The Grand Illusion

Twenty-fourth encore screening! This Febchewary, let the beavers be your Valentine.

Our friends at Central Cinema are generously helping us keep the beavers gnawing away while we search for a new home. 60% of ticket sales go to our relocation fund!

In this 19th century, supernatural winter epic, a drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero and become North America’s greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers.

“Starts strange, gets stranger, and yet remains resolutely adorable… embraces the defiant glee of art cinema and distills it into something so thoroughly pure and sincere that it is surely hard not to fall in love with it.” Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Alliance of Women Film Journalists

“It’s sure to develop a significant cult following with its unique mix of silent-era slapstick, animation elements, theme-park-style critter costumes, and general air of inspired absurdity.” Dennis Harvey, Variety

“Steroidally swollen with gags and smarts.” Guy Maddin

40th anniversary of John Woo's landmark action classic, newly restored!

The film that established John Woo as the king of the Hong Kong gunplay film and made a superstar of Chow Yun-Fat! An ex-gangster tries to reconnect with his estranged policeman brother, but he finds that his ties to gangs are harder to break than he thought.

In Cantonese with English subtitles.

Special live intro from local Hong Kong genre film connoisseur and one of the programmers of the Seattle Film Society, Patrick McFarland.

“The Citizen Kane of Hong Kong cinema.” Dave Kehr, The New York Times

In remembrance of Robert Duvall, his Academy Award-winning performance.

Down-on-his-luck country singer Mac Sledge (Robert Duvall) has nowhere to turn when he wakes up in a motel, short on cash. So he takes a job from Rosa Lee (Tess Harper), the kindly widow who runs the place. Mac begins to fall for Rosa, who helps him confront his drinking, and also finds an unexpected bond with Rosa's young son. When the opportunity for a career comeback surfaces, Mac must choose between his new life and the life he let slip through his hands.

“Mr. Duvall’s versatility seems to know no limit; in his role here as an over-the-hill country singer, he creates yet another quietly unforgettable character.” Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“Alongside works by Terrence Malick, John Cassavetes and John Huston, this breathtaking 1983 melodrama is one of the wellsprings of US indie cinema… Duvall was never better, and that’s saying something… It’s a film of quiet, relentless power which demands – and rewards – a level of belief, even faith in its characters which few other films even dare to suggest. For all its simplicity, this is bold, heartfelt filmmaking. A masterpiece.” Tom Huddleston, Time Out

In remembrance of Robert Duvall, a screening of his underseen masterpiece.

Written by, directed by, and starring Duvall (in an Academy Award-nominated performance), THE APOSTLE tells the story of Sonny, a gifted Southern preacher loved by his community, who, after committing a crime of passion, flees the state of Texas and winds up in a small Louisiana town. There, he changes his name to "The Apostle E.F." and opens up a new church with the help of a retired reverend (John Beasley). While battling personal demons and injecting new life into his congregation, Sonny searches for peace from his past transgressions.

Featuring Miranda Richardson, Billy Bob Thornton, Farrah Fawcett, and a young Walton Goggins in supporting roles.

“A labor of love coming to fruition after 13 years, The Apostle, Robert Duvall’s third — and best — directorial effort, is a sharply observed exploration of a middle-aged preacher who embarks on a redemption odyssey… surely one of [Duvall’s] most riveting performances.” Emanual Levy, Variety

4/4 stars! “The movie feels as alive as if it’s a documentary of things happening right now… There aren’t that many people in the film industry gifted enough to make such a film, and fewer still with the courage to deal honestly with a subject both spiritual and complex… The Apostle is like a lesson in how movies can escape from convention and penetrate the hearts of rare characters.” Roger Ebert

One of the very best horror movies of 2025 and a wicked (and well-deserved) Academy Award nominee for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at this year's Oscars. Presented in glorious 35mm!

A sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story, writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt's THE UGLY STEPSISTER follows Elvira as she prepares to earn the prince's affection at any cost. In a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will compete with the beautiful and enchanting Agnes to become the belle of the ball.

In Norwegian with English subtitles.

“One of the best horror films of the decade so far.” Drew Gregory, Autostraddle

Critic’s Pick! “Slyly funny and visually captivating, its scenes move with ease from gross to gorgeous, and from grotesque to magical.” Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times