Theater Temporarily Closed —
Virtual Screening Rooms Open
On Friday, March 13, 2020, the Film Society of Summit closed its doors due to Covid-19
Until we can be together again, we have opened a virtual cinema for you, accessible through this website.
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New To Our Virtual Cinema
THE REASON I JUMP by Jerry Rothwell
In the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta, an abandoned water reservoir just outside the bustling metropolis, the Enache family lived in perfect harmony with nature for two decades, sleeping in a hut on the lakeshore, catching fish barehanded, and following the rhythm of the seasons. When this area is transformed into a public national park, they are forced to leave behind their unconventional life and move to the city, where fishing rods are replaced by smartphones and idle afternoons are now spent in classrooms. As the family struggles to conform to modern civilization and maintain their connection to each other and themselves, they each begin to question their place in the world and what their future might be. With their roots in the wilderness, the nine children and their parents struggle to find a way to keep their family united in the concrete jungle. With an empathetic and cinematic eye, filmmaker Radu Ciorniciuc offers viewers, in his feature debut, a compelling tale of an impoverished family living on the fringes of society in Romania, fighting for acceptance and their own version of freedom.
THE REASON I JUMP by Jerry Rothwell
Based on the groundbreaking memoir by 13-year-old author Naoki Higashida, this fascinating documentary uses an immersive, impressionistic approach to chronicle the rich inner lives of five non-speaking autistic people around the world.
Moments in the lives of each of the characters are linked by the journey of a young Japanese boy through an epic landscape; narrated passages from Naoki’s writing reflect on what his autism means to him and others, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps. The film distills these elements into a sensually rich tapestry that leads us to Naoki’s core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say.
76 Days
Directed by Hao Wu and Weixi Chen
A raw, fly-on-the-wall recounting of hospital life in Wuhan in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, 76 Days is an engrossing and potent documentary - and a surprisingly comforting portrait of humanity.
The film includes a pre-recorded Q&A with director Hao Wu available for all ticket buyers. Watch trailer:
MTV Documentary Films to make award-winning 76 DAYS free on Saturday, January 23rd to benefit independent cinemas and commemorate one year anniversary of COVID lockdown in Wuhan Promo code FREEJAN23
Playing In Our Virtual Cinema
COUP 53 by Taghi Amirani
Coup 53 shines a powerful light on British involvement in Operation Ajax, the 1953 coup that overthrew democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh with consequences that still shape the modern world. Director Taghi Amirani’s forensic focus and expert storytelling create a vital docu/drama with the potential to reach far beyond history buffs and conspiracy theorists.
As compelling as a John Le Carre novel
Iranian-born Amirani makes his quest for the truth a central element of Coup 53, allowing the viewer to share in the sense of pulse-racing discovery as his dogged detective work unearths vital documents, revealing testimony and expert witnesses. The result is a far-reaching insight into the misadventures of imperialist powers that feels as compelling as a John Le Carre novel or a Costa-Gavras classic.
OLIVER SACKS: HIS OWN LIFE by Ric Burns
A moving tribute to Oliver Sacks, M.D. who, for decades, captured the imagination of the public with his eloquently written case studies of cognitive disorders yet remained private for much of his own life, specifically about his struggles growing up gay in the repressive England of the 1950s.
Winner: Hamptons Audiemce Award: Official Selection: NYFF, Telluride
Join us for a virtual panel discussion of Oliver Sacks: His Own Life with Dr. Patel and Dr. Sharma, neurologists at Atlantic Health System, and Kate Edgar, Director of the Oliver Sacks Foundation, Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 pm.
POSTPONED Register here for our Zoom discussion, Will be rescheduled in February. (no cost)
Tazzeka
Directed by Jean-Philippe Gaud
Growing up in the Moroccan village of Tazzeka, Elias learned the secrets of traditional Moroccan cuisine from his grandmother who raised him. Years later, meeting a top Paris chef and a young woman named Salma inspires him to leave home.
In Paris, Elias faces unstable work and financial hardship as an undocumented immigrant. But he also finds friendship with Souleymane, who helps revive his passion for cooking. In French with English subtitles. Watch Trailer
"Tazzeka has a lot to say about the passion that fuels people, the way society treats immigrants, and how those two elements interrelate." ~ Film Threat
"All the more powerful as a portrait of south-to-north migration in the 21st century..." ~ Washington City Paper
Martin Eden
Directed by Pietro Marcello
“One of the year’s best films.”
