Repertory Film Listings

Commentary by Gregg Rickman (greggr2006@yahoo.com). Times compiled from information available Tuesday; itÕs always advisable to call for confirmation. Price given is standard adult admission; discounts often apply for students, seniors, and members.

WeÕre interested in your film or video event. Please send materials at least two weeks in advance to: Film Editor, SF Weekly, 185 Berry, Suite 3800, San Francisco, CA 94107.

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE

345 Bush (at Polk), 775-7755, www.afsf.com. French-language films shown on projected video. $6 donation save as noted.

WEDNESDAY (April 5): A prize-winning documentary, LÕaffaire Valérie (François Caillat, France, 2004), reexamines the disappearance of a young woman after her alleged murder of a tourist7 p.m.

ARTISTSÕ TELEVISION ACCESS

992 Valencia (at 21st Street), 824-3890, www.atasite.org. $5 save as noted. This venue offers all manner of strange and unusual video and film.

THURSDAY: Investigative reporter Carmela BaranowskaÕs report on her experiences behind Afghan lines, Taliban Country (Australia, 2004) screens with International ANSWER commentary on the ongoing war there 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: ATAÕs Other Cinema screens the 15th PXL This, a program of videos made on the childrenÕs camera. See Night & Day page xx for more 8:30 p.m.

BALBOA

3630 Balboa (at 38th Avenue), 221-8484, www.balboamovies.com. $8.50 save as noted. This great neighborhood house shows films of all sorts.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: A double-bill of Sophie Scholl — The Final Days (Marc Rothemund, Germany, 2005; 12:05, 4:30, 8:55 p.m.) and Joyeux Nöel (Christian Carion, France, 2005; 2:20, 6:45 p.m.).

STARTS WEDNESDAY: Filmmaker Caveh Zahedi admits I Am A Sex Addict (2005) in this autobiographical feature, opening for an extended run. See Opening for review noon, 1:50. 3:40, 5:30, 7:20, 9:15 p.m.

STARTS FRIDAY: Call theater for additional films.

CASTRO

429 Castro (near Market), 621-6120, www.thecastrotheatre.com; $9 save as noted. Short-run rep in a spectacular 1922 Greco-Roman-themed palace designed by Timothy L. Pflueger. Evening intermissions feature David Hegarty on the Mighty Wurlitzer.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: The Intruder (Claire Denis, France, 2004) 7, 9:35 p.m.; also Wed 1:45, 4:20 p.m.

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY (April 7-13): Adam & Steve (Craig Chester, 2006). See Opening for review. Director and stars in person Friday evening 7, 9:15 p.m.; also Sat, Sun 2:30, 4:45 p.m.

CLAY

2261 Fillmore (at Clay), 267-4893, www.landmarktheatres.com for venue; www.8tales.com for this series. For additional Clay screenings, see our Showtimes page. This gemlike box is one of the cityÕs last remaining single screens.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY (April 7 & 8): This springÕs Ò8 TalesÓ midnight movie series continues with the intergenerational romance Harold and Maude (Hal Ashby, 1971). $7 midnight.

BRAVA

2789 24th St. (at York), 647-2822 for box office, www.hilofilmfestival.com for program. A restored movie house with two screens put to use for special programs. $8.

THURSDAY (April 6): The 9th hi/lo Film Festival celebrates Òhigh-concept/low-budget movie making.Ó Tonight, Shorts Program 1, featuring David Chai of San JoseÕs Fumi and the Bad Luck Foot 7:15 p.m.

FRIDAY (April 7): hi/lo — Shorts Program 3 includes VancouverÕs Meesoo LeeÕs A Bad Hair Day 7:15 p.m. Shorts Program 2 features an 11 minute montage of Kirsten Dunst kissing in Rabid (Mike Olenick of Columbus, O.) 9:15 p.m.

SATURDAY (April 8): hi/lo — Shorts Program 3 5 p.m. Shorts Program 1 7:15 p.m.

FOREIGN CINEMA

2534 Mission (between 21st and 22nd streets), 648-7600, www.foreigncinema.com. Free with meal. This restaurant screens foreign films, usually in 35mm, on the back wall of its outdoor patio, with drive-in speakers available for the tables of those who want to watch while they dine.

DAILY: Young Che and friend drive, witness, and compose The Motorcycle Diaries (Walter Salles Jr., Brazil, 2003). ÒStarts at dusk.Ó

LARK

549 Magnolia (at Post), Larkspur, 924-5111, www.larktheater.net. This single-screen art deco theater mixes new and repertory programming. $8 save as noted.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: Crash (Paul Haggis, 2005) 7 p.m. 16 Blocks (Richard Donner, 2006) 9:15 p.m.

