BFS lets viewers bring new independent film home
The local movie theater is closed for the time being, but Bozeman Film Society continues to virtually stream independent titles for cinephiles. Watch safely at home with new films added weekly. Streaming sales directly support BFS. Here’s a look at a few December options.
Finn Cole and Margot Robbie star in Dreamland, available until Dec. 3rd. Eugene Evans dreams of escaping his small Texas town when he discovers a wounded, fugitive bank robber Allison Wells hiding closer than he could ever imagine. Torn between claiming the bounty for her capture and his growing attraction to the seductive criminal, nothing is as it seems, and Eugene must make a decision that will forever affect the lives of everyone he’s ever loved. Rated R, the film runs 96 minutes.
Available through Dec. 10th is Coded Bias. The documentary reveals the groundbreaking research of MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini, proving that facial recognition algorithms have the power to disseminate racial bias at scale. In June 2020, IBM, Amazon and Microsoft said they would pause the sale of facial recognition to police. In a pivotal moment for racial equality, and a decisive moment for how big tech will yield power, Coded Bias is a trailblazing film for public understanding and engagement with the algorithms that impact us all. The film runs 90 minutes.
Radium Girls is also available until Dec. 10th. Based on true events, teenage sisters Bessie (Joey King, The Act; The Kissing Booth) and Jo (Abby Quinn, I’m Thinking of Ending Things; Landline) paint glow-in-the-dark watch dials at the American Radium Factory in 1920s New Jersey. When girls at the factory mysteriously begin to fall ill, Bessie uncovers a corporate scandal and fights back in a radical coming-of-age story. The notorious case ultimately led to a lasting impact in workplace health and safety as well as the study of radioactivity. The film runs 102 minutes.
Music documentary Zappa is available through Dec. 17th. With unfettered access to the Zappa family trust and all archival footage, the film explores the private life behind the mammoth musical career that never shied away from the political turbulence of its time. Alex Winter’s (Bill & Ted) assembly features appearances by Frank’s widow Gail Zappa and several of Frank’s musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others. Not Rated, the film runs 129 minutes.
Born to Be is also available through Dec. 17th. The film follows the work of Dr. Jess Ting, a plastic surgeon at the groundbreaking Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York City – where, for the first time ever, all transgender and non-binary people have access to quality gender affirming health and surgical care. With extraordinary access, this feature-length documentary takes an intimate look at how one doctor’s work impacts the lives of his patients as well as how his journey from renowned plastic surgeon to pioneering gender-affirming surgeon has led to his own transformation. Not Rated, the film runs 92 minutes.
Mayor opens Dec. 4th and is available until Christmas Eve. The documentary highlights the real-life political saga following Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah, during his second term in office. His immediate goals: repave the sidewalks, attract more tourism, and plan the city’s Christmas celebrations. His ultimate mission: to end the occupation of Palestine. Rich with detailed observation and a surprising amount of humor, Mayor offers a portrait of dignity amidst the madness and absurdity of endless occupation while posing a question: how do you run a city when you don’t have a country? Presented in English and Arabic, the film is Not Rated with a runtime of 89 minutes.
Opening Dec. 11th, The Library That Dolly Built will be available through Dec. 31st. Directed and produced by journalism professor and director of Land Grant Films Nick Geidner, and narrated by Danica McKellar, the film goes behind the scenes of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. It shows how one of the most famous and beloved performers in the world has partnered with thousands of local community organizations to develop an efficient and effective program for spreading the love of reading. The film is Not Rated and runs 70 minutes.
Finally, thriller Parallel opens Dec. 11th and streams through year’s end. A group of friends stumble upon a mirror that serves as a portal to a ‘multiverse.’ They soon discover that importing knowledge from the other side in order to better their lives brings increasingly dangerous consequences. The film runs 104 minutes.
Cost and rental period vary per title. Public film screenings at the Ellen will resume when large gatherings can be safely scheduled. Follow BFS on social media for updates. Visit www.bozemanfilmsociety.org for film previews and further information – and “Keep ‘Em Flickering!” •