– IndieWire
In this adaptation of a Jack London novel from Italian filmmaker Pietro Marcello, Martin Eden is a dissatisfied prole with artistic aspirations who hopes that his dreams of becoming a writer will help him rise above his station and marry a wealthy young university student. Martin Eden is an enveloping, superbly mounted bildungsroman.
COLLECTIVE
Directed by Alexander Hanau
NEW! Directed by Alexander Nanau (TOTO AND HIS SISTERS), COLLECTIVE follows a heroic team of journalists as they uncover shocking, widespread corruption. After a deadly nightclub fire, the mysterious death of the owner of a powerful pharmaceutical firm, and the quiet resignation of a health minister—seemingly unrelated events, all within weeks of each other—the team of intrepid reporters exposes a much larger, much more explosive political scandal. COLLECTIVE is a fast-paceed, real-time detective story about truth, accountability, and the value of an independent press in partisan times. In Romanian with English subtitles. Official Selection: Sundance, Toronto and Venice International Film Festivals.
MAYOR
Directed by David Osit
Filmmaker David Osit subtly – and with a keen eye for black humor – explores the absurdities of a worldly politician trying to turn his city into a Middle Eastern Amsterdam while in the midst of a geopolitical storm. Follow the mayor of Ramallah – de facto capital of the Palestinian people – you’ll see him greeting grateful constituents on the street, planning the town’s neon-bright Christmas celebrations, mulling “city branding” slogans with his aides in an effort to boost tourism…or dodging gunfire from an Israeli army fracas. It’s all in a day’s work for Mayor Musa Hadid, a liberal Christian and civil engineer by training, whose charming public persona is balanced by a self-effacing, realist streak. “I feel jealous when I visit other cities,” he laments. “They can do so much that we cannot.” “Thoughtful and gripping. There are whiffs of Veep-like humor throughout MAYOR. It’s also a sincere tale of a public servant who’s seeking to lead in a world that’s stacked against him.” WINNER – Grand Jury Prize, 2020 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
A Chef's Voyage
Directed by Rémi Anfosso
A Chef's Voyage follows the celebrated American Chef David Kinch and his team from Manresa, their 3 Star Michelin restaurant in California, for a one-of-a-kind collaboration with three legendary French chefs at their iconic restaurants in Paris, Provence, and Marseille.
To mark the 15th anniversary of Manresa, Kinch decides to close shop for a month so he and his staff can embark on their France voyage. Planning the trip takes months and the logistics are tricky: how to sneak the food on flights; unfamiliar host kitchens; a language barrier and more.
BREAKING SURFACE
Directed by Joachim Hedén
A few days after Christmas, half-sisters Ida and Tuva set out on a winter dive in a remote part of the Norwegian coastline. Towards the end of the dive, a rockslide traps Tuva under water. As Ida surfaces to call for help, she discovers that the rockslide has struck above water as well, burying their equipment, phones and car keys--they are completely cut off from any chance of outside rescue. As the frantic race for survival unfolds, Ida is put to the ultimate test of character and forcefulness. During Ida's fight to save Tuva, a fractured sisterhood is exposed, and when all seems lost, the stakes rise beyond simple survival. In Swedish with English subtitles.
SOROS
Directed by Jesse Dylan
NEW! Billionaire activist George Soros is one of the most influential and controversial figures of our time. Famous for betting against the Bank of England in 1992 and making a billion dollars in one day, he is maligned by ideologues on both the left and the right for daring to tackle the world’s problems and putting his money behind his fight – from free elections and freedom of the press to civil rights for minorities. With unprecedented access to the man and his inner circle, American director Jesse Dylan follows Soros across the globe and pulls back the curtain on his personal history, private wealth, and public activism. Soros reveals a complicated genius whose experience as a Jew during the Holocaust gave rise to a lifelong crusade against authoritarianism and hate. Appearances by Kofi Annan, Leon Botstein, Geoffrey Canada, Tucker Carlson, Sherrilyn Ifill, and many others.
TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL by Alex Gibney,
Ophelia Harutyunyun & Suzanne Hillinger
TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL chronicles Donald Trump and the White House’s failed response to the coronavirus pandemic. Filmed in secrecy over five months, this documentary examines how thousands of American lives and jobs could have been saved with better leadership.
HARRY CHAPIN: WHEN IN DOUBT DO SOMETHING
Directed by Rick Korn
The inspiring story of Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter/activist Harry Chapin (“Cat’s in the Cradle”). Chapin sold over 16 million albums and was one of his generation’s most beloved artist-activists who spent his fame and fortune trying to end world hunger before his tragic passing. The film features Bruce Springsteen, Peter Seeger, Sir Bob Geldof, Kenny Rogers, Graham Nash, Pat Benatar, Billie Joel, Richie Havens, and Harry Belafonte intimately reflecting on Chapin’s larger-than-life impact on music and the world.
