Film
The Kid With a Bike is a story of grace, compassion, redemption, and of the possibility of goodness in a very difficult and imperfect world.
It is a pleasure to report that — driven by the lively direction of Jamie Lloyd and the skills of an energetic cast — the National Theatre production proves that even after two centuries Oliver Goldsmith’s classic can still dole out plenty of comic delight.
William Kentridge spoke of the value of using a mirror to re-learn what he already knew how to do; the clear implication was that we are daily surrounded by mirror-images that we do not see for themselves but that hold the potential to alter our relationships to our tools and to our visions.
What struck me about “Hunger Games” is that the rules change in Katniss Everdeen’s battle to survive against others like her, including others she likes, might even love.
A reprise of Fred Hersch’s Leaves of Grass highlights the key role of Boston’s educational institutions; plus, an abundance of performances celebrating CD releases.
While “The Deep Blue Sea” may be a throwback to another era, director Terence Davies has used his masterful style to engage the audience cinematically and psychologically in an elegant circular structure.
It’s film festival time! That means you need to stretch, exercise, and drink plenty of liquids because there’s a lot to see. The month is capped with an amazing line up of 66 features at the Independent Film Festival of Boston.
Director Johnnie To has a playfulness found in much Hong Kong cinema. He has found a different way to unfold a story, making clear how money and greed can inform everything, but with plenty of room for humor and for good fortune.
Twenty-one years after she received a Golden Globe for “Europa Europa,” director Agnieszka Holland returns with another uncompromising vision of perseverance and the power of human connection in the worst of times.
What’s coming up now in this small gap between the Awards shows and the Film Festival Season? Lots! This month is a cornucopia of adventurous off-the-radar films. March features several great director’s series, Hong Kong, German, and Czech premieres, women directors, local directors, and a range of documentaries on music that you probably never heard of.

Visual Art Commentary: Silence Is Complicity — Why Museums Must Use Their Voice to Defend Democracy