Still from The Booksellers (2019)
While the Museum of Fine Art, Houston is closed, its film department continues to bring you great, new international, independent, and documentary films for home viewing via virtual cinema! The museum’s online film programming began a few weeks ago with the Brazilian film Bacurau, Romanian crime thriller The Whistlers, Portuguese filmmaker Pedro Costa’s Vitalina Varela, and the silly-good CatVideoFest. Each Wednesday, they roll out a new couple of films for streaming — keep up with details here.
If you’ve run through Netflix’s limited selection, consider one of these new films, originally planned to premiere at the museum. And by the way, your streaming fee directly supports one of Houston’s best ongoing cinema programs during this critical time.
Here are the upcoming films that are confirmed so far…
THIS WEEK, April 22-28:
Still from Beanpole (2019)
Beanpole
This new period drama set in post-WWII Leningrad by young Russian director Kantemir Balagov has garnered awards, including at the Cannes Film Festival.
Balloon
A true story thriller, based on the daring 1979 Cold War escape of two families sailing over the border of Communist East Germany in a homemade hot-air balloon.
April 29-May 5:
Still from Bull (2019)
Bull
The directorial debut of Austin-based director Annie Silverstein, Bull garnered acclaim at its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Shot in Houston (Acres Homes and other areas), the film centers on the friendship between an older Black rodeo rider and a white teenage neighbor.
Capital in the 21st Century
Justin Pemberton’s documentary, based on economist Thomas Piketty’s bestselling book, is an insightful journey through the past, present, and future of wealth, power, and the effects of inequality.
May 6-12:
From Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint (2020)
Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint
This first-ever documentary about Swedish abstract artist Hilma af Klint, Beyond the Visible is a thoughtful survey of her life and art.
The Times of Bill Cunningham (2018)
The Times of Bill Cunningham
The excellent 2018 documentary about iconic New York street photographer and fashion historian Bill Cunningham, including a number of previously unpublicized photographs, and his own words from an unearthed interview.
May 13-19:
What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
New documentary about the influencial film critic Pauline Kael, directed by Rob Garver.
The Booksellers
A documentary journey inside the world of obsessive, intellectual, and eccentric booksellers, featuring interviews with Fran Lebowitz, Susan Orlean, Kevin Young, Gay Talese, and others.
May 20-26:
Still from Corpus Christi (2020)
Corpus Christi
Oscar-nominated Polish film about an ex-convict who schemes his way into becoming the priest of a small town.
To see the details of how to stream the films, please go here.
