Film Top 5: September 2023

“The Last Temptation Of Christ”At press time, the studios had not yet made counter-offers to the demands of striking actors and writers; the fall movie season and beyond is more unpredictable than any time since the pandemic began.

1
Contra/Banned
(Siskel, September)
Transgression’s in session with a series of against-the-grain movies, including “The Last Temptation Of Christ”; “RoboCop”; “Ekstase”; “The Girl on The Motorcycle”; “Scarface” (1932); “Pink Flamingos”; “Flaming Creatures” and “Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls.”

2

The Thirtieth Chicago Underground Film Festival
(September 13-17)
CUFF—the longest-running underground film festival in the world—is moving to Chicago’s South Side, to the newly refurbished, 107-year-old Harper Theater. Opening night is at the Siskel Film Center in the Loop. Parties and other events will take place around Hyde Park and venues slightly north.

3
Celluloid Now
(September 21-24)
Chicago Film Society’s second annual celebration of all things analog will take place at Siskel, Constellation and the Cultural Center, showing films, convening community and workshops and making celluloid merriment.

4
Ousmane Sembène Centennial
(Siskel, September)
Six features from the groundbreaking, politically radical Senegalese director, including the newly restored “Black Girl”; “Mandabi”; “Xala” and “Guelwaar.”

5
Billy Wilder Matinees Redux
(Music Box, September-October)
A second go at the filmography of one of the Music Box’s most popular repertory figures of all time, Billy Wilder, including “Kiss Me, Stupid”; “The Seven-Year-Itch”; “Sabrina,”; “Midnight”; “Stalag 17”; “Five Graves To Cairo” and  “Witness for The Prosecution.”