Virtual Cinema | See Critically Acclaimed Films This Winter December 7, 2020
Martin Eden
Courtesy of Kino Lorber
Song without a Name
Courtesy of Film Movement
Coded Bias | MIT researcher Joy Boulamwini in a mask. Courtesy of Fourth Act Film
Ghost Tropic
Courtesy of the Cinema Guild
Ghost Tropic
Courtesy of the Cinema Guild
If you find yourself with free time during the holidays, why not catch up on the Virtual Cinema movies that have opened this fall? The Museum continues to offer new documentaries, features, and special compilations—something for everyone. Many of the films remain available to watch for a few weeks after they open. Here are a few recommendations from the film department for you to check out from the comfort of your couch.
Award Winners
Even in this most unusual year, late fall is the start of “awards season,” as well as when film critics prepare their “Best of” lists. Two critically celebrated dramas in our virtual theater may have additional honors to come. Song without a Name, a moving feature from a first-time female director, is Peru’s submission to the Oscars for Best International Film. The epic Martin Eden, based on a Jack London novel, is Italy’s winner in the David di Donatello Awards for Best Picture and a nominee in New York City’s Gotham Awards.
Curator’s Choice
Film curator Marian Luntz recommends Ghost Tropic as a film she especially hopes movie lovers will seek out. Filmed in shimmering 16mm, Ghost Tropic follows a woman traversing Brussels over the course of one night, revealing the very human side of a modern metropolis.
Uplifting, Motivational Viewing
Amid a strong year for topical documentaries, current selections include Coded Bias (available through December 15) and Oliver Sacks: His Own Life, both having garnered prestigious prizes at prominent film festivals. As Karen Fang, a member of the Museum’s film subcommittee, says about Coded Bias, “a documentary critique of the destructive prejudices built into our technologies and social structures may not seem like an obvious movie choice to unwind with, but ... Coded Bias is uplifting, motivational viewing.”
Find these films (and more!) on the Virtual Cinema hub. Happy holiday streaming!
Underwriting for the Film Department is provided by Tenaris and the Vaughn Foundation. Generous funding is provided by Nina and Michael Zilkha; The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea; Franci Neely; Carrin Patman and Jim Derrick; Lynn S. Wyatt; ILEX Foundation; L’Alliance Française de Houston; and The Foundation for Independent Media Arts.
