Friday, April 4- Thrusday, April 10

Double Feature!
HIDDEN WARS OF DESERT STORM & GAZA STRIP

Hidden Wars of
Desert Storm

On August 2nd, 1990, Saddam Hussein launched his troops against Kuwait, triggering the first major international crisis of the post-Soviet Union era. But was this invasion a surprise in the first place? Were all diplomatic means really utilized to try to resolve the issue peacefully? Was Iraq ever a threat to Saudi Arabia or any of the other Gulf states? Why wasn't Washington's rhetoric against Saddam ever matched by any real support to the Iraqi opposition groups? What purpose can the embargo over Iraq serve if it is not to weaken Saddam Hussein, a result it has evidently failed to achieve to this day? What is true behind this mysterious "Gulf War Syndrome" that goes on affecting hundreds of thousands of Gulf War veterans and local populations and more and more of them every day? A two-year investigation, "Hidden Wars of Desert Storm" brings answers to all of these questions, basing itself on documents never seen before on television and backed by interviews of such prominent personalities as Desert Storm Commander, General Norman Schwarzkopf, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, former UN Iraq Program Director Denis Halliday, former UNSCOM team-leader Scott Ritter and many others. A large selection of archival footage, moving images recently brought back from Iraq, an original soundtrack scored by acclaimed composer Fritz Heede and the narration by two-time British Academy Award-winner, actor John Hurt, all contribute to making "Hidden Wars of Desert Storm" a fast-paced, informative documentary while resolutely accessible to a general audience. For more information, log onto arabfilm.com. Director: Audrey Brohy & Gerard Ungerman. 2000. Runningtime: 60 mins. English. Showtimes; Nightly at 6:30 & 9:30. Plus Wed, Sat & Sun matinees at 3:30.

"Hidden Wars emerges as an uncommonly sober, well-researched film." Dave Kehr, -- New York Times

Plus short:
RIGHT ROAD LOST
All Phil Rios wanted to be was an artist. His life, however, took another direction. A short film by Victoria Gamburg. For more info, log onto gamburgfilms.com. 16mm. 2001 USA. Runningtime: 11:50 mins.

"Damning..... the pattern of alleged deception in the first imbroglio has disturbing relevance to this new war." -- Jonathan Curiel, S.F.Chronicle

- ALSO SHOWING -
Friday, April 4- Thursday, April 10

Dedicated to the memory of Rachel Corrie

GAZA
STRIP

"Gaza Strip is an unflinchingly honest portrayal of a population under siege. As a perspective that is largely excluded from American attention, it deserves the widest possible audience." - Washington Report on Middle East Affairs-Jan/Feb 2002

American documentary filmmaker James Longley traveled to the Gaza Strip in January of 2001, planning to stay for two weeks and collect preliminary material for a film about the Palestinian intifada. He threw away his return ticket and stayed for another 3 months, shooting over 75 hours of material throughout the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip follows a range of people and events following the election of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, including the first major armed incursion into "Area A" by IDF forces during this intifada. The film is filmed almost entirely in a verite style, presented without narration and with little explanation, focusing on ordinary Palestinians rather than politicians and pundits. More observation than political argument, Gaza Strip offers a rare look inside the stark realities of Palestinian life and death under Israeli military occupation. Director: James Longley.35mm. 2002. 74 minutes. Arabic with English subtitles. For more info, go to arabfilm.com. Showtimes: Nightly at 5:00 & 8:00. Addtional Wed, Sat & Sun matinees at 2:00.

"Gaza Strip" director to return student Academy Award to protest exclusion of Palestine" - EI.NET

Friday, April 11 - Thursday, April 17

Marion Bridge

Marion Bridge made its world premiere at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won Best First Feature. According to director Wiebke von Carolsfeld, “ I tried to keep it (Marion Bridge) real, organic and simple. A lot of energy was focused on illuminating emotions and on finding truth in the small moments." Starring actress Molly Parker, (Max, Center of the World, Sunshine) Marion Bridge speaks volumes about sibling and parental relationships with a beautifully realized tale of loss, healing and humor. Agnes (Molly Parker), in the midst of a struggle to overcome her own self destructive behavior, returns to Sydney, Nova Scotia from Toronto because of the failing health of her mother Rose (Marguerite McNeil). She is met by her older sister Theresa (Rebecca Jenkins), a devout Catholic who has recently been dumped by her husband for a younger woman, and Louise (Stacy Smith), the middle child who has retreated from the outside world. Her arrival sets in motion a chain of events that allows the family to reconnect with the world and one another. Cast Agnes Molly Parker Theresa Rebecca Jenkins Louise Stacey Smith Rose Marguerite McNeil Joanie Ellen Page. Director Wiebke von Carolsfeld Writer Daniel MacIvor Producer Jennifer Kawaja Producer Julia Sereny Producer Bill Niven Canada. Running time: 93 mins. 2003. For more information log onto www.filmovement.com. Showtims: Nightly at 6:00, 8:00, & 10:00. Additional Wed, Sat & Sun matinees at 2:00 & 4:00.

Friday, April 18 - Thursday, April 24

RIVERS AND TIDES: ANDY GOLDSWORTHY WORKING WITH TIME
Nightly at 6:15

ZEMSTA
Directed by Andrei Wadja and starring Roman Polanski. The hilarious tale of two 17th-century families divided by love, greed … and a crumbling stone wall that runs through the middle of their castle. The feuding noblemen try to outwit one another in a bid for romance and control over their humble realm. Based on Aleksander Fredro's epic poem. Nightly at 8:00, Saturday and Sunday Matinee at 2:30

MARION BRIDGE
Nightly at 9:50 except Monday, April 21. Saturday and Sunday Matinee at 4:30

plus THE YOUNG UNKOWNS
Monday, April 21 at 10:pm only!

Friday, April 25 - Thursday, May 1

WARRIOR OF LIGHT

Warrior of Light is a documentary portrait of an extraordinary woman. Yvonne Bezerra de Mello, first seen doing social work with street kids in the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro, is gradually revealed to be not only an accomplished sculptor, but also a wealthy socialite, albeit one who spends her days cradling glue-sniffing children in her arms and building furniture out of discarded soda bottles. Bezerra de Mello, with her mile-wide smile and fierce pragmatism, is as much a contradiction as Rio itself. Born into the middle-class, she studied at Sorbonne, married a Swedish diplomat, raised three children in Europe, divorced, returned to Rio, and married a wealthy hotelier. Already concerned with the plight of Rio’s street kids, she became a world-famous human-rights crusader by offering protection to survivors of the 1993 Candelaria massacre of homeless children by the military police. What is most remarkable about Bezerra de Mello is her literally hands-on approach. Risking great danger in slums terrorized by drug lords, she builds shelters, establishes safe houses and, above all, provides education, music, and boundless affection to children who have previously known nothing but poverty, abuse, and fear. Yvonne's organisation, Projeto Uere is devoted to the protection and education of streetkids and children who live in the slums. Monika Treut, the German director best known for her controversial treatments of transgressive sexual politics (My Father is Coming, Virgin Machine), sees Bezerra de Mello not as a saint but as another of her fiercely individual female pioneers, a woman who is as vividly real as she is inspirational. For more info the movie, log onto hyenafilms. Showtimes: Nightly at 6:00, 8:00 & 9:50. Additional Wed, Sat & Sun matinees at 2:00 & 4:00.