SCROLL DOWN ON THE PAGE TO SEE EACH FILM IN THE SCHEDULE

LIFE OF CHUCK

September 8, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

110 mins, USA, 2024, English

The LIFE OF CHUCK, directed by Mike Flanagan, is a poignant and unconventional adaptation of Stephen King’s novella that explores optimism amid existential melancholy. As the world seemingly unravels, Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) finds himself haunted by the omnipresent image of Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston)—an ordinary accountant whose face appears everywhere, from billboards to TV ads. What begins as a surreal mystery unfolds into a deeply human story, connecting Marty, his ex-wife (Karen Gillan), and others to Chuck’s quietly profound life.

Through flashbacks to Chuck’s childhood with his grandfather Albie (Mark Hamill), the film reveals a love for dancing, accounting, and a hidden attic secret. Flanagan, known for Midnight Mass and Doctor Sleep, masterfully elevates everyday moments into emotional set pieces. The Life of Chuck is a meditation on memory, mortality, and the beauty of ordinary lives—an intimate farewell wrapped in cosmic wonder.

Now that he’s delivered an elegy in the vein of “Stand By Me” or “The Shawshank Redemption,” Flanagan has made one thing clear: He’s attuned to King at every frequency. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post

Watching The Life of Chuck, I was inspired to remember how wonderful it can be to find a movie that offers the thrill of discovery and the comfort of real emotions. James Berardinelli, Reelviews

The Life of Chuck is sentimental, but never syrupy. It highlights the small moments that shape a life, mirroring Chuck's likable and nuanced character. Richard Crouse

JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE

September 15, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

94 mins, France, 2024, French, English

While she dreams of being a successful writer, and of experiencing love as in a Jane Austen novel, Agathe finds herself desperately single. When Agathe's best friend (Pablo Pauly) gets her invited to the Jane Austen Writers' Residency in England, she finally lives her Jane Austen moment…and is caught in a volatile romantic triangle. Agathe must let go of her insecurities to decide what she really wants for herself, and to achieve her romantic and professional dreams.

As Agathe (Camille Rutherford) adores her job at the iconic Shakespeare & Co. bookshop in Paris, but she begins to feel stuck - surrounded by stories of others’ adventures while neglecting her own. Longing for a romance like those in Jane Austen’s novels and dreaming of becoming a novelist herself, Agathe joins a Jane Austen writing residency.

Encouraged by her rakish best friend Felix (Pablo Pauly), who may harbor deeper feelings for her, she sets off in search of inspiration. At the residency, she meets Oliver Lowe (Charlie Anson), a distant Austen relative whose aloof charm throws her into a whirlwind of romantic confusion. As Agathe navigates writing deadlines, emotional revelations, and Austen-esque entanglements, she begins to confront her own fears and desires.

Laura Piani’s debut is a witty, heartfelt exploration of love, creativity, and the courage to become the protagonist of one’s own story.

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life delivers exactly what its title promises; it’s charming, romantic, and delightfully bookish. Clare Donaldson, The Daily Beast

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life will renew hope for lonely souls seeking a literate true love. It's a clever take on the virtues of old-fashioned courtship that brims with heart, good humor, and a sprinkling of sex appeal. Julian Roman, MovieWeb

DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT

September 22, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

98 mins, South Africa, 2024, English, Shona

In her directorial debut, Embeth Davidtz adapts Alexandra Fuller’s memoir Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, offering a deeply personal and politically charged portrait of a white farming family in the waning days of Rhodesia. Set against the backdrop of the 1980 election that would birth Zimbabwe, the story unfolds through the eyes of eight-year-old Bobo (Lexi Venter), whose innocence contrasts sharply with the fear and denial of the adults around her.

Davidtz plays Nicola Fuller, Bobo’s volatile mother, who clings to her colonial identity with a machine gun by her side. As tensions rise between white landowners and Black workers, the film captures the unraveling of a world built on racial injustice. With nuanced performances from Zikhona Bali and Fumani N. Shilubana as Sarah and Jacob, the family’s employees, the film resists easy moral binaries. Davidtz crafts a haunting, empathetic exploration of identity, loss, and the painful legacy of colonialism.

