With an extraordinary acting ensemble and an astute sense of cinema, Malcolm Washington’s memorable directing debut continues his father Denzel Washington’s (Fences) project of adapting playwright August Wilson’s work to the screen. Set in 1936 during the depths of the Great Depression, Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning story of siblings battling over legacy is riveting. Boy Willie (the director’s brother John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman), a sharecropper, wants to sell an heirloom piano in order to buy land that his family once worked as slaves. But his sister Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler, Till, MVFF45) insists on keeping the instrument, which is embellished with images carved by their enslaved great-grandfather of his wife and son. The inimitable Samuel L. Jackson costars as their Uncle Doaker, who attempts to mediate the dispute but is disturbed by ghosts of the past in this beautifully rendered, searing drama exploring identity, birthright, and generational trauma.
Expected In Person Guest
Thursday October 10, 2024 2:45pm - 4:50pm PDT
Sequoia 2
Two longtime friends, unpredictable and laidback Rickey and organized and anxious Glenn, embark on a road trip to scatter the ashes of Rickey’s father. Longtime best friends Glenn (Michael Cera, Molly’s Game, MVFF40) and Rickey (co-writer-director Michael Angarano) could not be more different. Glenn is organized and anxious; Rickey is unpredictable and laid-back. Glenn lives a quiet life with his wife preparing for the birth of his first child, while Rickey just got kicked out of a convalescent home and has nowhere to go. Despite their divergent paths, the pair have maintained a tight bond over the years. So, when Rickey suddenly appears in Glenn’s backyard, it’s not surprising that this unannounced visit leads to the two taking a spontaneous road trip to Sacramento to spread the ashes of Rickey’s father. Throughout the journey, the two explore the bounds of their friendship and finally learn to process their emotions. Kristen Stewart (Seberg, MVFF42) and Maya Erskine costar in this heartwarming and emotional comedy.
Michael Angarano is an Emmy-nominated actor who most recently appeared in the films Oppenheimer (2023) and Horizon (2024) and the Peacock series Laid (2024). He made his writing and directing debut in 2017 with Avenues (2017). He received a 2019 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for an episode of This Is Us.
Thursday October 10, 2024 5:00pm - 6:24pm PDT
Sequoia 1
This exuberant, unconventional musical biopic of singer Robbie Williams blends extravagant song-and-dance sequences with a frank portrayal of the demons that accompanied his rise to worldwide acclaim.
Two decades before Harry Styles, there was Robbie Williams drawing the map Styles followed from boy-band fame to solo superstardom. This exuberant musical biopic charts Williams’ journey as a child raised to worship at the altar of Frank Sinatra who finds his own voice first as a teenager with Take That and later as a solo artist. No hagiography, the drama frankly portrays the addictions and demons that accompany Williams’ rise to acclaim as well as the impostor syndrome that vividly manifests as he performs. The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey’s sophomore feature contrasts Williams’ personal struggles with the absolute joy of his music, adding to the mix of recording sessions, club dates, and arena shows, extravagant and irresistible song-and-dance sequences. But the film’s biggest strengths are in its unconventional approach to an artist’s life and Jonno Davies’ soulful, cheeky, and self-lacerating performance that proves he is, indeed, a “better man,” as is Williams himself.
Expected in person guest.
Thursday October 10, 2024 6:00pm - 8:11pm PDT
Sequoia 2
