Tag: Oxnard Film Society

Jan. 8 — Oxnard Film Society presents’ Fallen Leaves’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

NYTImes Critic’s Pick Award-winning filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki (Le Havre, The Other Side of Hope) makes a masterful return with FALLEN LEAVES, a timeless, hopeful and ultimately satisfying love story about two lonely souls’ path to happiness – and the numerous hurdles they encounter along the way. Set in contemporary Helsinki, and shot through with Kaurismäki’s typically playful, idiosyncratic style and deadpan humor, this tender romantic tragicomedy is a timely reminder of the potency of movie-going from one of cinema’s living legends. Winner of the Jury Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Jan. 22 — Oxnard Film Society presents screening of ‘THE CRIME IS MINE’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Paris in the 1930s — a playground for industrial heirs and debonair architects, but the City of Lights does not shine evenly for all. Struggling actress Madeleine (Nadia Terezkiewicz) and her best friend Pauline (Rebecca Marder), an unemployed lawyer, live in a cramped flat and owe five months’ rent. Opportunity knocks after a lascivious theatrical producer who made an inappropriate advance towards Madeleine turns up dead. Madeleine stands trial for murder and ascends to decadent stardom, with Pauline serving as defense counsel and media circus ringmaster. A new life of fame, wealth, and tabloid celebrity awaits — until the truth comes out.

POSTPHONED — Feb. 5 — Oxnard Film Society presents ‘Monster’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Due to reports of heavy rain and possible flooding the next few days we have decided to postpone Monday’s film and reschedule to Monday, Feb 12. Thanks, George

“One of the director’s finest, its thematic scope and emotional power growing with each new revelation.” MONSTER screening Monday, Feb 5. Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu. A NYTimes Critics’ Pick.
?Our Film Series screens (usually) two films each month, on the first and third Mondays at 3:30pm and 6:30pm at Plaza Cinemas in downtown Oxnard.
We will continue our mission of providing the best of world cinema to the Oxnard and Ventura County community and supporting local filmmakers.
Thanks and stay safe. George J. Sandoval, Executive Director

Feb. 26 — Oxnard Film Society presents ‘The Teacher’s Lounge’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

The screening has been rescheduled to Feb. 26, 2023 at 3:30pm and 6:30pm

THE TEACHER’S LOUNGE

2023 Germany 1hr 34minutes

Drama Not Rated

In German with English subtitles

Germany’s Submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Film.

NYTImes Critic’s Pick Carla Nowak, a dedicated sports and math teacher, starts her first job at a high school. She stands out among the new staff because of her idealism. When a series of thefts occur at the school and one of her students is suspected, she decides to get to the bottom of the matter on her own. Carla tries to mediate between outraged parents, opinionated colleagues and aggressive students, but is relentlessly confronted with the structures of the school system. The more desperately she tries to do everything right, the more the young teacher threatens to break.

March 4 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of ‘Totem’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

NYTImes Critic’s Pick In a bustling Mexican household, seven-year-old Sol is swept up in a whirlwind of preparations for the birthday party for her father, Tona, led by her mother, aunts and other relatives. As the day goes on, building to an event both anticipated and dreaded, Sol begins to understand the gravity of the celebration this year and watches as her family does the same. This poignant and emotionally expansive film from Lila Aviles (The Chambermaid) cements her skill at directing dynamic, ensemble performances in her stunning sophomore effort.

March 18 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of ‘Zone of Interest’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.

April 8 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of ‘Perfect Days’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

NOMINATED for Academy Award for Best International Film.
NYTimes Critic’ Pick
Hirayama seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his very structured everyday routine he enjoys his passion for music and for books. And he loves trees and takes photos of them. A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveal more of his past. A deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us.

April 15 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of ‘The Promised Land’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Denmark’s Submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Film.
In 18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) – a proud, ambitious, but impoverished war hero — sets out to tame a vast, uninhabitable land on which seemingly nothing can grow. He seeks to start farming crops, build a colony in the name of the King, and gain a noble title for himself. This beautiful but forbidding area also happens to be under the rule of the merciless Frederik De Schinkel, a preening nobleman who realizes the threat Kahlen represents to his power. Struggling against the elements and local brigands, Kahlen is joined by a couple who have fled the clutches of the rapacious De Schinkel. As this group of misfits begins to build a small community in this inhospitable place, De Schinkel swears vengeance, and the confrontation between him and Kahlen promises to be as violent and intense as these two men.