STARTS FRIDAY: Call for films and times.

MONDAY (April 10): A Native American activist is profiled in Trudell (Heather Rae, 2005). John Trudell in person for Q&A. $12 7 p.m.

LUMIERE

1572 California (at Polk), 352-0810, www.landmarktheatres.com. This multiplex is only partly a Òcalendar houseÓ rep theater; for the rest of the Lumiere schedule, see our Showtimes page. $9.50.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: Lonesome Jim (Steve Buscemi, 2006) 2:30, 5, 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY (April 7-13): The Devil and Daniel Johnston (Jeff Feuerzeig, 2005). See Opening for review. Call for times.

MECHANICSÕ INSTITUTE LIBRARY

57 Post (near Market), 393-0100 and www.milibrary.org for information; phone or e-mail rsvp@milibrary.org for reservations. $7. This cultural asset of long standing continues a spring film series, hosted by Michael Fox. Shown on projected video, with salon-style discussions to follow.

FRIDAY (April 7): A German comedy series opens with Helmut DietlÕs Schtonk! (1992), a satire of the Hitler Diary forgery 6:30 p.m.

PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE

2575 Bancroft (at Bowditch), Berkeley, (510) 642-1124 and www.bampfa.berkeley.edu for venue; 865-1588 and www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org for information on the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, here this week. $8, second show $2 for regular programs; $10 for SFIAAFF programs. The East Bay mecca for film scholars, part of UC BerkeleyÕs Art Museum, thrives at its on-campus location, up the steps on Bancroft between Telegraph Avenue and the Hearst Gym.

WEDNESDAY: A UCB film history class open to the public and taught by Russell Merritt screens Robert BressonÕs sad donkey tale Au Hasard Balthazar (France, 1966) 3 p.m. A program of ÒRecent and StrangeÓ video screens eteamÕs The Paradox of the 10 Acres Square (2005), about an art duoÕs attempt to figure out what to do with some desert property. It screens with Scott StarkÕs in.side.out (1999) and Jacqueline GossÕ There There Square (2002), two geographically challenging shorts 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY: A new series, Ò65 Seconds That Shook the Earth,Ó marks the centenary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Tonight, a program of ÒArtistic DisastersÓ includes experimental work by Semiconductor (All the Time in the World), Bill Morrison (What We Build) and others. Free 5:30 p.m. An experimental narrative by Britta Sjogren, In This Short Life (2004) 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: 65 Seconds — A simulated Sensurround screening of the rumbly disaster flick Earthquake (Mark Robson, 1974), with Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and one Walter Matuschanskayasky (Walter Matthau using his real name) as a comical drunk 8 p.m.

SATURDAY: 65 Seconds — Geographer Gray Brechin lectures on the 1906 quake and screens footage shot at the time in ÒDisaster at DawnÓ 7 p.m. Cowpoke John Wayne challenges gambler Joseph Schildkraut for the affections of Ann Dvorak in quake-era San Francisco in Flame of Barbary Coast (Joseph Kane, 1946) 8:45 p.m.

SUNDAY: Philip Lopate, editor of the new collection of fine film criticism American Movie Critics: An Anthology from the Silents Until Now, compensates for his inexplicable omission of a sample Reps, Etc. column with a screening of Mikio NaruseÕs excellent family dramedy Wife! Be Like a Rose! (Japan, 1935) accompanied by a lecture 3 p.m. 65 Seconds — A massive quake threatens to destroy the planet in The Night the World Exploded (Fred Sears, 1957). After the film UC Berkeley seismologist Dr. Peggy Hellweg will discourse on the filmÕs scientific plausibility 6 p.m.

MONDAY: Theater closed.

TUESDAY: Rebecca BaronÕs How Little We Know Our Neighbors (2005) documents the British Mass Observation studies of the 1930s, and screens with BaronÕs short The Idea of North (1995) and a Mass Observation film by the great Humphrey Jennings, Spare Time (U.K., 1939). Baron in person 7:30 p.m.

PARKWAY

1834 Park (at Lake Merritt), Oakland, (510) 814-2400, www.picturepubpizza.com. $5 save as noted. Pizza, beer, and movies on two screens. 21 and older only. Call theater for programs, booked a week in advance. The Parkway also offers occasional scheduled special programs.

SUNDAY (April 9): The 9th hi/lo Film Festival screens the Òweird, wild, wondrous, and wackyÓ from ‘round the world. Shorts Program 2 features Will PascoeÕs dancing Burger Joint 2 p.m. Shorts Program 3 highlights Tom GingellÕs Recliner Dance 5 p.m. See www.hilofilmfestival.com for more. $7 per program.

