Happening :: Listings for the Week of August 1-August 7

BRATTLE THEATER

40 BRATTLE ST., (617) 876-6837

METROPOLIS. Director Rin Taro worked with Osamu Tezuka to adapt Tezuka’s 1949 manga, a riff on Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent sci-fi classic. This adaptation is an anime film that follows Kenichi (Kei Kobayashi) and his uncle, Shunsaku Ban (Kousei Tomita), in a futuristic city in which robots do most of the work, but must live underground. Shunsaku is a detective on the trail of a fugitive who is creating a robot named Tima (Yuka Imoto), but soon Kenichi and Tima are on the run together. Since Tima is unaware of her purpose, the plot becomes complicated. The animation is much more fluid than most anime coming out of Japan today. Metropolis screens Tuesday, August 5 at 5:15 and 9:30 p.m. (MCH)

HIGH NOON. Part of the Brattle’s “Films of the ’50s” series, High Noon (1952) is a classic Western justice film directed by Fred Zinnemann. Marshall Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is ready to retire and leave town to spend the rest of his life with his wife Amy (Grace Kelly). But Kane’s intentions are delayed when he receives news that a deadly outlaw he sent to prison is due to arrive on the noon train. Everyone knows the outlaw has come to seek revenge on the sheriff, but all are too frightened to help him fight. Although John Wayne harshly criticized the film upon its release, it has since garnered acclaim and was remade in 2000. High Noon screens Monday, August 4 at 3:15 and 7:15 p.m. The 7:15 showing will be preceded with an introduction by Metrowest Daily critic Bob Tremblay. (MCH)

HIGH HOPES. The film, from the era of reemergent New British Cinema, was released in 1988 and directed by Bristish Independent filmmaker Mike Leigh. High Hopes follows the story of an English couple, Cyril (Philip Davis), a motorcycle messenger, and his wife Shriley (Ruth Sheen). The couple live with Cyril’s mother and become invoved in the sagas of his mother’s neighbors and his sister. Shirley yearns to be a mother, but Cyril, a Marxist, wants to live in a utopia and is reluctant to start a family. High Hopes screens Saturday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. (MCH)

GHOST IN THE SHELL. The classic anime, directed by Mamoru Oshii (Patlabor, Beautiful Dreamer), tells the story of a super hacker—the Puppet Master—who is loose in cyberspace. The “ghost” is pursued through a futuristic metropolis by the cyborg cops of Section 9. Meanwhile, Major Motoko Kusanagi searches for her own humanity within her robotic body. Based on Masamune Shirow’s original manga, the anime is a must-see for Matrix fans—it served as direct inspiration for the Wachowski brothers. Ghost in the Shell screens Tuesday, August 5 at 3:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (HCO)

THE GOOD THIEF. The guardian of a young woman plans to steal rare paintings instead of cash. As an aging thief, the heist will be that last big crime he commits with his multicultural crew. Director Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, The Butcher Boy) adds jazz undertones to this remake of Jean-Pierre Melville’s Bob Le Flambeur. The Good Thief screens Wednesday, August 6 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. (HCO)

RAISE THE RED LANTERN. Under an arranged marriage, Songlian (Gong Li) enters the residential compound of a wealthy Chinese man. She becomes caught amidst the scheming of his other wives, who live in separate houses and vie constantly for their husband’s attention. The exquisite film, directed by Zhang Yimou (Hero), offers a bleak view of upper-class family life in 1920s China. Raise the Red Lantern screens Thursday, August 7 at 7:15 p.m. (HCO)

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY. The spaghetti western reached its pinnacle form in this classic directed by Sergio Leone.  Set in the war-torn American Midwest, the film follows three top notch gunslingers on their search for a lost treasure. The trouble is, they aren’t working together. Clint Eastwood, in a reprisal role from A Fistful of Dollars, plays the Good: a gruff silent type with at least a shred of principle. Eli Wallach plays the Bad, a cruel devil named Angel Eyes who’ll do anything to get his hands on the gold. Finally, Tuco is a wild-eyed bandito who’s Ugly any way you look at it.  With the trio—and the Civil War—the action approaches today’s Hollywood extravagance. Leone weaves a rich narrative tapestry together, combining gunfighting thrills, a witty script and a classic soundtrack. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly screens Friday, August 1 at 4:30 and 8 p.m. (EW)

HARVARD FILM ARCHIVE

24 QUINCY ST., (617) 495-4700

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. Pedro Almodovar directs this comedy filled with all your favorite soap-opera twists. Pepa, who realizes that her lover Ivan is leaving her, goes on a gun rampage and drugs Ivan’s son’s fiancee with Valium-laced gazpacho. The plot complicates when her friend Candela falls in love with a Shiite terrorist and hides out at Pepa’s home. Then she meets Ivan’s son, Carlos (Antonio Banderas). The 1988 Spanish comedy, filmed in Madrid, is irresistible. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown screens Monday, August 4 at 9:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 5 at 7 p.m. (HCO)

