Thursday, July 07, 2016

Restored Kurosawa's 'Ran' & More Film Treats at BAMPFA


A weekend of fine cinema unspools at Berkeley's BAMPFA starting on Friday with a showing of Akira Kurosawa's masterful "Ran" and we'll be treated to a digitally restored print on the big screen.

The last time I saw it was three years back at the Castro Theater and I'm primed to enjoy its visual splendors, and knotty plot, again. "Ran" plays July 8 at 7 pm.

On Saturday, BAMPFA shows more restored prints. Carol Reed's classic "The Third Man" with Orson Welles in a supporting role and magnificent cinematography and a zither-driven music track, screens at 6 pm.

Then at 8:30 pm, Wim Wenders' documentary about Japan's capital city, the films of Ozu and a favorite actor of his, "Tokyo-Ga," plays as part of the retrospective of this modern German director.

The weekend concludes with a rare screening of Ernst Lubitsch's American-made silent "The Marriage Circle" starring Adolphe Menjou, at 4:30 pm on Sunday. The incomparable musician Judith Rosenberg provides live piano accompaniment.

All of these choices offer delights and are worth catching. Click here for program notes and tickets.

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