Wednesday, October 2 - Thursday, October 10

INVINCIBLE

A New Film By
Werner Herzog

Propelled by Tim Roth's riviting perfomance, Werner Herzog continues his cinematic exploration of the human soul with this true story of a simple man who is transported from his humble village roots to the giddy excesses of the 1930s Berlin and finds himself becoming the new Samson to protect the Jewish people. At the end of the 1920s, Zishe Breitbart (Jouko Ahola), a young impoverished Jewish blacksmith from a shtetl in eastern Poland, becomes a popular sensation as the "strongest man in the world." Discovered by a talent scout, he leaves his hometown for the bright lights of 1930s Berlin to perform in a vaudeville show. The underdog, he is seen by the Jews as a hero. At the same time, Breitbart antagonizes the Nazis, who are rising in power, who cannot accept a Jew with such physical and spiritual strength. Soon he finds himself in deep conflict with his employer, Erik Jan Hanussen (Tim Roth) who poses as a clairvoyant and dreams of establishing an all-powerful Ministry of the Occult in Hitler's government. Once it is discovered that Hanussen's real name is Herschel Steinschneider, a Jew in disguise as a Danish nobleman, he is abducted and murdered by Nazis. As Hitler's hold on power grows and Berlin erupts in a ferment of anti-Semitism, Breitbart takes counsel from a local rabbi and becomes convinced that he has been chosen by God to warn his people of the grave danger to come. He returns to his homeland and preaches to young men to become strong like himself in order to protect the Jewish people against Nazi persecution. Undefeated and invincible - and only two days before Hitler takes power - he succumbs to a mere scratch from a rusty nail he's driven through a wooden log with a single blow of his fist. Obsessed with his mission, he ignores the developing blood-poison. Within a few weeks, and after many operations, he dies on a cold, winter day in January 1933. His legend lives on in folk songs, stories and ballads.Official Website. With Tim Roth,Juoko Ahola and Udo Kier. Written and directed by Werner Herzog. In Color. 35mm. 128 mins. 2001. SHOWTIMES: Nightly at 7:00 and 9:30; Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 and 4:30.

"Two thumbs way up! This is one of the best films of the year… a magnificent film. Invincible is fresh, inventive , and surprising from beginning to end!" - Roger Ebert, Ebert & Roeper

"Herzog is a powerful, unique visionary!" - Kevin Thomas, LA Times

" Mesmerizing is the only word to describe Tim Roth's profoundly sinister portrayal of a ruthless magician, hypnotist and mind reader in Werner Herzog's surreally flavored historical epic, INVINCIBLE. "
- Stephen Holden, NYTimes

Friday, October 11 - Thursday, October 17

INVINCIBLE and BIGGIE & TUPAC
- Separate Admission -

INVINCIBLE

A New Film By
Werner Herzog

Propelled by Tim Roth's riviting perfomance, Werner Herzog continues his cinematic exploration of the human soul with this true story of a simple man who is transported from his humble village roots to the giddy excesses of the 1930s Berlin and finds himself becoming the new Samson to protect the Jewish people. At the end of the 1920s, Zishe Breitbart (Jouko Ahola), a young impoverished Jewish blacksmith from a shtetl in eastern Poland, becomes a popular sensation as the "strongest man in the world." Discovered by a talent scout, he leaves his hometown for the bright lights of 1930s Berlin to perform in a vaudeville show. The underdog, he is seen by the Jews as a hero. At the same time, Breitbart antagonizes the Nazis, who are rising in power, who cannot accept a Jew with such physical and spiritual strength. Soon he finds himself in deep conflict with his employer, Erik Jan Hanussen (Tim Roth) who poses as a clairvoyant and dreams of establishing an all-powerful Ministry of the Occult in Hitler's government. Once it is discovered that Hanussen's real name is Herschel Steinschneider, a Jew in disguise as a Danish nobleman, he is abducted and murdered by Nazis. As Hitler's hold on power grows and Berlin erupts in a ferment of anti-Semitism, Breitbart takes counsel from a local rabbi and becomes convinced that he has been chosen by God to warn his people of the grave danger to come. He returns to his homeland and preaches to young men to become strong like himself in order to protect the Jewish people against Nazi persecution. Undefeated and invincible - and only two days before Hitler takes power - he succumbs to a mere scratch from a rusty nail he's driven through a wooden log with a single blow of his fist. Obsessed with his mission, he ignores the developing blood-poison. Within a few weeks, and after many operations, he dies on a cold, winter day in January 1933. His legend lives on in folk songs, stories and ballads.Official Website. With Tim Roth,Juoko Ahola and Udo Kier. Written and directed by Werner Herzog. In Color. 35mm. 128 mins. 2001. SHOWTIMES: Nightly at 7:00 only. Wednesday, Saturday bargin matinees at 2:00 only. NO SHOW SUN., OCT 13.

"Two thumbs way up! This is one of the best films of the year… a magnificent film. Invincible is fresh, inventive , and surprising from beginning to end!" - Roger Ebert, Ebert & Roeper

"Herzog is a powerful, unique visionary!" - Kevin Thomas, LA Times

" Mesmerizing is the only word to describe Tim Roth's profoundly sinister portrayal of a ruthless magician, hypnotist and mind reader in Werner Herzog's surreally flavored historical epic, INVINCIBLE. "
- Stephen Holden, NYTimes

------- Also Showing October 11 - October 17 -------

""The film is both a thrilling ride for the audience and a major piece of investigative film journalism."
- Amy Taubin, Film Comment.
BIGGIE & TUPAC