A Very Unusual Theater, and a Free Screening

We are so fortunate, those of us who live in #SalemMA and the surrounding communities, to have so many wonderful, unique ventures within our midst.  One of those entities is CinemaSalem.  Besides having the very best movie popcorn ever (with REAL butter), Fresca, and an excellent selection of teas to enjoy, they offer the lowest prices around on first-run/terrific mainstream films  But even more than that are the special films that they show.

Their newsletter which is copied here for you mentions two of those films; "A Good Death" and "The True 1692".  For more information you can always go to their (wonderful) website, www.CinemaSalem.com.

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Here's an advance alert about a special screening we'll be holding at CinemaSalem on Sunday, November 20, at 3 pm, a film that's close to my heart.

Many of you may have known or heard about Howie Rich, a Danvers school teacher and a popular figure around the North Shore. He was also the pastor of the church I attend. When he received a diagnosis of brain cancer a couple years ago, he and his family chose to make a response to the disease that proved to be courageous and inspiring, and a pretty interesting and entertaining story. It's tragic, of course, but also exceptionally human, funny, and ultimately hopeful.

At some point early in Howie's journey with brain cancer, I thought that it might be valuable to periodically interview him, his family, his doctor, and his friends to chronicle the challenges and benefits of confronting a terminal diagnosis the same way Howie had confronted life: with a clear eye toward the realities, but responding with faith and hope, and in the comforting company of friends.

The result of these many interviews over time is a film called A Good Death, which we'll be screening on November 20. We won't be charging admission for the film, but we'll encourage people to think about making a donation to support the brain cancer research being conducted by Howie's doctor, Dr. Eric Wong, who's on the faculty at Harvard and practices medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital.

So consider yourself invited to this special screening. We'll remind you a few more times between now and the show. And now, on to this week's films!

Now Playing: The Tree (NR); Contagion (PG13); The Debt (R); and The Help (PG13)!

Many people supported CinemaSalem and the richness of their own imaginative and cultural life by attending movies at the theater this past week. When that happens, we hold over our film slate for another week, so we're showing three awesome movies again, and bringing in a new flick in the Screening Room.
 
The consensus 2011 Top Ten film The Help will screen on Friday at (4:00), 7:00 and 10:00; Saturday at (12:30), (4:00), 7:00 and 10:00; Sunday at (12:30), (4:00) and 7:00; and Monday-Thursday at (4:00) and 7:00.

Steven Soderbergh's  riveting Contagion will play at CinemaSalem starting Friday at (4:50), 7:30 and 9:50; Saturday at (12:00), (2:30), (4:50), 7:30 and 9:50; Sunday at(12:00), (2:30), (4:50) and 7:30; and Monday-Thursday at (4:50) and 7:30.

The third of our super popular movies, The Debt , will screen on Friday at (4:30), 7:15 and 9:40; Saturday at (11:40 AM), (2:00), (4:30), 7:15 and 9:40; Sunday a (11:40 AM), (2:00), (4:30) and 7:15; and Monday-Thursday at (4:30) and 7:15.

The new film making its CinemaSalem debut this week is The Tree (no longer confused with Tree of Life). The Tree is a favorite of the world's film critics: Radio Times (Australia): "Combining simple family drama with hints of understated magical realism, the feature sees grief-stricken mum of four Charlotte Gainsbourg struggling to get her life back on track following her husband's sudden death." East Bay Express: "By now it should be obvious that Gainsbourg is one of international cinema's most versatile portrayers of characters, as well as one of its most adventurous." St. Louis Post Dispatch: "The Tree might have suffered from too much symbolism if not for writer-director Julie Bertuccelli's deft touch and Gainsbourg's appealing performance."

The Tree will screen on Friday at (5:00), 7:20 and 9:30; Saturday at (12:15), (2:15), (5:00), 7:20 and 9:30; Sunday at (12:15), (2:15), (5:00) and 7:20; and Monday-Friday at (5:00) and 7:20.

One final note: tickets are already selling for The True 1692, our original 3D film about the Salem Witch Trials which will premiere at CinemaSalem on September 30!

Thanks for supporting CinemaSalem!

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I hope to see you here, or there!


Juli