by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS
Winter is in full swing in Olympia, so this is the best time of year to enjoy a warm theater, a big screen and a tub of popcorn at Olympia Film Society. OFS has curated a fine list of wonderful and unique films that will help you escape the cold and enjoy the screen!
“Mary and the Witch’s Flower”
Feb. 3, 17, 24
Studio Ghibli’s fearless leader, Hayao Miyazaki, can’t seem to make up his mind about whether or not he actually wants to retire. A few Ghibli animators must’ve felt the same way when they branched off and created their own animation studio: Studio Ponoc. “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” is Ponoc’s first feature film, and the world is rejoicing over this noted spiritual successor to Ghibli. The film is about a young girl who is whisked away to a magic school called Endor College. But terrible things are afoot in the school, and it’s up to Mary to set things right.
“In the Fade”
Feb. 16-22
Usually, revenge stories have the wife murdered and the husband going all out for justice. It’s a tiresome trope. “In the Fade flips the script. Neo-Nazis assassinate Diane Kruger’s family and it’s up to her to settle the score. It’s a nice change on an old setup, and unlike a lot of past male-led revenge films (*cough* “Taken” *cough*) “In the Fade” seems to have something important to say.
The 90th Academy Awards Oscar Party
March 4
Welcome to the Olympia-style Oscars evening. Rob Patrick, film programmer of OFS, tells us about this exciting night: “We’re thrilled to have celebrated musicians Lisa Prank and Bree McKenna (Tacocat) host our live Oscars party. There is no better Pacific Northwest tandem than Bree and Lisa, and the Olympia Film Society recognized that the insight, energy, and observational humor they bring to every event would be perfect for the Academy Awards.”
“Mean Girls”
March 17
OFS film programmer, Patrick describes the classic film “Mean Girls” as “an art house theater masterpiece.” Known as one of the best films of the aughts, it stars Rachel McAdams, who has gone on to notable success in “True Detectives” and on the big screen.