THE FIRST BEAUTIFUL THING begins July 8...

The Italian drama, THE FIRST BEAUTIFUL THING begins Friday, July 8. The First Beautiful Thing is Italy′s 2011 Academy Award® submission. The film follows a strong and optimistic mother raising her two children against all odds. Throughout grief and pain she teaches her family to remain open and loving and to cherish the little joys in life. This beautiful and touching comedic drama from acclaimed Italian director Paolo Virzì (La Bella Vita) is filled with unforgettable and emotional true-to-life performances.

Lawrence Johnson, director of STUFF...

Portland filmmaker Lawrence Johnson, director of STUFF, will be in attendance at the 7:15 pm show on Friday, June 17 at Living Room Theaters. Lawrence has been making films since his childhood, and has developed a national reputation for historical and cultural documentary and films for museums across the country. Many of his films have been seen on Public Broadcasting stations across the country. He has created films for museums such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Washington State History Museum and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Johnson has taught cinematography at the Portland Art Museum’s Northwest Film Center and has completed several residencies through its Filmmaker-In-Schools program. Stuff will be his first personal documentary.

STUFF plays daily beginning June 17 at  12:10, 2:40, 5:00, 7:15, 9:10. Lawrence is donating a portion of the films proceeds to Highland Access, Reentry and Recovery Program, a faith-based mentoring program helping those newly released from prison.

SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS...

Filmed in Portland Some Days are Better Than Others is Matt McCormick’s poetic, character-driven debut feature-length film that asks why the good times slip by so fast while the difficult times seem so sticky. The film explores ideas of abundance, emptiness, human connection and abandonment while observing an interweaving web of awkward characters who maintain hope by inventing their own forms of communication and self-fulfillment.

Katrina (Carrie Brownstein) is a twenty-something reality TV enthusiast, video diarist and animal shelter worker whose world falls apart when she finds that those important to her are often not what she hopes they would be. Eli (James Mercer) is a mid-30s slacker who could offer a thoroughly researched social critique explaining all the reasons why he shouldn’t get a job; his experiences temping only reinforce his assertions. Camille (Renee Roman Nose) is a socially handicapped thrift store attendant who spends her days sorting through the donated discards of other people’s lives, and Otis (David Wodehouse) is an 84-year-old eccentric filmmaker and inventor who strives to be recognized for his work.

Some Days are Better Than Others is about the nuances of communication, the desperation of heartbreak, and the struggle to maintain hope through the passing of time. It’s a sad valentine to the forgotten discards of a throwaway society, and a story about knowing when to hold on, and when to let go.

STUFF Begins June 17...

The first personal documentary from Portland filmmaker Larry Johnson, STUFF, begins a run at Living Room on June 17 just in time for Father’s Day.

STUFF is an intimate and unflinching examination of fathers and sons. It interweaves the stories of two men, the filmmaker and his friend Phil, a carpenter, after the deaths of their fathers. The filmmaker attempts to understand his father and himself through a storage unit full of the stuff his father left behind, while Phil seeks to overcome years of pent-up anger as he drives his father’s ashes to Iowa for burial next to his father’s mother.

Part road movie, part meditation, Stuff finds true moments of illumination in its search for the meaning of what it is to be a son and a father. Stuff will include live action and animated.

IMPORTANT SCHEDULE NOTICE...

IMPORTANT SCHEDULE NOTICE

There will be no shows on Sunday, June 5 at Living Room Theaters and no shows before 6 pm on Monday, June 6. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and we thank you for your patience. As always, please visit our website and check showtimes before heading to the theater HERE. Please plan your visit to Living Room accordingly.