Special Presentations
This season’s Special Presentations include an evening with prolific and influential indie director Joe Swanberg who will present the first local screening of his deconstructionist horror movie, Silver Bullets; and Pioneers of Animation, an evening of marvelous cartoons from the silent era preserved by George Eastman House and featuring musical accompaniment from Dreamland Faces. Plus, Kon Ichikawa’s acclaimed masterwork, The Makioka Sisters, which will screen in a recently struck 35mm print.
- Tue., Jan. 17 | 7:00 PMSundance Cinemas 608
Talented and prolific filmmaker Steven Soderbergh’s 25th feature film since his debut with sex, lies & videotape in 1989, Haywire is a dazzling espionage action vehicle for actress Gina Carano, a mixed martial arts superstar. Carano plays secret operative Mallory Kane, who has to outwit and outlast her many enemies once she learns she’s been betrayed. The amazing supporting cast that Soderbergh has assembled includes Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Channing Tatum, and Michael Angarano. This screening is co-presented by the UW Cinematheque and the Wisconsin Film Festival, as a prelude to the Spring 2012 Cinematheque calendar of screenings and the 2012 Wisconsin Film Festival, April 18-22. Haywire’s screenwriter Lem Dobbs, who also penned the scripts for Soderbergh's Kafka (1992) and The Limey (1999) will introduce the screening and answer questions in a post-screening discussion. Special passes are required for this screening.
All passes for the screening of Haywire have been distributed.
This screening will take place at Sundance Cinemas 608:
Hilldale Mall
430 N. Midvale Blvd.
Madison, WI 53705
- Fri., Feb. 24 | 7:00 PMCinematheque
This haunting, meditative indie feature explores the intersection of the personal and artistic lives of its main characters. Claire (Sheil), an actress, is cast in a high-profile horror film while her filmmaker boyfriend, Ethan (Swanberg), casts Claire’s best friend Charlie (Amy Seimetz) as his girlfriend in his own low-budget autobiographical project. The prolific and multi-talented Swanberg wrote, produced, shot, edited, and stars. He will be on hand to introduce and answer questions following the screening.
- Fri., Mar. 2 | 7:00 PMCinematheque
This delightfully entertaining and specially curated collection of cartoons from George Eastman House’s motion picture collection places the spotlight on the most important innovators in silent era animation. Artists featured in the program, which takes us from 1914 to 1929, include Dave and Max Fleischer, Walt Disney, Paul Terry, Gregory LaCava, Lotte Reiniger, and Friz Freleng. The animated stars on screen include Oswald the Rabbit, Mutt and Jeff, Koko the Clown, and the irrepressible Felix the Cat. The musical duo Dreamland Faces will provide live accompaniment on piano, accordion, and musical saw. Films to be screened are DOMESTIC DIFFICULTIES (1916), TRAPPED (1923), FELIX TRIFLES WITH TIME (1925), FELIX THE CAT KEPT ON WALKING (1925), SCALING THE ALPS (1928), SKY SCRAPPERS (1928), WEARY WILLIES (1929), THE BREATH OF A NATION (1919), COLONEL HEEZA LIAR, NATURALIST (1914), BOBBY BUMPS' DISAPPEARING GUN (1918), BOBBY BUMPS AND HIS GOATMOBILE (1916), FALSE ALARM (1923), THE ORNAMENT OF THE LOVESTRUCK HEART (1919). Preservations funded by the National Park Service, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
- Sat., Apr. 28 | 7:00 PMCinematheque
Ichikawa’s great adaptation of Junichiro Tanazaki’s celebrated novel tells of four sisters in 1920s Japan who have taken over their family’s kimono manufacturing business. The two eldest women remain loyal to traditions while the younger two drift toward western lifestyles. Structured around the changing of the seasons, The Makioka Sisters depicts a major turning point in history through poignant storytelling and vibrant color cinematography, best experienced in the new 35mm print that will be shown.
- Sat., May. 12 | 7:00 PMCinematheque
Highlighting works produced in Communication Arts Media Production courses at UW-Madison, this 90-minute program is curated by the instructors of film, video, and animation courses and gives new filmmakers the opportunity to present their films on screen for the first time.