It's that time of year again when the air turns crisp, the leaves change color, and the world seems to slow down. But for cinephiles, it's not the changing seasons that signal the arrival of Bleak Week, but the return of Sean Paul's "Temperature" to the airwaves. This annual celebration of all things broody and doom-and-gloom is a welcome respite for those seeking a break from the bright, sunny days of summer. This year, Bleak Week is taking place at 100 theaters around the world, including the Music Box in Chicago, Sie FilmCenter in Denver, and as far-flung as Caligari at Cine Gaumont in Buenos Aires. The series, which started by the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, is now in its fifth year, and it's a testament to the enduring appeal of these dark and thought-provoking films.
One of the standout films in this year's lineup is Heaven's Gate, a 1980 epic directed by Michael Cimino. The film, which stars Isabelle Huppert and Kris Kristofferson, tells the story of a well-meaning Harvard lawyer who heads West to help immigrants fight against cattle barons. It's a tale of struggle, murder, and the brutal realities of life on the frontier, but it's also a film that finds beauty in the landscape of the American West. In light of the recent persecution of immigrant communities across the country, revisiting Heaven's Gate brings with it a new sense of urgency. It's a film that does not shy away from the brutality of what it means to displace a population, nor does it sugarcoat its effects on the people both indirectly and directly affected. Who else benefits from such emotional carnage than the people with business interests as they eye their bottom line to justify their xenophobia.
Another standout film in this year's lineup is They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, a 1969 drama directed by Sydney Pollack. The film, which stars Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin, tells the story of a dance contest in the Depression Era. It's a tale of desperation, struggle, and the human cost of survival, but it's also a film that humanizes its characters in grueling, sweaty detail. The movie, which came out in 1969, held all the pessimism of the Vietnam War era, watching as working-class people got caught in a machine (this time, a contest) trying to survive and risking their well-being to do so. Occasionally, Pollack's camera looks up at the audience, an assortment of strangers comfortable enough in their own lives to not have to participate in such a deadly spectacle watching this contest as entertainment, and not a gladiatorial fight for a paycheck.
Bleak Week isn't just limited to the past. There are even new bleak movies to look forward to, like the Argentine-Swiss drama The Currents, Milagros Mumenthaler's film about a young mother struggling to return to normalcy after falling into a lake, or the upcoming Death Of Robin Hood, which most notably includes the word "death" in the title. Sometimes to move toward the light, you have to embrace a little bit of darkness, and there are plenty of movies to give you a case of June Gloom.
In my opinion, Bleak Week is more than just a celebration of dark films. It's a reminder of the power of cinema to transport us to different worlds, to make us feel, and to challenge our perspectives. It's a time to embrace the darkness, to find beauty in the struggle, and to remember that even in the bleakest of times, there is always hope. So, as the leaves change color and the world seems to slow down, I invite you to join me in embracing the darkness and celebrating the power of cinema. Personally, I think it's the perfect way to spend a crisp autumn day.
