This week we turn our attention to Hollywood of yesteryear, a history-making rock opera, an animation for all ages, a movie about Nike’s journey to fame and success, and the online edition of the One World Romania Festival.

Sunset Blvd. (dir. Billy Wilder, 1950)

I am big, it’s the pictures that got small.

The film that best illustrates the huge impact that the advent of sound had on cinema will have a screening at the Eforie Cinematheque, also marking 40 years since the death of actress Gloria Swanson.

Joe Gillis (William Holden), a poor screenwriter, meets Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), a faded silent film star, for whom he must rewrite a screenplay meant to restore her lost glory. And the rest is history, but perhaps more relevant than the plot itself is the cynical way in which the harsh reality of Hollywood is depicted: fame is addictive, and once-adored stars are immediately cast aside and forgotten once they can be replaced.

Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, of which it won three (Screenplay, Production Design and Score), the film remains to this day one of the most influential films in cinema.

Don’t miss the opportunity to watch it on the big screen on April 11 at the Eforie Cinematheque.

Mother Joan of the Angels / Matka Joanna od Aniolów (dir. Jerzy Kawalerowicz, 1961)

Showing this week as part of the Film Menu Cineclub’s program is Jerzy Kawalerowicz’s 1961 Mother Joan of the Angels. Set in the 17th century, a young priest is sent to a small convent to exorcise the supposedly possessed abbess and nuns, but in the process of cleansing them of demons, he himself falls prey to temptation.

As the director described it in an interview, “It is a film against dogma. (…) It is a love story about a man and a woman who wear church clothes and whose religion does not allow them to love each other. (…) The devils that possess these characters are the external manifestations of their repressed love.”

The screening will take place on April 12 at the Eforie Cinematheque and will be followed by a talk moderated by Film Menu writers Ana Dumitrașcu and Iulia Necșulescu.

Jesus Christ Superstar (dir. Norman Jewison, 1973)

Easter is knocking on our doors so we can’t overlook it. Whether you want to spend the weekend contemplating religious dilemmas or simply humming the songs that you probably won’t forget anytime soon, Jesus Christ Superstar is showing on April 13 at the Eforie Cinematheque.

Based on the 1970 rock opera of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the film tells the story of the final six days in the life of Jesus Christ through the troubled eyes of Judas Iscariot. Although controversial upon its release, Jesus Christ Superstar succeeds in giving new meaning to the biblical story by placing it in a modern, secular context. Beyond its comical aspect, the film is an invitation to reflect on faith, human doubt and the way the world is perceived through one’s own filter.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (dir. Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado)

An animated film might be the perfect choice for this weekend. Especially when the hero is none other than Puss in Boots, the fearless adventurer who now finds himself in a tricky situation: down to the last of his nine lives, Puss sets off in search of the Wishing Star, which turns into an eventful and moving journey alongside his companions.

The film premiered at the end of 2022, but if you’ve been putting it off until now, here is the last chance to go see it on the big screen.

Air (dir. Ben Affleck)

Back when Nike was looking for a basketball star to increase the company’s sales and fame, Sonny Vaccaro bet everything on Michael Jordan. What now seems like an obvious choice was a leap into the unknown in 1984, based only on the businessman’s instinct.

Jordan’s career was just beginning, and the decision to create a line around his figure proved to be the element that propelled Nike and Air Jordan to become the most famous basketball shoes, giving rise to a true phenomenon in the US and worldwide.

Ben Affleck is outstanding, whether he’s acting, writing or directing, as is the case here. The film also stars Matt Damon, Affleck’s longtime collaborator, and Viola Davis, Michael Jordan’s own pick for the role of his mother.

The film premiered on April 7 and can be seen in cinemas across the country.

Bonus: One World Romania online

As it just concluded its physical edition, One World Romania International Documentary & Human Rights Film Festival is moving online.

Some of the films that could be seen on the big screen these past ten days are now available on the festival website until April 30. For a better insight into this year’s program, here is a list of ten documentaries recommended by the festival curators and selection team.

Melissa Antonescu

Writer, photographer and videographer. For Films in Frame she writes news about the latest happenings in the film world and brings to the readers' attention the productions that can be seen at the cinema. When she's not writing articles, she's photographing people in a small studio or searching for new cake recipes.