Today’s letter is exceptionally not for Netflix or Amazon Prime but for streaming in “virtual screening rooms”, an initiative to support movie theaters through this difficult time.
Dear friends,
One of the many initiatives to support cinemas and workers in film in this crisis is virtual screenings. The idea is simple, you watch the same movies that were planned for release, paying for your ticket and supporting local theaters.
Bacurau, a movie seen by 1 million people in Brazil and winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes, is one of the great new movies that you can watch in this scheme. 50% of your ticket price goes to the theater of your choosing (more than the share that theaters normally take).
The full list of cinemas running Bacurau be found here. Many cinemas across the U.S. and Canada have it until this Friday, April 24th, and some until next Thursday, April 30th.
Bacurau
Available in virtual screening rooms here.
This incredibly creative and unique movie is set in a fictional small town in the Brazilian Backcountry. It has a realistic first half but things quickly get crazy.
Even in that realistic half, you can clearly tell that something is off about the town of Bacurau. An accident involving a truck carrying coffins turns into an impromptu coffin shop. A dam was built to divert water from people. The village doctor seems to be the least sane person in the village. It’s all wrong.
Bacurau is funny, it’s politically charged, it’s thrilling, and it’s sweet, all at once. It’s that one in a thousand weird movies that actually works, and will inevitably become a classic.
Also in virtual screening
Sorry We Missed You was my favorite movie of 2019 (I’ve been keeping a list each year). I saw it in Europe but it’s now having its North American release digitally. It’s about a family man who starts working in internet delivery and the impact that has on him and on his family. You’ll never see the people bringing you packages the same again.
All virtual screenings can be found here.
Corpus Christi is an outstanding Polish movie about an ex-convict who goes through a transformation in jail and decides he wants to become a priest. Not being able to at first because of his criminal record, he cons his way into taking over a parish. The central performance by Bartosz Bielenia is incredible.
All virtual screenings can be found here (on this website you need to scroll down or navigate to “playing” to find them).
I hope one of these is for you and I wish you a great Sunday.
Talk soon,
Bilal
I’d love to help my local theaters!
Thanks! What a great initiative