UK/1951—directed by Alexander Mackendrick | 85 min.

In The Man in the White Suit, Alec Guinness plays a brilliant but underappreciated chemistry genius who, relegated to the role of laboratory dishwasher, secretly works on a revolutionary invention: a fabric that never wears out or gets dirty. Unaware of the social and economic implications of his discovery, he stirs up trouble in a capitalist society where eliminating “planned obsolescence” could threaten factory profits and workers’ livelihoods. 

Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, this visionary comedy is also a sharp critique of society, brilliantly foreshadowing the themes of his later film, Sweet Smell of Success. The film was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Screenplay.

“Mackendrick directs with a controlled bravado rare in British cinema, achieving miracles of timing and comedy.” – Halliwell’s Film Guide

Part of the newly restored 4K Ealing Studios series, this witty and satirical comedy is a cornerstone of British cinema, celebrating the sly genius of Alec Guinness, known worldwide for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Screening Schedule:

• Kind Hearts and Coronets – May 23 @ 7:00 pm
• The Lavender Hill Mob – May 24 @ 3:00 pm
• The Man in the White Suit – May 24 @ 7:00 pm
• The Ladykillers – May 25 @ 2:00 pm

UK/1951—directed by Charles Crichton | 81 min.

In The Lavender Hill Mob, Alec Guinness delivers a standout performance as a mild-mannered bank clerk who devises an ingenious yet outlandish plan to smuggle Bank of England gold bullion out of the country by melting it down into tacky tourist souvenirs. Assembling a small group of eccentric dreamers, his scheme becomes a worldwide sensation. 

This delightful Ealing Studio comedy not only won Britain’s BAFTA for Best British Film, but also earned an Academy Award® for screenwriter T.E.B. Clarke and a Best Actor Oscar® nomination for Guinness, cementing his international fame and propelling the success of subsequent Ealing comedies. The film also stars Stanley Holloway and Audrey Hepburn.

“Inventive, joyous, masterly... one of the most glorious gems in the Ealing crown.” – Phillip French, The Observer (UK)

Part of the Ealing Studios retrospective, the film is presented alongside three other newly restored 4K gems, showcasing the wit and brilliance of Alec Guinness in post-WWII British comedies.

Screening Schedule:

• Kind Hearts and Coronets – May 23 @ 7:00 pm
• The Lavender Hill Mob – May 24 @ 3:00 pm
• The Man in the White Suit – May 24 @ 7:00 pm
• The Ladykillers – May 25 @ 2:00 pm

UK/1949—directed by Robert Hamer | 106 min.

Dennis Price stars as a poor relation to the wealthy Dukedom of Chalfont in Kind Hearts and Coronets, a darkly witty tale of ambition and murder. Ninth in line to inherit the title, his character coldly narrates from prison the ingenious and dastardly ways he eliminates one royal D’Ascoyne after another to ascend the peerage. The unforgettable Alec Guinness plays all eight of his colorful victims, including a playboy, a general, an admiral, a reverend, and a dowager, in a tour-de-force performance.

“A merciless masterpiece! A brief prison sentence would not be too harsh a penalty for failing to see it.” – Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

Part of the Ealing Studios retrospective, this screening celebrates the post-WWII British comedies produced by Michael Balcon, including Kind Hearts and Coronets and three other newly restored 4K classics, showcasing Alec Guinness’s sly brilliance.

Screening Schedule:

• Kind Hearts and Coronets – May 23 @ 7:00 pm
• The Lavender Hill Mob – May 24 @ 3:00 pm
• The Man in the White Suit – May 24 @ 7:00 pm
• The Ladykillers – May 25 @ 2:00 pm

USA/1988—directed by Bruce Weber | 120 min.

Let’s Get Lost is the most seductive jazz documentary ever made—and now even more captivating in this 4K restoration. Directed by photographer-turned-filmmaker Bruce Weber, the film chronicles the enigmatic jazz vocalist and trumpeter Chet Baker during what would become the final year of his life. 

With breathtaking black-and-white cinematography, Weber weaves rare performance footage with intimate interviews featuring Baker, his bandmates, children, and ex-wives. The result is a hauntingly beautiful portrait of a complicated artist and the cool, bittersweet romance of his music.

“Magical. Weber's visual intuitions are as lyrical as Baker's musical instincts.” –Pauline Kael, 5001 Nights at the Movies

France/1974—directed by Robert Bresson | 85 min.

In Lancelot du Lac, Robert Bresson masterfully reimagines the legend of King Arthur, focusing on the stark aftermath of failed quests and fractured loyalties. Upon returning home without the Holy Grail, King Arthur discovers Queen Guinevere's affair with Sir Lancelot. 

