WHAT’S PLAYING AT THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC? NOTHING BUT THE BEST OF 2002 (PLUS A CLASSIC SIRKIAN TRIO)

New Yorkers in search of quality contemporary film fare will find what they’re looking for at BAMcinématek. From May 30-June 30, BAM Rose Cinemas' repertory film program is presenting selections from the Village Voice Take 4 Film Critics Poll. Here, courtesy of BAM, is what you need to know about the series. For more information about BAM programs, visit www.bam.org.

This is your last chance to catch theatrical screenings of the year’s most talked-about films--such as Todd Haynes' "Far From Heaven," shown at left--along with special guest appearances by the people who made them great. Now in its fourth year, this series features selections from the prestigious Village Voice Take 4 poll, which annually enlists film critics from across the country to pick the best films of the year, including undistributed films that are rarely screened in the U.S.

May 30
Domestic Violence (2002) 196min
Directed by Frederick Wiseman
Domestic Violence is a masterpiece of cinema verité filmmaking, captured by the masterful Wiseman. The camera explores the lives of people working and living in a shelter for abused women in southern Florida. Wiseman’s eye for minute detail makes this a must-see on the big screen.
Fri, May 30 at 2, 7pm

May 31
Dolls (2002) 113min New York Premiere!
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
With Miho Kanno, Hidetoshi Nishijima
The tenth film from Kitano is also his most poetic and sentimental work to date. Taking its inspiration and visual cues from Bunraku puppet theater, Dolls weaves together three different stories: a young couple bound together by a red cord, an aging yakuza boss reflecting on a lost love, and a devoted fan approaching a reclusive pop star. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Sat, May 31 at 2, 4:30, 6:50*, 9:30pm
*Introduced by Village Voice film critic

Jun 1
Millenium Mambo (2001) 119min
Directed by Hou Hsaio-hsien
With Shu Qi, Kao Jack, Tuan Chun-Hao
Back from sold-out screenings last year, Millenium Mambo is one of the most gorgeous films of this, or any millenium. A young woman is torn between her obsessive, drug-addict boyfriend and an older man with a questionable reputation, as the camera drifts through the clubs and bars of modern-day Taipei and snowy Hokkaido. In Mandarin with English subtitles.
Sun, Jun 1 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 5
Horns and Halos (2002) 90min
Directed by Suki Hawley, Michael Galinsky
Directors Hawley and Galinsky find prime documentary material in the story of author J.H. Hatfield, his book Fortunate Son (which alleged that George W. Bush was busted for cocaine possession), and the battle to have it published, with independent publisher Sander Hicks leading the charge.
Thu, Jun 5 at 4:30, 6:50*, 9:30pm
*Q&A with Suki Hawley and Michael Galinsky

Jun 6
Far From Heaven (2002) 102min
Directed by Todd Haynes
With Julianne Moore, Dennis Haysbert, Dennis Quaid
Winner of Best Film in the Take 4 Village Voice poll, Todd Haynes’ fourth feature is a triumph of substance and style. Haynes borrows liberally from Douglas Sirk to tell the story of a housewife’s failing marriage, but turns the conventions of the "women’s drama" inside out.
Fri, Jun 6 at 2, 4:30, 7pm*
*Q&A with special guests

Jun 7
Hukkle (2002) 90min Special preview screening!
Directed by György Pálfi
With Ferenc Bandi, Mrs. Jozsef Racz
As an old Hungarian man sits hiccuping by the side of the road, Pálfi’s remarkably unique film is set in motion. Using no dialogue, the film veers from examinations of small-town life to anthropological study, all while slowly revealing an unsettling murder mystery with a surprising ending. A Shadow Distribution release. In Hungarian with English subtitles.
Sat, Jun 7 at 2, 4:30, 6:50*, 9:10pm
*Introduced by film critic J. Hoberman

Jun 9
Y tu mamá también (2002) 105min
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
With Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Maribel Verdu
One of the most successful Mexican films ever made, and the sensation of last summer, Cuarón’s fourth feature is a triumph of playful realism. Following two sexually inexperienced but eager young men as they take a road trip with an older woman, the film is touching, honest, sensual and extremely funny. In Spanish with English subtitles
Mon, Jun 9 at 4:30, 7:30pm

Jun 10 Morvern Callar (2002) 97 min Directed by Lynne Ramsay
With Samantha Morton, Kathleen McDermott
Lynne Ramsay’s second feature (the first was 1999s Ratcatcher), focuses on a young Scottish woman (Morton) who discovers her boyfriend’s suicide. Ramsay succeeds in creating a psychological road trip, thanks to Morton’s uncharacteristic performance and the transformative powers of a good mix tape.
Tue, Jun 10 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 11
Last Orders (2002) 109min
Directed by Fred Schepsi
With Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren
This moving story based on the Booker Prize-winning novel by Graham Swift is blessed with the most brilliant ensemble cast of any film in recent years—Michael Caine, Helen Mirren, David Hemmings, Bob Hoskins, and Ray Winstone. A bunch of friends from South London go on an extraordinary journey to Margate in the course of which many old secrets are revealed.
Wed, Jun 11 at 4:30, 6:50*, 9:30pm
*Cinemachat with Elliott Stein and special guests

Jun 12
Esther Kahn (2000) 163min
Directed by Arnaud Desplechin
With Summer Phoenix, Ian Holm
Desplechin brings his talent for exposing character’s inner lives to a story of a young Jewish girl (Phoenix) in turn-of-the-century London who joins a Yiddish theater troupe. Part backstage epic and part philosophical treatise, Esther Kahn features a brilliant performance from Ian Holm as the theater’s old pro, and a star-making turn from Summer Phoenix.
Thu, Jun 12 at 4, 8pm

Jun 13
24 Hour Party People (2002) 117min
Directed by Michael Winterbottom
With Steve Coogan, Paddy Considine
Self-conscious, reflexive, and restlessly inventive, 24 Hour Party People tells the saga of Factory Records impresario Tony Wilson and with him, the stories behind Joy Division, New Order, the Happy Mondays, and the fabled Manchester scene. Coogan gives a standout performance as the lovably pretentious Wilson.
Fri, Jun 13 at 2, 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun14
Camel(s) (Nakta (Deul)) (2002) 91min New York Premiere!
Directed by Park Kiyong
With Lee Dae-yeon, Park Myeong-shin
A minimalist tour-de-force, Camel(s) reveals an encounter between a man and woman who meet, have dinner and a one-night stand, and then part. The film is shot on grainy black and white digital video, giving a textured look to this intimate portrait of human behavior. In Korean with English subtitles.
Sat, Jun 14 at 4:30, 6:50*, 9:30pm
*Introduced by film critic Michael Atkinson

Jun 15 Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) (2002) 125min
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Oscar winner for Best Animated Film, Spirited Away is animation legend Miyazaki’s greatest work to date. Bursting with visual wit and references, the film is a modern Alice in Wonderland, as a young girl enters a world of ghosts and animals, and struggles to maintain her identity (and survive bathing the Extra-Large Stink God!). This is the original Japanese version with subtitles!
Sun, Jun 15 at 3, 6, 9pm

Jun 16
Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime) (1997) 132min
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
In honor of Spirited Away, we're presenting the film that introduced American audiences to the wonders of Miyazaki. A cursed and slowly dying prince travels to find a cure, but finds a battle between animal gods and iron miners. The startling visuals combine with an epic storyline to create a truly fantastic film. In Japanese with English subtitles.
Mon, Jun 16 at 4:30, 7, 9:30pm

