Big Screen Berkeley

Highly recommended: Based on a true story, 'The Captain' tells the story of a chronic grifter who did whatever was necessary as WW2 waned to save his own skin.

Berkeley High grads Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs have crafted a deeply intelligent, well-written drama with comedic overtones that's going to make waves come awards season.

If you doubted Iran capable of producing feminist cinema, doubt no longer, and go see 'Ava;' Iceland’s 'Undir trénu' (Under the Tree), however, is a letdown.

Two excellent documentaries open Friday: one, an original new take on Elvis Presley; the other, a look at a curious human interest story that turned into something darker.

The new western, 'Damsel,' is lovely to look at and delightful to listen to, except when its characters open their mouths.

Two films to see this weekend: a French one about the dynamic between a teacher and her students, and a documentary about an iconic fashion designer.

The SF festival plants its East Bay flag at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood over the weekend with a generous selection of ten films. Here's the skinny on three of them.

Though largely unknown in the United States, 'Western' was a massive success on the international festival circuit and is worth a look for anyone interested in German cinema.

Produced in Taiwan and released in 1971, 'A Touch of Zen' is, quite simply, the greatest martial arts film of all time.

Michael Pearce's 'Beast' is a character study disguised as a murder-mystery, offering sharply drawn examinations of the black sheep boy and girl whom neighbors view with suspicion.