THE WOMEN. In George Cukor’s comedy on love and infidelity, a group kidnaps their friend Mary Haines to a ranch near Reno to convince her that revenge must be taken on Mary’s husband for having an affair with a shopgirl. The 1930s film, with its all-women’s cast, is rife with wicked humor, a sadistic person who loves to see a friend’s misfortune, and the female perspective on the war of the sexes. The Women screens Monday, August 4 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, August 5 at 8:45 p.m. (HCO)

TRAILERS, TRAILERS, TRAILERS. The Harvard Film Archive has compiled a collection of 1,000 movie trailers from all time periods. Counter to prevailing opinion, reviews can be engaging, fun, artsy and sometimes even better than their representative movies. Obscure and outstanding alike are on show for a nostalgic treat.  Trailers, Trailers, Trailers screens Friday, August 1 at 7 p.m. (EW)

LOEWS HARVARD SQUARE

10 CHURCH ST., (617) 864-6580

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. A little more than the standard English mystery movie, this film from director Stephen Frears (High Fidelity) enters around an illegal Nigerian night porter. With the help of a chambermaid and a prostitute he investigates a murder committed in the hotel at which he is employed. Dirty Pretty Things screens at 12:45, 3:40, 6:50 and 9:45 p.m. (JPK)

SEABISCUIT. Based on a true story, this film chronicles the trials and tribulations of horse Seabiscuit and his former prize-fighting jockey Red Pollard, played by Tobey Maguire. With the help of a millionaire portrayed by Jeff Bridges, Pollard turns the once losing Seabiscuit into a champion—and a symbol of hope in the process. Racing in the midst of the Great Depression, Seabiscuit becomes an inspiration to his fans. Seabiscuit screens at 12, 1, 3, 4, 6:10, 7, 9:15 and 10:10 p.m. (JPK)

WHALE RIDER. The Whangara people of New Zealand search for a new tribal leader to follow in the legacy of their ancestor Paikea, who was once saved from drowning by riding on the back of a whale. The would-be heir to the title of chief dies during birth, while his twin sister, Pai, survives. A natural leader, Pai grows up striving to overcome the odds of gender oppression in her tribe and engages in a quest for the title of chief. The performance is moving and well acted, although meanings of some tribal references are lost on Western audiences. Director Niki Caro’s shots beautifully capture the picturesque scenery of coastal New Zealand. Whale Rider screens at 12:30, 3:20, 6:30 and 9 p.m. (JPK)

THE HOUSEKEEPER. A foreign romantic comedy centering around a depressed Parisian and his inexperienced domestic servant. After being abandoned by his wife, the lonely recording engineer seeks company from a housekeeper who has never lifted a finger. With no place to stay and no one else to turn to, the housekeeper moves in with her employer. Romance ensues. The Housekeeper screens at 12:15, 2:20, 4:20, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. (JPK)

KENDALL SQUARE CINEMA

1 KENDALL SQUARE, (617) 494-9800

Bend It Like Beckham screens at 1:50, 4:15 and 9:15 p.m.

Capturing the Friedmans screens at 2:20, 4:50, 7:25 and 9:55 p.m.

Cuckoo screens at 2:10, 4:35, 7:00 and 9:25 p.m.

I Capture the Castle screens at 2:05, 4:40, 7:15 and 9:50 p.m.

Northfork screens at 2:40, 5:05, 7:35 and 10:00 p.m.

Secret Lives: Hidden Children and Their Rescuers During WWII screens at 2:25, 4:20, 6:50 and 9:10 p.m.

Spellbound screens at 2:00, 4:30, 7:05 and 9:20 p.m.

Swimming Pool screens at 2:30, 4:55, 7:20 and 9:45 p.m.

