CLEVELAND, Ohio — Veteran film actor Steve Zahn showcases his leading man talents as a well-intentioned father in director-writer Anna Kerrigan’s new movie “Cowboys.”
The Cleveland Cinemas (Cedar Lee, the Capitol and Chagrin Cinemas) will be streaming the movie online Jan. 22. The modern western is about a father who runs off with his trans son into the Montana wilderness after his ex-wife refuses to let their child live as his authentic self.
Also on Jan. 22, The Cleveland Institute of Art’s Cinematheque begins screening director Fernanda Valadez’s impressive film debut, “Identifying Features,” which won an Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
The movie revolves around a Mexican mother trying to discover the fate of her adolescent son who left home to cross the U.S. border. The suspenseful drama has a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Virtual screening rooms continue to offer movie lovers a safe way to view first-run films online during a pandemic. Half the proceeds from the virtual films go back to the local theater. Costs vary for each film, which is accessible for either 48 or 72 hours.
Here’s a look at new and current films streaming this weekend through Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas:
OPENING FRIDAY
“Cowboys”
Director-writer Anna Kerrigan’s “Cowboys” stars Steve Zahn as a well-intentioned father, who runs off with his trans son into the Montana wilderness after his ex-wife refuses to let their child live as his authentic self. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“The Hand”
This film was initially a segment of the 2004 anthology film, “Eros.” Director Wong Kar-wai’s “The Hand,” set during the 1960s, recently received an extended cut release. The movie is part of the Cinematheque’s seven-film series “The World of Wong Kar-wai,” (Cinematheque)
“Identifying Features”
Director Fernanda Valadez’s impressive film debut, “Identifying Features,” which won an Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, revolves around a Mexican mother trying to discover the fate of her adolescent son who left home to cross the U.S. border. The suspenseful drama has a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (Cinematheque)
“My Rembrandt”
Both discriminating art lovers and neophytes will enjoy the entertaining — and amusing — new film “My Rembrandt.” Boasting a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the documentary not only tells a series of entertaining true stories about the recent acquisition and disposition of Rembrandt paintings, but also exposes a hidden world of elite European art dealers, art museums and art collectors. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“Notturno”
Selected as Italy’s official submission for this year’s Oscar for Best International Feature Film, Gianfranco Rosi’s documentary was filmed over three years on the borders between Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria and Lebanon. The movie tackles everyday lives impacted by civil wars, dictatorships, foreign invasions and ISIS. (Cinematheque)
“Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time”
A romantic drama that gets turned on its head, director Lili Horvát’s “Preparations To Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time” tells the story of a successful stateside Hungarian neurosurgeon who after starting a relationship with a doctor at conference returns to Budapest to continue the relationship. The movie is Hungary’s official submission for this year’s Oscar for Best International Feature Film. (Cinematheque)
“The Salt of Tears”
Director Philippe Garrel’s latest black-and-white film, “The Salt of Tears,” which was written by master screenwriters Jean-Claude Carrière and Arlette Langmann, tells the story of a good-looking but shallow womanizing woodworker and his trio of love affairs. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“You Will Die At Twenty”
Billed as a coming-of-death fable, “You Will Die At Twenty” — which is Sudan’s first-ever official submission for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film category — is about a Sudanese boy who as an infant was prophesied to live for only two decades. Obviously stigmatized by the prediction, the child must overcome ridicule and an over-protective mother in order to live life to the fullest. (Cinematheque)
STILL SHOWING
“Acasă, My Home”
“Acasă, My Home” tells the poignant and poetic story of a Romanian family with nine children who after living off the grid for nearly two decades in the Bucharest Delta must move to the city after their home becomes part of a new nature preserve. Radu Ciorniciuc’s documentary has a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (Cinematheque)
“African Violet”
Boasting a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “African Violet” finds an Iranian ex-wife — after learning her children put her former husband into a nursing home — taking care of her former spouse. (Cinematheque)
“Aggie”
New documentary “Aggie” profiles Cleveland-born art collector and philanthropist Agnes “Aggie” Gund, who has bridged the visual arts world with social justice concerns. The film’s creator is Gund’s Emmy Award-winning filmmaker daughter, Catherine. On a side note, Gund’s late brother George co-founded the Cleveland Cinematheque. (Cinematheque)
