When most people think of The Love Witch (2016), the first things that come to mind are visual. They might remember a colorful costume or a stunning set that were designed by the film’s writer-director-producer-editor-songwriter/arranger Anna Biller, or an impeccably framed close-up of its unforgettable protagonist, Elaine (perfectly played by Samantha Robinson). But while I… Read more »
Leonor Reyes was once a groundbreaking figure in the Filipino film industry during its ragtag action cinema glory days, but now she struggles with old age, mounting bills, and the untimely death of her son. While revisiting an unfinished script about a fearless protagonist trying to avenge his brother’s murder, Leonor is struck on the… Read more »
The first film directed by a woman to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, Adoption tells the intertwined stories of a middle-aged factory worker who wishes to have a child with her married lover and a teenage ward of the state determined to emancipate herself in order to marry her boyfriend. Co-written… Read more »
One of the most popular actors of her time, Kinuyo Tanaka appeared in over 250 films and collaborated with such legends as Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse, and Kenji Mizoguchi. (Her performance in Ozu’s proto-noir Dragnet Girl will actually be coming to IU Cinema’s screen next year as part of our 2023 Jon Vickers Scoring Award.)… Read more »
At the funeral of a classmate who committed suicide, two best friends share an innocent kiss that quickly spirals into questioning identities, sexual awakenings, awkward encounters, and so much more. In the words of The Killers, “It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?” Featuring rising star Rachel Sennott (Shiva… Read more »
Guest post by Dr. Alicia Kozma, Director of IU Cinema. International films are central to the core of the U.S. art house. In the 1950s and 1960s, art house theaters were often the only places you could see international films. Today, it would be rare to find an art house theater worth its salt that… Read more »