Monkey Business

We're really not sure who's clamoring to see Lilya 4-Ever, one of the films showing at the Cleveland Cinematheque's All-Request Weekend (which actually runs two weekends). Frankly, Lukas Moodysson's 2002 downer -- about a 16-year-old Russian girl who turns to prostitution after her mother abandons her -- bums us out. It's unrelentingly sad and offers absolutely no hope. In short, it makes us want to slit our wrists. Still, it is skilled filmmaking.

Now King Kong, we can understand. After taking in Peter Jackson's big-budget remake a half-dozen times, we're in the mood for a little old-fashioned giant-monkey action. And while we totally go bananas over Jackson's version, there's a ragtag charm to the 1933 original that's hard to beat. King Kong screens at 7:30 tonight. The black comedy Sordid Lives follows at 9:35 p.m. (it also shows at 7 p.m. tomorrow). Lilya 4-Ever is at 9:10 p.m. tomorrow.
Sat., March 18, 7:30 & 9:35 p.m.; Sun., March 19, 7 & 9:10 p.m.