Jun 17
Bloody Sunday (2002) 107min
Directed by Paul Greengrass
With James Nesbitt, Tim Pigott-Smith.
A dramatic re-creation of the events of January 30, 1972 in the Irish town of Derry, where a clash between demonstrators and British troops turned deadly. The film focuses solely on the fateful Sunday, mapping out the separate fates of all the figures involved, before bringing them crashing together with violent force.
Tue, Jun 17 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 19
Time Out ( L’emploi du temps) (2001) 132min
Directed by Laurent Cantet
With Aurélien Recoing, Karin Viard
Based loosely on a true story, Cantet fashions a story of a businessman who loses his job, but is unable to tell his family, entering instead into a complicated charade. Recoing masterfully embodies the psychological aspects of the role, with Cantet’s direction posing the question: if we are what we do, who are we if we are unemployed? In French with English subtitles.
Thu, Jun 19 at 4:30, 7, 9:30pm

Jun 20
I’m Going Home (Je rentre a la maison) (2001) 90min
Directed by Manoel de Oliveira
With Michel Piccoli, Catherine Deneuve, John Malkovich
Oliveira completed this film at the age of 93, and has since finished two more films (both screening in this series). I’m Going Home is an exquisite meditation on age, loss, and the simple joys of life. Piccoli plays an aging actor whose family is killed in an accident, leaving only his grandson. As time passes it becomes clear that he has not dealt with his grief. In French with English subtitles.
Fri, Jun 20 at 2, 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 21
The Uncertainty Principle (O Princípio da Incerteza) (2002) 133min
Directed by Manoel de Oliveira
With Leonor Baldaque, Leonor Silveira
Oliveira fashions a film very different from I’m Going Home, and closer to his older works. On a country estate, saintly Camila marries wealthy Antonio, but the madame of a local brothel soon causes everyone to rethink their relationships in this witty existential commentary. In Portuguese with English subtitles.
Sat, Jun 21 at 3, 6*, 9pm
*Introduced by Village Voice film critic

Jun 22
Oporto of My Childhood (O Porto da Minha Infância) (2001) 62min New York Premiere!
Directed by Manoel De Oliveira
A special addition to our Manoel de Oliveira weekend is the New York premiere of this documentary valentine to his native city of Oporto. Interweaving narration with scenes of present day and re-creations of the past, Oliveira (who also acts in an amusing cameo) reflects on the nature of memory, and on the city that he loves. In Portuguese with English subtitles.
Sun, Jun 22 at 2, 3:30, 5, 6:30*, 8, 9:30pm
*Introduced by Village Voice film critic

Jun 23
Punch-Drunk Love (2002) 95min
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
With Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman
The year’s saddest comedy or funniest drama, depending on how you view it. Sandler gives a breakout performance as a simple man struggling to comprehend the strange turn his life takes when he finds a harmonium and love on the same day. Anderson’s direction lets his brilliant ensemble cast work wonders.
Mon, Jun 23 at 4:30, 7pm*
*Q&A with Paul Thomas Anderson and Philip Seymour Hoffman, moderated by Village Voice critic Dennis Lim, will follow the 7pm screening.

Jun 24
In Praise of Love (Éloge de l'amour) (2001) 97min
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
With Bruno Putzulu, Cecile Camp
In Praise of Love begins in black and white, as a director working on his next film sees a woman he has met somewhere before. The second act reveals their connection, when the film explodes into color digital video, and Godard rages against Hollywood filmmaking. In French with English subtitles.
Tue, Jun 24 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 25
What Time Is It There? (Ni neibian jidian) (2001) 116min
Directed by Tsai Ming-liang
With Lee Kang-sheng, Cgen Shiang-chyi, Jean-Pierre Léaud
A young man in Taiwan sells his dual-faced watch to a girl going to Paris, and they form a connection. She goes to Paris (and encounters Jean-Pierre Léaud), while he sets all the clocks in Taipei to Paris time. A droll, luxurious film,What Time Is It There? plays off contrasts between times, ages, and cities. In Mandarin and French with English subtitles.
Wed, Jun 25 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 26
Cul de Sac: A Suburban War Story (2002) 55min
Directed by Garrett Scott
Preceded by An Injury To One (2003) 53min
Directed by Travis Wilkerson
Cul de Sac: A Suburban War Story: Claremont, California, 1995. An unemployed plumber steals a military tank and tears through the city streets, until finally being shot by the police. The documentary explores economic decline and how a military industrial complex contributes to acts of violence. Co-presented with the Flaherty International Film Seminar.
An Injury To One: Using the murder of union organizer Frank Little in 1917, Wilkerson tells the story of Butte, Montana’s copper mine monopoly by the Anaconda Mining Co. The film contrasts historical documents with present-day views of Butte, and intersperses editing techniques that would have made Vertov proud. Both films are a First Run/Icarus Films Release.
Thu, Jun 26 at 4:30, 6:50*, 9:30pm
*Q&A with Cul de Sac director Garrett Scott