TUESDAY (April 11): Take Ferris BuellerÕs Day Off (John Hughes, 1986), as a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. $7 9:15 p.m.

MIDNIGHT SHOW (Saturday): The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Jim Sharman, 1975), with live performance by Barely Legal. $6.

RAFAEL FILM CENTER

1118 Fourth St. (at A Street), San Rafael, 454-1222, www.cafilm.org. $9 save as noted. This three-screen repertory theater, officially the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, is operated by the California Film Institute. Programs are complex; check carefully and call for confirmation.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: Rabbit season! Duck season! Rabbit season! No, itÕs Duck Season (Fernando Eimbcke, Mexico, 2005) 7, 9 p.m. The WorldÕs Fastest Indian (Roger Donaldson, New Zealand, 2005) 6:45, 9:15 p.m. Duma (Carroll Ballard, South Africa, 2005) 6:30 p.m. Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (Marc Rothemund, Germany, 2004) 8:40 p.m.

STARTS FRIDAY: The Devil and Daniel Johnston (Jeff Feuerzeig, 2005). See Opening for review. Call for other films and times.

SATURDAY: The Art of Ray Harryhausen presents the legendary stop-motion animator in person with special guests and his classic The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (Nathan Juran, 1958). $15 7, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY: Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy (Graham Coleman, 2005). Director in person 3 p.m.

RED VIC

1727 Haight (at Cole), 668-3994, www.redvicmoviehouse.com. $8 save as noted. ThereÕs a spot on the couch for you at this collectively owned rep house.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: A mom fights coke addiction in Debra GranikÕs Sundance favorite, Down to the Bone (2004) 7:15, 9:30 p.m.; also Wed 2 p.m.

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY (April 7-13): The Viet vet antiwar movement is recalled in Sir! No Sir! (David Zeiger, 2005). See Opening for review 7:15, 9:15 p.m.; also Sat & Sun 2, 4 p.m.; Wed 2 p.m.

ROXIE FILM CENTER

3117 and 3125 16th St. (at Valencia), 863-1087, www.roxie.com. $8. Short-run repertory on two screens, separated by a bar, in this reconstituted affiliate of New College.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: Battle in Heaven (Carlos Reygadas, Mexico, 2005) 7, 9 p.m.; also Wed 2:30, 4:45 p.m. Call for other films.

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY (April 7-13): The Outsider (Nicholas Jarecki, 2006) documents the making of director James TobackÕs When Will I Be Loved. See Opening for review. Toback in person after second screening on Friday Fri 7, 9 p.m.; Sat & Sun 3, 7, 9 p.m.; Mon - Thurs 6:30, 8, 9:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: As a sidebar, the Roxie screens Toback directed or written films all this week. Tonight, the autobiographical Harvard Man (Toback, 2001) 7 p.m. TobackÕs directing debut finds pianist-gangster Harvey Keitel losing his Fingers (1978) 9 p.m. Neve Campbell wonders When Will I Be Loved (2004) 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Ease on down Toback Road with his personalized documentary The Big Bang (1989) 1 p.m. Fingers 2, 7:30 p.m. When Will I Be Loved 3:45, 9:15 p.m. White teens mix it up with rappers in the semi-improvised Black and White (Toback, 1999) 4:45 p.m. Harvard Man 5:30 p.m. Natasha Gregson Wagner and Heather Graham inexplicably joust for the affections of Robert Downey Jr. in Two Girls and a Guy (Toback, 1997) — no pizza place, though 10:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: More wacky Tobacky — The Big Bang 1 p.m. Fingers 2, 7:30 p.m. When Will I Be Loved 3:45, 9:15, 10:30 p.m. Toback does Dostoyevsky in his screenplay for Karel ReiszÕs The Gambler (1975) 4:45 p.m. Harvard Man 5:30 p.m.MONDAY: Toback and forth — The Big Bang 7 p.m. Nastassia Kinski stars opposite Rudolph Nureyev and Ian McShane in Exposed (Toback, 1983) 8:45 p.m.

TUESDAY: To hell and Toback — Two Girls and a Guy 7 p.m. Toback favorite Downey plays his The Pick-Up Artist (1987) 8:45 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

Koret Visitor Education Center (unless otherwise noted), 151 Third St. (between Mission and Howard), 357-4000, www.sfmoma.org. Screenings are free with museum admission of $12.50 save as noted.

DAILY (Closed Wednesdays): ÒEarly Films of San Francisco: Before and After the Great Earthquake and Fire, 1896-1915Ó 2 p.m. An interactive presentation, Making Sense of Modern Art: Magritte and Surrealism 3:30 p.m. American Masters: Alexander Calder (Roger Sherman, 1998) 4 p.m.; also Thurs 7:30 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Koret Auditorium, Lower Level, 100 Larkin (at Grove), 557-4400, http://sfpl.lib.ca.us. A weekly video program screens on Thursdays and occasional other days. Free.

