Indie film companies are partnering with three Bay Area movie theaters to give discriminating cinephiles a virtual film festival of sorts at a time when movie houses are dark because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s easy to join in. Go to the websites of any of three participating theaters — — the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, rafaelfilm.cafilm.org; The Roxie in San Francisco, www.roxie.com; and the Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco, https://drafthouse.com/alamo-at-home — and you’ll find the a schedule of the films available for streaming. Buy a $12 ticket to screen a film — the sum benefits the Bay Area moviehouses and the films themselves.
The lineup will keep changing, but here’s a look at some of the current top-notch selections.
“Bacurau”: If you thought Netflix’s “Tiger King” documentary was nutso, gird yourself for this outrageous and gory Brazilian parable set in a small-town decimated by greed and corruption. This surreal genre hopper is one of 2020’s most crazy-brilliant masterpieces. Details: 4 stars (out of 4), find it on all three theaters’ websites.
“Corpus Christi”: Poland’s Oscar-nominated film challenges views on faith, redemption, reform and forgiveness via an intense story that’s reliant on a mercurial and brilliant performance from Bartosz Bielenia. He plays a 20-year-old recently sprung from a youth detention camp who winds up as an effective substitute priest in a small community. Details: 3½ stars; Rafael and Alamo Drafthouse.
“Saint Frances”: Writer/star Kelly O’Sullivan joins forces with director Alex Thompson for a blessedly honest drama about Bridget, a 34-year-old server who fumbles about in life and finds stability when she becomes a nanny. Ill-equipped — or so she’s been led to believe — to care for a lesbian couple’s precocious 6-year-old (Ramona Edith-Williams), Bridget runs into complicated, messy and rarely talked-about issues that confront not just her but women everywhere. Rating: 3½ stars.
“The Wild Goose Lake”: This neo-noir from China features twists and motorcycles, a femme fatale, and even strong social commentary In his first-feature debut, Diao Yinan’s moody thriller about drug runners is set in the now well-known Wuhan province and proudly channels the vibes of genre classics. Details: 3½ stars; find it on all three cinema websites.