France/Italy/Belgium/Poland/ 2023 – directed by Giacomo Abbruzzese | 91 min.

Aleksei (Franz Rogowski) is a young Belarusian on the run from a past he desperately wants to bury. He joins the French Foreign Legion, which promises him the possibility of French citizenship. At the same time, far away in the Niger Delta, Jomo (Morr Ndiaye) is a revolutionary activist, engaged in armed struggle to defend his community and his future.

Their destinies intertwine in the most unexpected of ways. Described by Sight & Sound as “bold, visceral and phantasmagorical,” this striking new psychological drama won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, 2023 Berlin Film Festival. In French, Russian, Igbo, Polish, and Nigerian English.

“A visually thrilling, ambitious, and distinctly freaky adventure. A movie that dazzles you and carries you along with its storytelling.” —Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

USA/2016—directed by Barry Jenkins

Jenkins’s narrative spans the childhood, adolescence, and adulthood of a Black man who survives a drug-plagued Miami, finds love in unexpected places, and discovers the possibility of change within himself.

One of the great American films of this millennium, Moonlight offers a powerful sense of place, a wealth of richly conceived characters, and a feeling for the possibilities of cinematic storytelling that remind us how great movies can elevate the soul.

The brilliant ensemble cast includes André Holland, Trevante Rhodes, Naomie Harris, and Mahershala Ali. Winner of Academy Awards® for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali), and Best Picture of the Year. (111 min.)

“It just needs to be watched and embraced, as an entirely fresh example of the power that great movies can exert on our lives.” —Peter Howell, Toronto Star

USA/2021—directed by Questlove

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson fashioned a joyful and transporting documentary — part music film, part historical record — created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) in New York.

Incredibly, most of the footage was largely forgotten–but no more. Summer of Soul shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being, and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of injustice, past and present. Including concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and many more. Academy Award® Winner, Best Documentary Feature; Grand Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival. (118 min.)

“A music documentary like no other. What it’s really about is a key turning point in Black life in America.” –Owen Gleiberman, Variety

One of two musical entertainments featuring all-Black casts released by major Hollywood studios in 1943, Stormy Weather has a traditional movie romance plot — but what really matters in this incredible film is the cast and musical numbers.

The great Lena Horne, whose performance of the title song is one for the ages, is only one of the brilliant talents on screen; there's also Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Katherine Dunham and her dance company, Dooley Wilson (Casablanca’s piano player), and the astonishing Nicholas Brothers, Fayard and Harold, performing what may still be the greatest dance number in movie history (their tap shoes are on display in Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898 – 1971, at the DIA through June 23). (78 min.)

“Remarkable… five minutes into Stormy Weather, you’re hooked.” — Donald Bolgle, Blacks in American Films and Television

Come at 7 p.m. to see local Detroiter and piano legend Sugar Chile Robinson perform a solo boogie-woogie overture before the screening.

Join PRISM, the DIA's LGBTQ+ and allyship employee belonging group, for a "Night Out with PRISM" before the screening of I'll Be Your Mirror: Queer Documentary Shorts.

Mix and mingle with PRISM members and the film program curator Adam Baran in the Detroit Film Theatre's Crystal Gallery at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Please visit the event page for I’ll Be Your Mirror: Queer Documentary Shorts to learn more about the films.

Widely respected for his skills as a pianist and recording artist, Mike Garson is an accomplished composer and educator as well. For many, Garson has been known for his relationship with David Bowie; he made his mark on dozens of albums and traveled the world with him on tour, including Bowie’s first and final public performances in the US.

His reputation for creativity and quality has motivated many artists, including Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins, to collaborate on various recording and performance projects with him.

The Surfrajettes are a four-piece instrumental combo from Toronto, Canada. Since forming in 2015, the band has charmed audiences with their clever mix of psychedelic rock and reverb-drenched surf music, sky-high beehives, go-go boots, and eyeliner as thick as their guitar strings.

The Surfrajettes are guitarists Shermy Freeman and Nicole Damoff, bassist Sarah Butler, and drummer Annie Lillis. When not on tour, the group is busy woodshedding in their secret beach hut, debating vintage gear, and daydreaming about performing in a Quentin Tarantino movie.
 

The theme for the 31st season of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival is “Creative Connections,” and features a captivating mix of artists and repertoire that transcends boundaries of traditional chamber music. “Creative Connections” is a testament to the idea that when musicians from various backgrounds converge, they weave a rich tapestry of our shared human experience.

This festival program will celebrate Pride Month and the contributions of the LGBTQ+ music community.

Artists: The Dolphins Quartet, Hesper Quartet

Program:

• Em Singleton: glint, gleam, glow (world premiere)
• Han Lash: String Quartet No. 2
• George Enescu: String Octet in C major, Op. 7

The theme for the 31st season of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival is “Creative Connections.” The festival features a captivating mix of artists and repertoire that transcend the boundaries of traditional chamber music. “Creative Connections” is a testament to the idea that when musicians from various backgrounds converge, they weave a rich tapestry of our shared human experience.

Artists

• Han Lash
• Andrew Litton
• Shai Wosner
• Amnis Piano Quartet

Program

• Frank Bridge: Phantasy for Piano Quartet, H.94
• Han Lash: Solo Piano Miniatures
• Dave Brubeck: Points on Jazz

Sponsored by Barbara Heller.

Image: Sound Machine by Sabrina Nelson

Join the European Paintings Council (EPC) for a complimentary brunch, a review of 2023–24, a look at next year’s engaging  programs, and a special enrichment portion by Dr. Yuriko Jackall, Head of European Art and Elizabeth and Alan Shelden Curator of European Paintings, where she will discuss 18th-century French artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard, and his most famous painting The Swing, within the DIA’s own collection.