This doesn’t just establish Embeth Davidtz as an exciting new filmmaker, it also marks the introduction of 7-year-old Lexi Venter, a talent so innately gifted she’s rightfully drawing comparisons to legendary child stars Jodie Foster and Anna Paquin. Al Alexander, Movies Thru the Spectrum

THE MARCHING BAND

September 29, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

103 mins, France, 2024, French

In The Marching Band, acclaimed conductor Thibaut (Benjamin Lavernhe) leads a life of prestige and solitude—until a leukemia diagnosis forces him to seek a bone marrow donor. The search uncovers a life-altering truth: he was adopted and has a biological brother, Jimmy (Pierre Lottin), a factory cafeteria worker and trombonist in a struggling local marching band.

Though worlds apart, the brothers share a deep love of music. As Thibaut recovers, he visits Jimmy’s small industrial town, where the band faces extinction amid factory closures. Despite initial tension, Thibaut offers to help them prepare for a regional competition, forging a bond with Jimmy and the community.

Directed by Emmanuel Courcol, this heartfelt French drama blends humor, social commentary, and emotional depth. With stirring performances and a rousing musical finale set to Ravel’s Bolero, The Marching Band is a moving celebration of family, second chances, and the unifying power of music.

“The Marching Band unashamedly wears its heart on its sleeve with the musical score firmly centre stage, including the powerful use of Ravel’s Bolero for a rousing finale. Even the most austere observer would be hard-pushed not to shed a tear or two.” Richard Mowe 

This film may not surprise, but it’s a sincere and uplifting tale that is in tune with the spirit of underdog crowd-pleasers Brassed Off and The Full Monty. Dulcie Pearce, The Sun(UK)

... A low-key egalitarianism pushes the film into an unexpectedly thoughtful, almost Rousseauesque examination of nature versus nurture. Tom Shone, Sunday Times (UK)

THE PENGUIN LESSONS

October 6, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

110 mins, Spain, UK, 2024, English, Spanish

In The Penguin Lessons, Oscar nominee Steve Coogan stars as Tom, a reserved Englishman who arrives in 1976 Buenos Aires to teach at a prestigious boarding school, just as Argentina descends into political turmoil. Initially indifferent to the unrest, Tom’s life takes an unexpected turn after rescuing a penguin drenched in oil on a beach in Uruguay.

Against all odds, he brings the bird back to Argentina, forming a touching and unlikely bond. As the dictatorship tightens its grip and Tom’s long-buried past resurfaces, the penguin becomes both confidant and catalyst for change. Inspired by true events and directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty, Military Wives), this poignant dramedy blends dry British wit with heartfelt emotion. With Jonathan Pryce as the school’s headmaster and a backdrop of repression and awakening, The Penguin Lessons is a warm, whimsical tale about responsibility, redemption, and the surprising ways love, and courage can take flight.

The film may be too light for such a dark time, but it’s hard not to root for The Penguin Lessons and its story of unlikely alliances that nudge the wounded toward redemption. Loren King, Newport This Week (RI)

Adapted from Tom Michell’s autobiographical book, The Penguin Lessons counters the inspirational teacher cliches with a bumbling charm that’s boosted considerably by a first-rate performance from the scene-stealing penguin. Wendy Ide, Observer (UK)

SANTOSH

October 13, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

128 mins, UK, Germany, India, France 2024, Hindi

In Santosh, filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s powerful narrative debut, a young housewife (Shahana Goswami) is thrust into the role of police constable after her husband is killed on duty. Through a government initiative, she joins a male-dominated police station in rural Northern India, where she must navigate systemic corruption, caste bias, and gendered violence.

When a missing girl’s body is discovered, protests erupt, prompting the arrival of Inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar), a charismatic and seasoned officer who mentors Santosh. As the investigation unfolds, Santosh is drawn to Sharma’s bold defiance of patriarchal norms and her fierce advocacy for justice.

