Foreign language film buffs will be coming out of the woodworks this week for two festivals -- the Spanish Festival at Cinema Paradiso's Sunrise location and the Sicilian Film Festival at the Miami Beach Cinematheque.
Both festivals are packed with oldies hailing from the 1960s and newer comedies and dramas. "Loose Cannons" elicits laughs with the story of a man trying to come out to his pasta-making family, and check out old-school Penelope Cruz in "Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health."
For those with young kids, Coral Gables Art Cinema is bringing back its second Saturday family days, starting this weekend with 10 of the Chicago Children's Film Festival's best.
Chico & Rita
April 9, 10, 11 and 12 at 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $6 to $11
This illustrated film tells the story of jazz pianist Chico and the beautiful singer Rita. When they come together in 1940s Havana, their love takes them to the United States and back to Cuba in time for the revolution.
Monsieur Lazhar
April 13 at 7 and 10 p.m., April 14 at 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., April 15 at 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $11 regular, $20 opening night
This French Canadian film is about a elementary classroom suffering from the loss of their favorite teacher. A new Algerian teacher, Balchir Lazhar, comes to replace her and tries to help them through their loss while becoming the new head of the class. The students become close to him, finally meeting a teacher who challenges them to become better, smarter people. On the April 13 Red Carpet Opening Night, the director will introduce the film via video. In between the screenings, there will be a reception with food and drink.
Family Day on Aragon: Best of the Chicago Children’s Film Festival
April 14 at 11 a.m.
Tickets: $5
The cinema is bringing back its second Saturday family days with a collection of 10 films from the Chicago Children’s Film Festival. Recommended for kids 5 to 9, the non-violent movies are from all over the world. Free popcorn!
The Kid With a Bike (Le gamin au vélo)
April 9 and 10 at 6:45 and 8:45 p.m., April 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 at 2:45 and 4:45 p.m.
Tickets: $8 to $10
When Cyril is abandoned by his father at a state-run farm, a local hairdresser takes him in as a foster child. Even as he acts out, gets into trouble, and is relentless to find his father, she never gives up on him.
The Leopard (Il gattopardo) (SICILIAN FILM FESTIVAL)
April 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $13 to $15
Sicily in the 1860s is in the midst of a royal upheaval and Prince of Salina Fabrizio Corbero, or “The Leopard,” is trying to retain the family’s traditions. However, his nephew Prince of Falconeri is determined to build a new Sicily by marrying a don’s daughter, Angelica.
Loose Cannons (Mine Vaganti) (SICILIAN FILM FESTIVAL)
April 13 at 8:15 p.m.
Tickets: $8 to $10
Tommaso is about to come out to his parents when his older brother does the same -- literally giving their father a heart attack. He decides to keep his homosexuality to himself, but it’s difficult with his flamboyantly gay friends.
See these other films at the Sicilian Film Festival:
“Miami Molto: I Love Sicilian Film Festival” Talk
April 11 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $13 to $15
I Am Love (Io sono l'amore)
April 11 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $13 to $15
The Voice of the Body (La voce del corpo)
April 13 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $8 to $10
Un Sueno A Mitad
April 14 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $8 to $10
Preceded by a book presentation, “Cuba: National Schools of Art.”
Martino’s Summer (L’estate di Martino)
April 14 at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $8 to $10
Being Italian With Signora Enrica (Sinyora Enrica ile Italyan Olmak)
April 15 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $8 to $10
Preceded by short animated film “The Little Girl.”
The Trouble With Bliss
April 12 and 13 at 7 p.m., April 14 at 3 and 7 p.m., April 15 at 1 and 5 p.m.
Tickets: $7.50 to $10.50
“Dexter” leading man Michael C. Hall plays a New Yorker whose life is falling apart as he lives with his father and has no job. Then, he starts getting involved with his old classmate’s 18-year-old daughter.
Kill List
April 12 and 13 at 9 p.m., April 14 at 5, 9 and 11 p.m., April 15 at 3, 7 and 9 p.m.
Tickets: $7.50 to $10.50
In Ben Wheatley’s haunting film, soldier turned hitman Jay is haunted by a botched assignment in Kiev. When his partner encourages him to take on a new assignment to kill three people for a big pay off. However, with the memories of his past, the job sends him into a tailspin of paranoia and fear.
Forgiveness of Blood
April 13 at 3 p.m., April 14 at 5 p.m., April 15 at 3 p.m.
Tickets: $6 to $10
Director Joshua Marston, known for “Maria Full of Grace,” brings us another film set in Albania where teenager Nik gets tangled in a blood feud when his father is accused of being involved in a murder. His life is forever changed when he becomes the target of the ancient code that a life must be given in exchange for one lost. Albanian with English subtitles.
Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health (El Amor Per Judica Seriamente La Salud) (SPANISH FEST)
April 14 at 6 p.m.
Tickets: $5 to $7
Penelope Cruz stars in one of her early movies as a woman who meets a man equally in love with John Lennon as she is. Over the next 30 years, they continue to run into each other in strange places and circumstances.
See Cinema Paradiso’s other films:
The Deep Blue Sea
April 10 at 6 p.m. and April 11 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $6 to $10
The Kid With a Bike (Le gamin au velo)
April 10 at 8 p.m and April 11 at 6 p.m.
Tickets: $6 to $10
Bombon: The Dog (Bombon: El Perro) (SPANISH FEST)
April 14 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $5 to $7
4:44 Last Day on Earth
April 14 at 3 p.m. and April 15 at 1 p.m.
Tickets: $6 to $10
All Men Are the Same (Todos Los Hombres Sois Iguales) (SPANISH FEST)
April 14 at 4 p.m.
Tickets: $5 to $7
Movies of Our Lives: Fab Knights
April 14 at 7 p.m. and April 15 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Bring your 1- to 3-minute shorts on life in Broward County.
Fugitives (Fugitivas) (SPANISH FEST)
April 14 at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $5 to $7
Cleopatra (SPANISH FEST)
April 15 at 1 p.m.
Tickets: $5 to $7
All Stewardesses Go to Heaven (Todas Las Azafatas Van Al Cielo) (SPANISH FEST)
April 15 at 3 p.m.
Tickets: $5 to $7
IRAN, the Forgotten Glory
April 15 at 5 p.m.
Tickets: $6 to $10
Ten Days Without Love (El Cielo Abierto) (SPANISH FEST)
April 15 at 5 p.m.
Tickets: $5 to $7
Carmen (SPANISH FEST)
April 15 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $5 to $7