Movies
Trouble in paradise
“The Pollinators” is a new film that documents the work of commercial beekeepers, showing the devastating impact of modern agricultural practices on our insect collaborators. Read more
A study in contrasts
Both entertaining and wickedly satirical, Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” demonstrates the South Korean director is at the top of his game. Read more
Midwest lens
Sharing the stories of working people has defined the remarkable 50-year career of documentarian Julia Reichert. She’s at Cinematheque on Nov. 16 with “Seeing Red: Stories of American Communists.” Read more
About damn time
Director Kasi Lemmons provides an important historical corrective with “Harriet,” the origin story of the original badass American hero, Harriet Tubman. It stars a towering Cynthia Erivo. Read more
Salty conflict
The supernatural elements of “The Lighthouse” are less successful than the dramatic conflict between two seafaring characters played by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Read more
Electric drama
Film critic MaryAnn Johanson revisits the critically maligned “The Current War.” A new director’s cut is in theaters now. Read more
The future of cinema
Zia Anger’s first film was labeled “abandoned.” Find out what really happened at “My First Film,” the director’s groundbreaking multimedia presentation at MMoCA on Oct. 23. Read more
Punk and circumstance
Punk rock lives, and it’s captured in a new independent documentary, “Punk the Capital,” screening at Communication on Oct. 12. Bonus: It’s touring with Jeff Nelson, former drummer of Minor Threat and Teen Idles. Read more
Roger Turner
Street fighting town
Glenn Silber, one of the directors of the groundbreaking “The War at Home,” visits Madison for a special screening of the restored documentary Oct. 13 at the Orpheum Theater. Read more
Fall Arts Preview
With Gallery Night coming right up, it’s just the beginning of an exciting fall for arts and culture in our fair city. Read more
Film for a troubled planet
“Anthropocene: The Human Epoch,” showing at Union South Marquee on Sept. 25, is a chilling look at humans’ impact on the planet — and a call to action. Read more
Simple and profound
UW-Cinematheque hosts a series of films by Abbas Kiarostami, an Iranian filmmaker who inspired a generation to fall in love with cinema. Read more
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
It’s hard to keep still and quiet while watching “Say Amen, Somebody,” a documentary that shines a spotlight on U.S. gospel pioneers. Read more
Native history, white tears
In “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” a white writer is kidnapped (sort of) by two Native American men who take him on a journey through Indian Country to impart lessons of spirituality and history. Read more
Netflix
Local stories, global consequences
“American Factory” takes a close, personal look at the workforce in Dayton, Ohio, after the Chinese-owned Fuyao Group reopens a shuttered GM plant, offering non-union jobs to former auto workers. Read more
Music Box Films
Culture clash
“Give Me Liberty,” a film made in Milwaukee, has already gained acclaim at Sundance and Cannes. It has its Madison premiere at Cinematheque Aug. 29. Read more
New Day Films
Hidden in plain sight
There are few facilities like this anywhere in the country, and even fewer that never charge admission. So why don’t more people take advantage of the films shown by Cinematheque? Read more
Soft on injustice
“Brian Banks” is based on the true story of a promising football player who was exonerated after being imprisoned for six years for a crime he didn’t commit. It features a great performance from Aldis Hodge. Read more
Columbia Pictures
When old is new
Quentin Tarantino has lovingly reconstructed the LA of his childhood in “Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood. It’s still Tarantino, but covers fresh territory. Read more
Mad, madder, maddest Max
George Miller’s bonkers “Mad Max” saga is back where it belongs: on the big screen. You can still catch three of the four dystopian masterpieces for free at UW Cinematheque. Read more
