"Parkland" weaves together the perspectives of a handful of ordinary individuals suddenly thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
The Arts Array Film Series showcases important foreign, documentary and independent American films on Mondays and Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at the Abingdon Cinemall. The films are free for the students and staffs of Virginia Highlands Community College, Emory & Henry College, Virginia Intermont College, King University and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. The general community will be charged $7.75 for admission. Note there has been a slight price increase for 2014. For more information, call 276-739-2451.
• JAN. 13 & 14: "Parkland" weaves together the perspectives of a handful of ordinary individuals suddenly thrust into extraordinary circumstances: the young doctors at Parkland Hospital; Dallas' chief of the Secret Service; an unwitting cameraman; the FBI agents who nearly had the gunman within their grasp; the brother of Lee Harvey Oswald; and JFK's security team, witnesses to both the president's death and Vice President Lyndon Johnson's rise to power over a nation whose innocence was forever altered.
• JAN 20 & 21: "Salinger" is shown. Over the course of his lifetime, iconic American storywriter J.D. Salinger (1919-2010) developed a complicated reputation on both personal and professional levels. Though he established himself as one of America's leading prose stylists from the 1940s on, Salinger experienced two personal crises as a young man that psychologically scarred him for life. When his first major novel - 1951's "The Catcher in the Rye" - grew into a national phenomenon, some were intent on seeking Salinger out.
• JAN. 27 & 28: "Romeo and Juliet," William Shakespeare's timeless tale of love and tragedy gets a 21st-century makeover in this update, starring Douglas Booth as Romeo and Hailee Steinfeld as Juliet. Directed by Carlo Carlei and adapted by Downton Abbey's Julian Fellowes, this film finds the innocent young lovers caught up in a bitter feud between two warring families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo and Juliet run away to wed in secrecy, but their youthful flame will consume them both.
• FEB. 3 & 4: "Fruitvale Station" is the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident. On New Year's Eve, he gets a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother, being a better partner to his girlfriend, whom he hasn't been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to their beautiful 4-year-old daughter. He starts out well, but soon realizes that change is not going to come easy.
• FEB. 10 & 11: Directed by Oscar-nominated James Franco from a screenplay by James Franco and Matt Rager, "As I Lay Dying" is adapted from the 1930 classic American novel by William Faulkner. The story chronicles the Bundren family as they traverse the Mississippi countryside to carry the body of their deceased mother Addie to her hometown for burial. Their road trip to Jefferson, some 40 miles away, is disrupted by every antagonistic force of nature or man.
• FEB. 17 & 18: Two-time Oscar-winner Michael Caine stars in "Last Love" with Clémence Poésy, Justin Kirk and Gillian Anderson in this richly nuanced, emotion-charged story of lost souls, new-found hope and last love. Matthew Morgan (Caine) is a widowed, world-weary professor living in Paris. The cynical Matthew sees no meaningful future for himself - until he meets Pauline (Poésy), a free-spirited young dance instructor. The unlikely bond they form ultimately leads them to rediscover the joy that only family and true friendship can offer.
• FEB. 24 & 25: "Out of the Furnace" is shown. Russell and his younger brother Rodney live in the economically-depressed Rust Belt, and have always dreamed of escaping and finding better lives. But when a cruel twist of fate lands Russell in prison, his brother is lured into one of the most violent and ruthless crime rings in the Northeast - a mistake that will almost cost him everything. Once released, Russell must choose between his own freedom or justice for his brother.
• MARCH 3 & 4: "Dallas Buyers Club" is on screen. Ron Woodroof likes living his life hard: heavy smoking, drinking, using cocaine and having sex. He's also a stereotypical redneck with racist and homophobic ideology. While in the hospital on a work-related injury, Ron learns that he is HIV-positive and will most likely die within 30 days. He reads every single available AIDS related research article, and all highlight AZT as the most promising, effective treatment for the disease. Unfortunately, in the U.S., AZT is only in its clinical trials stage.
• MARCH 10 & 11: In "The Artist and the Model" Marc Cros, an elderly sculptor, lives with his wife Lea in the south of France, safe from the war that rages. He seems to have reached the end of his life and of his art. One day, Léa gives shelter to a beautiful young Spanish political refugee named Mercè. Marc soon understands that the girl, who agrees to pose for him, inspires him and that he has no choice but to embark on this last artistic adventure.
• MARCH 17 & 18: "Haute Cuisine" is shown. Hortense Laborie is a celebrated chef living in the Perigord region of France. To her great surprise, the President of the Republic appoints her as his personal cook. She accepts, reluctantly, but once she has accepted her nomination, Hortense works with heart and soul to produce both a stylish and authentic cuisine. For a while, she manages to impose her will, thanks to her sturdy character, and despite the jealousies she arouses among the other chefs.
• MARCH 24 & 25: "Diana" is a compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales, during the final two years of her life. The film stars British-born Academy Award nominated actress Naomi Watts ("21 Grams," "The Impossible"), who assumes the leading role of the eponymous and iconic princess. Naveen Andrews, best known for the hit television series "Lost," co-stars as Dr. Hasnat Khan. Fellow Brits Douglas Hodge, Geraldine James, Charles Edwards and Juliet Stevenson round out the supporting cast.
• MARCH 31 & APRIL 1: "American Hustle" is a fictional film set in the alluring world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock our nation, "American Hustle" tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld, who along with his equally cunning British partner Sydney Prosser is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso. DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that's as dangerous as it is enchanting. The film features Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence.
• APRIL 7 & 8: "Philomena" is based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee." The film focuses on the efforts of Philomena Lee (Judy Dench), mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock - something her Irish-Catholic community didn't have the highest opinion of - and given away for adoption in the United States. In following church doctrine, she was forced to sign a contract that wouldn't allow for any sort of inquiry into the son's whereabouts.
• APRIL 14 & 15: From the director of "The Devil Wears Prada," "One Chance" is the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night. Paul became an instant YouTube phenomenon after being chosen by Simon Cowell for "Britain's Got Talent." Wowing audiences worldwide with his phenomenal voice, Paul went on to win "Britain's Got Talent" and the hearts of millions. Enthralling musical performances.
