08/17/2007

Special to the Record-Eagle
"Once," the opening night film of the 2007 Traverse City Film Festival, will kick off the 2007-2008 Beyond the Bay Film Series.

Series sets lineup

Beyond the Bay subscriptions are now on sale

Special to the Record-Eagle
"Avenue Montaigne" is the December feature of the Beyond the Bay Film Series.

SUTTONS BAY — Subscriptions to the 2007-2008 Beyond the Bay Film Series are now on sale.

The season opens with a screening of "Once.” The romantic musical was the opening night film of the 2007 Traverse City Film Festival.

It's about a Dublin street musician who writes his own songs and gets some inspiration from a girl who stops to hear him play and sing. Rated R for language, "Once” runs Sept. 9 and 10.

The series continues with "Away From Her,” showing Oct. 21 and 22. Also featured in the 2007 Film Festival, "Away From Her” features Julie Christie as a woman who has Alzheimer's disease. How she and her husband cope is the theme of the film, which is rated PG-13 for some strong language.

"After the Wedding” runs Nov. 11 and 12. In Danish and Swedish with English subtitles, "After the Wedding” is about a man who runs an orphanage and food aid program in India, then travels to Denmark in response to a promise of funds to support his causes. It's rated R.

"Avenue Montaigne” is the December feature. Screening Dec. 16 and 17, it's about a neurotic TV actress, wealthy art collector, his estranged son, a Hollywood director, classical pianist and business manager wife — all denizens of the ritzy world around Avenue Montaigne. In French with English subtitles, it's rated PG.

"Offside” is next, running Jan. 13 and 14. Made in Iran, it's about a group of girls desperate to see a live World Cup match in a country where women aren't allowed in the stadium, and how they decide to disguise themselves as boys to get in. It's rated PG for language and some thematic elements.

In February, "Bamako” is the featured film.

In French and Bambara with English subtitles, it's about a mock trial held in a multi-family courtyard in Bamako, the capital city of Mali, in which the plaintiff is the African nation and the accused are the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. "Bamako” is not rated in the U.S.

Also on the schedule is "4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days” from Romania March 9 and 10, and "Vitus” from Switzerland April 13 and 14.

All screenings are at The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay at 3 and 6 p.m. on Sundays and 6 p.m. on Mondays.

Cost for a subscription for all eight films is $40, with individual tickets sold at the door as available for $8.50.

For more information on the series, or to obtain a subscription, call (231) 256-2550 or visit www.beyondthebay.org.