Winged Migration screens at 2:15, 4:25, 6:45 and 9:00 p.m.

theatre

ROMANTIQUE. Live one of the most dramatic moments in three revolutionary artists’ lives. The second piece in Hershey Felder’s “imagination in music,” Romantique transports the audience to a momentous summer evening in a country house outside of Paris where Delacroix, Chopin and George Sand have gathered. Set in 1846, the play is a brilliant fusion of Sand’s revelatory writings, Delacroix’s poignant art and Chopin’s masterful music. Runs Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 17. Tickets $45; $35 for students, senior citizens and subscribers, available in advance through the ART box office. Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St. (MRH)

AN IDEAL HUSBAND. Enjoy one of Oscar Wilde’s most true-to-life and touching stories in a piece that explores the mistakes we make and the power of compassion to overcome them. Directed by Jeremy W. Blocker ’04, the play is replete with political intrigue, the ups and downs of courtship and Wilde’s characteristic wit and style. Runs Friday, August 1 through Saturday, August 16. Tickets $14; $10 for senior citizens and students, available through the Harvard Box Office. Loeb Experimental Theater, 64 Brattle St. (MRH)

music

SUMMER SCHOOL CHORUS CONCERT. The 110-member Harvard Summer School Chorus presents choral masterworks accompanied by a professional orchestra and soloists. Under the direction of Constance DeFotis, the chorus will perform Mozart’s Mass in C-Minor and Schubert’s Mass in B-Flat Major. Friday, August 1 at 8 p.m. Free; limit 2 tickets per person. Available through the Harvard Box Office. Sanders Theatre. (MRH)

SUMMER SCHOOL POPS BAND ANNUAL CONCERT. The theme of this year’s concert is “Peter, Sergei and the Wolf” and will feature the music of Sergei Prokofiev, Gustav Holst, Richard Rogers and Leroy Anderson. The band will perform with a guest soloist, the flautist Deborah Boldin. Saturday, August 2 at 7 p.m. Free. Hatch Memorial Shell, Esplanade, Boston. (MRH)

MUSIC AND NOON. Enjoy a summer lunchtime music series. Performances are held weekly and the musicians vary from week to week. Runs Thursdays. Free. Swedenborg Chapel, 50 Quincy St. (MRH)

BOSTON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY: HAMEL SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL. Experience a masterful performance as the Society presents selections from Schumann, Brahms and Beethoven. Saturday, August 2. $24. Pickman Concert Hall, Longy School of Music, 27 Garden St. (MRH)

RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE. The group, whose latest album was a great success, performs with The Accursed, Terminally, Your Aborted Ghost and Magruder Grind. Hear the latest in indie music with this brand-new lineup. Saturday, August 2 at 9 p.m. $8. 18+. Upstairs, The Middle East, 472 Mass. Ave. (MRH)

ELY GUERRA. Fusing pop, trip-hop and a variety of Latin American styles, Mexican singer-songwriter Ely Guerra forges her own eclectic, mature sound, topped by velvety vocals in Spanish which soar, smolder and seduce. Her Mexican record label, who didn’t know what to make of her, shelved the songstress before demand for her addictive and understated brand of pop led her to EMI. Friday, August 1 at 8 p.m. $15. 18+. Downstairs, The Middle East, 472 Mass. Ave. (MRH & HLN) WINTERBOY. Oddbeat singer/songwriter/guitarist Alan Winters has a zest for experimentation. He’s tried his hand at almost as many music styles as he did jobs; he’s had stints as a taxi driver, a ranch hand, a salesman and a gravedigger among others. He eventually found his unique rock groove as a Boston street performer, and carried a fun, funky four-piece alternative rock ensemble which disbanded in 2002. Nowadays, this free spirit continues to explore with his flair for electric live performances and inventive lyrics. Saturday, August 2. Free. 18+. The Corner in The Middle East, 472 Mass. Ave. (MRH & HLN)

STEVE WYNN AND THE MIRACLE 3. A first listen of pop music veteran Steve Wynn’s songs might hint at Bob Dylan or the raw energy of The Strokes, but his own rollicking riffs and deep, warm vocals rock through to establish Wynn’s distinct pop vehicle. Studio glitz takes a backseat to crafting layered pop—not an oxymoron with this band. His latest album, Static Transmission, which was released in the U.S. on July 1, has already been making a big splash in the States. Come see him and the Miracle 3 in concert to get the latest sounds from Europe. Friday, August 1 at 11:30 p.m. $10. T.T. The Bear’s Place, 10 Brookline St. (MRH & HLN)

THE NEW AMSTERDAMS. Matt Pryor, also vocalist for The Get-Up Kids, serves as the only permanent member of this pop-punk band. After a brief tour with Guster, the band is now promoting its new album, Worse For the Wear, which will be released Tuesday. The show opens with friends Matt Pond PA and Rocky Votolato. Thursday, August 7 at 8 p.m. $12. Downstairs, The Middle East, 472 Mass. Ave. (JPK)

visuals

HATCHING THE PAST: DINOSAUR EGGS, NESTS AND YOUNG. This new fall exhibit, exploring the social aspects of dinosaurs, features a wide variety of dinosaur nests and eggs from around the world. Visitors can see and touch real dinosaur bones and a dinosaur nest nearly eight feet in diameter. The exhibit presents new theories about dinosaur reproduction and general behavior. Other attractions include the longest eggs ever discovered born of an oviraptor from China, a 75 million-year-old titanosaur egg the size of a bowling ball and a DVD presentation on baby dinosaurs and embryos. Runs through Sept. 1. $7.50 adults, $6 seniors/students. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St. (CCS)

