ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It isn’t open just yet, but the Michigan Theater is still entertaining cinephiles through new movies and a catalog of documentaries, comedies, experimental films and more.
Stream films through the independent theater’s website and watch them on your smart devices, including phones, tablets and smart TVs.
Expand the at-home cinema experience by ordering popcorn and other concession items for curbside pickup on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Watching new movies is fun but it’s also philanthropic. The Michigan Theater Foundation receives a portion of some ticket sales through its partnerships with film distribution companies.
New films this week:
These films will be available on Friday.
A Thousand Cuts
Not rated -- $12
Following journalist Maria Ressa and key players of the war between the press and government in the Philippines, the documentary looks at the erosion of press and democratic freedoms under the rule of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
A Q&A session with Ressa and the film director Ramona S. Diaz is scheduled.
You Never Had It – An Evening With Charles Bukowski
Not rated --$12
Created with digitized Umatic tape footage, the documentary revolves around an interview of American writer Charles Bukowski conducted by Silvia Bizio in Bukowski’s home in 1981.
A Q&A session with special guests in celebration of Bukowski’s birthday is currently being planned.
CREEM
Not rated --$9.99
Founded in 1969, CREEM Magazine served as an alternative source of rock journalism. The documentary uses interviews, footage and commentary from actors, writers, editors and musicians to discuss the publication’s 20 years of being “America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine.”
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Here’s what is already playing:
2040
Not rated -- $12
In a visual letter to his 4-year-old daughter, director Damon Gameau takes a look at what 2040 would look like if the world embraces already available solutions in order to improve the planet.
4th of July Weekend Organ Concert with Andrew Rogers
$3
Recorded live at the Michigan Theater with Head Organist Andrew Rogers on Michigan Theater’s historic Barton Organ, the pre-recorded 4th of July tribute has classic and Michigan Theater favorites.
The film is free for Michigan Theater members.
Abe
Not rated -- $12
Aspiring chef Abe is often caught in the middle of his family’s conflicting Jewish and Muslim identities. While exploring Brooklyn, New York, the 12-year-old meets Chico, a Brazilian chef who takes Abe under his wing.
Amulet
R --$12
In Romola Garai’s feature directorial debut, Tomaz, a former solider is brought to the house of Magda, who cares for her mother. As he begins to fall for Magda, he notices strange phenomena and begins to see that something isn’t quite right with her dying older woman, who never leaves the top floor of the house.
Aviva
Not rated -- $12
A romantic drama, the film follows Parisian Aviva as she falls in love with Eden from New York. Played by four different dancers and actors the two characters express their shifting identities through movement and dance.
Camp on the Wind’s Road
Not rated -- $4.99
Presented at the 58th Ann Arbor Film Festival, the hour-long experimental film follows 25-year-old Belekmaa as she settles with the shepherds on her deceased father’s farm and hopes to see him again before his spirit leaves.
A Cantor’s Head
Not-rated -- $9.99 (rent), $19.99 (buy)
Presented by the Cinetopia Film Festival and Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival, the 87-minute film looks at Cantor Jack Mendelson as his White Plains synagogue replaces him.
Capital in the Twenty-First Century
Not rated -- $12
Based on the book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” by economist Thomas Piketty, the documentary combines interviews and popular cultural references to explore the interchange of money, power, inequality and poverty throughout history.
Crescendo
Not rated -- $12
Conductor Eduard Sporck accepts the task of creating an Israeli-Palestinian youth orchestra but is forced to help the conflicting youth to find harmony while they prepare for a concert.
The Cuban
Not rated -- $12
Music sparks an unlikely friendship between aging musician Luis and care worker Mina as she learns more about his past.
Denise Ho: Becoming the Song
Not rated -- $12
Following Hong Kong-based musician and activist Denise Ho, director Sue Williams documents Ho’s attempts to rebuild her own musical career while advocating for freedom of speech and protecting civil liberties.
Diana Kennedy: Nothing Fancy
Not rated -- $9.99
The documentary follows the life of two-time James Beard Award winner Diana Kennedy with extensive interviews.
The Fight
Not rated -- $12
Following the efforts of the American Civil Liberties Union, the film goes into the ACLU offices to look at four important cases and the attorneys working on them.
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind
Not rated -- $9.99
Including interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, the documentary explores the career, influence and success of Canadian musical icon, Gordon Lightfoot.
Guest of Honour
Not rated -- $12
When his daughter Veronica is falsely convicted for a hoax-gone-wrong but insists on punishment, food inspector Jim begins to unravel. Their complicated secrets and pasts are exposed as Veronica confides in Father Greg.
The House on Wannsee Street
Not rated -- $9.99 (rent), $19.99 (buy)
Digging deep into her family history, director Poli searches for why she was never raised with religious traditions despite her mother’s being of Jewish origin. Through her digging, she learns of how her grandfather, a lay Jewish German philosopher, was persecuted and how his family was forced to leave their home on Wannsee Street.
John Lewis: Good Trouble
PG -- $12
Chronicling over 60 years of social activism and legislative action by Congressman John Lewis, the documentary uses interviews and archival footage to explore moments in Lewis’ life.
Following the feature is a pre-recorded discussion between Representative Lewis and Oprah Winfrey.
Kinshasa Makambo
Not rated - $10
Presented in Lingala and French with English subtitles, the documentary highlights Ben, Jean Marie and Christian as they contemplate their actions during demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of Congo when the country’s president sought a third term in 2015.
The film has been shot through a handheld camera carried by the protagonists.