Suri blends procedural precision with emotional depth, portraying Santosh’s struggle to uphold her ethics in a system driven by forced confessions and quick convictions. Goswami delivers a quietly resilient performance, while Rajwar’s nuanced portrayal reveals the moral complexities of survival within a compromised institution. Santosh is a gripping, empathetic exploration of justice, identity, and transformation.

As well as working rivetingly as a procedural thriller and a psychological study, Santosh has a hard, documentary-like edge, exploring Indian social phenomena with intense analytical focus. Jonathan Romney, Financial Times

 Though it’s the gripping murder-mystery that hooks viewers, it’s Suri’s intelligent and keenly observed social commentary where Santosh shines the brightest. Andrew Murray, The Upcoming

THE WEDDING BANQUET

October 20, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

102 mins, USA 2024, English, Korean

In The Wedding Banquet, director Andrew Ahn reimagines Ang Lee’s 1993 classic with warmth, wit, and a modern lens on queer identity and cultural expectations. Min (Han Gi-Chan), a Korean heir facing deportation, proposes a green-card marriage to his lesbian friend Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) in exchange for funding her partner Lee’s (Lily Gladstone) IVF treatment.

Their plan unravels when Min’s grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung) insists on a traditional Korean wedding banquet, forcing the chosen family to hide their true selves. As tensions rise, the quartet—rounded out by Min’s commitment-shy boyfriend Chris (Bowen Yang)—grapple with love, identity, and generational divides. Featuring standout performances from Joan Chen and Youn, the film balances heartfelt emotion with sharp humor, exploring how far we go to protect those we love. Ahn’s collaboration with James Schamus honors the original while shifting focus to women’s stories, offering a fresh, accessible take on queer family, forgiveness, and the enduring power of chosen kinship.

Where The Wedding Banquet really shines is in its characters, not only in its two romantic pairings that feel profoundly real, but also in subverting our expectations of its intergenerational relationships. Laura Venning, Little White Lies

The result is a beautiful blend of joy, sorrow, laughter, and drama—just the kind of film we need more of, especially from a director as compassionate as Ahn. Leo Brady, AMovieGuy.com

The Wedding Banquet is the kind of film that reminds you why we fall in love with movies in the first place—because they surprise us, move us, and make us laugh at how messy and magnificent life can be. Alan Ng, Film Threat

LAST BREATH

October 27, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

99 mins, France 2025, French, English

In The Last Breath (Le Dernier Souffle), legendary filmmaker Costa-Gavras delivers a deeply human and emotionally resonant exploration of mortality, dignity, and the end of life. Based on the book by Claude Grange and Régis Debray, the film follows the evolving relationship between Dr. Augustin Masset (Kad Merad), a compassionate palliative care physician, and Fabrice Toussaint (Denis Podalydès), a philosophical writer confronting his own terminal diagnosis. Through bedside visits, flashbacks, and candid conversations, the two men navigate the emotional and ethical complexities of dying with grace.

Blending documentary realism with narrative intimacy, Costa-Gavras crafts a tender, unsentimental portrait of patients facing their final days—each with unique desires, regrets, and acts of resistance. Featuring moving performances from Charlotte Rampling, and Ángela Molina, Last Breath is a courageous meditation on life’s final chapter, urging us to reflect on how we care for the dying—and how we choose to say goodbye.

Costa-Gavras, one of the greatest living directors, wants us to think with him about death. And that saddens us as much as it overwhelms us and fills us with hope. Luis Martinez, El Mundo (Spain)

It is probably misplaced to describe it as stupendous, given how softly reflective it is, but in the hour after seeing it, I feel as if my heart has been moved in my chest. Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline Hollywood Daily

MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE

November 3, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

96 mins, USA 2025, English, American Sign Language

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore is a powerful and intimate documentary chronicling the life and legacy of trailblazing actress and activist Marlee Matlin. Directed by longtime friend and fellow Deaf actor Shoshannah Stern, the film explores Matlin’s meteoric rise to fame at age 21 with her Oscar-winning debut in Children of a Lesser God, making her the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award.

