Opening

CERTIFIED COPY—The renowned Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami (Taste of Cherry) moves to somewhat more mainstream territory with this movie about a French woman and an English man (Juliette Binoche and William Shimell) who meet while on vacation in Tuscany. But are they really strangers? Amherst

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES—Sequel. Starring Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, and Steve Zahn. Directed by David Bowers (Flushed Away). Flix, Maple Ridge, McKinley, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden

THE HOUSEMAID—A young Korean woman in need of money takes a job in the house of a rich family, who live by different rules than the rest of society. Starring Jeon Do-yeon and Lee Jung-Jae. Directed by Im Sang-soo (The President’s Last Bang). Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

SUCKER PUNCH—A teenaged girl unjustly confined to a mental institution retreats to a comic-book reality in her imagination, where she comes up with an escape plan. Starring Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, and Carla Gugino. Directed by Zack Snyder (300). Flix, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden

ETC:

CULTURE IN CINEMA: COPPELIA—First presented in 1870, this ballet about a doll who comes to life will be presented live at the Paris Opera Ballet starring Dorothée Gilbert, Mathias Heymann, José Martinez and Fabrice Bourgeois. Choreography by Patrice Bart. Music by Leo Delibes. Mon 1:30pm. Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main St. (834-7655 / www.dipsontheatres.com).

CULTURE IN CINEMA: THE MAGIC FLUTE—Replay of the recent broadcast from the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, a new production of Mozart’s perennially popular comic opera, sung in German with English subtitles. Wed 7pm. Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main St. (834-7655 / www.dipsontheatres.com).

THE FINAL NIGHT AND DAY—Premiere of an ambitious locally-filmed horror adventure that pits a stranded group of lawmen and the killers they are guarding against the living dead. Sat 3pm, midnight. Hamburg Palace Theatre, 31 Buffalo St, Hamburg (649-2295 / www.hamburgpalace.com).

FITZCARRALDO (1982)—It’s not Werner Herzog’s best film, but in many ways it’s his most archetypal: To tell the story of an obsessed 19th century opera fanatic (Klaus Kinski, of course) who determined to build an opera house in a South American jungle, Herzog decided to recreate his impossible journey. A must-see in a theater. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminar. Tue 7pm. Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

EL MONSTRO DEL MAR—A hit at last fall’s “Buffalo Screams” horrorfest, this Australian feature initially looks like a sneak preview of Quentin Tarantino’s remake of Faster Pussycat Kill Kill but winds up as an homage to the 1950s monster movies of Roger Corman. Along the way it’s filled with tattooed goth chicks (and lots of psychobilly and 1960s soul music. The titular monster is gloriously non-CGI, but the saturated photography of the Ozzie shore gives it an interesting otherworldly atmosphere. Thu March 24 8pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net).

OXHIDE (China, 2005)—Daily life in an impossibly cramped Beijing apartment takes on epic proportions in this intimate portrait of a working-class Chinese family. Directed by Liu Jiayin. Reviewed in last week's issue. Part of the International Women’s Film Festival. Thu March 24, 7pm. Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).

SPELLBOUND (1945)— Salvador Dali designed the dream sequence for this Alfred Hitchcock drama starring Ingrid Bergman as a psychiatrist who falls in love with the amnesiac (Gregory Peck) she is treating. With Leo G. Carroll and Rhonda Fleming. Fri, Sat, Sun, Tue 7:30pm. The Screening Room, Northtown Plaza in Century Mall, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst (837-0376 / www.screeningroom.net).

TO CATCH A DOLLAR—Documentary examining Nobel Peace Prize and Presidential Medal of Honor winner Muhammad Yunus and his revolutionary microfinance program, which helps the poor improve their lives through microfinance and technology. Thu March 31, 7:30pm. Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main St. (834-7655 / www.dipsontheatres.com).

THE TOE TACTIC (2009)—Animator Emily Hubley will be present to introduce her first feature length film, in which a young woman’s struggles with grief are helped by an unusual set of guardian angels. Starring Lily Rabe, Kevin Corrigan, Jane Lynch, Mary Kay Place, John Sayles, Eli Wallach, and the voices of David Cross, Andrea Martin, and Marian Seldes. Reviewed this issue. Part of the International Women’s Film Festival. Thu March 31, 7pm. Market Arcade Film and Arts Center, 639 Main St. (855-3022).