BIMA SmARTfilms Series: Pen Pals

Whether initiating contact with a stranger, sharing breaking news from half-way around the world, or advertising for love, the connection of humanity as facilitated by the written word is a strong motivator for a good story. See what can happen when we reach out.

See which films are showing listed below, and select that date when purchasing a ticket, or buy a Series Pass at a discount and see all 5 films!

Member Single Ticket – $10

Non-Member Single Ticket – $12

Member Series Pass – $40

Non-Member Series Pass – $52

3/19 – THE LUNCHBOX (2013) – India (partially subtitled)
What happens when a lunchbox, lovingly packed by a wife, goes astray and lands on the desk of a much older man who finds her tender note and scrumptious food? Starring Irrfan Khan, this film delights as our lead starts to remember stories from his life.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2695342873/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1

3/26 – MARY & MAX (2009)
A young Australian girl sends off a letter to a stranger in NYC asking for a pen pal relationship. A cranky old Jewish recluse answers, and a funny, off-beat relationship is born.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi784205081/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1

4-2 – IL POSTINO (1994) – Italy (subtitled)
A simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet, and then uses his own poems to woo local beauty Beatrice. Winner of Best Foreign Language Film statues all over the world.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1995415065/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1

4/9 – LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD (2016)
Gertrude Bell, sometimes called the female “Lawrence of Arabia,” was actually more influential and famous in her day than her colleague Lawrence. Bell was an explorer, spy, archaeologist and diplomat who helped shape the Middle East after World War I. In this PBS Documentary, narrated by Tilda Swinton, the story is told in the words of Bell and her contemporaries, chronicling Bell’s extraordinary journey into the uncharted Arabian desert and the inner sanctum of British Colonial power. Using excerpts from letters, private diaries, and official documents, the film takes us into a past that is eerily current.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi415283737/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1

4/16 – SWEET LAND (2005)
When a young German woman arrives in rural Minnesota as a mail-order bride, she meets Norwegian farmer Olaf, a fellow immigrant. Olaf’s parents in Norway have arranged for the two to marry, but problems arise when she doesn’t have the proper papers. Despite being unwed, the couple lives and farms together, causing a rift with their conventional community. Starring Alan Cumming and Jon Heard, “Sweet Life” is set in 1926 with stunning cinematography and a story as sweet as its title.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi362201881/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1