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One More Week Until the Return of Laemmle Moviegoing. Plus the Oscar Doc Shorts & More

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Dear moviegoers, one more week until a return to some normalcy, the April 9 reopening of the Laemmle theatres. We will be posting film titles, showtimes and ticketing in the coming days. On April 5, L.A. County will move into the less restrictive Orange Tier, a long-sought accomplishment that will allow us to open at 50% capacity. (There are many more details at the County Health Department website.) At least locally, the virus is still in retreat, so kudos to all SoCal residents for helping stave off a fourth surge so far. We’ll do our part with our enhanced safety measures in compliance with the CinemaSafe protocols developed by the National Association of Theatre Owners. These measures include enhanced ventilation systems, reserved seating to ensure physical distancing, plexiglass barriers, hydrogen peroxide fogger machines each morning before opening, between-show auditorium cleaning and sanitizing wipe downs between every screening, hand-sanitizing stations, plentiful personal protective equipment, and devices to make customer/staff interactions as contact-free as possible. Visit www.Cinemasafe.org to learn more about the protocols and guidelines, developed and supported by leading epidemiologists to support a safe return to movie theaters.

Until then, we have Laemmle Virtual Cinema to tide us over. (And we’ll continue LVC after April 9 for those who can’t make it out to the theaters.) Leading the pack this week are the always amazing 2021 OSCAR SHORTS: DOCUMENTARY. The five nominees this year are A Love Song for Latasha: A portrait of a 15-year-old girl whose shooting death sparks the ‘92 L.A. Uprising. Do Not Split: The story of the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Filmed from inside therapeutic feeding centers in war-torn Yemen, Hunger Ward documents two health care workers fighting to thwart the spread of starvation. Colette: Resistance took courage in Nazi-occupied France. Seventy-five years later, facing one’s ghosts may take even more. A Concerto is a Conversation: A jazz pianist and composer tracks his family’s lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

In the winning comedy SHIVA BABY college student Danielle must cover her tracks when she unexpectedly runs into her sugar daddy at a shiva — with her parents, ex-girlfriend and family friends also in attendance. THE OUTSIDE STORY is a comedy about an introverted editor (Brian Tyree Henry) on a tight deadline who gets locked out of his apartment. In order to get back inside, he’s forced to do something he always avoids, interacting with his neighbors. NINA WU, which earned its director a nomination for the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes, follows a struggling actress who finally gets her big break with a leading role in a spy thriller set in the 1960s, until her psychological resolve begins to crack under the pressure.

When her village is threatened with forced resettlement due to reservoir construction, an 80-year-old widow at the center of THIS IS NOT A BURIAL, IT’S A RESURRECTION finds a new will to live and ignites the spirit of resilience within her community. In CENTER STAGE Maggie Cheung embodies tragic screen siren Ruan Lingyu, known as the ‘Greta Garbo of China,’ in this unconventional biopic by Hong Kong New Wave master Stanley Kwan. In SOUL ECLIPSE a gold digger is coerced into a spiritual quest for enlightenment by a shaman, a man with dark secrets of his own.

Finally, we are delighted to have French New Waver Eric Rohmer’s restored Four Seasons tetralogy, A TALE OF SPRING (1990), A TALE OF WINTER (1992), A TALE OF SUMMER (1996) and A TALE OF AUTUMN (1998). In SPRING, a burgeoning friendship between philosophy teacher Jeanne and pianist Natacha is strained by jealousy, suspicion, and intrigue. WINTER is about a woman trying to choose between two men five years after losing touch with the love of her life and the father of her young daughter. In SUMMER amateur musician Gaspard travels to a seaside resort in Dinard, on the coast of Brittany, where three women each offer the possibility of romance, if he can overcome his inability to make a decision. AUTUMN is set in the Rhone Valley, the final film of the series concerns simultaneous schemes to find a new love for reserved winegrower and widow Magali.

Considering Laemmle Theatres made its bones screening French cinema, any of Rohmer’s titles would be perfect as an aperitif to our reopening after our first closure in 83 years.

Laemmle Theatres is Reopening April 9! Plus ‘The Mole Agent’ and Other New Films

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Dear moviegoers,

Now that L.A. County’s health department has announced we have left the purple tier and entered the red, we are thrilled to announce that we will reopen on April 9, 2021 at 25% capacity! If the County is in the orange tier at that time, we’ll go with 50% capacity. Our veteran general managers have returned, like cavalry coming over the hill, to ready our theaters and make sure the reopening will be safe. We’ll share the big date with you shortly. Go to www.laemmle.com/reopening for details on venues, films, advance ticketing, and more.

For those who are hesitant about returning, we understand. Consider, however, that a recent study — reported by the New York Times yesterday — showed that there has been a negative bias in national media coverage of the pandemic. International and U.S. local and regional coverage has been markedly more balanced. The virus is still an issue and we must not drop safety practices, but we want to share that there is good news, and not just regarding the resumption of commercial activity.

For now, virtual cinema is still all we are offering. And as always, we have some terrific new films available via Laemmle Virtual Cinema, starting with The Mole Agent, the warm, funny, Oscar-nominated feature documentary about an 83-year-old man who poses as a resident in a Chilean nursing home to investigate allegations of abuse. The powerful documentary Francesco portrays Pope Francis as he confronts gigantic issues such as the climate crisis, the refugee crisis, peace and religious intolerance, economic inequality, and more. Based on a real-life 1972 experiment, The Marijuana Conspiracy is a beautifully-made ensemble drama about an outlandish study on the effects of ever-increasing doses of tetrahydrocannabinol on young women. William Shatner and Jean Smart star in the Palm Springs-set Senior Moment. He plays a retired NASA test pilot fighting to regain his driver’s licence and impounded car who meets Smart’s character on a bus. Kuessipan is a Canadian film about two girls in a Quebec Innu community whose longtime friendship is shaken when one of them falls for a white boy. Her Name is Chef spotlights six bad-ass, inspiring, sheroes of the restaurant industry. We’re also screening Charles Gounod’s Faust, filmed lived at the famed Teatro Real in Madrid in 2018. Finally we’ll have two gallery experience films: Water Lilies of Monet: The Magic of Water, which recounts the story of Monsieur Claude’s groundbreaking series of paintings of Giverny, and The Prado Museum: A Collection of Wonders, which offers viewers a spell-binding experience through the works of Vélazquez, Rubens, Titian, Mantegna, Bosch, Goya, El Greco and more.

‘Perfumes’ and Other New Films

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

Moviegoing in Los Angeles County has returned! We’re hard at work getting Laemmle Theatres ready to open again, and we hope to publicize an official date soon – make sure to check our website often and stay tuned for further emails, so  you don’t miss the big announcement.

In the meantime, we’ve updated our Awards Season collection to reflect the recent Oscar nominations, so there’s no shortage of excellent virtual options to choose from. Of special note is a surprise Best International Feature nod for last week’s new release Quo Vadis, Aida? (from Serbia). Other nominees from the same category also available on Laemmle Virtual Cinema include the Danish entry Another Round, and the Romanian entry Collective (also nominated for Best Feature Documentary). We expect to add The Mole Agent, another Best Documentary Feature nominee, beginning next Friday, March 26.

New releases this week are no less exciting, leading off with the critically acclaimed French comedy Perfumes. Other foreign offerings include the thrilling Brazilian drama The Fever, and the finely-crafted British drama Rose Plays Julie (I said foreign, not foreign language).

From this side of the pond, there’s the genre-bending festival favorite The Five Rules of Success, as well as the thoughtfully-produced (albeit controversially-titled) documentary Wojnarowicz: F*ck You F*ggot F*cker. Lastly, four more titles from our previously advertised Culture Vulture collection are now available as well.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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‘Still Life in Lodz’ and Other New Films

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

Earlier this week I recorded a State of the Arthouse Address, in which I give thanks for Laemmle Theatres having survived a difficult year, and proudly reaffirm our commitment to reopen as soon as it’s deemed safe to do so. Although I’m unable to provide an exact timeline in the video, much has changed in the few days since, and I’m now overjoyed to share that we expect to be open for business on the big screen in as little as four or five weeks!

Details are still being finalized regarding exactly which locations will open first and what percentage capacities will be allowed, so make sure to stay tuned for further updates. In the meantime, you can help by remaining diligent with your Covid safety protocols and best practices. We’ve spotted land on the horizon – now is no time to jump ship.

On the virtual side, today’s new lineup features the stirring art history documentary Still Life in Lodz, about a lost Polish painting and its connection to the local Jewish community, and Martha: A Picture Story, about prolific New York City graffiti photographer Martha Cooper. There’s also two music-themed documentaries – Women Composers and Long Live Rock… Celebrate the Chaos – as well as two short film compilations – the Women’s Adventure Film Tour and Five (presented by Mastercard). Last up for documentaries is a re-release of the chess-themed Brooklyn Castle, which we showed back when it debuted in 2012. Fans of the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit (a show that I greatly enjoyed) should appreciate the entertaining mix of personal drama and chess strategy.

Narrative releases include the Norwegian thriller The Tunnel, and the Irish drama The Last Right, with Brian Cox. There’s also the Black-socialist political comedy The Inheritance, and the well-reviewed indie horror Honeydew, starring the very talented young actors Malin Barr and Sawyer Spielberg (son of Steven, whose work you may be more familiar with).

Before signing off, I’d also like to note that Laemmle Theatres plans to continue offering films virtually as we resume our theatrical operations. Some titles may be exclusively in-person, and others may be exclusively online, but we’ll do our best to ensure side-by-side availability whenever possible. Lastly, make sure to check out our new Culture Vulture collection on Laemmle Virtual Cinema, and keep an eye out for Oscar nominations this Monday, March 15.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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State of the Arthouse: An Update from Laemmle Theatres

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CLICK HERE TO WATCH A RECORDED VERSION ON YOUTUBE

Greetings Laemmle Fans,

As of March 16, it has been exactly one full year since movie theatres in Los Angeles were asked to close their doors. At the time, I remember thinking that we’d be open again within a few months. But as we all know, nothing went according to plan.

I also thought, at the time, that Laemmle Theatres would not be able to survive being closed for more than a few months. And yet, exactly one full year later, we’re still here. We’ve received support from government stimulus programs, and more importantly from you, our patrons, through your gift and Premiere Card purchases, and your rentals on Laemmle Virtual Cinema.

Even so, some difficult decisions had to be made. We sold two properties in order to raise capital, and we may have to sell more to shore up our finances. But to be clear, the plan is to reopen as a tenant and maintain operations as a movie theatre, even where we no longer own the property.

Thanks to these actions, I’m confident that Laemmle Theatres will be prepared to open again, once it is deemed safe to do so. And as of now, it seems like that day may be coming soon.

This isn’t the first time our family business has faced an existential crisis. Seventy years ago, the advent of television reduced Laemmle Theatres to a single location. But Grandpa Max didn’t give up, and three generations and several decades later, the business had grown in ways he never would have believed possible. These closures may leave a mark, but there is nothing Laemmle Theatres has lost over the past year that we cannot regain in the days ahead.

We all love sharing the joy of cinema with others. We all relish the uniquely profound experience that only moviegoing can offer. And I believe that with your support, there will always be a place at Laemmle Theatres for customers to fulfill exactly that purpose.

Please stay safe. Keep wearing a mask. Get a vaccine shot as soon as you can. And we look forward to seeing you very soon, at the movies. All the best, Greg Laemmle

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

New Collection: Culture Vulture

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

I know that many of you have sorely missed attending our weekly Culture Vulture screenings. The series, offered on Monday evenings and Tuesday afternoons, has been a fixture of our programming for several years. Culture Vulture provides an opportunity for Laemmle Theatres to showcase the best in live concerts, stage plays, and museum visits from around the world.

Now, we’re bringing the series one step closer to you by featuring it as our newest collection on Laemmle Virtual Cinema. Although you may recognize many of the films from their prior Culture Vulture theatrical engagements, others are new releases, including the classical music documentary Women Composers (which opened on March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day) and the art history profile Easter in Art, analyzing depictions of Christ over time. We’re also offering several virtual films that are new to Laemmle Theatres, but feature notable content you’re likely already familiar with – examples include live stage recordings of Verdi’s La Traviata as well as Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

We all look forward to the day when Laemmle Theatres can resume our Culture Vulture series on the big screen, but I hope these virtual releases suffice in the meantime. Lastly, please be aware that many of the titles included in today’s newsletter are not yet available, so make sure to note the opening date and plan your personal screening schedules accordingly. And as always, thank you for your support.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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‘The Good Traitor’ and Other New Films

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

Hope for the imminent return of moviegoing is growing stronger. There’s widespread excitement in the industry over today’s reopening of movie theatres in New York City, and last week saw the most successful major theatrical release since the start of the pandemic.

Though mixed, the news regarding the virus is also largely positive. The mutant variants are troubling, but vaccine efficacy appears strong, and the rollout is gaining momentum. A lot hangs in the balance… but what’s clear for now is that Los Angeles County is on the verge of crossing into a lower risk tier that should, in theory, allow for the safe reopening of our doors.

Alas, Laemmle Theatres is still virtual this week, but we do have an excellent new lineup of films available online. Let’s begin with another drama shortlisted for the Best International Feature Oscar, Quo Vadis, Aida? The “incendiary, furiously committed” film (Times UK), submitted as Bosnia’s entry to the Academy Awards and recently acquired by NEON following its shortlist nod, concerns a UN translator navigating her family’s safety while their home village is massacred during the Bosnian war.

The historical dramas continue with The Good Traitor, concerning the true story of Danish ambassador Henrik Kauffmann and his daring role in the Second World War. There’s also Amundsen, about the titular North Pole explorer, and Fukushima 50, about the recovery workers who risked their personal safety and lives following the Japanese tsunami of 2011.

We’re also opening a few historically-relevant films on the documentary side: there’s the aptly named Vietnamese investigation The People Vs. Agent Orange, the turn-of-the-century artist profile Gustav Stickley: American Craftsman, and the legendary anti-war show F.T.A. (starring an effervescent young Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland). Other documentaries on more contemporary subjects include the Chinese political analysis Lost Course, the experimental meta-fiction film Truth or Consequences, and the street-dog focused Stray. It’s like Kedi, but… you know… for dogs.

Rounding out the list with a few more fiction films, there’s the wildly creative indie thriller Sister Tempest, the Moroccan drama Adam, the thoughtful coming-of-age story Sophie Jones, and the absurd French dark-comedy Keep an Eye Out. Fourteen new titles may seem like a lot of content to filter through, but rest assured – there are no wrong choices to be had. Make sure to stay tuned over the coming weeks, as Laemmle Theatres will continue to provide updates on our reopening timeline.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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‘Night of the Kings’ and Other New Films

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Dear Laemmle Fans,

As you may have seen on the news, movie theaters in New York City will be allowed to reopen again beginning March 5. While we still don’t have any clear sense of when Laemmle Theatres may follow suit, the update from across the country is still an encouraging one. Moviegoing has now been deemed safe in our nation’s largest city – it’s only a matter of time before the same is true of Los Angeles.

Until then, you can satisfy your arthouse cravings with our virtual offerings, including today’s top-billed new release Night of the Kings. The immersive film, which follows a young Ivorian prisoner who must rely on his storytelling skills in order to survive the night, is a strong contender in this year’s Oscar race for Best International Feature. Also contending for an Oscar this year is the documentary The Painter and the Thief, a title from last summer that Laemmle Theatres is proud to re-introduce.

Other new documentary releases include the intimate labor-relations study My Darling Supermarket, the experimental French school-project Un Film Dramatique, and the timely analysis ’Til Kingdom Come, focusing on the link between Israel and American Evangelism. There’s also the short-film collection Eremita (Anthologies), featuring work from a variety of up-and-coming young cinematographers.

On the fictional side, there’s the lighthearted meta-comedy Alberto and the Concrete Jungle, alongside the thoughtful indie effort The Independents, starring the real-life rock band The Sweet Remains. Next up is the tender Xinjiang-based coming-of-age story A First Farewell, followed lastly by two re-releases: the 1986 Brazilian epic Quilombo, and the 2002 neo-noir thriller Demonlover, from noted French director Olivier Assayas.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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