Through candid conversations, archival footage, and interviews with collaborators, the film delves into Matlin’s battles with addiction, her experiences with abuse, and her tireless advocacy for Deaf representation and accessibility in media. With warmth and honesty, Matlin reflects on her personal and professional journey, revealing the resilience behind the words tattooed on her wrists: “perseverance” and “warrior.”

Not Alone Anymore is more than a portrait of a Hollywood icon—it’s a moving testament to survival, visibility, and the enduring fight for inclusion and justice within and beyond the Deaf community.

Not Alone Anymore is more than a documentary. It’s a tribute to resilience, a call for representation, and a testament to the power of one person to change the world. Leo Brady, AMovieGuy.com

 It’s as much about its form as its content; what it says is demonstrated by how it says it. The resulting film is engrossing — and it’s also profound. Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times

HIS FATHER’S SON

November 10, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

79 mins, Canada 2024, English, Farsi

His Father’s Son, the debut feature from Meelad Moaphi, is a quietly powerful family drama set in Toronto’s Iranian Canadian community. Amir (Alireza Shojaei), an ambitious chef striving to forge his own identity, struggles under the weight of his father’s expectations and the shadow of his younger, seemingly favored brother, Mahyar (Parham Rownaghi). When a mysterious inheritance from a long-lost family friend is left solely to Mahyar, Amir begins to question the family’s past and his place within it.

As secrets unravel, tensions rise, exposing generational divides, cultural pressures, and the emotional cost of masculinity. With food as both metaphor and emotional currency, the film explores identity, belonging, and the quiet resentments that simmer beneath the surface of family life.

 Anchored by strong performances and a nuanced script, His Father’s Son is a tender, introspective portrait of a man caught between tradition and self-determination, and the painful truths that can finally set him free.

By focusing on a smaller cast in largely intimate conversational settings, Moaphi crafts an appropriately taut container for bottled-up emotions. Katherine Connell, Globe and Mail

MATERIALISTS

November 17, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

116 mins, USA 2025, English

In Materialists, writer-director Celine Song (Past Lives) delivers a sharp, stylish, and emotionally layered romantic dramedy set in the glittering world of New York’s elite. Dakota Johnson stars as Lucy, a high-end matchmaker who’s built a career selling the dream of love—while privately believing in marrying for money.

Her carefully curated life is upended when she meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), a wealthy and charming client who wants to date her, just as her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans), a struggling actor with undeniable chemistry, reappears. Torn between two very different men, Lucy must confront her own beliefs about love, ambition, and self-worth.

With echoes of Jane Austen and early-2000s rom-coms, Materialists blends biting wit with genuine vulnerability, exploring the transactional nature of modern relationships and the emotional cost of choosing between security and passion. Song’s nuanced script and standout performances elevate this love triangle into a poignant reflection on what we truly value in others—and in ourselves.

Song’s mastery of the filmmaking form can’t be overstated, while Johnson, Evans, and Pascal are all terrific and possess note-perfect alchemy together. Maxance Vincent, Film Speak

Celine Song's follow up to Past Lives, is a clever dry takedown of the traditional Hollywood rom-com. Johnson, Evans and Pascal are great in this romantic drama for grown-ups. Fico Cangiano, CineXpress

THE DIVINE SARAH BERNHARDT

November 24, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

98 mins, France 2025, French

The Divine Sarah Bernhardt is a sumptuous, time-hopping portrait of the world’s first global celebrity, brought vividly to life by Sandrine Kiberlain. Set across two defining chapters of Bernhardt’s life—her 1896 career peak and her 1915 leg amputation—the film explores the legendary actress’s fierce spirit, theatrical flair, and personal contradictions.

As she navigates a tempestuous romance with fellow actor Lucien Guitry (Laurent Lafitte), confronts aging, and defies societal expectations, Bernhardt remains a force of nature. Director Guillaume Nicloux crafts a visually rich and emotionally layered narrative, blending historical drama with flashes of gallows humor and political urgency, including Bernhardt’s bold stance during the Dreyfus Affair.

