A Foreign Affair

Opening

THE AVENGERS—Disney presents the summer’s first comic book adaptation. Bladder alert: it’s two hours and 23 minutes, not counting the zillion trailers you know it’s going to start with. Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson. Directed by Joss Whedon (Serenity). Delevan Drive In, Flix, Hamburg Palace, Maple Ridge, Market Arcade, New Angola, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara Falls, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit , Regal Walden, Sunset Drive-In, Transit Drive-In, Transit Drive-In

DAMSELS IN DISTRESS—The first film in 13 years from writer-director Whit Stillman (Metropolitan), an episodic comedy about a quartet of students at a girls’ college that has recently gone co-ed who want to improve the lives of their classmates—even the ones who don’t smell good. Starring Greta Gerwig, Carrie MacLemore, Megalyn Echikunwoke and Analeigh Tipton. Reviewed this issue. Amherst

ELLES—From France, an NC-17 drama starring Juliette Binoche as a housewife and journalist investigating a prostitution ring run by university students. Directed by Malgorzata Szumowska. Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

MARLEY—Comprehensive documentary on the life, career and influence of Bob Marley, including interviews with reggae stars Jimmy Cliff, Lee Perry, Bunny Wailer, and others. Directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland). Reviewed this issue. Eastern Hills

ETC:

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (1945)—Adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic story Ten Little Indians about ten people stranded at a remote mansion trying to discover which of them is killing the others. Starring Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, and June Duprez. Directed by Rene Clair. Screening Room

CHICO AND RITA—The history of Latin music is viewed through the decades long romance of a Cuban pianist and a singer in this Oscar-nominated animated feature by Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque). Screening Room, Screens

MEDITERRANEA—A performance by the La Scala Ballet choreographed by Mauro Bigonzetti to music by Mozart, Ligeti, and Palestrina. Starring Massimo Murru. Eastern Hills

ERNANI—Giuseppe Verdi’s rarely performed opera, based on a play by Victor Hugo, presented live from the Teatro Comunale in Bologna Italy. Starring Roberto Aronica, Marco Di Felice, Ivan Inverardi and Dimitra Theodossiou. Conducted by Bruno Bartoletti and directed by Beppe De Tomasi. Amherst

A FOREIGN AFFAIR (1948)—Billy Wilder shot this, one of his least-seen films, in the ruins of Berlin two years after the war ended. Marlene Dietrich stars as a cabaret singer whose attentions to an American army captain may be an attempt to cover up Nazi ties. Co-starring Jean Arthur and Rochester native John Lund. Fri 7:30 pm. The Old Chestnut Film Society, Philip Sheridan School, 3200 Elmwood (836-4757)

LOCAVORE—This documentary on the benefits of local food production, directed by Jay Canode, opens a series of screenings devoted to food and health issues hosted by James Collins. 1, 3 pm Sat, Crane Library, 633 Elmwood Ave; noon, 2, 4 pm, East Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora