In addition to providing a wealth of gallery and art experiences, Phoenix Art Museum (PAM) has been reinventing its center for film, structuring the program around cinematic series that thematically bridge to museum exhibitions—while still being dedicated to showing diverse and engaging forms of cinematic art.
Upcoming screenings include “Medea,” 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. The production is part of the National Theatre Live screening series, featuring the Bolshoi Ballet performing Euripides’ powerful tragedy. Medea is a wife and a mother. For the sake of her husband, Jason, she’s left her home and borne two sons in exile. But when he abandons his family for a new life, Medea faces banishment and separation from her children. Cornered, she begs for one day’s grace. It’s time enough. She exacts an appalling revenge and destroys everything she holds dear. Run time is approximation two and a half hours. Cost is $15 for museum members and students with ID; $18 general admission.
Also being shown this month is “El Topo,” 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. Originally released in 1970, Alejandro Jodorowsky’s film quickly caught the imagination of movie audiences, becoming a landmark in independent filmmaking. Classic Americana and avant-garde European sensibilities collide with Zen Buddhism and the Bible as master gunfighter and mystic El Topo (played by writer/director Alejandro Jodorowsky) tries to defeat four sharp-shooting rivals on a bizarre path to allegorical self-awareness and resurrection. Run time is approximately 125 minutes. Contains graphic violence and sexuality. Tickets are $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members.
Phoenix Art Museum is located at 1625 N. Central Ave. Film screening tickets are available at https://tickets. phxart.org. Full details about upcoming film screenings can be found at: http://www.phxart.org/events/film.