Little Cinema at Pittsfield Museum
Hosts Berkshire International Film Festival June 5 & 6
By: Ariel Petrova - May 26, 2010
Pittsfield Museum’s Little Cinema celebrates 60 years of cinematic excellence and adventure. One of the longest-running film festivals in New England, Little Cinema presents first-run foreign and independent films and continues to buck the trend of digital projection in place of traditional reel film, offering moviegoers the original cinematic experience. Little Cinema presents films nightly at 8 p.m. plus a weekly Monday matinee at 2 p.m.
Kicking off this historic season is an appropriately historic film, Vincere, (128 minutes, rated R), running from Sunday, May 30 to Thursday, June 3. Vincere reveals the untold story of Ida Dalser, the first wife of Italy’s fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini. Their story parallels Mussolini’s rise from anonymous political activist to newspaper editor, leading to his efforts to erase his past -- including his first wife and their son -- to become Italy’s leader through the tumultuous 1930s and ‘40s. The movie, by award-winning director Marco Bellocchio, follows Dalser’s relationship with Mussolini from their fateful meeting, to the birth of their son, through her tragic demise as Mussolini denies their marriage and their offspring. Interspersed with historical footage of the dictator, Bellocchio uses raw emotion, historical events, and a buried piece of history to create a stirring and unforgettable film.
Following Vincere is City Island (100 minutes, rated PG-13), running from Sunday, June 6 to Thursday, June 10. This 2009 comic drama directed by Raymond De Fellita won the Audience Award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. City Island tells the story of the Rizzo family, a seemingly average family making ends meet except for the secrets they’re all keeping. Starring Andy Garcia as the corrections officer father, with an appearance from Alan Arkin, City Island veers from the normal middle-class family existence to an absurd and comical look at what secrets, deception, and outright dysfunction can do to a family. Don’t miss this oftentimes hilarious movie.
For six decades, including demographic shifts and renovations of South Street, Little Cinema has remained a beacon to moviegoers throughout the county. Every year thousands of people visit the cinema in the summer months, eschewing rainy days and humid nights for thoughtful and dynamic films from around the world.
One of the most distinguishing facets of Little Cinema is its reel-to-reel projector, spooling 35 mm film. While most theaters have adopted digital projection, Berkshire Museum’s Little Cinema screens conventional film, giving film buffs the original movie experience. This tradition gives moviegoers an old-time, small-theater feel while allowing over 250 ticket holders to enjoy the hottest new films from around the world – some of which are not produced in digital format.
In addition to the regular Little Cinema schedule, Berkshire Museum is pleased to be a part of the Fifth Annual Berkshire International Film Festival; Little Cinema will screen six cutting-edge, international feature films as BIFF expands to Pittsfield.
The Little Cinema schedule for BIFF screening
A Shine of Rainbows, Saturday, June 5, 11 a.m.
Alamar, Saturday, June 5, 2 p.m.
Ondine, Saturday, June 5, 5 p.m.
1981, Sunday, June 6, 11 a.m.
My Year Without Sex, Sunday, June 6, 2 p.m.
Soul Kitchen, Sunday, June 6, 5 p.m.
Individual tickets to BIFF at the Little Cinema are $10; a Pittsfield Pass is available for $125.
See www.biffma.com for more details.
Berkshire Museum’s Little Cinema presents nightly screenings at 8 p.m. and Mondays at 2 p.m. Check our website http://berkshiremuseum.org/calendar/ for movie listings, or to sign up for weekly film announcements via email. Little Cinema ticket prices are $6 for members; $8 for not-yet-members. Museum members can purchase a Buff pass: $30 for 5 tickets, good for any 2010 season screening.
Berkshire Museum is located at 39 South St. on Route 7 in Downtown Pittsfield. For more information, contact the Berkshire Museum at (413) 443-7171, ext. 10