Cinema FREE Portland Inaugural Double Feature

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12th @ St. Lawrence Arts



Two films on the human struggle to exist in an increasingly inhumane society. A double feature to kick of an ongoing series of free movie screenings at St. Lawrence.

7:00pm
PLAY TIME
Jaques Tati 1967
French 124min
A madcap visual satire of modern society. Tati plunged himself into massive debt to construct the enormous set for the film so that every angle and action could be minutely choreographed. Brimming with anarchic wit and humor in throughout, this is a masterpiece.

9:30pm
NETWORK
Sydney Lumet 1976
USA 121min
One of the most prescient critiques of media culture ever offered up by media culture. Network remains as fresh and scathing today as it was over three decades ago. Written by Paddy Chayefsky, the script breaks nearly every rule of good screenwriting, and remains one of the smartest and most complex ever to be produced by Hollywood. Directed by Sydney Lumet, a master of the fiery monologue.

THE Cinema FREE MANIFESTO:
It is my belief that a culture and history of film must be cultivated, re-socialized, and shared. This history encompasses cinema in all it's forms and facets. This history is our history as well. We should seek to develop a coherent context of great (and singular) film. Cinema should be raucous. Cinema should be percussive. An end to dispassionately sitting in front of vacant screens, with none of yourself exposed to the vulnerability of the cinema.

I am not a film historian. I am not even a student of cinema in any formal sense. If you are either of these things (or more) share our cinema with us. If you are none of these things, share our cinema with us. We should comb our collective past in pursuit of sights unseen, and stories untold. Cinema has the power to take us to these places. It is our aim and joy to expose and explore them.

All CINEMA FREE screenings will be FREE. These stories belong to all of us. This is our culture, and our community. The structure will entail the irregular exploration of a different theme each month. An effort will be made on my part to offer a diverse selection of films, on a diverse selection of subjects. Some films will be widely known, some barely exist. Each film will be BRIEFLY introduced, and discussion afterward will be encouraged. This is NOT a lecture series, and every effort will be made to cultivate an atmosphere of acceptance, participation, and excitement. So all that being said, come out and watch some damn movies.

Cinema FREE