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First Posted: 3/26/2014
Robert May, movie director and producer of the telling documentary, “Kids for Cash”, is scheduled to appear for take part in a question and answer session following the 7:30 p.m. showing of his movie at the Dietrich Theater’s Spring Film Festival April 7.
“Kids for Cash,” which focuses on the notorious Wilkes-Barre judicial scandal that rocked the nation, is about a small town celebrated and charismatic judge hell-bent on keeping kids in line, until one parent dares questioned the motives behind his brand of justice. The real-life thriller documentary reveals the untold stories of the masterminds at the center of the scandal and the aftermath of lives destroyed in the process.
“We’re really thrilled to have Robert May here on April 7,” Dietrich Theater Executive Director Jennifer Jenkins said.
Ted Michalowski, the courtroom artist for both Judge Michael Conahan and Judge Mark A. Ciaverella’s trial for CBS and The Times Leader, will also be in attendance.
Michalowski, whose illustrations also appear in the movie, will participate in the post-showing discussion, sharing with the audience what goes into the journalistic drawings and the stories that accompany them. The illustrations will also be exhibited during the film festival, which runs March 28 through April 10, and can be viewed during scheduled movie times or by appointment.
The theater’s bi-annual film festivals always include an eclectic mix of theatrical tastes and genres, but this year’s spring festival may be the most diverse yet.
“This festival is going to be one of our best ever with such a variety of films from so many countries,” said Hildy Morgan, theater movie booker, in a news release. “They are just wonderful. You will want to see them all.”
The festival will kick off March 28 with an Opening Night Gala, including two featured films: “The Lunchbox” and “August: Osage County.” The opening event will also include hors d’oeuvres by Epicurean Delight, Twigs Restaurant and Café, Greenley’s BBQ and Seasons Restaurant. Wine and beer will be provided by Nimble Hill Vineyard and Winery and Nimble Hill Brewing Company, respectively, and in between films, Epicurean Delight will provide a spread of desserts.
“We have two wildly different films for this year’s gala,” said Jenkins.
“The Lunchbox,” takes place in India, where a housewife named Ila sends lunches to her working husband. But when the lunchbox is delivered to the wrong person, she begins a secret correspondence with the stranger, and the two begin what may be a lasting friendship or an overwhelming fantasy.
“It’s a very cute and sweet movie,” Jenkins said.
The second gala feature, “August: Osage County,” according to Jenkins, “couldn’t be more different [from ‘The Lunchbox’] if it tried.”
“It has some humor to it,” she said, “but it’s a dark piece.”
It portrays the story of a dysfunctional family which, amid crisis, is forced back together in the Oklahoma house in which they grew up.
With a total of 18 films slated for the entire 14-day festival, whether one is interested in period-piece dramas, documentaries or films from around the world, according to Jenkins, there is truly “something for everyone.”
Each festival movie has at least one matinee and one evening show time. Matinee tickets are $8 and evening tickets are $9.
Tickets for the Opening Night Gala are $35. Tickets to the April 7 showing of “Kids for Cash” are $9. Ticket reservations can be made by calling the theater at 570-996-1500.
The festival will culminate with a free Post-Festival Discussion Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m., giving attendees an opportunity to talk about the content and significance of the festival films. The discussion will be facilitated by Morgan and Ronnie Harvey.
More information about the event can be obtained at dietrichtheater.com.
For more information about the Dietrich Theater’s Spring 2014 Film Festival, visit www.dietrichtheater.com or call 570-996-1500.
Film festival movies include (all in English unless otherwise noted):
“Kids For Cash”
Directed by: Robert May
Rating: PG13
Show times: April 2 at 4:30 p.m. and April 7 at 7:30 p.m.
A look at the notorious Wilkes-Barre judicial scandal that rocked the nation.
“The Lunchbox”
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Language: Hindi/English
Rating: PG
Show times: March 28 for the Opening Night Gala, March 30 at 4:30 p.m., April 6 at 7 p.m. and April 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Housewife Ila tries to spice up her marriage by sending her husband special lunches, but the lunchbox is consistently delivered to the wrong person, a lonely stranger, and she begins a secret correspondence with him.
“August: Osage County”
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Cooper
Rating: R
Show times: March 28 for the opening night gala, April 2 at 7 p.m., April 5 at 11:45 a.m., April 8 at 2:30 p.m. and April 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Streep and Roberts were both nominated for Academy Awards for their performances in this story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house in which they grew up, and to the wild woman who raised them.
