The Knickerbocker Theatre at 换妻社区 will show four films through April 6 during its Winter Film Series, continuing the theatre鈥檚 tradition of showing new independent and foreign films for West Michigan.
The series will feature the Swedish biopic 鈥淏ecoming Astrid鈥� on Jan. 14-19; the documentary 鈥淔ar From the Tree鈥� on Jan. 28-Feb. 2; the animated documentary 鈥淒ay of the Western Sunrise鈥� on March 11-16; and the Icelandic comedy-drama 鈥淲oman at War鈥� on April 1-6. All films are at 7:30 p.m.
鈥淏ecoming Astrid,鈥� running Monday-Saturday, Jan. 14-19, depicts the early years of
Swedish author Astrid Lindren, the author of more than 100 children鈥檚 books, including
the Pipi Longstocking series. Teenage Astrid breaks free of the confines of her conservative
upbringing in rural Sweden, accepting an internship at a local newspaper and later
becoming pregnant after attracting the attention of the newspaper鈥檚 editor. After
reluctantly leaving her son, Lasse, in the care of a foster mother, she goes into
self-imposed exile in Stockholm. When the foster mother falls ill, Astrid uses her
imagination and flair for storytelling to reconnect with her son, establishing a newfound
courage that will later form the foundation of her work. The film is in Swedish with
English subtitles and is not rated.
Showing on Monday-Saturday, Jan. 28 - Feb. 2, 鈥淔ar From the Tree鈥� follows families
in which parents and children profoundly differ in a variety of ways. The documentary
is based on Andrew Solomon鈥檚 New York Times best-selling book 鈥淔ar From the Tree:
Parents, Children and the Search for Identity鈥� and offers a look at how families are
meeting extraordinary challenges through love, empathy and understanding. The Huffington
Post said that 鈥渢he film shines a bright light not just on these different families:
It also portrays a more universal vision and offers a map for all of us seeking to
discover the wonder of others.鈥� The film is not rated.
The series will then turn on Monday-Saturday, March 11-16, to 鈥淒ay of the Western Sunrise,鈥� which is a documentary produced by Zeeland native Keith Reimink that follows three survivors from a Japanese tuna fishing boat who were fishing off the coast of the Marshall Islands when the U.S. detonated Castle Bravo, the first in a series of hydrogen weapon tests. The film adapted a Japanese storytelling method known as 鈥渒amishibai,鈥� which means 鈥減aper drama,鈥� to intimately retell the fishermen鈥檚 story of enduring endless medical tests, radiation sickness and loss. Paying homage to this Japanese art form, all the film鈥檚 scenes consist of individual drawings with paper texture being animated in a 3D environment. The film is in Japanese with English subtitles and is not rated.
鈥淲oman at War鈥� will conclude the series on Monday-Saturday, April 1-6. The film tells the story of Halla, an independent woman in her late 40s, who declares a war on the local aluminum industry to stop its operations in the Icelandic highlands. In the midst of her dangerous, and at times, illegal, activism, a long-forgotten application to adopt a child from Ukraine is approved, and Halla is faced with the challenge of having this new addition to her life while still fighting for her cause. The film is in Icelandic, English, Spanish and Norwegian with English subtitles, and is not rated.
Tickets for the individual films are $7 for regular admission and $6 for senior citizens, 换妻社区 faculty and children. Tickets will be sold at the door.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.