March 1 - The Piano (1993), 120 minutes, directed by Jane Campion, starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, and Anna Paquin.
Holly Hunter earned a Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Ada McGrath, a mute Scotswoman venturing into the 19th century New Zealand wilderness for an arranged marriage. All the departments of The Piano mesh flawlessly, from cinematography and costume design, to acting and score. The film also earned Oscars for Jane Campion’s screenplay and 11 year old Anna Paquin’s supporting turn as Ada’s daughter. Today The Piano holds a place in the British Film Institute’s Sight & Sound poll of the top 100 greatest films of all time.
The Piano will be co-hosted by KD Davis, Emeritus Senior Programmer of World Cinema at the Mill Valley Film Festival.
March 2024 CinemaLit - Women Screenwriter-Directors on Women’s Lives
March at CinemaLit features a series of five startlingly fresh and visionary films written and directed by women. Each focuses on women’s lives with an emphasis on displacement, both geographic and emotional. In an industry dominated by finding the next billion dollar franchise and breakthrough computer technology, these films offer other ways of appreciating the expanding potential of motion picture story and content. Join us for Jane Campion’s The Piano (1993), Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia (2009), Lulu Wang’s The Farewell (2018), Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland (2020), and Sarah Polley’s Women Talking (2022).
March is Women's History Month and Mechanics' Institute is proud to feature works of cinematic importance, vision, and gravity by Women Screenwriters and Directors.
Matthew Kennedy, CinemaLit’s curator, has written biographies of Marie Dressler, Joan Blondell, and Edmund Goulding. His book Roadshow! The Fall of Film Musicals in the 1960s, was the basis of a film series on Turner Classic Movies. His most recent book, On Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide, examines the screen legend's entire career.
“I don't have a favorite film,” Matthew says. "I find that my relationships to films, actors, genres, and directors change as I change over the years. Some don't hold up. Some look more profound, as though I've caught up with their artistry. I feel that way about Garbo, Cary Grant, director John Cassavetes, and others."
“Classic films have historical context, something only time can provide,” Matt observes. “They become these great cultural artifacts, so revealing of tastes, attitudes, and assumptions.”
Mechanics' Institute Members Free
Non-Members $10
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Please note: Photos and/or video may be taken during this event.
CinemaLit Films