THESE SHOES WERE MADE FOR ... WALKING? This extensive collection of shoes from around the world concentrate on the rise from sensiblity to the height of fashion. 60 pairs of shoes, sandals and boots are exhibited from different cultures and different times. The ethnographic collection from the Peabody Library should appeal to shoe and fashion aficianados alike. Through Feb. 2004. Tozzer Library, 21 Divinity Ave. Free with Harvard ID. (CCS)

IN HER OWN HAND: OPERAS COMPOSED BY WOMEN, 1625-1939. This exhibit focuses on the contributions of women through the development of opera. It follows the origins of Italian opera in the courts of Versailles in the 17th century to public opera in post-revolutionary Paris and beyond. For music lovers and history buffs alike. Through Dec. 1, 2003. Loeb Music Library, Music Building. (CCS)

WHERE TRADITIONS MEET: PAINTING IN INDIA FROM THE 14TH THROUGH THE 17TH CENTURY. This exhibit explores the evolution of Indian painting, from early illustrations of Jain and Buddhist manuscripts to refined paintings done in the Rajput courts and under the Mughal emperors. Being in an area of germination and intersection of artistic traditions, India attracted numerous artists, many of whom illustrated religious and allegorical subjects using vibrant indigenous styles. Through December 7. Hours: Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. $6.50 adults, $5 students/seniors, free with Harvard ID. Arthur M. Sacker Museum, 485 Broadway. (LAP)

BUDDHIST ART: THE LATER TRADITION. This exhibit explores Chinese, Korea and Japanese works of art from the 8th to the 18th century, including paintings, sculptures, sutras (Buddhist sacred texts), ritual objects and textiles. Buddhist art evolved immensely during these ten decades. Early Buddhist art emphasized the religion’s major deities; Buddhas, bodhisattvas, arhats and human and animal guardians, whereas later Buddhist art, which evolved largely in East Asia and changed due to the Buddhist church’s becoming increasingly sectarian, accentuated on the a wider variety of subject matter and style. This ranges from the furious deities of the Esoteric tradition to moralistic paradise and hell scenes of the Pureland school to the simple ink play of Zen. Through January 4, 2004. Hours: Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. $6.50 adults, $5 students/seniors, free with Harvard ID. Arthur M. Sacker Museum, 485 Broadway. (LAP)

‘LE COQ D’OR’: NATALIA GONCHAROVA’S DESIGNS FOR THE BALLETS RUSSES. Inciter of the Moscow pre-World War I art scene, Natalie Goncharova designed stage sets and costumes for the Ballet Russes production of Le coq d’or, an opera-ballet premiered in Paris and London in 1914. This exhibit brings together Goncharova’s stage and costume designs, curtain studies, and preparatory drawings from the Harvard Theater Collection; the Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum, San Antonio; and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Through August 24. Hours: Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 1-5p.m. $6.50, $5 students/seniors, free for Harvard ID holders, Cambridge Public Library card holders, and children under 18. Busch-Reisinger Museum, Werner Otto Hall. (LAP)

readings

FRANK BIDART. Poet, editor and Wellesley College professor Frank Bidart ’67 spins personal and contemporary verse, creating work in imaginative ways both on the page and read aloud. This wordsmith sets his poetry in the greater framework of such themes as identity, meaning and the interplay of good and evil. Bidart will read from his chapbook Music Like Dirt, as well as the new Collected Poems by poet Robert Lowell, which he edited. Sunday, August 3 at 4:00 p.m. Free. East Lawn of Longfellow National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St. (HLN)

JANETTE TURNER HOSPITAL. In Hospital’s tightly plotted suspense novel Due Preparations for a Plague, two adults who survived the 1987 hijacking of an Air France flight by Iraqi Islamic Fundamentalists attempt to piece together the gruesome details. As the U.S.’s sordid role in the affair is uncovered, protagonists Lowell and Samantha work to bring their information to light and struggle with the emotional toll of digging into their pasts. Hospital reads from Due Preparations for a Plague on Tuesday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. Wordsworth Books. (HLN)

Happening was edited by Ryan J. Kuo ’04 with John P. Kehoe and compiled by Megan C. Harney, Mallory R. Hellman, Heloisa L. Nogueira, Huei C. Ong, Lara A. Pedrini, Caitlin C. Southwick and Eric Wang.