Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Crescendo - our latest from the virtual Strand to watch at home

Crescendo, Our latest offering to watch at home from the "virtual Strand"* is about conflict and the power of music.

When a world famous conductor tries to create an Israeli-Palestinian orchestra, it takes all his skill and resources to overcome the discord and get them to play in harmony, rising to a tense and emotional finale.

When world-famous conductor Eduard Sporck accepts the job to create an Israeli-Palestinian youth orchestra, he is quickly drawn into a tempest of sheer unsolvable problems. Having grown up in a state of war, suppression or constant risk of terrorist attacks, the young musicians from both sides are far from able to form a team. Lined up behind the two best violinists - the emancipated Palestinian Layla and the handsome Israeli Ron - they form two parties who deeply mistrust each other, on and off-stage alike. Will Sporck succeed and make the young people forget their hatred, at least for the three weeks until the concert? With the first glimmer of hope, however, the political opponents of the orchestra show them how strong they are...

Loosely inspired by Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Academy-Award nominated director Dror Zahavi ("Alexander Penn", "Everything for my Father") directs this gripping drama as a constantly growing 'crescendo', rising the tension and conflicts until the last frame. Lead actor Peter Simonischek ("Toni Erdmann") stars next to a highly convincing selection of up-and-coming actors like Daniel Donskoy ("Victoria") and Sabrina Amali ("4 Blocks"). A remarkable theatrical movie and contribution to the world-wide efforts towards understanding, humanity and peace.

see the trailer:

You watch our virtual film offerings from your home on your own schedule. The Strand splits the "ticket" price with the distributor. To see a good film and support the future of the Strand at the same time click this link starting Friday, May 1
Starting May 1, click for a live link to the film:

The Virtual Strand?
Watch a film/support the Strand
Just a few weeks ago I introduced Parasite by professing my love for Vicksburg, the Strand, and the folks who come out to see our programming. A few things have changed since then...

But we still love you and miss you at the Strand.

And we hope you miss us: breathing in the smell of the fresh popcorn as you open the door; catching up with friends old and new; checking out this week's beer selection; finding the perfect seat (until some tall person sits in front of you)... and then watching a new or classic film with an audience - those were the days. And hopefully all those little things will return to our lives soon. Or eventually.

Until then some of our film distributors have come up with a plan to keep you thinking about the Strand and even supporting the Strand by partnering with us to offer unreleased films you can watch at home. Typically these films are available for a week or two or three, and once purchased can be watched over a 72 hour period. The easiest way to watch them is on a computer, or tablet, or phone, but they can usually be cast to your TV using Airplay or ChromeCast or something similar. Also a cable which connects your device to your TV by HDMI can be used.

Okay, it's not the same, but these are brand new films of the caliber we would be presenting on our screen, and if you choose to watch them, the Strand gets to split the ticket price.

Click here to get more info and to purchase a screening of Crescendo
and see links for our other Virtual Strand films.
Thanks for all your support...

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Booksellers and The Etruscan Smile new to stream from the virtual Strand

Starting Friday, April 17 we're adding two new titles to our selection of films you can watch at home to benefit the Strand.

First: STRAND VICKSBURG presents

THE ETRUSCAN SMILE
Based on the bestselling novel by José Luis Sampedro, THE ETRUSCAN SMILE stars Brian Cox (HBO’s Succession) as Rory MacNeil, a rugged Scotsman who reluctantly leaves his beloved Hebridean island and travels to San Francisco to seek medical treatment. Moving in with his estranged son, Rory’s life will be transformed, when he least expects it, through the redemptive power of love.

“The film has energy and spirit, thanks to Cox’s bright, charming performance.”
–Rex Reed, Observer

“Cox is a wonder to watch, and seeing him in this gentle, vulnerable role is a treat.”
–Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times

STARRING: BRIAN COX, ROSANNA ARQUETTE, JJ FEILD, THORA BIRCH
PRODUCED BY ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER ARTHUR COHN
DIRECTED BY MIHAL BREZIS & ODED BINNUN
A LIGHTYEAR ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE

Starting April 17, click for a live link to watch the film:


And:

THE BOOKSELLERS


Another film for you to watch at home. The Strand receives about half of the proceeds.

D.W. Young’s elegant and absorbing documentary is a lively tour of New York’s book world, populated by an assortment of obsessives, intellects, eccentrics and dreamers, past and present: from the Park Avenue Armory’s annual Antiquarian Book Fair, where original editions can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars; to the Strand and Argosy bookstores, still standing against all odds; to the beautifully crammed apartments of collectors and buyers. The film, executive produced by Parker Posey, features a range of commentators, including Fran Lebowitz, Susan Orlean, Gay Talese, and a community of dedicated book dealers and collectors who strongly believe in the wonder of the object and what it holds within.


Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Virtual Strand Film Links

In response to these remarkable times with theaters closed our distributors are offering us films to let you watch in the safety of your own home to benefit the Strand. These are films we would have considered bringing to our funky little theater, but it's pretty quiet over there right now. We miss you and hope you will find something of interest in this selection which so far includes shorts, Kid's films, documentaries, thrillers, dramas, foreign language films, cat videos... it's just like the Strand, but without the free popcorn.

