Film nerds: it’s our time! The Chicago International Film Festival kicks off its 60th year Wednesday with a screening of “The Piano Lesson,” an adaptation directed by Malcolm Washington of the Pulitzer prize-winning August Wilson play.
This year features nearly 190 films and dozens of special events, so let’s break down the highlights.
Most Anticipated
- “Here” — A “Forrest Gump” reunion?! Tom Hanks and Robin Wright team up with the director and writer of the cult classic for this story of familial power.
- “Hard Truths” — A dark comedy about an afflicted woman prone to lashing out at anyone who might cross her path. Just watch the trailer and tell me you don’t know someone like this in your life.
- “The Room Next Door” — Legendary Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s first foray into English-language movies, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. Expect all the emotion and color of his other films.
- “Nightbitch” — Don’t let the trailer fool you. This surrealist comedy-drama is a biting take on what it’s like to be a mother in America. Starring Amy Adams as a young mother who turns into a dog at night.
Local Titles
- “Shorts: Now and Then” — A collection of eight short films by Illinois filmmakers focusing on how the past shapes the future.
- “Okie” — A rural Illinoisan who made it out becomes a bestselling novelist via Midwestern gossip. Is he a hero or an opportunist?
- “The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells” — Art and activism collide in this documentary about Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt’s Bronzeville tribute to civil rights icon Ida B. Wells. Bring some tissues.
Free Screenings
There will be free screenings at the Hamilton Park Cultural Center and the National Museum of Mexican Art throughout the 12-day event. Doors open 30 minutes before each screening and operate on a first-come-first-served basis, so plan to show up early.
I would definitely recommend the Oct. 21 screening of “La Cocina,” a vivid story of an ambitious New York line cook (played by Raúl Briones) and his affair with a waitress (played by Rooney Mara) — an “American dream” drama that’s hotter than the kitchen itself. It’s already getting some rave reviews and is directed by one of my favorite Mexican directors, Alonso Ruizpalacios.
For the Freaks
- “The Rule of Jenny Pen” — John Lithgow plays a sadistic retirement home resident torturing neighbors with a doll.
- “Grafted” — A young scientist uses her skin-grafting innovations to enact revenge on her enemies. An instant body horror classic.
Check out the full festival lineup and let us know what you’re excited to watch.