May 6 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of ‘IO CAPITANO’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

In this acclaimed film which won top directing and acting prizes at the Venice Film Festival, writer-director Garrone presents a “reverse shot” of the immigration experience while unfurling an epic, cinematographically magnificent odyssey from West Africa to Italy. The story is told through the mind’s eye and experiences of two Senegalese teenagers living in Dakar who yearn for a brighter future in Europe. Yet between their dreams and reality lies a treacherous journey through a labyrinth of checkpoints, the scorched Saharan desert, a fetid North African prison and the vast waters of the Mediterranean where thousands have died packed inside vessels barely fit for passage.

May 20 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘The Monk and the Gun’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

The Monk And The Gun captures the wonder and disruption as Bhutan becomes one of the world’s youngest democracies. Known throughout the world for its extraordinary beauty and its emphasis on Gross National Happiness, the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan was the last nation to connect to the internet and television. And if that weren’t enough change, the King announced shortly afterwards that he would cede his power to the people via their vote and a new form of government: Democracy.

June 3 — Oxnard Film Society presents ’La Chimera’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

After the death of the love of his life, English archaeologist Arthur (Josh O’Connor) is desperate to find the mythical door to the afterlife — but to do so, he must team up with a network of tomb raiders who break into ancient tombs in search of archaeological wonders to sell on the black market.

June 17 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘Housekeeping for Beginners’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

North Macedonia’s Submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Film.

After the death of the love of his life, English aFrom acclaimed filmmaker Goran Stolevski comes a story exploring the universal truths of family, both the ones we’re born into and the ones we find for ourselves. Dita never wanted to be a mother, but circumstances force her to raise her girlfriend’s two daughters, tiny troublemaker Mia and rebellious teen Vanesa. A battle of wills ensues as the three continue to butt heads and become an unlikely family that must fight to stay together. NYTimes Critic’s Pick

July 1 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘Taste of Things’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Set in France in 1889, the film follows the life of Dodin Bouffant as a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy and love but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.

July 15 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘RUN LOLA RUN’

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Lola (Franka Potente) answers a call from her boyfriend Manni (Moritz Bleibtru), a small-time courier for a big-time gangster. He has a problem: His boss is coming to pick up 100,000 Deutsche Marks in twenty minutes, and he doesn’t have the money. With Manni’s life on the line, Lola runs through the streets of Berlin to reach him and somehow pick up 100,000 marks along the way, making split-second decisions and encountering acquaintances, family, and strangers. As the clock ticks down, the tinies choices become life-altering (or life-ending), and the fine line between fate and fortune begins to blur.

Aug. 5 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘Evil Does Not Exist’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

In the rural alpine hamlet of Mizubiki, not far from Tokyo, Takumi and his daughter, Hana, lead a modest life gathering water, wood, and wild wasabi for the local udon restaurant. Increasingly, the townsfolk become aware of a talent agency’s plan to build an opulent glamping site nearby, offering city residents a comfortable “escape” to the snowy wilderness. When two company representatives arrive and ask for local guidance, Takumi becomes conflicted in his involvement, as it becomes clear that the project will have a pernicious impact on the community.

Aug. 19 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘Green Border’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so-called “green border” between Belarus and Poland, refugees from the Middle East and Africa are lured by government propaganda promising easy passage to the European Union. Unable to cross into Europe and unable to turn back, they find themselves trapped in a rapidly escalating geopolitical stand-off. An unflinching depiction of the migrant crisis captured in stark black-and-white, this riveting film explores the intractable issue from multiple perspectives: a Syrian family fleeing ISIS caught between cruel border guards in both countries; young guards instructed to brutalize and reject the migrants; and activists who aid the refugees at great personal risk.

Aug. 26 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of ‘Touch’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

A romantic and thrilling story that spans several decades and continents; Touch follows one man’s emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out.

Sept. 16 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of ‘Crossing’

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From acclaimed director Levan Akin (And Then We Danced), CROSSING is a moving and tender tale of identity, acceptance and unlikely connection that transcends borders and generations. Lia, a retired school teacher living in Georgia, hears from a young neighbor Achi that her long lost niece Tekla, a transgender woman, has crossed the border into Turkey. Hoping to bring Tekla home after a period of estrangement, Lia travels to Istanbul with the unpredictable Achi to find her. Exploring the hidden depths of the city, they cross paths with a transgender lawyer called Evrim, who helps them in their search. Humanistic and compassionate, Akin’s third feature is a heartfelt portrayal of overcoming the degrees of separation that divide us.

