palette and dramatic performances that border on comic, yet stands memorably on its own. In Spanish with English subtitles –João Federici

Thursday, Oct 14, 6:30pm, Rafael Friday, Oct 15, 2:00pm, Rafael PASSING MIND THE GAP / US / US CINEMA US 2021, 98 min Director Rebecca Hall Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga deliver their most powerful performances to date in this exquisitely nuanced drama centered on one form of Black resistance to the Jim Crow one-drop rule (“passing as white”), and the complexities of privilege and sacrifice that follow. Director Rebecca Hall’s elegant adaptation of Nella Larsen’s 1929 novella focuses on two former highschool classmates, Irene (Thompson) and Clare (Negga), whose chance encounter at a stylish New York City tea salon leads to a rekindling of their friendship, and the realization of how similar and divergent their lives have become. Both are married, well-off, with children, but while Irene is comfortable as a high-class Harlem society wife (often admonishing her darker skinned household help), Clare, passing as white, is married to an unabashed racist and confined to an isolated life of deception and lies. With fine supporting performances from André Holland and Alexander Skarsgård, Hall navigates the terrain of Black identity and skin tone discrimination (colorism) with a masterful hand and compassionate vision. –KD Davis

Saturday, Oct 9, 5:00pm, BAMPFA Sunday, Oct 10, 3:00pm, Rafael PETITE MAMAN MIND THE GAP / HEART / WORLD FRANCE 2020, 72 min Director Céline Sciamma “Secrets aren’t always things we try to hide, there’s just no one to tell them to,” says 8-year-old Nelly to her new best friend. Left alone for long stretches of time after the death of her beloved grandmother, Nelly discovers a makeshift hut in the woods behind the house where her mother was raised and encounters a girl her own age to whom this magical playhouse belongs. As the children share their hopes, dreams, and secrets with each other, their deepening bond reveals the extraordinary nature of their connection. Petite Maman’s tender and delicate sequences of make-believe and play are rendered fully believable and relatable by gifted sibling actors Gabrielle and Joséphine Sanz. In Céline Sciamma’s (Portrait of a Lady on Fire, MVFF 2019) achingly beautiful new film, the past and present magically merge to ease the sorrows of a grieving mother and daughter, and we are healed by its loving touch. In French with English subtitles –KD Davis

SPONSORED BY CFI FRENCH CINEMA SPONSOR TV5MONDE

Saturday, Oct 9, 3:30pm, Sequoia THE POWER OF THE DOG MIND THE GAP / US / WORLD UK/Australia/US/Canada/New Zealand 2021, 125 min Director Jane Campion

Set on a ranch in mid-1920s Montana, Jane Campion’s (The Piano, MVFF 1994) first Western is a rich story of longing, love, and betrayal. Beautifully shot, the expansiveness of the outer landscape is a counterpoint to the inner landscapes of her characters, an undercurrent of tension, suppressed feelings, and brooding eroticism lying just beneath the surface. In a striking performance, Benedict Cumberbatch is a powerful, charismatic, very physical presence throughout the film as Phil, a well-heeled rancher, who’s a consummate bully, a man of the land, as macho as he is cultured. Phil coowns the family property with his stoic and upright brother George (Jesse Plemons). When George brings home a wife, the widowed Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and her son Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Phil’s finely-controlled world is thrown out of kilter. Campion brings her extraordinary artist’s eye and sensibility to her adaptation of Thomas Savage’s novel, with an uncanny ability to peer beneath the surface of human behavior and reveal both mind and heart. She again proves herself one of the most original and compelling filmmakers today. –Zoë Elton SPONSORED BY WAREHAM DEVELOPMENT + NANCY P. and RICHARD K. ROBBINS FAMILY FOUNDATION 67

