The Grand Illusion

The master of dark comic misery, Todd Solondz, casts his ironic-compassionate gaze on a panoply of suburban New Jersey sad sacks and societal rejects—including a phone sex fiend, a pedophile father, and an elderly couple going through a divorce—in this audacious exploration of the universal search for fulfillment. By turns bitterly hilarious, darkly disturbing, and emotionally devastating (sometimes all at once), HAPPINESS dares to extend empathy to even the most damaged among us.

Jas and Chase of Unstreamable will introduce the Friday, Feb. 9 screening! This 35mm print is the best way to see the film. There is no recent home video or streaming release.

“[Solondz] fills Happiness with enough misery to make its most outrageous joke its title — and with enough true, unexpected tenderness to warrant this view of the world.” Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“The world of Happiness is a bit off-kilter, which creates distance between you and the film. But if you look closer, you might get a glimpse of your own pathetic desires and contradictions.” Jas Keimig, The Stranger

“It is not a film for most people. It is certainly for adults only. But it shows Todd Solondz as a filmmaker who deserves attention, who hears the unhappiness in the air and seeks its sources.” Roger Ebert

In a barbaric fantasy sci-fi trip through time, sword-and-sorcery mythology is bent, fractured, and gender-swapped by master visionary Bertrand Mandico in his third feature epic. Six lives, six eras, and six deaths mark Conann’s poetic journey through different incarnations and lesbian loves. Guiding Conann through her many epic lives is Elina Löwensohn (AMATEUR, LET THE CORPSES TAN) as Rainer, a Cerberus of many otherworldly dimensions whose paparazzi camera sees all.

The perversity of THE WILD BOYS and the hero’s journey of AFTER BLUE (DIRTY PARADISE) – Mandico’s two previous films – come together in this even greater handmade homage as the director ropes in influences as lush as FELLINI SATYRICON, THE NIGHT PORTER, THE HUNGER, and Fassbinder’s entire oeuvre to craft a moving portrait of a warrior trying to find her place while outside of space, time, and meaning. Official selection of Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Fantastic Fest, and Sitges.

In English and French with English subtitles.

“She Is Conann is not for the faint of heart, weak of stomach, or morally pious. It plays upon the most provocative ideas imaginable—pushing the boundaries of not only sexuality, gender, and self-image, but societal norms too.” Maggie Lovitt, Collider

“Director Bertrand Mandico’s lurid saga of gender-queer decadence and visceral violence is a ravishing sensory feast for viewers with strong stomachs.” Stephen Dalton, The Film Verdict

This semi-autobiographical feature from writer/director Molly McGlynn is a coming-of-age dramady that follows 16-year-old Lindy (Maddie Ziegler), who is unexpectedly diagnosed with MRKH syndrome, a rare congenital disorder affecting the reproductive system. The diagnosis upends Lindy's plans to have sex, her presumptions about womanhood and sexuality, and her relationship with her mother (Emily Hampshire). Most importantly, it changes her own relationship with herself. Executive produced by Janelle Monáe's Wondaland Pictures.

“Personal, raw, and at times wickedly funny, the film is an excellent showcase for Ziegler, whose natural performance leaves a lasting impression.” Laura Bradley, The Daily Beast

“Fitting In is an at-times hilarious and consistently engrossing look at a flawed but earnest teenage girl in the process of redefining her new normal.” Candice Frederick, Huffington Post

“A sweet, slightly angry clarion call for a world where frank conversations and abundant information about sexual, reproductive, and gynecological health become a more normalized part of the coming-of-age process.” Marya E. Gates, RogerEbert.com

Presented by The Sprocket Society.

The Saturday Secret Matinees are back for an epic 16th season, with weekly serial episodes plus secret classic features, all on 16mm film! Save with a series pass!

In FLASH GORDON’S TRIP TO MARS (1938), galactic dictator Ming the Merciless has escaped certain death and fled to Mars! Aided by the evil Queen Azura, Ming is destroying Earth as a mere stepping stone in a new war of interplanetary death and conquest! Intrepid Flash Gordon, steadfast Dale Arden, and super-genius Professor Zarkov once again fly between worlds and against all odds in a desperate bid to stop Ming’s ruthless campaign of fascist doom! Rarely screened, this second of the three Flash Gordon serials is considered among the best cliffhangers ever made.

Each week’s show also includes a secret feature film. Bi-weekly themes provide clues, but it could be almost anything: mysteries, sci-fi, art house, or monsters; a forgotten gem or a beloved classic.

Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars is “a nearly ideal sequel…it’s also a nearly ideal serial. …It balances good acting, atmosphere, action, and plotting in such fine style that it would still be a notable achievement if it were the sole entry in the Flash Gordon series.” – The Files of Jerry Blake

“The beauty of the film is that it manages to outshine its extremely primitive background and create a world of pure wonder.” – Moria Reviews

Jan. 6: Flash vs. Ming: The epic begins!

Jan. 13 & 20: Forgotten British Sci-Fi
Lost gems from across the pond

Jan. 27 & Feb. 3: Weimar Noir
Dark tales from a dark time, by German masters

Feb. 10 & 17: Revenge Westerns
Two legendary actors redefining the genre for grown-ups 

Feb. 24 & Mar. 2: Deadly Intrigues
Life or death plots and thrilling battles in the distant past 

Mar. 9 & 16: Pulp Detectives Strike!
Dime magazine faves in B-movie mysteries

Mar. 23 & 30: Kookoo for Kaiju
Japanese giant monster classics

Aspiring girl group The Skirts are on their way, through scorching desert heat, to sing on a prime time Las Vegas television competition. All is well on Girl Trip until their clunky old car breaks down, leaving them to walk towards a dusty old town they see in the distance for help. Little do they know, this ghost town is the top secret hideout of a gang of drug dealing bikers! Taking the girl group captive, the bikers and their molls terrorize The Skirts, who don't know how to fire guns, but continue to fight to survive (dressed in their undies and hair teased to the max). Spawning an inexplicable total of three straight to VHS sequels, this gem of physical media features: a woman spraying a rattlesnake with a can of hairspray! Bikers delivering drugs to Mexico via remote control toy airplane! Really catchy song and dance numbers by our gals The Skirts!

“A film that will chain you to fear – terrorizing your senses and violating your sensibilities – [This movie] takes you on a ride through the fires of hell.” Actual VHS Box Quote

“[This movie] is an unpretentious actioner that conjures up delights of the nonsensical biker pics that filled drive-ins nationwide two decades ago.” IMDb (3 out of 3 found this helpful)

“The movie’s stupidity comes through most during the fight scenes.” ComeuppanceReviews.net

NEVER RELEASED ON DVD! ONLY ON VHS! ONLY $3!