With a dazzling supporting cast and opulent period detail, the film captures the grandeur and chaos of Belle Époque Paris while peeling back the myth to reveal the woman beneath. The Divine Sarah Bernhardt is a theatrical, witty, and poignant celebration of a life lived unapologetically on—and off—the stage.

It’s a high-octane performance composed of grand gestures, black jokes and imperious commands, artfully edged with hints of self-mockery, but even at her most intimate, Bernhardt remains a public figure, always alert to the impression she’s making, whether there’s anyone else in the room or not. Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald

With a painter’s eye for detail and a novelist’s flair for drama, Nicloux’s filmmaking is where glamour, scandal, and poetic melancholy dance hand in hand, and in a film as audacious and seductive as its subject, Nicloux crafts an irresistible portrait of Sarah Bernhardt that is both a visual spectacle and a deeply personal exploration of identity, love, and legacy. Irresistible Magazine 

The brilliant story of the original diva and feminist raconteur is not to be missed. Irresistible Magazine

A NICE INDIAN BOY

Decembe 1, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

96 mins, USA 2024, English

A Nice Indian Boy is a heartfelt and hilarious romantic comedy that reimagines the classic meet-the-parents story through a queer, cross-cultural lens. Naveen (Karan Soni), a shy Indian-American doctor, surprises his traditional family when he introduces his new boyfriend, Jay (Jonathan Groff)—a white man adopted by Indian parents and deeply immersed in Hindu culture.

As wedding bells ring for Naveen’s sister, his own romantic journey unfolds with awkward voicemails, Bollywood references, and a few unexpected truths. Directed by Roshan Sethi and based on Madhuri Shekar’s acclaimed play, the film explores identity, family expectations, and the messy beauty of love.

With standout performances from Zarna Garg and Harish Patel as Naveen’s well-meaning parents, and a charming chemistry between Soni and Groff, A Nice Indian Boy blends cultural specificity with universal themes. It’s a warm, witty celebration of chosen love, generational change, and the courage it takes to be truly seen. 

A Nice Indian Boy is a highly charming and subversive romantic comedy anchored by leads with great chemistry. Tristian Evans, Geek Vibes Nation

This crowd-pleasing romantic comedy elevates its formula with winning characters and relentless positivity. Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue

A Nice Indian Boy is a delightful, refreshing, and absolutely hilarious modern rom-com with the perfect balance between heart and humour. William Stottor, Loud and Clear Reviews

MEET THE BARBARIANS

December 8, 2025, 7:30pm at Tilley Hall, UNB Campus

101 mins, UK, 2024, French

In Meet the Barbarians, writer-director Julie Delpy delivers a sharp, heartfelt comedy about identity, prejudice, and the messy realities of integration. When a small French village eagerly preparing to welcome a Ukrainian refugee, family is instead greeted by the unexpected arrival of the Syrian Fayads, the town’s self-image is thrown into disarray.

As the newcomers try to adapt to life in a place steeped in tradition, the locals—ranging from a xenophobic businessman (Laurent Lafitte) to a self-proclaimed progressive (Delpy)—are forced to confront their own assumptions. With standout performances from Rita Hayek and Sandrine Kiberlain, the film deftly balances biting satire with genuine warmth. Delpy’s signature blend of wit and emotional insight shines through in this timely tale of cultural collision, where misunderstandings, awkward encounters, and surprising alliances reveal the humanity behind the headlines. Meet the Barbarians is a classic comedy of manners with a modern, multicultural twist.

It's hard to imagine that Delpy could make something unexpectedly lovely out of so much fear and malice. But by keeping the words sharp and the tone light, she ultimately achieves her goal: to show us two sides of the same mirror. Elizabeth Weitzman, TheWrap

Written and directed by Julie Delpy, Meet the Barbarians (Les Barbares) is an amusing satire that tackles xenophobia and racism in the hopes of being a positive agent of change. Jeanine T. Abraham, VisAbleBlackwoman