Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue,
Santa Monica, CA 90403 Map
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Series at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica

CRUELLY, MADLY, DEEPLY: THE FILMS OF RAINER WERNER FASSBINDER
Thu, May 31, 2012 - Thu, Jun 14, 2012

Between 1969 and his death at age 37 in 1982, brilliant enfant terrible German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder made 30 films and numerous television productions, including the fifteen-hour mini-series BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ. Even as he averaged 2 to 3 films per year, his work maintained a meticulous, rigorous style, marked by stunning shot composition, laser-precision blocking and deep characterization ranging from bitterly crystal clear to hypnotically allusive. Fassbinder returned to the same themes and fixations again and again, like pushing on a bruise: money, sex, pride and cruelty. Join us for a retrospective of his work.


RAJ KAPOOR: THE GOLDEN AGE OF INDIAN CINEMA
Thu, May 24, 2012 - Mon, Dec 31, 2012

Actor, director and mogul Raj Kapoor (1924 - 1988) was one of the giants of Indian cinema and is synonymous with the rise of the monolith known as Bollywood. Largely unknown in North America - except of course to millions of fans of South Asian descent - Kapoor is revered not only in India but throughout the former Soviet empire, the Middle East and beyond for the films he made during the Golden Age of Indian cinema. Join us at the American Cinematheque for monthly screenings of the Bollywood films of Raj Kapoor. Kicking off the series in May is AWAARA (THE VAGABOND) at the Egyptian.


75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ART DIRECTORS GUILD
Sun, May 20, 2012 - Sun, Sep 30, 2012

Join us at the American Cinematheque for the 75th anniversary of the Art Directors Guild (established in 1937) and the 2012 installment of our Art Directors Film Society monthly series. Kicking off the series in May is a screening of the rip-roaring 1929 Douglas Fairbanks adventure THE IRON MASK, followed by a discussion on the art direction.


THE POETRY OF PRECISION: A ROBERT BRESSON RETROSPECTIVE
Thu, May 10, 2012 - Sun, May 20, 2012

One of film history’s most legendary and influential bodies of work, Bresson’s rigorous oeuvre is comprised over half a century of only thirteen features and one short musical comedy. Disorienting in their strange, singular beauty, Bresson’s films have exerted an unequalled authority over contemporary cinema despite the unavailability of many of them. Join us for a retrospective of the films of Robert Bresson, including several titles in new 35mm prints!


THE DICTATORS: FOOLISH FASCISTS IN FUNNY MOVIES
Sat, May 5, 2012 - Tue, May 8, 2012

Join us at the American Cinematheque for a hilarious program of featherbrained fascists and dimwitted dictators, including Woody Allen's BANANAS, Mel Brooks' THE PRODUCERS, Charlie Chaplin's THE GREAT DICTATOR, Leo McCarey's DUCK SOUP starring the Marx Brothers, Paul Mazursky's MOON OVER PARADOR, Arthur Hiller's THE IN-LAWS and “You Nazty Spy!” starring the Three Stooges.


MIDNIGHT IN PARIS: A TRIBUTE TO JACQUES PRÉVERT AND MARCEL CARNÉ
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 - Sat, Apr 28, 2012

Working together on films including LE JOUR SE LÈVE, GATES OF THE NIGHT and the immortal CHILDREN OF PARADISE, surrealist poet and screenwriter Jacques Prévert and director Marcel Carné spearheaded a new movement in poetic realism with their fatalistic, Paris-set movies that combine urban grit with deeply romantic tragedy and melodrama.