Saturday, Oct 16, 7:30pm, Rafael Streaming (California only) QUEEN OF GLORY MIND THE GAP / LAUGH / US CINEMA US 2021, 75 mine Director Nana Mensah Smart and determined Ghanaian-American scientist Sarah is weeks away from the life she’s designed for herself. Sure, it involves a move to Ohio, away from her Ivy League position in New York, and yes, her boyfriend is married, but at least Sarah is in the driver’s seat. But then her mother’s death upends those plans as she bequeaths her daughter a small but beloved Christian bookstore in the Bronx. Helping and occasionally hindering Sarah on her unexpected venture is a motley crew of characters that include fiery African aunties, a charismatic formerly incarcerated baker, and some nosy neighbors. Writer, star, and first-time feature director Nana Mensah brings to life this hilarious and heartwarming story of confronting cultural expectations and forging one’s own path while walking between worlds—as so many children of immigrants must. The film’s strong voice and vision signal a talent we’ll be watching for years to come. –Faridah Gbadamosi US CINEMA ONLINE OPENING NIGHT SELECTION

Saturday, Oct 9, 6:30pm, Rafael RED ROCKET US / US CINEMA US 2021, 128 min Director Sean Baker Filmmaker Sean Baker continues the hot streak he started with indie smashes Tangerine and The Florida Project (MVFF, 2017) with this engrossing tragicomedy about a washed-up former porn actor who returns home to Texas. Simon Rex gives a revelatory performance as Mikey, who years ago followed dreams of stardom to L.A., and now pretends he’s a bigger deal than he actually was. Part character study, part social commentary—the contentious runup to the 2016 presidential election serves as the backdrop—Red Rocket is a brilliantly unflinching portrait of a hustler. It’s a testament to Rex’s sneaky charm that you almost root for this callous schemer. He’s matched by newcomer Suzanna Son, electric as a flirtatious teen Mikey tries to seduce. After its triumphant premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Baker’s latest exploration of American life is ready to introduce audiences to one of the year’s most fascinating scoundrels. You may despise Mikey, but you’ll never forget him. –Tim Grierson

SPONSORED BY GRUBER FAMILY FOUNDATION

Thursday, Oct 14, 7:00pm, Rafael Friday, Oct 15, 4:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only)

Thursday, Oct 14, 6:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) REFLECTION: A WALK WITH WATER ACTIVE CINEMA / GROW / DOCS US 2021, 80 min Director Emmett Brennan

Hope is the surprising emotional core of Sebastopol-based filmmaker Emmett Brennan’s poetic and soulful essay on the perilous state of California’s water ecosystems. Initially motivated by a profound sense of rage and helplessness over environmental devastation, Brennan takes an improbable approach: Instead of dwelling only on the catastrophic consequences of disrupting California’s water cycle (through decades of diversion, desertification, overdevelopment, and global warming), Reflection affirms the inspiring efforts of committed eco-visionaries who are restoring the natural and healing equilibrium that healthy water systems can bring. We meet Santa Rosa ranchers, Ojai farmers, L.A. greywater ecologists, and Sonoma soil gurus whose innovations (often based on ancient wisdom) point the way to a healthier water future. Threaded throughout is the filmmaker’s weeks-long walk along the path of the L.A. Aqueduct, which drained the Owens Valley: a fitting symbol of the price we’ve paid for building the Dream State. –Peter L. Stein

REHAB CABIN MIND THE GAP / LAUGH / US CINEMA US 2020, 77 min Directors Kate Beacom, Louis Legge

Best friends Chloe and Domenic fall into an old routine before he heads back to college, watching terrible but beloved childhood movies starring their favorite actress, Amanda Campbell. The intervening years have not been kind to their idol, now a scandal-prone hot mess. The pals are certain that if she had the support of fans like them, Amanda could turn her life around. When Chloe takes a shift as a limo driver, Domenic in tow, they get the chance to test their theory when a drunken, belligerent Amanda staggers into the car. Taking it as a sign, Chloe convinces Domenic that they should take their oblivious passenger to his family’s isolated cabin in the woods and oversee a little homespun rehab. Co-directors Kate Beacom and Louis Legge spin an absurd yet relatable concept—who hasn’t imagined they could fix a superstar’s messy life?—into an investigation of possessiveness in all its insidious forms. –Drea Clark