Stripping away melodrama, Bresson hones in on the raw physicality of the era—thundering horse hooves, clanging armor, and the visceral sound of swords being drawn. Newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative, this cinematic masterpiece transcends its story, becoming an otherworldly exploration of human frailty and betrayal. In French with English subtitles.

“Beautiful, mesmerizing, exhausting, amazing—all the things you could possibly expect from a masterpiece." –Geoff Brown, Time Out (UK)

USA/1999—directed by Zeinabu irene Davis | 95 min.

A landmark of independent cinema, Compensation by Zeinabu irene Davis offers a poignant exploration of the lives of Deaf African Americans and the intricacies of love across two eras. Through remarkable dual performances by Michelle A. Banks and John Earl Jelks, the film tells the parallel stories of Malindy and Arthur in 1910 Chicago, and Malaika and Nico nearly 80 years later. 

Both couples navigate the challenges of Deaf and hearing experiences while confronting the weight of systemic racism during emerging pandemics. Restored with care by the UCLA Film and Television Archive, Compensation is a groundbreaking testament to resilience and a powerful meditation on the barriers that so often impede love.

We're honored to announce that director Zeinabu irene Davis will appear at the DFT in person to introduce the Sunday, April 13th presentation of Compensation at 2:00 pm, and will discuss the film with the audience following the screening.

“One of the greatest independent American films ever made.” –Richard Brody, The New Yorker

France/2024—directed by Alain Guiraudie | 104 min.

Jérémie (Félix Kysyl), an out-of-work baker, returns to his hometown following the death of his former boss. What begins as a simple visit takes an unexpected turn as Jérémie lingers well beyond the funeral, ingratiating himself with his late mentor’s kind widow and her hot-headed son, while forging an unlikely friendship with the eccentric local priest. 

But nothing is quite as it seems in this slyly funny and deeply unsettling thriller. Director Alain Guiraudie crafts a quietly seductive world where humor and tension collide, and human desires lead to startling twists. In French with English subtitles.

“Abetted by a brilliantly cast set of oddballs, Misericordia is a weird, darkly comic fable of desire.”–Jessica Kiang, Variety

France/Luxembourg/Netherlands/2024—directed by Wang Bing

Continuing the powerful documentary saga that began with Youth (Spring), filmmaker Wang Bing returned to the district of Zhili between 2015 and 2019 to create Youth (Hard Times)—the second chapter in his poignant exploration of a generation of Chinese youth navigating relentless factory work with little space for personal life 

The trilogy concludes with Youth (Homecoming), a deeply moving account of the Lunar New Year break, when millions of workers journey to their remote hometowns to reunite with family. This final chapter captures the emotional and symbolic culmination of their struggles, as workers Shi Wei and Fang Lingping use this rare moment of rest to marry.

The runtime for Youth (Hard Times) is 226 minutes. Youth (Homecoming) is 152 minutes. One ticket grants admission to both screenings.

In Mandarin and Chinese with English subtitles.

“Critic’s Pick! A riveting documentary.” –Nicolas Rapold, The New York Times

Australia/2024—directed by Sally Aitken | 93 min.

Wildlife rehabber and author Terry Masear has an extraordinary mission: to rescue every injured hummingbird in Los Angeles. But the journey toward healing, for both birds and humans, is rarely straightforward. In Every Little Thing, director Sally Aitken pairs Terry’s poignant story with stunning slow-motion photography, showcasing the awe-inspiring beauty and determination of these tiny, gravity-defying creatures. 

Through Terry’s efforts, viewers are introduced to the unique traits and personalities of her fragile yet mighty patients, turning their struggles into unforgettable tales of resilience. This heartfelt documentary reminds us that grace and heroism often come in the smallest forms.

“Deeply satisfying. A big celebration of tiny things and the special person who has made it all possible.” –Kate Erbland, IndieWire

Canada/2024—directed by Matthew Rankin | 89 min.

With Universal Language, Canadian director Matthew Rankin delivers a rare gem: a visionary comedy that is both profoundly humane and enchantingly inventive. Set in a frosty Winnipeg, the film follows the mystical journey of a banknote frozen in ice, touching lives in ways both whimsical and heartfelt. 

Much like Guy Maddin’s My Winnipeg(2007), the city becomes a dreamscape shaped by those who adore it—complete with French and Farsi as its official languages and a Tim Horton’s transformed into both a haven for wayfarers and an unlikely country club. 

This Canadian submission for the 97th Academy Awards® is a delicately crafted, soul-soothing work of art. In Farsi and French with English subtitles. 

“A magnificent film, one that feels warm and familiar even as we realize just how startlingly original it is.” –Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine