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Brilliant German Auteur Christian Petzold Returns with UNDINE

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German filmmaker Christian Petzold is one of the most exciting — and perhaps underappreciated — auteurs in cinema today. Having completed his triumphant trilogy of Barbara (2012), Phoenix (2014) and Transit (2018) on the theme “Love in Times of Oppressive Systems,” his latest film Undine (pronounced oon-DEE-nuh) is a dark romance inspired by a fairy tale. Petzold boldly reimagines the ancient myth of Undine, the water nymph who becomes human when she falls in love with a man but is doomed if he is unfaithful to her. In Undine, the title character (Paula Beer, Frantz, Transit) works as a historian lecturing on Berlin’s urban development. When her lover leaves her, her namesake catches up with her. The mythical Undine has to kill the man who betrays her and return to the water. Will Undine defy fate when she meets a diver (Franz Rogowski, Transit) who offers her a chance at new love?

Undine was selected to compete for the Golden Bear in the competition section at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, where Beer won the Silver Bear for Best Actress.

Film critics have been rapturous:

INDIEWIRE: “Petzold remains a master of capturing frantic characters doomed by dark obsessions… Undine shows evidence of a master’s hand.”

MIAMI NEW TIMES: “A tremendous romance from one of contemporary cinema’s greatest and most underrated filmmakers… Undine feels as fresh as it does familiar for the filmmaker.”

SLANT MAGAZINE: “Undine is a striking change of pace that sacrifices none of the director’s intellect or ambition.”

DEADLINE: “Paula Beers dominates… she’s one of those fortunate and skilled actors who compels attention even when quiet and doing and saying nothing.”

In a recent interview, Petzold conveyed how essential it is to experience movies in theaters rather than at home, something especially clear because of something particular about Undine: “Underwater sequences have to be in a cinema. A cinema is a tank for our bodies. We’re with our bodies physically, but our mind is not in the room. When I was 11 and saw 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, it was as if the whole audience was underwater. But if you’re alone in front of a TV? I love underwater sequences because there’s no dialogue. The acoustics are based on gestures and sounds in your head. You hear things better in a cinema. It’s not good to see it on a TV with shit [speakers] from a supermarket.”

Filmmaker Christian Petzold. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Christian Schulz. An IFC Films Release.

 

Masking at the Movies.

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Now that Laemmle Theatres is fully reopened — all eight theaters at 50% capacity — now is a good time for a reminder that masks are still required in our lobbies and auditoriums by all managers, staff, and customers. The CDC issues recommendations but the state and county have jurisdiction and both the California and L.A. County health departments continue to require that masks be worn indoors regardless of vaccination status. The only exception for moviegoers: when seated in an auditorium while eating or drinking. We are doing our best to supervise with signage and polite verbal reminders when necessary, and fortunately most of our patrons are being very conscientious.

On an individual level, the vaccines are superbly effective and epidemiologists are saying that people who are fully vaccinated should feel really safe and confident being out in public.

On a community level, however, we still haven’t vaccinated a large enough percentage of the population. And that’s not just about the vaccine hesitant. There are also 12-16 year olds who only recently became eligible.

So for the sake of our community, and to really squelch the transmission of the virus, please stay masked up for the time being.

Hopefully, it will be just a few more weeks.

Back to the Movies: Laemmle Glendale Reopens May 21.

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Next Friday, May 21 we’ll be welcoming moviegoers back to our Glendale theater. We’ll have showtimes and tickets on sale here starting Friday, May 14. The opening slate includes two restorations, the sexy 1969 noir LA PISCINE, starring Alain Delon and Romy Schneider, and the 1973 horror movie GEORGE A. ROMERO’S THE AMUSEMENT PARK; plus the intense Australian mystery THE DRY starring Eric Bana, and the utterly charming, “unabashed crowd-pleaser” DREAM HORSE, starring Toni Collette.
With the opening of Glendale, all eight of our locations have reopened. And with the expansion of our hours of operation, we are essentially fully open. The films that have been held back from release, both arthouse and Hollywood films, are coming out. We really need the public to respond. Vaccination rates in L.A. County are super high. Testing shows that the incidence of the virus is extremely low. We’ve got socially distanced seating. It is safe. It is enjoyable. And it is time to demonstrate support for moviegoing.

L.A. Times Culture Columnist & Critic Mary McNamara just published a terrific personal essay on returning to moviegoing headlined “Vaccinated and Back at the Movies, Together.” Here’s a highlight but the whole thing is worth reading:

“Then the lights went down and for two hours it was as if the pandemic did not exist, had never occurred. TOGETHER TOGETHER was sweet and smart and funny enough, but even if I had hated it, I was at the movies. A haven from heartbreak, anxiety and bad weather of all sorts, a place of necessary solitude, romantic anticipation, friendly bonding and familial celebration.

“After a year of crowded isolation, there were no interruptions from kids needing something; no ambient distraction courtesy of nearby leaf-blower or power tool; no hitting pause to check and see if the meatloaf was done yet. Having committed to it, the experience was literally out of my hands. I couldn’t use this time to also sort laundry or check my emails or do the dishes; couldn’t carry this screen from one room to another to see what the dogs were barking at this time or balance it on the counter while I did the dishes.

“I was at the movies and for two glorious hours all I could do was watch and listen and be.”

Moviegoing is unlike anything else and it’s worth preserving, especially moviegoing at locally owned and operated theaters. L.A. cinephiles, we humbly ask for your support.

More Matinees, More Movies.

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We’re pleased to announce we are restarting daily matinee shows on May 14 at the Claremont 5, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7, Royal and Monica Film Center and daily prime evening shows at the Town Center 5. L.A. County’s reduced COVID-19 infection numbers and move into the yellow tier makes expanded hours possible, giving cinephiles more chances to see movies in public. We aim to have our Glendale theater reopened on May 21.
For the upcoming week, we have, as always, new films for whatever suits your mood and interests:
Comedies: HERE TODAY (Billy Crystal teams up with Tiffany Haddish) and THE PAPER TIGERS (goofy middle-aged dad martial artists out for revenge).
Restored classics: THE STORY OF A THREE DAY PASS, Melvin Van Peebles’ 1968 feature, his first.
Innovative dramas with gifted actors: Andrew Garfield in MAINSTREAM and Lily Taylor in PAPER SPIDERS.
Superb documentaries: STATE FUNERAL, an astonishing look at Stalin’s send off, and THE HUMAN FACTOR, a riveting look at a crucial moment in the Mideast peace process.
Much more: EMILY @ THE EDGE OF CHAOS, writer-comedian Emily Levine’s stand-up/animation hybrid, and ENFANT TERRIBLE, a fictionalization of the short, meteoric life of filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

“Omar is famous.” Enjoy this clip from LIMBO, Opening Friday at Laemmle Theatres.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLX2YwBvITY

TOGETHER TOGETHER: Ed Helms, Patti Harrison, and Writer-Director Nikole Beckwith Pre-Recorded Q&A.

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Purchase a ticket to #TogetherTogether at Laemmle starting April 23 and see an exclusive pre-recorded intro and Q&A with Ed Helms, Patti Harrison, and writer-director Nikole Beckwith on the big screen! Get your tickets today.

We’re Back and Our Cinematic Cup Runneth Over: Tickets Now on Sale!

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After more than a year of mandated closure, Laemmle Theatres is reopening on Friday. Tickets are up for sale and we have a bouquet of wonderful films to see and share as they were meant to be seen and shared …on the big screen! We can do this safely because we are following epidemiologist-approved #CinemaSafe protocols, including reserved seating to ensure physical distancing. We’ve revamped our ticketing system to allow for reserved seating, and you are now able to choose your seats on our site or, if you prefer, at our box offices beginning Friday. We have created step-by-step how-to instructions for those new to online ticketing. You can check out the guide here and we’ll have printed copies available at the theaters.

Friday also marks the opening (not reopening) of our brand-spanking-new Laemmle Newhall Theater, which was completed during the pandemic. We are thrilled to bring great movies to northern L.A. County, and happy for all the SCV residents who will no longer have to make the long drive to Encino or NoHo for non-mainstream films.   For those who would like to join in the opening, we will be livestreaming the ribbon cutting ceremony which is scheduled to take place at 11:00 AM on Friday morning.  You’ll also be able to see patrons coming for our first set of shows. For details, please join the theatre’s Facebook followers here (https://www.facebook.com/laemmlenewhall) for all updates on this new venue.

Among the films you’ll get to enjoy are many of the 2021 Oscar nominees, including three of the Best International Film nominees, ANOTHER ROUND with Mads Mikkelsen, QUO VADIS, AIDA? from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN from Tunisian-born director Kaouther Ben Hania.  COLLECTIVE, nominated for both Best International Film and Best Documentary is coming next week.  We also have two of the Best Feature Documentary nominees, MY OCTOPUS TEACHER and CRIP CAMP, five of the Best Picture nominees, NOMADLAND, MANK, MINARI, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN and SOUND OF METAL, and  all of the Oscar-nominated Live Action, Animated, and Documentary shorts.  We are also opening the magical WOLFWALKERS, nominated for Best Animated Feature. Among the non-Oscar contenders are FRENCH EXIT, featuring a never-better Michelle Pfeiffer; the gorgeous Italian-set documentary, THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS; the intimate portrait of the gifted pop star BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD’S A LITTLE BLURRY; the intense gay-themed South African drama MOFFIE; and the French film SLALOM, a drama set in the world of downhill racing. And if you’re in the mood for some monster movie escapism, we’ve got that for you too with the spectacular GODZILLA VS. KONG.

For those who are still unsure about returning to indoor public spaces, I want you to know that we are still offering films for streaming via the Laemmle Virtual Cinema platform. In fact, a number of the films that we have in theatre this weekend will also be available for at-home viewing. But a few titles that are only available via VOD include MALNI – TOWARDS THE OCEAN, TOWARDS THE SHORE, GRANNY NANNY, THE MALI-CUBA CONNECTION/AFRICA MIA, IT’S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, LOOKING FOR A LADY WITH FANGS AND A MOUSTACHE, and 15 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT BIGFOOT. I hope you’ll check them out.

The pandemic has been hard. Hard for businesses that had to be closed. Hard for the essential workers who kept things going while risking their health. And hardest for those who lost loved ones, had to endure illness, and are still dealing with lingering health issues caused by the virus. If we’re sounding upbeat, please know that we don’t want to paper over any of that pain and grief. But things really do seem to be improving here in L.A. Vaccinations are up. Infections are down. And by and large, people are still following guidelines about continuing to mask up and maintain social distancing. The time is right to slowly and safely begin to return to public spaces, and we aim to be part of that long-sought “return to normalcy.”

Thank you for all the support over the months of the pandemic, and I look forward to seeing you soon at the movies.

Sincerely,

Greg Laemmle

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.