Monday, Oct 11, 6:00pm, Rafael Tuesday, Oct 12, 12:00pm, Rafael Streaming (California only) THE RESCUE MIND THE GAP / SURPRISE / US CINEMA US/UK 2021, 110 min Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin

In June 2018, 12 teenage boys and their soccer coach disappeared while exploring the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Thailand’s Chiang Rai Province. What followed was remarkable: Millions worldwide watched in heart-pounding real time as a global team of cave divers, Navy SEALs, medical professionals, first responders, and other volunteers set aside differences to achieve the common goal of locating the missing and getting them out alive. Making the most of exclusive access to the rescue operation, wife-and-husband directing duo Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin follow up their Oscar®-winner Free Solo (MVFF 2018) with another thrilling documentary, one that shares the same intensity that made that earlier film so memorable. Unspooling with dramatic flair and relentless tension, The Rescue maintains an emotional core, getting to the heart of heroic cooperation and what it means to be human. –Wilfred Okiche

Saturday, Oct 9, 3:30pm, Sequoia Streaming (US only) RICKSHAW GIRL CREATE / FAMILY BANGLADESH 2020, 102 min Director Amitabh Reza Chowdhury In this Bangladeshi drama, feisty young painter Naima (a riveting Novera Rahman) sets out on a quest to save her ailing father. Her artistic gift has blossomed with his encouragement but hasn’t yet proven financially rewarding. Naima’s mother dashes such childish dreams, which sends the frustrated teen off to the big city, determined to earn money for the family’s survival. And she does, by disguising herself as a boy to get a job as a rickshaw driver. Still, Naima’s creative drive has her sneaking every opportunity to paint, and as her vivid artwork comes to life in beautifully animated form, there is hope that her emergence as an artist will be her true salvation. Based on the acclaimed and beloved young adult novel by Mitali Perkins, Rickshaw Girl is a magical ride. In English Age 11+ –Carol Harada NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

SPONSORED BY JIM BOYCE TRUST and KRIS OTIS

Monday, Oct 11, 4:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) SAMI, JOE AND I MIND THE GAP / PASSAGES / WORLD SWITZERLAND 2020, 94 min Director Karin Heberlein In the suburbs of Zurich, best friends Sami, Joe, and Leyla burst out of another school year, buzzing with the potential of what they anticipate will be a truly epic summer. Joined at the hip and mutually enamored in the universal way of teenage girls, they laughingly plot schemes, flirtations, and leisurely amusements. But parents’ expectations and new responsibilities thwart their plans for fun and freedom: As carefree hangouts give way to a growing awareness of the world’s hardships and injustices, the trio’s formerly unbreakable bond starts to show cracks. Revolving around three characters juggling distinct and disparate challenges, this multi-faceted coming-of-age story is buoyed by vibrancy and tethered by realism. Swiss director Karin Heberlein dynamically depicts an authentic moment in time for these girls on the precipice of becoming women, capturing both the energy of youth and the push-pull of adulthood. Note to family audiences: In Swiss German, Spanish, Serbo-Croat, and German with English subtitles Age 14+ –Drea Clark This film contains a scene of a clearly implied but offscreen sexual assault on a teenager. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Saturday, Oct 16, 1:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) SHORTS: FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG PASSAGES / FAMILY Total program 64 min We can all feel a little out of place sometimes. But in this delightful collection of animated shorts, the journey to find where you fit in can be fun and inspiring. A curious lynx ventures out of the forest in A Lynx in the Town (Nina Bisiarina, France/Switzerland 2019, 7 min), causing a stir among the locals. In Louis’s Shoes (Marion Philippe, Kayu Leung, Théo Jamin, & JeanGéraud Blanc, France 2020, 5 min), the first day at a new school presents unique challenges to autistic 8½-year-old Louis. A baby owl hatched during a storm in Shooom’s Odyssey (Julien Bisaro, France 2019, 26 min) searches for her mother. In Star Bound (Richard O’Connor, US 2020, 3 min), a NASA engineer and his six-year-old nephew chat about the splendors of space. Inspired by Thumbelina, Tulip (Andrea Love, Phoebe Wahl, US 2020, 9 min) brings a miniature garden to life for a tiny flower child seeking community. A grumpy polar bear gets a lesson in simple pleasures from a perky brown bear in Blanket (Marina Moshkova, Russia 2020, 6 min). In Cinema Rex (Mayan Engelman & Eliran Peled, Israel 2020, 8 min), a Jewish boy and Arab girl transcend language to find a common love for film. Age 5+ In English and various languages with English subtitles –Joanne Parsont

