New acclaimed independent films premiere at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre
Sedona AZ (August 9, 2016) – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premieres of the critically-acclaimed new films “The Innocents” and “De Palma” showing Aug. 19-24 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
THE INNOCENTS
From acclaimed filmmaker Anne Fontaine, the director of “Coco Before Chanel”, comes the riveting and moving new film “The Innocents”.
Warsaw, December 1945: a young French Red Cross doctor is summoned to a local convent where she discovers several nuns in various states of pregnancy, facing an unprecedented crisis of faith as their fiercely private world clashes with harsh realities.
The second World War is finally over and Doctor Mathilde (Lou de Laage) is treating the last of the French survivors of the German camps. When a panicked Benedictine nun appears at the clinic begging Mathilde to follow her back to the convent, what she finds there is shocking: a holy sister about to give birth and several more in advanced stages of pregnancy. A non-believer, Mathilde enters the sisters’ fiercely private world, dictated by the rituals of their order and the strict Rev. Mother (Agata Kulesza, Ida). Fearing the shame of exposure, the hostility of the occupying Soviet troops and local Polish communists and while facing an unprecedented crisis of faith, the nuns increasingly turn to Mathilde as their beliefs and traditions clash with harsh realities.
Critics and audiences are raving about “The Innocents”, and it is one of the highest rated independent films of the summer. The film is a Critics’ Pick for both The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.
“Powerful and moving!” says Justin Change from Variety.
“Spellbinding! ‘The Innocents’ soars!” says Kenneth Turan from the Los Angeles Times.
“Mesmerizing! Finds insights, both gentle and painful, about faith along the way!” says Moira Macdonald from The Seattle Times.
“Powerful! A complex social allegory, delivered in a film of masterful restraint and great compassion!” raves Andrew O’Hehir from Salon Magazine.
“The Innocents” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre Aug. 19-24. Showtimes will be 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Wednesday, Aug. 19, 20 and 24; and 7 p.m. on Sunday and Tuesday, Aug. 21 and 23.
DE PALMA
One of the most talented, influential, and iconoclastic filmmakers of all time, Brian De Palma’s career started in the 60s and has included such acclaimed and diverse films as Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Blow Out, Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito’s Way, and Mission: Impossible.
In this lively, illuminating and unexpectedly moving documentary, directors Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow engage in a personal and candid discussion with De Palma, exploring not only his life and work but also his singular approach to the craft of filmmaking and his remarkable experiences navigating the film business, from his early days as the bad boy of New Hollywood to his more recent years as a respected veteran of the field.
In the end, what emerges is a funny, honest, and incisive portrait of a truly one-of-a-kind artist, and an exhilarating behind-the-scenes look at the last 50 years of the film industry through the eyes of someone who has truly seen it all.
“They just put the man himself on camera, mic him up and let him rip. The result is heaven for movie lovers!” raves Peter Travers from Rolling Stone.
“The septuagenarian director provides an exuberant film-by-film account of a career spanning nearly half a century in Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow’s delicious documentary portrait!” says Guy Lodge from Variety.
“ ‘De Palma’ is an affectionate and absorbing documentary!” says A. O. Scott from The New York Times
“De Palma” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre Aug. 19-24. Showtimes will be 7 p.m. on Friday and Wednesday, Aug. 19 and 24; 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20; and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.