Film: The Love Punch

Watch a film every first Friday of the month.

January 3

Carmen & Lola. Carmen is a gypsy teenager, destined to live a life that is repeated every generation: getting married and raising as many children as possible. But one day she meets Lola, an uncommon gypsy who dreams about going to university, does graffiti and is very different. Carmen quickly develops a complicity with Lola and discovers a world that, inevitably, leads them to be rejected by their families. R, 1hr 42 min., 2018. Closed captions (CC) in English.

February 7

The Love Punch. In THE LOVE PUNCH, divorced couple Richard (Pierce Brosnan) and Kate (Emma Thompson) must reunite when their retirement fund is stolen by a corrupt French businessman. Determined to get their money back, they plan a daring heist that takes them to the French Riviera to steal a valuable diamond. This lighthearted caper proves that love and adventure can reignite at any age. PG-13, 1hr 34min., 2013. Closed captions (CC) in English

March 7

Lourdes. Afflicted with multiple sclerosis, Christine makes a pilgrimage to the holy site of Lourdes in hopes of a miracle. Among thousands of ailed visitors, she proceeds through the well-oiled machinery of the religious tourist destination until the unbelievable happens: she is suddenly able to walk. As Christine becomes the object of wonder and envy, bolstering and testing the faith of her fellow pilgrims, the question remains whether all is as it seems.  NR, 1hr 39mins., 2009. Closed captions (CC) in English

April 4

Farewell My Concubine. Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) grow up enduring the harsh training of the Peking Opera Academy, where instructors regularly beat the students to instill in them the discipline needed to master the complex physical and vocal techniques of this ancient art. As the two boys mature, they develop complementary talents: Dieyi, with his fine, delicate features, assumes the female roles while Xiaolou plays masculine warlords. Their dramatic identities become real for Dieyi when he falls in love with Xiaolou, who fails to fully reciprocate his affections and marries a courtesan, Juxian (Gong Li), creating a dangerous, jealousy-filled romantic triangle. R, 2hr 51min., 1993. Closed captions (CC) in English.

May 2

Past Lives. Two childhood sweethearts, after decades apart, are reunited for one fateful week in New York as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life in this heartrending modern romance from filmmaker Celine Song. PG-13, 1hr 45min., 2023. Closed captions (CC) in English.

June 6

Goodbye Mother: Thua me con di. Van returns home with his boyfriend, Ian, on the anniversary of his father's death. He's come to help move the tomb, come out to his mother, and introduce Ian to his family. Unable to find the right moment as his relatives bombard him with questions about his future, he finds out one night that his mother is seriously ill. NR, 1hr 45min., 2019. Closed captions (CC) in English    

August 1

Dior and I: inside the World of the Christian Dior Fashion House. This beautiful documentary brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons' first haute couture collection as its new artistic director-a true labor of love created by a dedicated group of collaborators. Melding the everyday, pressure-filled components of fashion with mysterious echoes from the iconic brand's past, the film is also a colorful homage to the seamstresses who serve Simons' vision. R, 1hr 29min., 2015. Closed captions (CC) in English.

September 5

The imitation Game. THE IMITATION GAME follows Turing as he leads a motley crew of scholars, linguists, chess champions, and intelligence officers in cracking the so-called unbreakable codes of Germany's World War II Enigma machine, potentially saving millions of lives by helping to shorten the war. Also depicted is Turing's tragic fall from grace when he was convicted of homosexuality - a crime in post-war Britain. Co-starring Academy Award®-nominee Keira Knightley. Based on the biography "Alan Turing: The Enigma" by Andrew Hodges. PG-13, 1hr 53 min., 2014. Closed captions (CC) in English.

October 3

Possession. After Anna (Isabelle Adjani) reveals to her husband, Mark (Sam Neill), that she is having an affair, she leaves him and their son. Mark is devastated, and seeks out Heinrich (Heinz Bennent), the man who cuckolded him, only to receive a beating. After a series of violent confrontations between Mark and Anna, Mark hires a private investigator to follow her. Anna descends into madness, and it's soon clear that she is hiding a much bigger secret -- one that is both inexplicable and shocking. R, 2hr 04min., 1981. Closed captions (CC) in English.

November 7

The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mine. Mild mannered scholar Flynn Carsen, chosen to recover and protect priceless historical artifacts from around the world, must journey to the sweeping plains of Africa.  There he uncovers the secrets of his past in order to find the ancient, hidden mines of King Solomon before the treasure-filled tomb is discovered by those who would use the powerful artifacts for evil. TV-PG, 1hr 32min., 2006. Closed captions (CC) in English.

December 5

The 12 Days Of Christmas Eve. Calvin Carter is a hard-charging, high-living guy who runs a hugely successful chain of discount stores. When he awakens in the hospital he is met by a no-nonsense nurse who gives him 12 days to relive Christmas Eve and find the true meaning of the holiday. PG, 1hr 28min., 2004. Closed captions (CC) in English.