“As Tears Go By”
As part of the Cinematheque’s seven-film series “The World of Wong Kar-wai,” director Wong Kar-wai’s 1988 film debut, “As Tears Go By,” is a mob movie about the brutal Hong Kong underworld. (Cinematheque)
“Assassins”
Debuting earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, director Ryan White’s new documentary “Assassins” delves into the real-life assassination of North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jon Un’s half-brother Kim Jong-nam in a crowded Malaysian airport. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“Blizzard of Souls”
The horrors of war reach new depths in the “Blizzard of Souls,” which is Latvia’s official submission for this year’s Oscar for Best International Feature Film. Based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Aleksandrs Grīns that was banned in the Soviet Union for 60 years, the detailed historical drama follows a wide-eyed teen’s journey from farm boy to hardened WWI soldier. (Cinematheque)
“The Changin’ Times Of Ike White”
In the spirit of Academy Award-winning music documentary “Searching for Sugar Man” comes Daniel Vernon’s “The Changin’ Times Of Ike White.” The documentary tells the 1976 story of young musical prodigy Ike White, who while serving a life sentence in prison wrote, recorded and released soul album “Changin’ Times.” Freed after Stevie Wonder and others took up his cause, White lived in anonymity for 40 years. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“Chungking Express”
As part of the Cinematheque’s seven-film series “The World of Wong Kar-wai,” director Wong Kar-wai’s “Chungking Express” — which stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Brigitte Lin — is a fast, funny and fizzy romance. (Cinematheque)
“Coded Bias”
The timing of Shalini Kantayya’s new film “Coded Bias” couldn’t be any more apropos. Referencing data and technology (bias within facial recognition programs), the documentary tackles the modern civil rights issue. The film currently has a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“Coming Home Again”
Director Wayne Wang (“Chan Is Missing” and “The Joy Luck Club”) based his new film “Coming Home Again” on a New Yorker essay about a first-generation Korean-American man who returns to his San Francisco home to care for his ailing Korean mother. (Cinematheque)
“Days of Being Wild”
The next installment of the Cinematheque’s seven-film series “The World of Wong Kar-wai” features director Wong Kar-wai’s 1990 film “Days of Being Wild,” which is Hong Kong Film Awards Association ranked the third best Chinese film of all time. (Cinematheque)
“A Dog Called Money”
Fans of PJ Harvey’s 2016 album “The Hope Six Demolition Project” are in for a treat. The critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter teamed up with award-winning Irish photojournalist Seamus Murphy to document the creation of the Grammy Award-winning album. The result is “A Dog Called Money,” which is a mix of music documentary, war-zone travelogue and multimedia art project. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“The Extraordinary World Of Charley Bowers”
Film buffs will be champing at the bit to catch “The Extraordinary World Of Charley Bowers,” which features seven recently-restored short films by the forgotten silent era legend. The innovative slapstick comedies — “Egged On,” “He Done His Best,” “Fatal Footsteps,” “Now You Tell One,” “Many a Slip,” “There It Is” and “It’s a Bird” — combine live action and animation. (Cinematheque)
“Fallen Angels”
Esteemed director Wong Kar-wai’s 1995 film “Fallen Angels” is a Hong Kong action thriller involving both a professional hitman and a mute ex-con looking for love. “Fallen Angels” is part of the Cinematheque’s seven-film series “The World of Wong Kar-wai.” (Cinematheque)
“Faust”
Featuring claymation, stop-motion animation, life-size puppets, live action and special effects, 1994 film “Faust” — which is not appropriate for children — is the work of great Czech animator and surrealist Jan Švankmajer. (Cinematheque)
“Film About A Father Who”
Veteran indie filmmaker Lynne Sachs tells the story of her pioneering Utah businessman father, Ira Sachs Sr., in “Film About A Father Who.” While the new documentary touches upon themes of fatherhood and masculinity, the director along the way discovers some surprising hidden truths about her dad. (Cinematheque)
“Free Time”
Cherished documentary filmmaker Manfred Kirchheimer takes a nostalgic look at New York City of yesterday in “Free Time,” which features a series of snapshots and 16mm footage from 1958 and 1960. The gentle reflection of mid-20th century urban life is presented with a soundtrack featuring music by Ravel, Bach, Eisler and Count Basie. (Cinematheque)
“Happy Together”
Hong Kong/Japan/South Korea, 1997, Wong Kar-wai
Critically-acclaimed Wong Kar-wai won the Best Director prize at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for “Happy Together,” which is part of the Cinematheque’s seven-film series “The World of Wong Kar-wai,” The newly-restored film depicts the relationship between two gay lovers from Hong Kong living in Buenos Aires. (Cinematheque)
