The Boedecker Cinema Blog

Our Films For The Week of July 11th

Minimalism: A Documentary About The Important Things

Directed by Matt D’Avella, 1 hr 19 min

The feature-length film from the popular simple living duo, The Minimalists, is back by popular demand. Imagine a life with less: less stuff, less clutter, less stress, less debt, less discontent. A life with fewer distractions. Now imagine a life with more: more time, more meaningful relationships, more growth, more contribution, more contentment. A life of passion that is unencumbered by the trappings of the chaotic world around you. What you’re imagining is an intentional life. Not a perfect life — not an easy life — but a simple life. This documentary examines the many flavors of minimalism by taking the audience inside the lives of minimalists from all walks of life. From minimalist architects, designers, and musicians, to businessmen, authors, and minimalist families, this film explores various recipes for how to live a more meaningful, deliberate life.

Showtimes: Tuesday July 12 7:30 PM (Gordon Gamm Theater) BUY TICKETS HERE!

Review by Nina Metz of the Chicago Tribune

Boedecker Blog Xtra: In keeping with the theme of minimalist film, check out these re-imagined minimalist movie posters on Pinterest.

The Music of Strangers

Featuring Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble, Directed by Morgan Neville, 1 hr 36 min

In this documentary, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) profiles celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, which brings together master musicians from around the world to teach, collaborate, and perform. Silk Road’s aspiration to “create unexpected connections” is the kind of goal that’s easier said than done but in this film, we witness the tangible results of the Ensemble’s eclectic collaborations. Among the musicians we meet are Iran’s Kayhan Kalhor, a master of the kamancheh fiddle, China’s Wu Man, a virtuoso on the lute-like pipa, and Galicia’s Cristina Pato, known as the Jimi Hendrix of gaita bagpipes. Despite their divergent backgrounds, they share a passion for passing traditions to new generations. Full of transcendent music- including Ma’s performance of a solo Bach piece in the Toronto Music Garden, a space that he co-created- The Music of Strangers will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the stunning variety of our world’s musical traditions, and an appetite to hear more.

Join The Dairy’s own music curator, Jim Bailey, and cellist and personal friend of Yo-Yo Ma, Lisa Lancaster, for a talk back on Wednesday July 13 following the film at 7:00 PM

Showtimes: Wednesday July 13 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, Thursday July 14 4:30 PM, Friday July 15 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM, Saturday July 16 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, Sunday July 17 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM, Monday July 18 4:30 PM, Tuesday July 19 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM. BUY TICKETS HERE!

Review by Stephanie Merry of the Washington Post

Boedecker Blog Xtra: “This film asks big questions about what role art and culture plays in a modern world with so many different political problems. And I think today, as we see so many people wanting to build walls, I think this is all about building bridges. I mean it’s something that arts and culture do, that film does, that music does; it creates empathy and understanding and if we need anything more in today’s world, it’s empathy and understanding” -Morgan Neville, Filmmaker

Check out other clips from his interview at the Sydney Film Festival last month.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Starring Julian Dennison and Sam Neill, Directed by Taika Waititi, 1 hr 41 min

The film focuses on Ricky (Julian Dennison), a defiant city kid raised on hip-hop and foster care, who gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec (Sam Neill), and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush. As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws must face their options: go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their differences and survive as a family. Equal parts road comedy and rousing adventure story, director Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows) masterfully weaves lively humor with emotionally honest performances by Neill and Dennison. This hilarious, touching crowd-pleaser, which received a standing ovation at its Sundance premiere, reminds us about growing up and those who help us along the way.

Join the Boedecker’s own assistant manager (and bowler hat wearing mascot), Kit Marcy, for a talk back on July 14 following the film at 7:00 PM

Showtimes: Wednesday July 13 5:00 PM, Thursday July 14 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM, Friday July 15 4:30 PM, Saturday July 16 5:00 PM. BUY TICKETS HERE!

Review by David Fear of Rolling Stone

Boedecker Blog Xtra: Extras: Director Taika Waititi shares his five favorite films of all time with Rotten Tomatoes

Friday Night Weird- Sponsored by Terrapin Care Station

Lucha Mexico

Directed by Ian Markiewicz and Alex Hammond, 1 hr 45 min

In Mexico, the fight between good and evil has been waged every week for decades, thrilling generations of fans with the spectacle of Lucha Libre. Real-life superheroes and villains, these masked wrestlers put their lives on the line night after night to entertain the legions of fans. Gaining remarkable access to all the major Lucha promotions, Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz offer an entertaining, no holds barred look at some of the sport’s top performers, featuring the “1000% Guapo,” Shocker, Luchador heir Blue Demon Jr., the tragic hardcore wrestler El Hijo del Perro Aguago, and extreme American bodybuilder Jon “Strongman” Andersen. Lucha Mexico goes behind the mask, on a journey into the heart of Mexico.

Showtimes: Friday July 15 8:30 PM. BUY TICKETS HERE!

Review by Roger Moore of Movie Nation

Boedecker Blog Xtra: Discover an in depth history of the mask-wearing tradition of Lucha Libre from Online World of Wrestling

Dairy Comedy at the Boe

Featuring Phil Palisoul

Dairy Comedy at The Boe features headliner Phil Palisoul, a 20 year comedy veteran who has dozens of TV appearances under his belt, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing, and more. He has travelled the world doing comedy and has worked with and earned the respect of some of the biggest names in comedy, like Jerry Seinfeld, Drew Carey, and George Lopez. Rounding out the bill will be Janae Burris, a 10 year comedy veteran from Los Angeles, California, Ben Adams and Jeff Albright, two Denver favorites. Dairy Comedy is hosted by visual artist and comic James Goldmill.

Showtimes: Saturday July 16 9:00 PM

Ballet on Screen

Ballet Hispanico: CARMEN.maquia | Club Havana

Featuring the Ballet Hispanico Company, Choreographed by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and Pedro Ruiz, 1hr 43min

Ballet Hispanico takes us to contemporary dance’s hottest spot in this imaginative and theatrical showcase of Latin-inspired dancing at its best. In Club Havana, the intoxicating rhythms of the conga, rumba, mambo and cha cha are brought to life by choreographer Pedro Ruiz, himself a native of Cuba. Hailed as a “masterpiece” by the Chicago Sun-Times, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s CARMEN.maquia is a Picasso-inspired, contemporary take on Bizet’s classic opera about a passionate gypsy. Riveting from start to finish, the physically charged and sensual choreography fuses contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble and flamenco.

Showtimes: Sunday July 17 1:00 PM and Wednesday July 20 1:00 PM. BUY TICKETS HERE!

Additional screenings for week of July 11:

GOYA Visions of Flesh and Blood

— Wednesday July 13 at 1:00 PM

Missed the talkback on Sunday July 10th? Never fear! (or maybe fear this one a little..) Rebecca Cuscaden, Curator of Visual Art at the Dairy, shares her thoughts on some of Goya’s work that you won’t find in the film.

“Although not the focus of the film “Goya: Visions of Flesh and Blood”, which centers on an exhibition of portraits by the famous Spanish painter, I want to share some of the most modern and horrifying paintings that are in the darker side of Goya’s oeuvre. These are his “Black Paintings,” a series of 14 paintings that the artist painted on the walls in his own home. One of these dark images that continues to haunt my dreams is “Saturn Devouring His Son.” This captivating painting is still one of the most unnerving works of art I have ever seen and it is also a testament to Goya’s versatile artistic technique and his contributions to the development of modern art.”