We Were Dangerous
Synopsis
New Zealand,1954. Friends Nellie, Daisy, and Lou make mischief together at an institution for delinquent girls that has recently relocated to a remote island. A strict and devout matron lords over the girls’ education, working to shape them into pious, obedient, “civilized” young women. But it’s hard to reform girls who don’t believe they need reforming.
When the matron approves experimental forms of punishment set to take place in the dead of night, the trio’s rebellion soon becomes an urgent plot to escape by whatever means possible. We Were Dangerous beautifully juxtaposes a charming wit and playfulness against the grim reality of the girls’ life on the island, crafting a love letter to fierce and disobedient young women past and present.
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Media
Film Credits
- Morgan Waru, Polly Fryer
- Maddie Dai
- Hansjörg Weissbrich
- María Inés Manchego
- Erana James, Nathalie Morris, Manaia Hall, Rima Te Wiata
- Matt Westbrooke
- Carthew Neal, Taika Waititi, Billy Way, Elliott Whitton, Emily Gotto
- Piki Films
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Zurawksi v Texas
Synopsis
Riveting, heartrending, and enraging, Zurawski v Texas is an inside account of the groundbreaking 2023 lawsuit in which several women came forward to sue the state of Texas over its draconian abortion laws. The film follows unwavering attorney Molly Duane as she mounts the case, along with three of her key plaintiffs: Amanda Zurawksi, who nearly died from septic shock; Samantha Casiano, who had no choice but to carry a fetus with a fatal condition to term; and Dr. Austin Dennard, an obstetrician who joined the lawsuit as a patient.
As these women find solidarity in their fight and strength in tentative legal victories, they also witness how a system of laws that are supposedly meant to protect their rights instead utterly fails them. Equal parts suspenseful courtroom thriller and powerful tale of injustice, the film profiles the brave individuals on the frontlines of the battle for women’s reproductive rights and their ongoing struggle. “We will not be silenced,” Zurawski says. “This isn’t over.”
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Media
Film Credits
- Amy Flanagan, Siobhan Sinnerton, Blye Pagon Faust, Cori Shepherd, Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault
- Austin Reedy
- Maisie Crow
- Osei Essed
- Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi, Bari Lurie, Johnny Webb, Linda Himelstein, Laurie Michaels, Amy Metzler Ritter
- HIddenlight, Story Force, Out of Nowhere
Sponsors
Documentary Program Partner
Documentary Program Patron
Cynthia Stone Raskin
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The Return
Synopsis
After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king has returned from the Trojan War, but much has changed in his kingdom. His beloved wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is a prisoner in her own home, hounded by suitors vying to be king. Their son Telemachus faces death at the hands of these suitors, who see him as an obstacle to their pursuit of the kingdom. Odysseus is also no longer the mighty warrior from years past, but he must rediscover his strength in order to win back all that he has lost.
Starring a forceful Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus and a sublime Juliette Binoche as Penelope — 25 years after their Oscar-winning collaboration The English Patient — The Return transforms Homer’s famous Greek epic into a classic tale of Shakespearean intrigue, fueled by great passions, cunning political machinations, and extraordinary violence.
In Focus: Italy on Screen
This film is part of the 60th Chicago International Film Festival’s In Focus: Italy on Screen collection, celebrating Italian cinema by harkening back to the best of the country’s filmmaking traditions while showcasing vibrant new work.
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Film Credits
- Uberto Pasolini, James Clayton, Roberto Sessa, Kostantinos Kontovrakis
- John Collee, Edward Bond, Uberto Pasolini
- David Charap
- Marius Panduru R.S.C.
- Juliette Binoche, Ralph Fiennes, Charlie Plummer, Marwan Kenzari, Claudio Santamaria, Ángela Molina
- Rachel Portman
- Ralph Fiennes, Giorgos Karnavas, Torsten Poeck, Andrew Karpen, Kent Sanderson, Nicholas Sandler, Keith Kehoe
- Picomedia, Rai Cinema, Heretic, Ithaca Films, Kabo Productions, Marvelous Productions, Redwave Films
- https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/the-return
Sponsors
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The Room Next Door
Synopsis
In celebrated Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language film, Julianne Moore stars as Ingrid, a best-selling writer who reconnects after many years with her close childhood friend Martha — a war journalist played by Tilda Swinton. As the two reunite and rekindle their relationship, Martha makes a request of Ingrid that will test their newly reforged bond.
Like his acclaimed films Parallel Mothers, Talk to Her, and Volver — to name a few —The Room Next Door is a beautifully crafted drama that continues Almodóvar’s perceptive, emotional exploration of women’s inner lives. Featuring luminous performances by Moore and Swinton and his signature saturated color palette, Almodóvar’s latest masterwork is an exquisite and heartbreaking story of life, death, and friendship.
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Film Credits
- Agustín Almodóvar
- Pedro Almodóvar
- Teresa Font
- Eduard Grau
- Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola
- Alberto Iglesias
- Esther García
- El Deseo
- https://www.sonyclassics.com/film/theroomnextdoor
Sponsors
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The Rule of Jenny Pen
Synopsis
Stefan Mortensen (Geoffrey Rush), an elderly judge, moves into a retirement home after a near-fatal stroke leaves him partially paralyzed. There, Mortensen clashes with another resident, the slightly off-kilter Dave Crealy (John Lithgow), who secretly terrorizes the residents with a sadistic, doll-based game called “The Rule of Jenny Pen.” Although it’s supposed to be used for dementia therapy, in Crealy’s hand the puppet is an instrument of torture. As Crealy’s actions escalate, Mortensen must struggle against his own aging body and mind to put an end to Crealy’s reign of terror.
In one of the most unexpected performances of the year, Oscar-nominated actor John Lithgow (also in this year’s Conclave) delivers a marvelously menacing performance as the perverse Crealy, while Oscar-winner Rush (Shine) is a formidable match. Full of creepily twisted and originally unsetting set pieces, The Rule of Jenny Pen doesn’t just tap into the universal fear of death, but also the perils of getting old.
Screenings & Events
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Film Credits
- Catherine Fitzgerald, Orlando Stewart
- Eli Kent, James Ashcroft
- Gretchen Peterson
- Matt Henley
- John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush, George Henare
- John Gibson
- Blueskin Films
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