Oct. 7 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of ‘CLOSE YOUR EYES (Cerrar los ojos)’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Set in contemporary Madrid, an aging filmmaker named Miguel Garay is called upon to recount his memories of working on his final and still unfinished film, “The Farewell Gaze.” During its production, the lead actor and Miguel’s close friend, Julio Arenas, disappeared without a trace, leaving in his wake a mystery that would haunt the lives of everyone associated with the film. Miguel never directed another project, instead living a quiet life as a writer by the coast. He remained reluctant to unravel the mystery surrounding Julio until approached by an investigative television program reviving the case decades later. With careful reflection, he reconnects with the film’s crew, former lovers, and Julio’s daughter, seeking closure for the disappearance and what it meant for all of their lives. From Master Director Victor Erice.

Oct. 21 — Oxnard Film Society to present screening of DAYTIME REVOLUTION

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For one extraordinary week in February 1972, the Revolution WAS televised. Daytime Revolution takes us back in time to the week that John Lennon and Yoko Ono descended upon a Philadelphia broadcasting studio to co-host the iconic Mike Douglas Show, at that time the most popular show on daytime television, with a national audience of 40 million viewers each week. What

Nov. 4 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘The Goldman Case’

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In 1975, Pierre Goldman (Cesar Award-winner Arieh Worthalter), a fiery and controversial figure of revolutionary left-wing activism, was put on trial in France. Accused of multiple crimes including two murders, Goldman proclaims his innocence. Considered to be the trial of the century, the Goldman case divided an entire country and reflects the political, ideological and racial tensions which marked the 1970s in France and Europe and still remain relevant today.

Nov. 18 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘BANEL AND ADAMA’

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Banel and Adama are fiercely in love. The young married couple lives in a remote village in northern Senegal. For them, nothing else exists except each other. But for the rest of their tight-knit village, duty dictates that Adama soon accept the role of chief. The two lovers have their own plans… until something in the air changes. The rains do not come, the cattle begin to die, the men leave. The curse weighs on Adama’s sense of duty, and the chasm between them drives Banel into a feverish, mystical chaos.

Dec. 2 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘MEGALOPOLIS’

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MEGALOPOLIS is a Roman Epic set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.

Dec. 16 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘LA COCINA’

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La Cocina captures the frenetic energy of the lunch rush at The Grill, a bustling restaurant in Manhattan’s Times Square. When money goes missing from the till, suspicion falls on Pedro (Raúl Briones), an undocumented cook who dreams of a better life and is in love with Julia (Rooney Mara), an American waitress who cannot commit to a relationship. Rashid, the restaurant owner, has promised to help Pedro obtain legal status, but a shocking revelation about Julia compels Pedro to spiral into an act that threatens to shut down one of the city’s busiest kitchens once and for all. The film is a comic and tragic tribute to the invisible people who keep our restaurants running and our stomachs full, all while chasing an elusive version of the American dream.

Jan. 6 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

The light, the lives, and the textures of contemporary, working-class Mumbai are explored and celebrated by writer/director Payal Kapadia,who won the Grand Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for her revelatory fiction feature debut. Centering on two roommates who also work together in a city hospital–head nurse Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and recent hire Anu (Divya Prabha)–plus their coworker, cook Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam), Kapadia’s film alights on moments of connection and heartache, hope and disappointment. Prabha, her husband from an arranged marriage living in faraway Germany, is courted by a doctor at her hospital; Anu carries on a romance with a Muslim man, which she must keep a secret from her strict Hindu family; Parvaty finds herself dealing with a sudden eviction from her apartment. Kapadia captures the bustle of the metropolis and the open-air tranquility of a seaside village with equal radiance, articulated by her superb actresses and by the camera with a lyrical naturalism that occasionally drifts into dreamlike incandescence. All We Imagine as Light is a soulful study of the transformative power of friendship and sisterhood, in all its complexities and richness.

Jan. 20 — Oxnard Film Society to present ‘OH CANADA’

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2024 • Comments Off

Fiery but feeling his years and his illness, ailing filmmaker Leonard Fife (Richard Gere) wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it’s too late. As the director of lauded documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his avoidance of the Vietnam War draft and his past relationships harbor thorny truths. Finally choosing to reveal the truth and lies in his life and career, Leonard sits for an extended filmed interview with his former student Malcolm (Michael Imperioli), charging ahead with candid stories about his younger self (Jacob Elordi) in the fractious 1960s and beyond. At Leonard’s insistence, his wife and indispensable partner, Emma (Uma Thurman), hears it all. Leonard’s successes are held up against his failings–the fibs held up against the facts–and as the man in full is cleansed of the myth, Leonard must confront what is left.