The Rain People

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courtesy Warner Bros.

James Caan and Shirley Knight in "The Rain People."

As the commercial theaters have all but abandoned art cinema in Madison, others continue working to screen new films that otherwise could only be seen at home, if at all. UW Cinematheque is taking their efforts to fill this programming gap to another level during the fall semester and screening a Madison premiere every Thursday. Sept. 1 kicks off the series with Fire of Love, an acclaimed documentary drawn from archival footage of volcano-studying scientists Katia and Maurice Krafft; upcoming Thursdays include films from France, South Korea, Belgium and Australia. Cinematheque is not abandoning its repertory of classics, though; of particular note this month are Little Murders, a 1971 directorial effort by Alan Arkin that is hilarious and horrifying, sometimes simultaneously (Sept. 10); and Francis Ford Coppola's neglected 1969 character study, The Rain People (Sept. 17). Find much more at cinema.wisc.edu.

media release: USA | 1969 | DCP | 102 min.  

Director: Francis Ford Coppola; Cast: James Caan, Shirley Knight, Robert Duvall 

Abandoning her husband, pregnant Natalie (Knight, in her finest performance) begins an aimless drive across America, picking up the mentally disabled Kilgannon (Caan) along the way. Coppola’s last directorial effort before taking on The Godfather, this surprising, moody, and fascinating road movie presents a sensitive portrait of a real woman and her problems. It’s also a great showcase for future Corleone clan members Duvall, who plays a highway cop, and the late, great Caan. New 4K restoration. 

Admission free for all screenings, seating limited. No admission 15 minutes after scheduled start times. Please visit our website for a complete listing of programs and descriptions.