Jesse Wakeman and Kris Avedisian (The Orchard)
One of the sober revelations of getting old is the realization that, as adults, you may no longer have much in common with your high school chums. That’s why Wall Street broker Peter (Jesse Wakeman) hasn’t returned to the Rhode Island town where he grew up in 20 years. When he goes home to settle his late grandmother’s estate, Peter reluctantly asks for help from Donald (Kris Avedisian), an old friend whose mental age seems to hover around 13. This uncomfortable anti-buddy movie is the first feature from writer-director-star Avedisian, who along with co-star Wakeman somehow makes these characters, who are thoroughly unappealing in completely different ways, into well-rounded and finally sympathetic people. Heartbreaking and funny (try not to watch the trailer, which spoils one of the movie’s funniest lines), Donald Cried is one of the better entries in the 21st-century man-child cinema sweepstakes.
Watch the trailer.
Opens tomorrow at the Angelika Pop-up.
(Grasshopper Film)
The DC Environmental Film Festival continues with a free screening of director Zhao Liang’s stark documentary about coal miners in the Mongolian steppes. Framed by spare narration that references the Old Testament and Dante, the bulk of the film contrasts beautiful landscapes with the industrial machinery that extracts its natural resources and with the soot-stained faces of the men and women who work the mines. With sounds and visuals that are alternately gorgeous and hellish, Behemoth at times suggests an environmentally conscious David Lynch, and at others seems like a 21st century expose from Jacob Riis and August Sander. I watched it on a laptop, but it demands to be seen on a big screen with an overwhelming sound system. Also in the festival this coming week, local filmmaker Ryan Killackey’s Yasuni Man (March 19 at 7 p.m. at E Street), which tells the fascinating story of a remote tribe in Ecuador whose land has been all but eradicated by oil companies.
Watch the trailer.
Behemoth screens Monday March 20 at 9:30 p.m. at Landmark E Street Cinema.
(iMDb)
An Ethiopian-American psychologist (Salome Mulugeta) looks for answers after her brother is murdered in this Ethopian-U.S. joint production co-directed by Mulugeta and Nagwa Ibrahim. Mulugeta, Ibrahim, and actress Alemtsehay Wedajo will appear for Q&As after both screenings. As its New African Films series wraps up this weekend, the AFI will also be screening the documentary Mali Blues (March 17 and 18), featuring singer Fatoumata “Fatou” Diawara and electric ngoni player Bassekou Kouyaté, musicians who navigate a ban on music declared by Muslim extremists.
Watch the trailer.
Woven screens March 17 at 7 p.m. and March 18 at 8:45 p.m. at the AFI Silver.
(Warner Bros.)
With a headstrong attitude but a finally weak constitution, Jerry Plunkett (James Cagney) is court-martialled when cowardice gets his fellows soldiers killed on the battlefield. But Father Duffy (Pat O’Brien) believes he will redeem himself. Based on the true story of New York City’s 69th Infantry Regiment, this 1940 war drama reunites Cagney and O’Brien two years after Angels with Dirty Faces. The Mary Pickford Theatre at the Library of Congress will be showing a 35mm print of this classic war film.
Watch the trailer.
Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Mary Pickford Theatre, third floor of the Madison Building, Library of Congress. Free. Seating is on a first-come first-serve basis. Doors open at 6:30 pm
Bistro BohemCzech comics Jan Werich and Jiří Voskovec star in this tale about a milk baron who loses his factory to the Canned Milk Trust. Prolific director Martin Frič helmed this 1934 film, which also goes by the name of Workers, Let’s Go! Part of Bistro Bohem’s monthly Beer and Film series.
Tuesday, March 21 at 7 p.m. at Bistro Bohem, 600 Florida Avenue, NW. Free, but RSVP required. Call 202/735-5895 or email bistrobohem@gmail.com Guests must arrive by 6:45 pm to keep their reservation.
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Also opening this weekend, Kristen Stewart stars in director Olivier Assayas’ thriller, Personal Shopper. We’ll have a full review tomorrow.