As each film becomes available, we will add a live link so you can find more information and links to purchase film rentals.

Balloon: Active now
CatVideoFest: Active Now
The Booksellers: Active Now
Crescendo: Active Now  (Read more about Crescendo) 
New French Shorts 2020: Active Now

Diana Kennedy Nothing Fancy: Active Now
Plimpton!
Ella Fitzgerald: Just One of Those Things

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Cat Videos! The Creature Comforts Edition in the "virtual Strand"

The World Is Stuck Inside Staring Out. 

We're Here to Cheer You Up. 



The Virtual Strand* and O-scope Presents...
BEST OF CATVIDEOFEST: 
CREATURE COMFORTS EDITION!

You asked for it, so we delivered! For the first time ever, CatVideoFest is available to screen virtually outside of theaters (as in right in your home)! Long time CatVideoFest curator extraordinaire, Will Braden, has crafted a 40-min "treat" of a reel that includes the very best videos from CVF's illustrious history. Oscilloscope is rolling it out to virtual cinemas all across the country (including the virtual Strand) beginning next Friday, April 10! 


The Fine Print: Since the "Best of CatVideoFest" isn't feature-length, it is not being offered at a standard ticket price. Instead, it's a "Pay What You Want" model, which allows you to rent the film to stream right in your home for as a little as $.99 or as much as you want. We understand many will pay the bare minimum, however we want to remind you that this is a special event to support the Strand in a time of great need.


Click to purchase CatVideoFest


*All films at the "virtual Strand" are streamed at home, but a portion of your rental fee goes to support the future of the Strand. Thank you for your support.

Monday, April 6, 2020

Balloon: a new film from the (Virtual Strand)

 We have a new film coming from the "Virtual Strand" starting this Friday, April 10. These films are not available to see on other streaming platforms, and half of your rental cost goes to support our efforts and future at the Strand.



Balloon (Ballon)

Thriller, Historical – Germany – 2019 – 125′
In German with English Subtitles

Synopsis

A thriller-like true story of one of the most spectacular escapes of the 20th Century.
With a theatrical release to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Germany’s reunification, BALLOON is based on the true events of one of the most daring escapes of the Cold War in which two families living in Communist East Germany sailed over the heavily fortified border in a homemade hot-air balloon.

In the summer of 1979, the Strelzyk and Wetzel families—who had been working on their audacious plan for more than two years—try to flee East Germany in a self-made hot-air balloon. But after the balloon crash-lands just before the West German border, the Stasi find traces of the attempted escape and immediately launch an investigation. In a nerve-wracking race against the clock, the two families attempt to build a new escape balloon as the Stasi get closer and closer each day…

Support your local theater with Virtual Cinema

After a very successful award-winning festival run, BALLOON opened on March 13th in Los Angeles at the Laemmle, a few days before the theaters were closed.   Distrib Films is now offering the possibility to watch the film while supporting your favorite local movie theater. Please share this information with your friends and family around the country, as tickets can be purchased by all in the participating theaters.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The Strand Goes virtual with The Whistlers this weekend (Held over another week!)

Magnolia Pictures and the (virtual) Strand present
The Whistlers
 
 "A funhouse of cinematic mirrors. 'The Whistlers' makes reading subtitles not just vital, but fun." - Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

"If the Coen Brothers were Romanian, they might have made 'THE WHISTLERS'." - A.O. Scott, The New York Times



''A daffy and dazzling crime film. Taut and constantly surprising, the film breathes new life into staid genre conventions." - Simon Abrams, RogerEbert.com

In THE WHISTLERS, not everything is as it seems for Cristi, a police inspector in Bucharest who plays both sides of the law. Embarking with the beautiful Gilda on a high-stakes heist, both will have to navigate the twists and turns of corruption, treachery and deception. A trip to the Canary Islands to learn a secret whistling language might just be what they need to pull it off.


The Virtual Strand?
Watch a film/support the Strand
Just a couple weeks ago I introduced Parasite by professing my love for Vicksburg, the Strand, and the folks who come out to see our programming. A few things have changed since then...

But we still love you and miss you at the Strand.

And we hope you miss us: breathing in the smell of the fresh popcorn as you open the door; catching up with friends old and new; checking out this week's beer selection; finding the perfect seat (until some tall person sits in front of you)... and then watching a new or classic film with an audience, and hanging around to discuss the film - those were the days. And hopefully all those little things will return to our lives soon. Or eventually.

Until then some of our film distributors have come up with a plan to keep you thinking about the Strand and even supporting the Strand by partnering with us to offer unreleased films you can stream at home.

Okay, it's not the same, but these are brand new films of the caliber we would be presenting on our screen, and if you choose to watch them, the Strand receives half the ticket price. We will be working with a number of the distributors who supply our films. Their platforms and procedures may vary somewhat. It's an adventure.

Our first offering is from Romania and is called The Whistlers. 


Click to purchase your screening of the Whistlers
 
Thanks. We miss you.