“The Holly and The Ivy”
If you’re looking for an obscure film from Christmas past, “The Holly and The Ivy” should suffice. While relatively unknown stateside, the beloved 1952 British Christmas classic — adapted from a popular play by Wynyard Browne and starring Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton, and Denholm Elliott — is a redemptive tale about rediscovering family. (Cinematheque)
“Ikarie XB1”
Czechoslovakia sci-fi director Jindřich Polák’s “Voyage to the End of the Universe” has been recently restored with new title “Ikarie XB1.” The 1963 cult classic, which reportedly influenced Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” is based on Stanisław Lem’s novel “The Magellanic Cloud” about a group of multinational astronauts on a 15-year voyage to another planet. (Cinematheque)
“In the Mood for Love”
Hong Kong/China, 2000, Wong Kar-wai
Viewed as director Wong Kar-wai’s most celebrated work, “In the Mood for Love” finds a married man and his lonely married neighbor attempting to catch their spouses in suspected infidelity. The 2000 film is part of the Cinematheque’s seven-film series “The World of Wong Kar-wai.” A series pass costs $70. (Cinematheque)
“Interview”
Film buffs will want to once again experience Federico Fellini’s “Interview,” which finds the director as the master of ceremonies celebrating his love of cinema. The recently restored 1987 film includes memories and a tribute to Fellini’s longtime collaborator and composer Nino Rota, as well as memorable appearances by Marcello Mastroianni (“La Dolce Vita,” “8½”) and Anita Ekberg (“La Dolce Vita”). (Cinematheque)
“Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams”
Baseball’s popularity in Japan annually includes 4,000 Japanese high school teams attempting to make it into the country’s national high school baseball tournament held at Hanshin Koshien Stadium. Documentarian Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s brand-new “Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams” covers the emotional journey of various players and teams competing in the 100th season of the popular contest, which boasts alumni such as Shohei Ohtani and Hideki Matsui. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“The Library that Dolly Built”
A quarter of a century after she created the Imagination Library, Dolly Parton is highlighted for her national charity work helping instill a love of reading in preschool children. Nick Geidner’s documentary “The Library that Dolly Built” examines America’s largest nongovernmental children’s literacy program. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“Louis Van Beethoven”
Marking the Sestercentennial of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth, director Niki Stein takes a deep dive into the nearly deaf composer’s life. The lavish new biographical drama “Louis Van Beethoven” details how an 8-year-old musical prodigy became a legend for the ages. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“Love Sarah”
New British comedy “Love Sarah” — which stars Shelley Conn, Shannon Tarbet and Celia Imrie — revolves around a young woman who enlists the help of an old friend and her grandmother to fulfill her mother’s dream of opening a bakery in Notting Hill. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“Mayor”
Documentarian David Osit profiles charismatic Christian mayor of Ramallah Musa Hadid in new film “Mayor,” which touches upon the city leader’s balancing act — tending to infrastructure needs while attracting tourism and planning Christmas celebrations — that include the main goal of ending Israel’s occupation of Palestine. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“Meeting the Beatles In India”
In 1968, Paul Saltzman — who was studying transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi — unexpectedly crossed paths with the Fab Four. Now the Emmy Award-winning Canadian filmmaker has turned this experience into new documentary “Meeting the Beatles In India,” which is narrated by Morgan Freeman and includes never-before-seen personal photos. (Cinematheque)
“My Little Sister”
The official Swiss submission for this year’s Oscar for Best International Feature Film is “My Little Sister,” which has a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The drama finds a once brilliant playwright — who no longer writes — returning to her craft when her famous stage actor twin brother is diagnosed with leukemia. (Cinematheque)
“Museum Town”
MASS MoCA, which was transformed from a shuttered brick building in a depressed post-industrial Massachusetts town into an art world powerhouse, is featured in Jennifer Trainer’s new film “Museum Town.” Narrated by Meryl Streep with music by John Stirratt (Wilco), the documentary features interviews with Laurie Anderson, David Byrne and Nick Cave. (Cinematheque)
“Nasrin”