Jun 27
The Fast Runner (Atanarjuat) (2002) 172min
Directed by Zacharias Kunuk
With Natar Ungalaaq, Sylvia Ivalu
One of the sensations of 2002, The Fast Runner continues the Inuit tradition of oral storytelling. This tale of hatred and revenge had been passed down through generations before being filmed by Kunuk. The dazzling cinematography and startling performances by untrained actors make this one of the epic films of the year. In Inuktitut with English subtitles.
Fri, Jun 27 at 2, 5:30, 9pm

Jun 28
Monday Morning (Lundi matin) (2002) 120min
Directed by Otar Iosseliani
With Jacques Bidou, Arrigo Mozzo
A master of observational comedy, Iosseliani weaves a string of vignettes into an ironically absurd and compellingly fresh take on middle-aged life. Vincent is a factory worker who feels locked into a world of drudgery, and escapes to Italy to take stock of his life. Iosseliani himself appears in a hilarious role as a pompous relative. In French with English subtitles.
Sat, Jun 28 at 2, 4:30, 6:50*, 9:30pm
*Introduced by Village Voice film critic

Jun 29
The Road (Jol) (2001) 85min
Directed by Darejan Omirbaev
With Djamshed Usmonov
From one of Kazakhstan’s emerging directors comes The Road, a lyrical mix of stark realism and poetic interludes. Usmonov plays a film director who is summoned to his hometown. As the film takes to the road, Omirbaev mixes images of the country’s stagnation with nightmares and fantasies from the director’s mind, as he struggles to retain his artistic identity. In Kazakh with English subtitles.
Sun, Jun 29 at 2, 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 30
All or Nothing (2002) 128min
Directed by Mike Leigh
With Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Alison Garland
Over the course of a long weekend at a South London housing project, Leigh explores the intersection of numerous working-class lives, focusing on the Bassett family and their tenuous lives. A cast of Leigh regulars turns in stellar performances, thanks to the director’s attention to detail and character.
Mon, Jun 30 at 4:30, 7, 9:30pm


A TOUCH OF CLASSIC

Not So Far From Heaven, Jun 2—4

In honor of this year's best-ranked film, we're presenting three classics by Douglas Sirk, whose films inspired Far From Heaven (particularly All That Heaven Allows and Imitation of Life).

Jun 2
Magnificent Obsession (1954) 107min
Directed by Douglas Sirk
With Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson
The film that made Rock Hudson a star. Hudson plays a drunken playboy who takes up surgery after causing a car crash that blinds Jane Wyman. The film finds Sirk beginning to define his unique brand of social critique and moving melodrama.
Mon, Jun 2 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 3
All That Heaven Allows (1955) 89min
Directed by Douglas Sirk
With Jane Wyman, Rock Hudson, Agnes Moorehead
Sirk’s masterpiece stars Jane Wyman as a wealthy widow whose friends are scandalized by her affair with her gardener, Rock Hudson. Sirk’s vivid colors and lush scenery mask a scathing attack on middle-class values.
Tue, Jun 3 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm

Jun 4
Imitation of Life (1959) 125min
Directed by Douglas Sirk
With Lana Turner, John Gavin, Juanita Moore
Remaking John Stahl’s 1934 film in the midst of the civil rights movement, Sirk finds new resonance in the film’s racial issues. A wealthy actress becomes involved in the life of her black maid (Moore), whose racially mixed daughter passes for white.
Wed, Jun 4 at 4:30, 6:50, 9:10pm