The Last Tree
Not rated -- $10
The semi-autobiographical and coming-of-age story of Femi, a British boy of Nigerian heritage, The Last Tree follows his life from a fostered childhood in rural England to living in inner-city London with his biological mother.
Love In Suspenders
Not rated -- $11.99
Widow and former singer Tami meets Beno, a widower with a completely different lifestyle. In Hebrew with English subtitles, the comedy/romance shows how the two fall in love despite meddling family members and dramatic differences.
Lucky Grandma
Not rated -- $12
After a visit to a fortune-teller, Grandma Wong heads to a local casino. After going all-in she soon finds herself in the middle of a war between two rival Chinatown gangs.
Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba
Not rated -- $10
Internationally-known, Miriam Makeba’s music and life are explored through archival footage and interviews in the 90-minute documentary.
Marona’s Fantastic Tale
Not rated -- $10
The animated French-language film shows the life and human companions of its canine protagonist, Marona. It shows that love and happiness are different for dogs.
This virtual release includes a pre-recorded interview with the director, Anca Damian.
The Motions of Stillness
Not rated -- $3
A Michigan Theater original, the documentary was shot in an Ann Arbor nature preserve on April 15 by Michigan Theater Technical Director Jared Van Eck.
The film is free for Michigan Theater members.
Mr. Topaze
Not rated -- $12
Directed by comedy icon Peter Sellers, Mr. Topaze follows proud Albert Topaze as he goes from an unemployed schoolmaster to turning the tables on corrupt city council member Castel Benac.
The 1961 film was digitally restored at the request of the British public from the last known surviving 35mm prints.
One Day After Peace
Not rated -- $12
Exploring the issue of conflict resolution, Robi Damelin wonders if the means used to resolve conflict in South Africa could be applied to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Through a deeply personal documentary, Damelin travels to South Africa to learn about the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s efforts.
One Small Step Shorts
Not rated -- $8
The 84-minute compilation is of 12 new and acclaimed family-friendly animated short films including Maestro, Gopher Broke, After the Rain, One Small Step, The Green Bird, Jubilee, Achoo, Outdoors, Voyagers, Borrowed Time, Bear Story and O28.
Picture of His Life
Not rated -- $9.99
Considered to be one of the greatest underwater photographers, Amos Nachoum is known for capturing up-close photos of apex predators.
The English, Hebrew, and Inuktitut language documentary chronicles Nachoum’s determination to photograph a polar bear and incorporates his backstory of traumas and sacrifices.
Pioneers of Queer Cinema
Not rated -- $7 to $15
A trio of classic films from the days of early queer cinema. Victor and Victoria (1933), Mädchen in Uniform (1931) and Michael (1924) explore themes of requited feelings, gender-bending and romance.
Each film can be bought individually for $7 or $8 or as a bundle for $15.
Quarantine Cat Film Festival
Not rated -- $12
A compilation reel from over 1,200 amateur video submissions, the cat-based film festival raises money for independent theaters.
Rebuilding Paradise
Not rated -- $12
Assembled by director Ron Howard, the film documents the devastation caused by fires in the Californian city of Paradise and the impact of the catastrophe on the community.
Reggae Boyz
Not rated -- $12
The documentary follows Winfried Schäfer, amateur soccer player Tuffy and Jamaica’s national soccer team, the “Reggae Boyz,” as they try to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
Shooting Life
Not rated -- $11.99
Shot in Hebrew with English subtitles, high school filmmaking teacher Yigal wins the trust of his war-weary students, who begin discussions with their own families.
Sometimes Always Never
PG-13 -- $12
Played by Bill Nighy, tailor Alan tries to repair his relationship with his youngest son, Peter, while solving the mystery of an online Scrabble player who might be his missing son, Michael.
Suzi Q
Not rated -- $12
Focused on the first women in Rock, Suzi Q explores the music and impact of rockstar Suzi Quatro. Alice Cooper, Deborah Harry, Tina Weymouth, Cherie Curries, Kathy Valentine, KT Tunstall and many others lend their commentary throughout the music documentary.
This film is free for Michigan Theater gold members and only $10 for members.
The Tobacconist
Not rated -- $12
While apprenticing at a tobacco shop in Vienna, 17-year-old Franz meets Sigmund Freud. As the two develop a friendship, Franz falls in love with Anezka but political and social conditions worsen as Nazis arrive in Vienna.
Tommaso
Not rated -- $12
American expatriate Tommaso wanders through life and the streets of Rome as he deals with his past, his self-esteem and an impaired grasp on reality. The 2019 film by Abel Ferrara is in Italian and English.
A Towering Task: The Story of the Peace Corps
Not rated -- $10
The 107-minute documentary uses interviews from past and current Peace Corps volunteers, journalists and world leaders, along with archival materials, to explore the Peace Corps agency.
Transkids
Not rated -- $12
Part of the A Summer of Film Series presented by the Cinetopia Film Festival and Ann Arbor Jewish Film Festival, the documentary shows the challenges faced by adolescents and their families as they go through the process of gender transitioning.
Ursula von Rydingsvard: Into Her Own
Not rated -- $9.99
The 2019 documentary goes behind the scenes with sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard as she collaborates on new work and how her personal life has shaped her commitment to her art.
Waiting for the Barbarians
Not rated -- $12
Adapted to film by Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee, the Magistrate of an isolated settlement questions his loyalty to the empire when a ruthless colonel arrives.
We Are Little Zombies
Not rated -- $12
Orphans Hikari, Ikuko, Ishi, and Takemura meet as their parents are cremated. Devoid of emotion, the four repurpose a gaming console, an old electric bass and a charred wok to become the band Little Zombies.