SAWDUST AND TINSEL   1953
(Gycklarnas afton)
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
93 minutes
In Swedish with English subtitles

Considered to be one of the most shocking films of Bergman's early works, and perhaps his first milestone, this film examines "love" relationships in the form of a grotesque and mad circus theatre. In a succession of twisted stories, Albert, the owner of a broken down traveling carnival attempts to ditch his wife for another woman. When his wife discovers this, she in turn starts up an affair with actor Frans. One deranged move leads to another, which results in humiliation and sadistic power games. The tawdry circus becomes a place of broken dreams, suicide attempts and visceral contempt. A cinematic Theatre of Cruelty in which Bergman crystallizes a visionary landscape that would transform cinema forever. The black and white cinematography is incredible, Bergman's first collaboration with Sven Nykvist. Beautifully depicted, emotionally wrenching... in 2012 it was voted one of the 25 best Swedish films of all times.

Before French director Catherine Breillat saw Sawdust and Tinsel she was a well-behaved little girl, but seeing it would change her life. The effect was devastating. She recounts: "When I saw this film, I immediately decided to BE a filmmaker. Not out of love for the cinema. Out of necessity. In order to save myself. I did not decide to make films because I was a cinephile but because there was no life elsewhere. This film invented me when I was twelve years old. It awakened me to myself."

This will be a wonderful high-definition projection.

+ short film: PSYCHODRAMA 1969
Directed by Marek Piwowski
28 minutes
A soul-shaking documentary about four 'bad' girls who have been institutionalized by society, directed by the great Polish filmmaker Marek Piwowski. This little film captures all the mystery, poetry and imagination that all great cinema strives for.