THURSDAY (April 6): A ÒCinematic San FranciscoÓ series begins with Malcolm McDowellÕs H.G. Wells pursuing David WarnerÕs Jack the Ripper to San Francisco in Nicholas MeyerÕs inventive thriller Time After Time (1979) noon.

TUESDAY (April 11): An ITVS Community Cinema screening of The DevilÕs Miner (Kief Davidson and Richard Ladkani, 2005), about the fate of two boys laboring in Bolivian silver mines 6 p.m. .

SHATTUCK

2230 Shattuck (at Kittredge), Berkeley, (510) 843-3456, www.landmarktheatres.com. $9. This venerable theater assigns one of its eight screens to repertory programming. For the rest of the ShattuckÕs schedule, see our Showtimes page.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: Lonesome Jim (Steve Buscemi, 2006)

FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY (April 7-13): The Devil and Daniel Johnston (Jeff Feuerzeig, 2005). See Opening for review. Call for times.

STANFORD

221 University (at Emerson), Palo Alto, (650) 324-3700, www.stanfordtheatre.org. $6. This handsomely restored neighborhood palace usually (but not always) screens pre-1960 Hollywood fare in the best available prints, with excellent projection. This springÕs series includes tributes to stylish director Vincente Minnelli and suave actor Ronald Colman.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: Fred Astaire sells his hat in the opening scene of MinnelliÕs elegaic backstage musical The Band Wagon (1953) while Judy Garland and family sample catsup in MinnelliÕs elegaic musical Americana Meet Me in St. Louis (1944). Call for times.

FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY: Colman shows some dash as The Prisoner of Zenda (John Cromwell, 1937) and as a judge takes in accused anarchist Cary Grant (!) in George StevensÕ loquacious love story The Talk of the Town (1942). Call for times.

VICTORIA THEATRE

2961 16th St. (at Mission), 863-7576, www.victoriatheatre.org for venue; www.spikeandmike.com for this program. This venerable old house frequently rents itself out for special screenings. $9.

THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY: Spike & MikeÕs 2006 edition of their Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation takes up residence here through April 29 7, 9 p.m.; also Sat 11 p.m.

SATURDAY (April 8): A free screening of America: From Freedom to Fascism (Aaron Russo, 2006) 1 p.m.

YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS

701 Mission (at Third Street, in Yerba Buena Gardens), 978-2787, www.ybca.org. $8 save as noted. This venueÕs Screening Room is a home for film and video programs of all sorts.

WEDNESDAY: A GreenCine screening of outlaw director Teruo IshiiÕs last film, Blind Beast vs. Killer Dwarf (Japan, 2004), mingling operetta and amputation. On video 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY: Archivist Dennis Nyback presents his compilation feature Hey Batter, Batter! Vintage Baseball Films, a steroid-free program including Bobby ThomsonÕs Òshot heard Õround the world,Ó Snickers and Vitalis ads with Joe DiMaggio and Pete Rose, donkey baseball, and more 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Nyback considers The Glory of Their Times (1977) Òthe best documentary on baseball ever madeÓ (take that, Ken Burns!) 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY: ÒOn Calibration: The Video Works of Michelle DizonÓ Òquestions the fantasy of a happy and interchangeable globalized worldÓ using home movies, found images, and video color bars. Presented by San Francisco Cinematheque 7:30 p.m.

FILM NOTES

This Thursday the Danger and Despair Knitting Circle continues its series of 16mm rarities at 8 p.m. in an undisclosed downtown S.F. location. April 7Õs film is Secrets of Scotland Yard (George Blair, 1944), with Edgar Barrier as the twin Usher brothers, one a Nazi, one a loyal Brit. ItÕs the fall of the house of Ushers! A lecture from Daniel Hodges follows. For more info, see www.noirfilm.com; to make a reservation and get directions to the screening locale, e-mail screenings@hotmail.com. ... The Ninth Annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival unspools April 5-9 in lovely downtown Sonoma; see www.cinemaepicuria.org for schedule information. ... Filmmaker Graham Coleman appears in person for opening weekend screenings of Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy on Friday night (April 7) at the Opera Plaza (352-0810) in San Francisco, and Saturday (April 8) at the Shattuck Theatre (510-464-6980) in Berkeley. Call venues for more information. ... Goodbye, Act 1 & 2 Theater in Berkeley! We saw some great movies play there (The Triplets of Belleville, The Agronomist).