Sunday, Oct 17, 11:00am, Rafael Streaming SHORTS: FROM FAERIES TO FATALITIES SURPRISE / FAMILY Total program 88 min This year’s collection of peer-reviewed, youth-produced short films showcases an international cohort of storytellers whose work spans genres. After a long, locked-down year, it’s unsurprising that some of these young filmmakers have leaned toward darker themes, with a fair amount of murder, death, and dystopia—balanced by a dose of social justice, a dash of fairy dust, and a bit of scatological humor. It’s a wild but worthwhile ride! My Best Friend (Benji Tucker, 2020, US 6 min), O.range (Sunday Derham, Australia 2020, 5 min), Spud (Will McDonald & Gavin Bell, US 2021, 5 min), Beyond the Model (Erin Kökdil, US 2020, 5 min), The Black Collective (Roxy Morris, Shiva Kansagara & Sophia Lee, US 2021, 3 min), Jasmine’s Book (Ashley Kumar & Chloe Meyer, US 2021, 8 min), Conjugal Revivification (Reed H. Sharp, US 2021, 10 min), Down Seafaring Way (Roxy Morris, Sophia Lee, Shiva Kansagara & Meia Voss, US 2021, 8 min), Distanced (Cassy Callari, US 2021, 1 min), The Puppet (Will Nordstrom, US 2020, 2 min), The Fairy Tale (Seung jae Lee, Korea 2020, 15 min), Faery Houses (Marabee Barry, US 2021, 3 min), Distortion (Verzerrung) (Samuel J Punto, Germany 2021, 7 min), Aw, Sh*t! (Thomas Ian Valencia, US 2021, 4 min), Closing Night (David Camilo Cuevas, Canada, 5 min) Age 13+ –Joanne Parsont

Saturday, Oct 9, 4:00pm, Rafael Streaming SHORTS: THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS GROW / DOCS Total program 64 min The New Environmentalists, from Accra to Eleuthera Island (US 2021, 30 min) is the latest in the Mill Valley Film Group’s Emmy Award-winning series, narrated by Robert Redford and featuring inspiring portraits of six passionate and dedicated activists from Myanmar, France, Mexico, Ghana, The Bahamas, and Ecuador. They share a common goal: safeguarding the Earth’s natural resources from exploitation and pollution, while fighting for justice in their communities. These are the true environmental heroes who have placed themselves squarely in harm’s way to battle intimidating adversaries while building strong grassroots support. Directed by John Antonelli, Will Parrinello, and Matt Yamashita. In Anchored Out (US 2021, 26 min) Katie Bernstein and Clara Mokri focus on a vulnerable community known as the anchor-outs who live on boats anchored off the coast in Sausalito, just north of San Francisco. Tule Elk - The Killing of a Native Species (US 2020, 8 min) looks at the heated controversy between conservationists and the National Park Service over the fate of the Tule elk in Point Reyes National Seashore. –Kelly Clement

Monday, Oct 11, 8:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) SHORTS: THE OCEAN SURPRISE Total program 70 min “Here come the waves down by the shore, washing the soul of the body that comes from the depth of the sea.” A deep dive into tales where courage, self-confidence, and renewal are front and center. Marianne Farley’s medical thriller Frimas (Canada 2021, 20 min) shows how the commonplace can become forbidden in a dystopian future. Grace Sloan’s Death Valley (US 2021, 11 min) is a fabulous tribute to ’70s science-fiction cinema. Caroline Liviakis’s highly kinetic dance film Boys and Girls (US 2021, 6 min) presents an irresistible battle of wills. There are few words but a ton of emotions, and laughs, in Ariel Iman Rose’s empowerment parable Bolt Cutters Make Great Friends (US 2021, 9 min). And a trans dancer’s efforts to opt out of mandatory military service forces a gutsy confrontation in Byun Sung-bin’s unforgettable God’s Daughter Dances (South Korea 2020, 25 min). This is a collection of films that will definitely stick with you. –Sterling Hedgpeth

