Bozeman Film Society kicks off its 2023 season with a screening of the award-winning independent feature, The Year of the Dog. The event will be held at Downtown Bozeman’s Ellen Theatre on Wednesday, January 4th at 7pm.
Matt, a loner alcoholic at rock bottom, struggles to maintain sobriety for 30 days so he can honor his mother’s dying wish: to visit her in hospice, sober. His book-thumping AA sponsor, Fred (Michael Spears), offers him refuge at his farm, where Matt (Rob Grabow) finds Yup’ik, a stray Husky with a unique talent. The man and dog relationship is precarious at first, but with the help of a close-knit Montana community, the two strays find a connection and discover what it takes to pull through to the finish line.
Rob Grabow, the film’s writer, producer, co-director and lead actor is a fourth generation Montanan who lives in Bozeman, and is a Park High School graduate from Livingston (like his grandfather). Grabow says, “Having this screening in Bozeman, at such a historic theatre as the Ellen Theatre, is not only an opportunity to share this film with the community but more importantly to have our local cast and crew members who worked on the film, on location in Bozeman, recognized for their amazing work. Making this film in Montana with so many Montana locals who made the film possible and then to have this chance to share our film, which we think is special, with our Montana family means a lot.”
Grabow, who is also an award-winning screenwriter says that “The Year of the Dog is more than a feel-good dog film; it’s a heart-warming journey of forgiveness, finding purpose, being vulnerable, making connections, and ultimately healing.” In addition to being a well-acted, interesting film with great music and an abundance of cool dog moments, Grabow hopes that his movie “inspires people to continue to open themselves up emotionally and to connect with those they love.”
The film is rated PG-13 with a runtime of 97 minutes.
Following at 7pm on Wednesday, Jan. 18th, Cannes Jury Prize Winner Eo screens at the Ellen.
Eo, a gray donkey with melancholic eyes and a curious spirit, begins his life as a circus performer before escaping on a trek across the Polish and Italian countryside in a journey marked by absurdity and warmth in equal measure. Legendary filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski directs one of his most free and visually inventive films yet, placing the viewer directly in the heart and mind of the four-legged protagonist.
“Eo is an astonishment and so too is this wild, boldly expressionistic movie.” – Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
Starring Sandra Drzymalska, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz and Isabelle Huppert, the film is presented in Polish and Italian with subtitles. Not rated with a runtime of 86 minutes.
The Year of the Dog and Eo screen at 7pm at the Ellen Theatre. Reserved tickets are $9.25–$9.75 (plus fees) and available at www.theellentheatre.org, by calling (406) 585-5885, or by visiting the Ellen box office. Proceeds from Year of the Dog ticket sales will be donated to Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter. Wine, beer and concessions will be available in the lobby prior to each screening. CC devices available.
Learn more about the current season at www.bozemanfilmsociety.org – and Keep ‘Em Flickering! •
