Based on the actual events behind the writing of Johann Goethe's first masterpiece, The Sorrows of Young Werther, Young Goethe in Love is a deeply romantic, highly literate and refresthingly innocent period drama with spirited performances by Alexander Fehling, Miriam Stein and Moritz Bleibtreu.  Directed by Phillip Stoelzl (North Face).  In German with English subtitles.  Not Rated

Director Asghar Farhadi presents the story of a modern Iranian couple who hope to emigrate to Europe, but are prevented by the man's belief that he shouldn't leave his father, who has Alzheimer's. His wife is determined to go so their daughter will have a better future.  We empathize with the characters and their differing dilemmas. In Persian with English Subtitles, starringLeila Hatami, Peyman Moadi, Shahab Hosseini and Sareh Bayat. (PG-13)

 "A Separation will become one of those enduring masterpieces watched decades from now." Roger Ebert, who chose this film as his #1 film of 2011.

Golden Globe Nominee Best Foreign Language Film

The port city in northern France is an entryway for many illegal immigrants from Africa.  A young boy in a container with others from Gabon slips through the hands of the police and is rescued by a childless couple who take him in and, along with their dog and neighbors, help him elude Inspector Monet, a softy at heart.  Finnish auteur Aki Kaurismaki directs Andre Wilms, Kati Outinen, Jean-Pierre Darroussin and Blondin Miguel.  In French with English subtitles, suitable for all ages who can read subtitles. 

Jason Segel stars as Jeff, a thirty-year-old still living with his widowed mother (Susan Sarandon) in this wry comedy and taking charge of your own destiny.  When she sends him on an errand on her birthday, he gets sidetracked into helping his brother (Ed Helms) tail his wife, whom he thinks is cheating on him.  Written and directed by indie favorites Jay and Mark Duplass.

The opening night film a this year's Critics week at the Cannes Film Festival, this exuberant and deeply moving film follows a new couple, Romeo (Jeremie Elkaim) and Juliette (Valerie Donzelli), who discover their newborn child is very ill.  Drawing on the real life experiences of Donzelli and co-star/co-writer Elkaim and what they went through when their own son fell ill, the film bring tears to your eyes and dazzles you with its contagious vitality.  Declaration of War is France's official entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2011 Academy Awards.  In French with English subtitles.  Not Rated

Golden Globe nominee for Best Actress in a Drama, Tilda Swinton stars in a psychological thriller as mother whose son (Ezra Miller) shows alarming malevolence.  based on the best-selling novel by Lionel Shriver and directed by Lynne Ramsay, this gripping drama explores the questions of nature vs. nurture.  John C. Reilly co-stars. 

From Joshua Marston, director of Maria Full of Grace, comes a story of an Albanian family feud that disrupts the lives of Nik (Tristan Halilaj) and his sister Rudina (Sindi Lacej), who just want to be ordinary teenagers.  Forced to shoulder the burden of the older generations' lust for retribution and family honor, Nik finds his own solution.  In Albanian with English subtitles.

Winner of the Silver Bear (Best Screenplay) at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival.

Agnieszka Holland directs this true story about Jews in Poland rescued and hidden by a sewer worker in Lvov, Poland. What begins as a way to make a little money for Socha, a petty thief, becomes his salvation as a human being when he comes to care what happens to the people he has hidden from the Nazi's in the sewers beneath the city. Academy Award Nominee, Best Foreign Language Film.

David F. Shamoon (whom we hope will  make an appearance in Boise during the run of the film) wrote the screenplay based on the book by Robert Marshall.

"Unsentimental and unforgettable." Wendy Weinstein, Film Journal International

Paul Torday’s debut novel, adapted for the screen by Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle, tells the story of a fisheries scientist who finds himself caught up in a political mission to bring salmon fishing to the Highlands of Yemen. Lasse Hallstrom directs Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas in this winning romance about believing in the impossible.

"...by the time the film is done with us, it’s hard not to feel there is hope for romance, the possibility of peace and even a little patience for politics." Betsy Sharkey, L.A. Times

Susanne Rostock’s inspiring biographical documentary surveys the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte. From his rise to fame, Belafonte’s groundbreaking career personifies the American civil rights movement and impacted other social-justice movements.

SNEAK PREVIEW APRIL 26th at 7:00 PM Hosted by Idaho Pedestrian and Bicycle Alliance

Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne won teh Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 for this story about an 11-year-old boy (Thomas Doret) left by his father (Jeremie Renier) to fend for himself.  Assuming his father would have at least left him with a bike, he searches for it and meets a hairdresser (Cecile De France) who takes him in.  In French with English Subtitles.