“Philomena”
Rating: PG 13
Show times: March 31 at 7:30 p.m., April 3 at 5 p.m., April 7 at 2:30 p.m. and April 10 at 5 p.m.
Based on a true story, this film features Dame Judi Dench as a Catholic woman searching for her long-lost son who she was forced to give up for adoption.
“Nebraska”
Rating: R
Show times: March 30 at 7 p.m., April 4 at 4:30 p.m. and April 9 at 2:15 p.m.
Oscar nominee Bruce Dern plays a tempestuous and aging Missouri father convinced he’s won a million dollar magazine sweepstakes.
“La Camioneta”
Rating: NR
Show times: March 29 at 12 p.m. and April 5 at 9:15 p.m.
This documentary follows a decommissioned school bus on its transformative journey from giving rides to American public school children to provide public transportation in Guatemala.
“Liv and Ingmar”
Language: English/Swedish
Rating: NR
Show times: March 29 at 2:15 p.m., April 4 at 2 p.m., April 8 at 7:30 p.m.
A love story encompassing 42 years and 12 films between legendary Swedish actress Liv Ullmann and master filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, the film provides a look into one of cinema’s most famous couples.
“Gloria”
Language: Spanish/English
Rating: R
Show times: March 29 at 4:30 p.m., April 5 at 2:15 p.m. and April 9 at 7:15 p.m.
Gloria, a free-spirited older woman, discovers the joys and the realities of her whirlwind relationship with a former naval officer.
“The Great Beauty”
Language: Italian/English
Rating: NR
Show times: March 29 at 6:45 p.m., April 1 at 2:30 p.m. and April 9 at 4:30 p.m.
Journalist Jep Gambardella has charmed and seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome since the legendary success of his one and only novel. When his 65 birthday coincides with a shock from the past, Jep finds himself unexpectedly taking stock of his life and looking past the extravagant nightclubs, parties, and cafés to find Rome in all its glory.
“In Secret”
Rating: R
Show times: March 30 at 12 p.m., April 3 at 2:30 p.m., April 8 at 5 p.m.
Based on Émile Zola’s scandalous novel, this is a tale of obsessive love, adultery and revenge set in 1860s Paris.
“The Past”
Language: French
Rating: PG13
Show times: March 31 at 5 p.m. and April 6 at 12:00 p.m.
An Iranian man reunites with his estranged wife in Paris to finalize their divorce, which is soon complicated by a shocking revelation by her daughter.
“Girl on a Bicycle”
Rating: R
Show times: April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and April 6 at 5 p.m.
Paolo, an Italian who drives a Paris tour bus, has just proposed to his true love when a young beauty pulls up beside his bus on her bicycle, and, after following some misguided advice, Paolo finds himself with a German fiancée, a French “wife,” two Australian children who call him “Papa,” and a life turned upside-down.
“The Best Offer”
Rating: R
Show times: April 1 at 5 p.m., April 5 at 4:30 p.m. and April 10 at 12 p.m.
A solitary and introverted antiques dealer is asked by a mysterious young woman to handle the auctioning of some family works of art.
“Tim’s Vermeer”
Rating: PG13
Show times: April 2 at 12 p.m. and April 7 at 5 p.m.
Tim Jenison, a Texas-based inventor, attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in all art: How did 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (“Girl with a Pearl Earring”) manage to paint so realistically 150 years before the invention of photography?
“The Invisible Woman”
Rating: R
Show times: April 2 at 2:15 p.m. and April 5 at 7 p.m.
In this film, based on the novel by Claire Tomalin, Charles Dickens — famous, controlling and emotionally isolated within his success — falls for a beautiful young woman, who comes from a family of actors.
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman
Rating: R
Show times: March 30 at 2:15 p.m. and April 4 at 9:30 p.m.
This Golden Globe-nominee for Best Picture follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.
“Great Expectations”
Rating: PG13
Show times: March 31 at 2:30 p.m., April 3 at 7:30 p.m. and April 9 at 11:45 a.m.
An adaptation of one of Charles Dickens’ greatest novels, chronicling an orphan who learns he has an unknown benefactor and sets off to London with “great expectations.”
“The Broken Circle Breakdown”
Language: Flemish/English
Rating: R
Show times: March 29 at 9:30 p.m., April 4 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Elise and Didier fall in love at first sight, in spite of their differences. He talks, she listens. He’s a romantic atheist, she’s a religious realist. When their daughter becomes seriously ill, their love is put on trial.