FilmFreaks

Tag: Time

  • Filmspotting Fest Returns to Chicago This Weekend

    There’s a certain magic that happens when cinema stops being just a screen and becomes a window into the past. This weekend, Chicago is turning the lens inward for a unique experience: Filmspotting Fest is back, inviting film lovers, critics, and audiences to celebrate the art of revisiting, discovery, and deep conversation.

    Bringing together two of the city’s most cherished cultural spaces—the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture and the Music Box Theatre—the festival offers a weekend dedicated to repertory cinema and live discussions. It’s more than just watching movies; it’s about engaging with the films that stay with us, evolve alongside us, and become richer through shared experience.

    Filmspotting Fest is proudly presented by the long-running Chicago-based podcast and WBEZ radio program hosted by Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen. Their mission is to amplify the conversations they’ve been having for years, transforming them into a vibrant live setting.

    For this year’s edition, the festival dives deep into a profound theme: time. The films selected explore time not merely as a subject, but as an element woven into storytelling—examining the complex interplay of anticipation, memory, nostalgia, and the powerful persistence of the past.

    Saturday, June 27th promises a rich cinematic journey across the city’s venues. At the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture, attendees can begin with a reflective screening of Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962), followed by an insightful conversation with critic and author Carrie Rickey, who will delve into her work on Agnès Varda.

    Later that afternoon, the program shifts focus to modern reflections. A screening of Krisha (2015), marking its 10th anniversary, will be paired with a discussion featuring writer and director Trey Edward Shults.

    The evening promises a burst of nostalgic energy with Wet Hot American Summer (2001), which celebrates its 25th anniversary. This screening will feature actress Marguerite Moreau alongside critic Scott Tobias to explore the enduring quality of memory and emotion on screen.

    The festival culminates on Sunday, June 28th, at the Music Box Theatre. Here, the focus shifts to cinematic classics with a stunning look back at the era of cult icons. The afternoon features a delightful screening of The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) in stunning 35mm, accompanied by a chat with critic Michael Phillips.

    Filmspotting Fest is an essential invitation for anyone who believes that the most memorable films are those that keep us contemplating what comes before and what remains forever after.

    Credit: Roger Ebert

  • Official Trailer for Volker Schlöndorff’s ‘Visitation’ with Lars Eidinger

    The history of a century is often told through grand battles and political shifts, but sometimes, the most profound stories are whispered from the walls of a single place. German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff has delivered one such powerful meditation on time, memory, and belonging with his latest cinematic masterpiece, Visitation.

    This is more than just a film; it is an immersive journey through the life of one house situated on a tranquil lakeshore near Berlin. This seemingly simple setting becomes a profound witness to sweeping historical transformations—the tumultuous rise and fall of Nazism, devastating wars, periods of Soviet occupation, German reunification, and the unfolding dawn of modern times.

    Within these walls, generations of remarkable individuals find refuge, searching for peace amid global upheaval. The story follows a Jewish family, an opportunistic architect and his wife, an idealistic writer, and their granddaughter, all navigating the currents of history while seeking belonging in their shared sanctuary.

    Twelve destinies converge within the frame of this house, illustrating how personal lives are inextricably linked to epic historical events. The structure itself serves as a steadfast haven, offering stability through decades of profound turmoil and change.

    The film brings a stunning visual quality to this weighty narrative, boasting bright and vibrant cinematography that enhances the emotional landscape of its characters. It is a visually rich exploration of endurance and resilience.

    The ensemble cast brings depth and nuance to these complex roles, featuring acclaimed performances from stars including Martina Gedeck, Lars Eidinger, Susanne Wolff, Ulrich Matthes, Detlev Buck, Michael Maertens, Wigand Witting, and Stella Denis-Winkler.

    Having recently premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Visitation is now gearing up for its release. It is scheduled for a German debut in October, followed by a wide release in the United States.

    Prepare to be captivated by a story where architecture meets history, and where the enduring spirit of humanity shines through the cracks of time.

    Credit: FirstShowing.net