Tuesday, Oct 12, 3:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) SHORTS: PALE BLUE EYES SPIRIT / DOCS Total program 60 min “If I could make the world as pure and strange as what I see, I’d put you in the mirror I put in front of me.” Suspicious packages found in a small town in Northern California expose a vast network of succulent plant poachers in Plant Heist (US 2020, 18 min) from Chelsi and Gabriel de Cuba. In Anna Kuperberg and Julia Caskey’s Eleven Weeks (US 2020, 15 min), we are witness to a couple’s final conversations in a story that is more about love than death. Matt Klug and Joshua Harding show us how a San Francisco-based chef and his team found a way to bring a new dining experience to life during the pandemic in Going Dark, Finding Light (US 2021, 7 min). As Erin Brethauer and Tim Hussin’s Eric and the Bees (US 2020, 8 min) reveals, when Eric Grandon discovered beekeeping, he had no idea that bees would give him the power to transform both his own life and that of many others. After 25 years as an in-home caregiver, a Midwestern Black woman in her 60s strikes out for San Francisco to restart her music career in My Little Hilton (US 2020, 12 min) by Kevin Duncan Wong and Todd Sills. –Kelly Clement

Wednesday, Oct 13, 4:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) SHORTS: SOME KINDA LOVE CREATE Total program 70 min “Between thought and expression lies a lifetime. Situations arise because of the weather.” These wonderful stories explore the intersection of creativity, loss, and embracing the unknown. Eric Roberts (Runaway Train) stars in Matthew Avery Berg’s Marked (US 2021, 12 min), about a tattoo artist who encounters a blast from his past. The complex relationship between artist and muse is the foundation of Erin Whited-Ford’s powerful The Wild Woman and the Painter (US 2021, 17 min). A playful spirit and local color bring life to the beautiful watercolor-style animation of Laura Margulies’ Blue Cooler (US 2021, 8 min). In Jay Kamal’s touching Baba (Canada 2021, 14 min), a young boy must navigate traditions and obligations at his Muslim father’s funeral. And an archeologist must decipher a mysterious code at a dig, sending her down a historical wormhole, in Giulio Callegari’s truly unpredictable Erratum (France 2020, 19 min). Expect the unexpected with this formidable set of stories. –Sterling Hedgpeth

SPONSORED BY TV5MONDE

Sunday, Oct 10, 2:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) SHORTS: SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY PASSAGES / FAMILY Total program 76 min In this shorts compilation, meet a captivating group of real and fictional youth who are finding their purpose, their values—and their wings. In Golden Age Karate (Sindha Agha, US 2021, 5 min), a teen martial arts pro shares his passion with an unlikely group of students. When a baby owl gets pushed from her nest in Try to Fly (The Affolter Brothers, US 2020, 8 min), it triggers an existential crisis. In Furthest From (Kyung Sok Kim, US 2021, 19 min), two friends struggle with sudden separation when their Novato trailer park is evacuated. Are You Okay? (Ryan Cannon, US 2021, 9 min) addresses cyber-bullying, highlighting the positive impact bystanders can have by simply reaching out to their peers. In Matilda and the Spare Head (Ignas Meilūnas, Lithuania 2020, 13 min), a drive to be the smartest leads to the misguided conclusion that two heads are better than one. Generation Impact: The Coder (Samantha Knowles, US 2021, 6 min), introduces us to a 13-year-old who built an app for kids to send messages to their incarcerated parents, and Kata (James Latimer, Japan 2021, 7 min) introduces us to the incredible talent of a tween karate champion. In Rise Up (Bryan Buckley, US 2021, 9 min), 12 inspiring children from around the world are asked: Who are the role models for mankind today? (We’re pretty sure it’s them). Age 9+ In English and various languages with English subtitles –Joanne Parsont

