The Tree
Charlotte Gainsbourg plays a recently widowed mother of four kids, one of whom — an eight-year-old girl — insists that her dad’s spirit lives on in a giant tree in their yard. She also says the leaves talk to her. A closing-night film at Cannes, The Tree is jammed with the kinda stuff art-house fans adore, including French accents, metaphysical musings, and Charlotte Gainsbourg. At the Cinematheque at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, October 8, and 4 p.m. Sunday, October 9. — Michael Gallucci
Avanti!
Billy Wilder’s 1972 romantic comedy, starring Jack Lemmon, runs almost two and a half hours. Cinematheque. At 5 p.m. Saturday, October 8, and 8:55 p.m. Sunday, October 9.
Chains
Italian director Raffaello Matarazzo’s 1949 melodrama. Cleveland Museum of Art’s Morley Lecture Hall. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 12.
The Duck Hunter
It’s set around the time of World War II and involves a group of friends. Sounds a lot like The Deer Hunter with ducks, no? Cedar Lee Theatre. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 6.
Film Socialisme
Jean-Luc Godard’s latest is set on a cruise ship and stars Patti Smith. Cleveland Museum of Art’s Morley Lecture Hall. At 7 p.m. Friday, October 7, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, October 9.
The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence
More mouth-to-ass surgical enhancements. Opens Friday at the Cedar Lee.
Machine Gun Preacher
Gerard Butler kicks ass as a born-again, gun-wielding dude who helps save Sudanese kids. Opens Friday at the Cedar Lee.
The Myth of the American Sleepover
Four kids in Detroit enjoy the last weekend of summer. Cinematheque. At 8:50 p.m. Thursday, October 6, and 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 7.
Nosferatu
One of the best horror movies ever made is part of the Late Shift series. Capitol Theatre. Midnight. Saturday, October 8.
Rapt
A rich dude is kidnapped. When stuff about his personal life starts to come out, people wonder whether he’s really worth the ransom demand. Cinematheque. At 9:25 p.m. Friday, October 7; 9:45 p.m. Saturday, October 8; and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 9.
Sarah Palin: You Betcha
Documentary about that scary lady from Alaska who wants to be president. Opens Friday at the Cedar Lee.
Too Early, Too Late
Filmmakers Danièle Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub ruminate on France and Egypt in a typically meditative movie from 1982. Cinematheque. At 6:45 p.m. Thursday, October 6.
This article appears in Oct 5-11, 2011.