Thursday, November 14, 2019
7 pm @ Galaxy Cinemas, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Director: Joe Talbot
USA 2019
English; 120 minutes
Rating: 14A for language, brief nudity, and drug use

Jimmie (Jimmie Fails) spends his time hanging out with his
best friend Montgomery (Jonathan Majors), haunting the
neighbour­hoods they knew as children and watching old
black-and-white movies at the small house they share with
Montgomery’s grandfather (Danny Glover). He also visits and
fixes up the house his grandfather built, much to the annoyance
of its current owners. Rooted in the real-life experiences of his
childhood best friend, who plays himself in a genuine and heartfelt
performance, Talbot’s debut feature is a gorgeous ode to the city
of San Francisco.

An indelibly beautiful story of love, family, and loss in America
from two childhood friends turned filmmakers.
Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

There is something irrepressibly original and exciting in the
collaboration that results between Talbot, Fails and co-writer
Rob Richert – a cinematic vision that feels as fresh as it does
necessary. Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail

The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a poetic and picturesque
ode to the title city, to friendship, and to the universal urge to find
a place to call home. Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Thursday, November 7, 2019
7 pm @ Galaxy Cinemas, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Director: Joanna Hogg
UK/USA 2019
English; 119 minutes
Rating: 14A for some sexuality, graphic nudity, drug material, and language

Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) is finding her place as an artist in 1980s west London, trying to shed her sheltered and privileged upbringing and immerse herself in the real world for the sake of her art. Her journey is derailed by Anthony (Tom Burke), whose charm is equalled by his depravity, but whom she cannot help but love — much to the dismay of her friends and her mother (played by
Swinton Byrne’s real-life mother, Tilda Swinton). Capturing the
intensity and naiveté of a first adult love, The Souvenir is a time
capsule of our collective bad decisions and tormented rela­tionships.

A work of memoir shattered and reassembled into a universally moving, truthful fiction. Guy Lodge, Variety

Swinton Byrne and Burke make for one of the year’s most intriguing screen couples, although this is a romance based on anxiety, narcissism and opportunism rather than anything resembling genuine affection.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

An extraordinary rumination on memory and privilege while also being one of the most incisive movies ever to directly address – in moral,
philosophical and personal terms – what it means to be a filmmaker.
Oliver Jones, Observer

Thursday, October 24, 2019
7 pm @ Galaxy Cinemas, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Director: Patricia Rozema
Canada 2018
English; 91 minutes
Rating: 14A

Following her mother’s sudden death, aspiring writer Cassandra struggles to compose a fitting eulogy. Standing in brazen opposition to her mother’s embodiment of feminine grace, she disdains her mother’s failed career and incessant need for approval from others. The conflicting dialogue in Cassandra’s head is brilliantly expressed by two performers: the original play’s creators, Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava. Their striking physicality and stirring a cappella harmonies create a compelling portrayal of the opposing voices that exist inside the modern woman’s head.

In revealing Cassandra’s interior life, Rozema lays bare the modern
female condition in an epic battle that is by turns lacerating, soothing, and heartbreaking. Simon Houpt, Globe and Mail

A haunting, self-reflective dream that looks at the pressures and
expectations women place on themselves and particularly on each other. Carly Maga, Toronto Star

A thoughtful interrogation of modern womanhood, leavened
by gallows humor. Scott Tobias, Variety

Thursday, October 10, 2019
7 pm @ Galaxy Cinemas, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Director: Lulu Wang
USA 2019
English/Mandarin; 98 minutes
Rating: PG for thematic material, brief language, and some smoking

Billi (Awkwafina), who moved to America when she was young,
travels back to China to visit her dying grandmother (Shuzhen Zhao). Billi’s family doesn’t want to darken the final days of their
matriarch so they don’t tell her of her terminal diagnosis, instead
organizing a false wedding so that everyone can come to say their goodbyes. Awkwafina is dazzling as empathetic Billi, supported by
a remarkable cast that includes Tzi Ma as her father and Diana Lin
as her mother. Based on true events, The Farewell is an
intergenerational family drama that is at once celebratory,
heart-wrenching, and life-affirming.

A funny, emotionally intricate, and deeply moving tale of severed
connections and renewed family ties.
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

This smart film deftly mixes comedy and tragedy, and manages to be heartfelt without being cloying or sentimental.
Adam Graham, Detroit News

The Farewell delivers powerful emotional blows, and we ache for Billi and what she’s going through – in large part because Awkwafina’s
performance is so raw and authentic and in the moment.
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

Thursday, September 26, 2019
7 pm @ Galaxy Cinemas, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

MANHATTAN SHORT is a program of ten short films, selected from entries from around the world, shown together in a single sitting. The program is screened in venues around the globe during a single week, with Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by all the audiences. Each film in the festival also becomes
Oscar-qualified. The films making up the 2019 festival come from Canada, France, Iran, Germany, Finland, USA, and the UK. This year the festival is being screened in 400 venues across 6 continents and Algoma International Films is the only place to see it in Canada!

Limited number of programs available at the screening!
You can print this shortened 1-page version (print double sided, then fold in half) and bring it with you: Manhattan Short Program.

The 10 films making up MANHATTAN SHORT 2019 are: Nefta
Football Club (France), Debris (USA), Driving Lessons (Iran), Tipped (Canada), Sylvia (UK), The Match (Finland), This Time Away (UK), Malou (Germany), A Family Affair (UK), and At The End of the World (USA).

Visit the Website: https://www.manhattanshort.com/

One of the proudest evenings of programming that we offer our patrons every year is the Manhattan Short Film Festival. It is one of our most loved and most sought after events all year long. The quality of the short films that are included in this festival is incomparable.
Christine Brown, The Bijou Theatre

Nick Mason’s perfectly programmed shorts project is nothing short of
spectacular and provides an avenue for filmmakers from around the world to connect with film lovers in hundreds of individual communities. Loretta Miles, Salem Cinema

Thursday, September 12, 2019
7 pm @ Galaxy Cinemas, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Director: Tom Harper
United Kingdom 2018
English; 101 minutes
Rating: 14A for language, some sexuality, and brief drug material

For as long as anyone can remember, Rose-Lynn Harlan (Jessie Buckley) has dreamt of becoming a Nashville country music star, leaving dreary Glasgow far behind. Her mother (Julie Walters) knows all about abandoning dreams, but realizes that chasing dreams can also come at a cost. Nicole Taylor’s script is beautifully textured, full of authentic characters and unexpected turns. With an electrifying soundtrack performed by Buckley, Wild Rose is a joyous story about courage, family, and discovering your true voice.

A happy-sad drama of starstruck fever that lifts you up and sweeps you along, touching you down in a puddle of well-earned tears.
Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Buckley [is] an incandescent onscreen presence with a set of killer pipes who imbues every song with undeniable heart.
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star

Buckley is terrific, giving her character layers upon layers, and the music by Jack Arnold is toe-tappingly good, even if you are normally allergic to C&W. All in all, you’d be Patsy Cline crazy to miss this one.
Alison Rowat, The Herald (Scotland)