Friday, Oct 8, 5:00pm, Rafael Streaming

Thursday, Oct 14, 7:00pm, BAMPFA Friday, Oct 15, 6:30pm, Sequoia SHORTS: THERE SHE GOES AGAIN MIND THE GAP / SPIRIT Total program 69 min “Now take a look, there’s no tears in her eyes. Like a bird, you know she would fly.” These wonderfully diverse stories from female filmmakers demonstrate how certain impulses—to grow, change, want—are indeed universal. A young woman finds her agency slipping away when it comes to an arranged marriage in Suzannah Mirghani’s beautiful Al-Sit (Sudan/ Qatar 2020, 20 min). Internal anxiety about creating a family forces a woman to question her own personal history in Ashley Paige Brim’s The Goldfish (US 2021, 17 min). A meditation on her daughter and the elusiveness of memory grounds Lynne Sachs’s lovely Maya at 24 (US 2021, 4 min). Holiday tensions between father and daughter loom over efforts to reconcile the past in Suzanne Lenz and Tom Bean’s Christmas Eve Eve or: The Things I Can’t Remember (US 2020, 14 min). And an ad hoc therapy “session” allows a teenage girl to process a host of epiphanies about herself and her high school in C. Fraser Press’s enchanting Too Many Buddhas (US 2021, 14 min). Perceptive, beautiful, and engaging stories that you won’t want to miss. –Sterling Hedgpeth

SONG FOR CESAR ¡VIVA EL CINE! / CREATE / DOCS US 2021, 85 min Directors Andres Alegria, Abel Sanchez

History will remember the blood, sweat, and tears shed by late civil-rights activist and labor leader Cesar Chavez while standing up for American farmworkers. In Song for Cesar, co-writers and co-directors Andres Alegria and Abel Sanchez build on that legacy and pride through the music of Chavez’s era. Daniel Valdez’s “Brown Eyed Children of the Sun,” Joel Rafael’s “El Bracero,” Little Joe y La Familia’s “Viva la Huelga,” and other songs become the powerful soundtrack for Latino farmworkers who otherwise felt invisible and unheard. Through stunning archival photographs and footage and interviews with icons that include Carlos Santana, Joan Baez, Cheech Marin, Edward James Olmos, Maya Angelou, and Chavez’s United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, this affectionate documentary hits many inspiring notes, expressing the emotion that flourished artistically during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s. As filmmaker and playwright Luis Valdez (Zoot Suit) says in the film, “Beware of a movement that sings.” –Kiko Martinez WORLD PREMIERE

Wednesday, Oct 13, 2:00pm, Rafael Saturday, Oct 16, 6:00pm, Sequoia SPENCER SURPRISE / WORLD UK/GERMANY/CHILE 2021, 111 min Director Pablo Larraín What more is there to say about the late Princeess Diana, whose life pop culture has already thoroughly dissected? Plenty, as it turns out, when Pablo Larraín is the auteur interpreting the very public life of the beloved Princess of Wales. The Jackie (MVFF, 2017) director will have audiences clutching their pearls at the sight of this gripping, unconventional take on an unhappily married Diana, played with intense insight and emotional heft by Kristen Stewart. Focused on a suffocating 1991 Christmas with the royal family at the pristine Sandringham grounds in Norfolk, England, Larraín and screenwriter Steven Knight weave elements of The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol, and even It’s a Wonderful Life into a provocative fable, as daring as it is unpredictable. Rich period details; a cast full of acting royalty including Sally Hawkins and Timothy Spall; and Jonny Greenwood’s eclectic soundtrack support every unforgettable moment. –Randy Myers

SPONSORED BY NICE GUYS DELIVERY

Saturday, Oct 9, 7:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) SUBJECTS OF DESIRE MIND THE GAP / SPIRIT / DOCS CANADA 2020, 102 min Director Jennifer Holness

