Dec 1, 2011
SFFILM
King of Devil’s Island (Kongen av Bastøy, Norway/Sweden/Poland/France 2010), Marius Holst’s true-story drama about a historic uprising at a Norwegian boys’ reform school, opens January 6 at SF Film Society Cinema (1746 Post Street).
Rousing and dramatic, King of Devil’s Island depicts the fact-based story of reform-school boys battling subjugation on a small island off Norway’s coast. Arriving at Bastøy prison, young harpooner Erling is told by the governor (Stellan Skarsgård), “Here I’m your captain, and this is my ship.” Though told that the reformatory is strict but fair, the uneducated but honorable teen soon discovers a variety of inhumane treatments being foisted on the inmates. After Erling engages in an escalating battle with school officials to redress the wrongs, he teams up with a Bastøy long-timer named Olav, and together they inspire the others to take action against their oppressors in a nail-biting, marvelously shot climax. Written by Dennis Magnusson, Eric Schmid. Photographed by John Andreas Andersen. With Stellan Skarsgård, Benjamin Helstad, Kristoffer Joner, Trond Nilsson. 114 min. Distributed by Film Movement.
Showtimes 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 pm
Tickets $9 for SFFS members, $11 general, $10 senior/student/disabled. Box office opens January 2 online at sffs.org and January 3 in person at SF Film Society Cinema.
To request screeners contact hilary@sffs.org.
For photos and press materials visit: sffs.org/pressdownloads.
At SF Film Society Cinema, the stylish state-of-the art theater located in the New People building at 1746 Post Street (Webster/Buchanan) in Japantown, the San Francisco Film Society offers its acclaimed exhibition, education and filmmaker services programs and events on a daily year-round basis. For complete up-to-date information on all SFFS Cinema programming, including buying tickets, visit sffs.org.
Upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs
Through December 1: The Swell Season After starring in the indie hit Once and winning an Oscar for Best Original Song, folk rock musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova go on tour in this music-filled black-and-white documentary.
December 2-3, 9-11: The Dardy Family Home Movies by Stephen Sondheim by Erin Markey The newest KinoTek program is the world premiere of a live performance with video projection by fearless actress/playwright Erin Markey.
December 5: SFFS Film Arts Forum: Pitch Perfect Panel discussion focusing on tried and true strategies for pitching a film project to industry decision makers.
December 6: The City Dark Featuring stunning astrophotography and a cast of eclectic scientists, historians and lighting designers, The City Dark is a cautionary tale of light pollution and the disappearance of the night sky.
December 8: An Evening with Don Hertzfeldt featuring his newest animated film It’s Such a Beautiful Day and an onstage interview.
December 12, 14: Catechism Cataclysm In Todd Rohal’s genre busting, hilarious and wonderfully confusing nest of twists and surreal gags, a heavy metal-loving priest takes a canoe trip to consider whether the church is his true calling, when he begins to realize he is lost.
December 16, 18-22: The Bride Wore Black New 35mm print. One of the most entertaining films of the French New Wave has Jeanne Moreau playing the femme fatale to the hilt in François Truffaut’s closest homage to his idol Hitchcock.
December 17: Holiday Movie Poster Sale A once-in-a-blue-moon sale with hundreds of posters from the San Francisco International Film Festival, the Film Society’s weekly screenings and contemporary commercial cinema.
Opening December 23: Silent Souls The myths and traditions of a vanishing culture are beautifully woven into Aleksei Fedorchenko’s lyrical, sensual and dreamlike film about love and loss.
December 23 (late show): Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale It’s the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, and an archeological dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this particular Santa isn’t the one you want coming to town! DVDs and poster giveaways for lucky winners-great last-minute stocking stuffers!
January 3-5: Paul Goodman Changed My Life A spirited portrait of one of the most wide-ranging and provocative thinkers of the 20th century who has been largely forgotten, but whose work is ripe for rediscovery.