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Purple Rain, Mulholland Drive, Y Tu Mama También, and more
The BSR March 2025 repertory movie roundup
Stephen Silver
This month brings us another screening of a David Lynch classic, but perhaps its not enough to honor the late filmmaker. While that can be changing in the spring, that season isn’t quite here just yet. With more chill to go, there are plenty of films to get cozy with, including another screening of Purple Rain, which continues celebrating its 40th anniversary; a deep dive into the 2001 hit Y Tu Mama También; and some rare screenings popping up around the area.
The highlights
Mulholland Drive
Sunday, March 2, 12:45pm
The Colonial Theatre, 223 Bridge Street, Phoenixville
The recent passing of David Lynch hasn’t quite kicked off a massive wave of local tribute screenings of his work, at least not yet: some of that is coming later this spring, including a visit from one of the Bookhouse Boys.
But in the meantime, the Colonial presents a screening of one of the most beloved works from the Eagle Scout from Missoula, Montana—2001’s dark Hollywood fantasia Mulholland Drive.
Screening on the afternoon before Oscar night, it will feature a seminar and post-screen discussion led by Dan Santelli, the writer, programmer, and longtime clerk at Viva Video. The experience may or may not give you a greater understanding of the meaning of the Club Silencio scene and the monster behind Winkie’s Diner.
Purple Rain
Wednesday, March 5
Various theaters, 4pm, 7pm, and 10pm
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to endure this thing called Purple Rain. In honor of its 40th anniversary last summer, Prince’s 1984 cinema classic is getting a one-night-only showing at AMC theaters nationwide.
In the Philadelphia area, participating theaters include AMC’s Fashion District 8, Cherry Hill 24, and Neshaminy 24.
McCabe and Mrs. Miller
Tuesday, March 11, 6:30pm
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr
February 20 marked the centennial of Robert Altman’s birth. Just a few of weeks after that, BMFI will present one of the late filmmaker’s most enduring classics, 1971’s revisionist Western McCabe & Mrs. Miller. The film starred Warren Beatty and Julie Christie, and the theater presents a seminar by Rachel McCabe, Ph.D., of LaSalle University.
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Wednesday, March 26, 6:30pm
Film Society Center
Alfonso Cuaron’s 2001 film about two young men who go on a road trip through Mexico with an older woman is one of the most celebrated films of the last 25 years. The Film Society is showing it on March 26, with an encore on March 29.
The showing on March 26 will feature a talk by Juan Llamas-Rodriguez, assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication. Llamas-Rodriguez will discuss the book he recently published on the film, which is part of the Queer Film Classics series.
More cinema screenings
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Saturday, March 1
Friday, March 14
Friday, March 21
Film Society Center
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Saturday, March 1
Saturday, March 8
Sunday, March 16
Film Society Center
Shaun of the Dead
Tuesday, March 4
Ritz Five
Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands
Wednesday, March 5
Lightbox Film Center (Bok Auditorium)
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (Cinema Classics Seminar)
Thursday, March 6
Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Westward the Women
Thursday, March 6
Ambler Theater
He Who Gets Slapped
Friday, March 7
The Secret Cinema (Glen Foerd on the Delaware)
The Beastmaster
Friday, March 7
The Colonial Theatre
Hot Fuzz
Tuesday, March 11
Ritz Five
America: Everything You’ve Ever Dreamed Of
Wednesday, March 12
Lightbox Film Center
Punishment Park
Wednesday, March 12
Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Primer
Thursday, March 13
County Theater
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Tuesday, March 18
Ritz Five
El Signo Vacío (The Empty Sign)
Wednesday, March 19
Lightbox Film Center (Bok Auditorium)
To Be Or Not to Be
Wednesday, March 19
Ambler Theatre
Paris, Texas (Cinema Classics Seminar)
Thursday, March 20
Bryn Mawr Film Institute
The Raid: Redemption
Saturday, March 22
Film Society Center
The Sound of Music
Sunday, March 23
The Colonial Theater
Donnie Darko
Sunday, March 23
The Colonial Theater
Sabrina
Sunday, March 23
Hiway Theater
Mermaid Legend
Monday, March 24
PhilaMOCA
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Thursday, March 27
Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Spaceballs
Friday, March 28
Hiway Theater
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