This gorgeously shot documentary is an intimate, clear-eyed look at the complicated relationship between Black women, their beauty, and America’s view of both. Filmmaker Jennifer Holness follows a group of Miss Black America contestants during the pageant’s 50th anniversary year, using the occasion as the springboard for a bigger, deeper conversation. The film’s superpower is its access: We’re up-close and personal with Black women candidly sharing experiences of society’s rejection (and appropriation) of their beauty—and their evolving responses. Equally significant, academics connect the historical framework for Black beauty to the realities of life in America for Black women. Recording artist India Arie, who celebrated her Afrocentric looks in her 2001 hit “Video,” offers grounded insight. And there’s a twist: Rachel Dolezal, infamous for identifying as Black despite being born white, also weighs in. Subjects of Desire is a rich, humanizing exploration of a hot-button subject. –Celia C. Peters Note to family audiences: This film contains references to rape and sexual violence.

Sunday, Oct 17, 12:00pm, Rafael THE VELVET UNDERGROUND CREATE US 2021, 110 min Director Todd Haynes They were the downtown NYC group that doubled as the missing link between John Cage, Rimbaud, and the Brill Building; the in-house band for Warhol’s Factory happenings; and the leather-jacketed, sexuality-blurring rock stars that inspired generations of musicians to pick up droning guitars. Who better to pay tribute to the Velvet Underground than Todd Haynes (MVFF Tribute, 2017)? The filmmaker who gave us an abundance of Dylans in I’m Not There (MVFF 2007) and the glam-rock freak out Velvet Goldmine turns his attention to the V.U. in his first documentary, charting everything from Lou Reed and John Cale’s early musical collaborations to the group’s early-’70s dissolution. It’s a trove of rare performance clips, vintage experimental-movie snippets, and new interviews—as much a portrait of an era as of a band, told in the style of the avant-garde filmmaking that fueled the Velvets’ moment in the spotlight and secured their status as world-renowned countercultural icons. –David Fear

SPONSORED BY DOLBY LABORATORIES

Saturday, Oct 16, 12:00pm, Rafael WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA MIND THE GAP / DEBATE / DOCS US 2021, 117 min Directors Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler

Jeffrey Robinson, the formidable legal activist and criminal defense lawyer whose groundbreaking talks have become a hit in conference rooms and community halls across America, shoots for his biggest audience yet, with this filmed version of his acclaimed Juneteenth 2018 presentation at New York City’s Town Hall. Directed by Sarah and Emily Kunstler (the sister duo behind William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe), Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America expands Robinson’s talk to include interviews and personal exchanges that lean into his central argument that America can be two things at once: a great country and a racist one. Often provocative but ultimately illuminating, Robinson and his collaborators probe the history books, revealing fresh detail about America’s founding fathers, connecting their legacy with historical events and contemporary social issues. This absorbing documentary is more than an indictment, though; it’s also a summons for personal introspection and communal re-examination. –Wilfred Okiche

Friday, Oct 8, 8:00pm, Rafael Streaming (US only) WOMEN IS LOSERS MIND THE GAP / ¡VIVA EL CINE! / US / US CINEMA US 2020, 84 min Director Lissette Feliciano

In her rousing crowd-pleaser of a feature debut, writer-director Lissette Feliciano revisits San Francisco of the ’60s and ’70s, a period when most women were seen but seldom heard. Our guide on this feminist journey is Celina (played with moxie by Lorenza Izzo), a Catholic high-school rebel in a challenging romance with a handsome G.I. (Bryan Craig) but who dreams of pursuing a life on her own terms. It is a path to independence strewn with obstacles: her macho alcoholic stepdad (Steven Bauer); an overly attentive boss (Simi Liu), who may harbor ulterior motives; and society’s reluctance to embrace a woman without a husband. Shattering the fourth wall, this always entertaining drama is as much of a rule-breaker as its determined protagonist. Women Is Losers celebrates the Celinas of the world, women of color who triumph over sexism and adversity. –Randy Myers

SPONSORED BY IN CLOSE ENTERTAINMENT