NewScreen was on fine form this week with Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum – one of this year’s foreign-language Oscar nominees, and the Jury Prize-winner at Cannes last year.  In the words of Robbie Collin from the Telegraph, ” It’s the story of a child surviving on the streets of Beirut, infused with the richness of great fiction and the heart-in-mouth power of frontline news footage. The peril feels so truthful and specific, and the young cast’s reactions to it so astonishingly natural, that my heart couldn’t work out whether it should break or pop.”

I couldn’t put it better. We cried, and then we applauded.

Incidentally, this is the third foreign-language Oscar nominee to appear at NewScreen (Cold War and Roma preceded), and we’re not done yet. Watch this space!

Tonight’s short feature was Brain Wave directed by Jake Fried.

As much as I feel that Valentine’s Day is bull*hit, I am an unabashed romantic. I thought it would be great to show a classic love story tonight. Marie suggested Casablanca, since it was also showing at the wonderful Metrograph, just down the road. Great suggestion. This film ticks all the right boxes. As I expected, there were a few guests seeing this for the first time, and I was proud to present a crisp remaster, on the big screen.

Also… we have another hit cocktail on our hands! The (Barely) Pink Lady went “viral” at the bar. Sooooo delicious!

Tonight’s short feature was Splitscreen: A Love Story, directed by James W. Griffiths. So sweet!