MANAKAMANA / July 11, 12, 13

July  11, 12, 13

In central Nepal, tiny cable cars travel up and down the breathtaking mountain landscape, transporting pilgrims to the ancient Manakamana temple. The cable-car line linking a mountain village in Nepal with the isolated seventeenth-century temple of the title, devoted to the Hindu goddess Bhagwati, is both the subject and the sole location of this serenely revelatory documentary. Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez filmed 11 different cable car journeys in full, each lasting nearly ten minutes (the same length as the rolls of super 16mm film on which they shoot). A miracle of nonfiction cinema casting, Spray and Velez’s carefully configured movie delivers captivating characters, one after another. With a hypnotic rhythm, this memorable work of slow cinema allows us to closely observe compelling faces and bodies responding to the camera, conveying everything from boredom to amusement to astonishment. (117 min)

Critic’s Pick!- The New York Times

You could hardly ask for a more beautiful vision of souls in transit. – Time Out, New York

Radiates incredible compassion and insight. Produced by the directors of last year’s brilliant documentary, Leviathan, Manakamana couldn’t be more different, utilizing a similarly uncompromising approach but one that’s far more contemplative and lovely. If Leviathan showed us the primal terror of everyday life, this new film is a warm hug, a salute to our shared humanity.

–Paste

Wed, July 9
We Are The Best! 7:00 at The Back Door

Fri, July 11
Ida 6:45 @ IU Fine Arts
We Are The Best! 7:30 @ IU Woodburn
Manakamana 8:15 @ IU Fine Arts

Sat, July 12
Ida 5:00 & 6:45 @ IU Fine Arts
We Are The Best! 5:30 & 7:30 @ IU Woodburn
Manakamana 8:15 @ IU Fine Arts

Sun, July 13
Manakamana 3:00 @ IU Fine Arts – Last Chance!
Ida 3:45 @ IU Woodburn
We Are The Best! 7:00 @ Bear’s Place

Wed, July 16
Ida 7:00 @ The Back Door

Fri, July 18
Ida 6:45 @ IU Fine Arts
A Summer Place 7:30 @ IU Woodburn
We Are The Best! 8:15 @ IU Fine Arts

Sat, July 19
Ida 5:00 & 6:45 @ IU Fine Arts
A Summer Place 4:30 & 7:30 @ IU Woodburn
We Are The Best! 8:15 @ IU Fine Arts