Jeff Kaufman’s new documentary “Nasrin” spotlights Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is currently a political prisoner serving a 38-year sentence. The portrait of the Iranian human rights lawyer — who has fought for the rights of women, children, LGBT prisoners, religious minorities, journalists, artists and death row inmates — is narrated by Olivia Colman and features interviews with filmmaker Jafar Panahi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and journalist Ann Curry. (Cinematheque)
“Native Son”
Pierre Chenal’s obscure 1951 film “Native Son” has not only been restored but also has been returned to its original length. The heavily-censored film made waves at the time of its release due to its story about a black man being the victim of institutional racism. (Cinematheque)
“Night Shift”
Not to be confused with 2018 horror film “Nightshift” (or Ron Howard’s ’80s comedy “Night Shift”), director Anne Fontaine’s new suspenseful drama finds three Parisian cops forced to accept an unusual mission to escort a foreigner to the border. After discovering the prisoner risks death if he returns to his country, one of the officers struggles with the moral dilemma. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“Rams”
A remake of a 2015 critically-acclaimed Icelandic film with the same title, “Rams” is about two feuding and estranged sheep-raising brothers who must reunite when a when a deadly new virus threatens the animals on their adjacent farms. Jeremy Sims’ Australia film stars Sam Neill, Michael Caton and Miranda Richardson. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“Rock Camp: The Movie”
For all of those weekend warrior musicians, new film “Rock Camp: The Movie” provides a summer camp-meets-”Spinal Tap” experience. The documentary finds wannabe rock stars from around the world meeting and learning from their heroes — and camp counselors — such as Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Gene Simmons, Jeff Beck and Slash. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“Savage State”
Director David Perrault’s new film “Savage State” is set during the Civil War. The western follows a family of French settlers who after settling in Missouri decide to return to Paris during the War Between the States. (Cinematheque)
“76 Days”
Considering we’re in the middle of a pandemic with cases spiking, “76 Days” may be a tough watch. Co-directors Weixi Chen and Hao Wu profile the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. The heroic work performed in four hospitals during the 76-day lockdown of the city’s 11 million people is gut-wrenching. (Cinematheque)
“Sol”
The tangled web of life is detailed in director Jézabel Marques’ new film “Sol,” which follows a Parisian tango singer who after living in Buenos Aires returns to France in hopes of connecting with her estranged grandson. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“Some Kind of Heaven”
Lance Oppenheim’s new documentary “Some Kind of Heaven” exposes America’s largest retirement community. Located in central Florida. The Villages is a massive community that despite living in paradise finds its residents seeking love and the meaning of life. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“Songs My Brothers Taught Me”
While director Chloé Zhao’s third feature film “Nomadland” is currently attracting Oscar buzz, her 2015 debut, “Songs My Brothers Taught Me,” is worthy of viewing. Shot on location in South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the film provides insight into troubled Native American life while following two teens who react differently to the death of their rodeo father. (Cinematheque)
“Tazzeka”
“Tazzeka” tells the tough story of an undocumented immigrant Moroccan, who dreams of parlaying the love of cooking traditional cuisine he received from his grandmother into becoming a Parisian chef. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“10 Days with Dad”
In the spirit of “Mr. Mom,” director Ludovic Bernard’s new comedy “10 Days with Dad” finds a corporate dad over his head when his wife goes on holiday leaving him responsible for the house and their four kids. (Cleveland Cinemas)
“The Reason I Jump”
Winner of the Audience Award for “World Cinema – Documentary” at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, “The Reason I Jump” follows five autistic people from around the globe who lack the ability to speak. Jerry Rothwell’s documentary is based on the acclaimed book by Naoki Higashida. (Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas)
“To the Ends of the Earth”
Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s (“Cure” and “Pulse”) latest project is the black comedy “To the Ends of the Earth,” which stars J-pop icon Atusko Maeda. A Japanese TV reporter takes her travel show to Uzbekistan, where while searching for a mythical fish her life quickly unravels into a self-discovery journey. (Cinematheque)
“The Weasels’ Tale”
Academy Award-winning director Juan José Campanella (“The Secret in Their Eyes”) is back with “The Weasels’ Tale,” a new dark comedy that finds four elderly Argentine movie industry veterans — a famous actress, her wheelchair-bound husband, a screenwriter and a director — attempting to keep their run-down Buenos Aires mansion. (Cleveland Cinemas)