THE DONUT KING
by Alice Gu
Everything you thought you knew about the donut begins with Ted Ngoy. This is the unlikely story of a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America’s favorite pastry, the donut.
Ted’s story is one of fate, love, survival, hard knocks, and redemption.
CHUCK LEAVELL: THE TREE MAN
Directed by Allen Farst
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man is the award winning cinematic documentary that explores the world's fascination with the greatest piano and keyboardist over the last 40 years. Follow Chuck's story as he divides his talent between music, forests and family. Having played for the likes of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, John Mayer and more. What many fans don't know, however, is that Leavell is also one of the biggest names in environmental forestry, going so far as to be named National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year in 1999.
Featuring interviews with Billy Bob Thornton, President Jimmy Carter, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Dickey Betts, Chris Robinson, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer, Miranda Lambert, Keith Richards, Paul Shaffer, Lee Ann Womack, Mike Mills, John Bell, Pat Monahan, Charlie Daniels, Bruce Hornsby, John Popper, Julian Lennon, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Woods, David Gilmore and a mountain of others.
The Gates
Directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Antonio Ferrera, Matthew Prinzing
The Gates chronicles the 25-year battle by Christo (1935-2020) and Jeanne-Claude (1935-2009) to get a public showcase for their work. In February 2005, New York City's Central Park was adorned with 7,503 gates made from steel frames and a saffron-colored nylon fabric. This documentary chronicles the work that went into the controversial, once-in-a-lifetime installation by world-renowned artist Christo and his wife, Jeanne-Claude. The pair must overcome various municipal and political hurdles. Once completed, the installation elicits a full range of reactions from the city's celebrities and non-famous residents.
Watch the film at your leisure prior to our virtual discussion of The Gates on Oct. 16 at 1 pm.
AGGIE by Catherine Gund
An exploration of the nexus of art, race, and justice through the story of art collector and philanthropist Agnes Gund who sold Roy Lichtenstein’s painting “Masterpiece” in 2017 for $165 million to start the Art for Justice Fund to end mass incarceration. This is untapped terrain, and we see Aggie leading the way. Official Selection: 2020 Sundance FF
RBG documentary
At the age of 85, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a lengthy legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. But the unique personal journey of her rise to the nation's highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans – until now. RBG explores Ginsburg's life and career.
JIMMY CARTER: ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT (documentary)
JIMMY CARTER, ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT charts the mostly forgotten story of how Carter, a lover of all types of music, forged a tight bond with musicians Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan and others. Low on campaign funds and lacking in name recognition, Carter relied on support from these artists to give him a crucial boost in the Democratic primaries. Once Carter was elected, the musicians became frequent guests in the White House. The surprisingly significant role that music played throughout Carter’s life and in his work becomes a thread in this engaging portrait of one of the most enigmatic Presidents in American history.
Selected as the Opening Night Film of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, JIMMY CARTER, ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT is filled with illuminating new interviews.
$10 per household
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind
An exploration into the career, music and influence of the iconic musician, this intimate documentary follows Gordon Lightfoot’s evolution from choirboy in rural Canada to troubled troubadour to international star.
$10 per household
The Tobacconist
Based on the international bestseller by Robert Seethaler. A tender, heart-breaking story about one young man and his friendship with Sigmund Freud during the Nazi occupation of Vienna.
$10 per household
Salutogenic Series: Film, Food and Nutrition
To advance the health and well-being of our patrons, the Film Society of Summit is launching a Salutogenic Series that combines a featured film in our Virtual Screening Room with presentations about food and nutrition. Nutrition offers benefits to health and well-being including support for the immune system. Participants will acquire the knowledge to select health-promoting foods while experiencing the cuisine of various cultures.
Each discussion is $10, $5 for Starter Members and Free for Single and Dual Members.
Fantastic Fungi
Fantastic Fungi is all about our interconnectedness and the common issues that we face as a species. We know that our biggest defense from these viruses is our own sense of wellbeing, our own immunity and the ability to live from a place of health and wellness both individually and collectively.
Directed by Louie Schwartzberg, this is a consciousness-shifting film that takes us on an immersive journey through time and scale into the magical earth beneath our feet, an underground network that can heal and save our planet’s most pressing environmental and global challenges.
Your rental helps support the Film Society of Summit.
$4.99 per household
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