CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER AND HELEN MIRREN IN “THE LAST STATION.” PHOTO BY STEPHAN RABOLD

THE LAST STATION
Directed by Michael Hoffman, 2009, 112 mins. With James McAvoy, Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, Paul Giamatti
After almost 50 years of marriage, the Countess Sofya (Helen Mirren), Leo Tolstoy’s (Christopher Plummer) devoted wife, passionate lover, muse and secretary (she’s copied out “War and Peace” six times by hand) suddenly finds her entire world turned upside down. In the name of his newly created religion, the great Russian novelist has renounced his noble title, his property and even his family in favor of poverty, vegetarianism and even celibacy — after she’s born him 13 children.
Friday, March 19; Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21 at 7 p.m.

BURMA VJ
Documentary directed by Anders Øtergaard, Denmark, Sweden, 2009, 84 mins.
This 2010 Academy Award Nominee in the Feature Documentary category goes way beyond the occasional news clip from Burma. Acclaimed filmmaker Anders Østergaard brings us close to the video journalists who deliver the footage while risking torture and life in jail. They are courageous young citizens of Burma who live the essence of journalism as they insist on keeping up the flow of news from their closed country. The Burma VJs stop at nothing to report from the streets of Rangoon.
Friday, March 19; Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21 at 9 p.m.

Art encounters: Interstices Between Literature, Cinema & Graphic Design
THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE
Directed by Tay Garnett, 1946, 113 mins. With Lana Turner, John Garfield, Hume Cronyn. Based on the novel by James M. Cain
This sexy melodrama from director Tay Garnett is best known for one of the hottest portrayals of a sultry and seductive woman ever; and is one of Lana Turner's finest performances. This adaptation of Cain’s novel (after two previous adaptations of his novels to the screen) describes the illicit passion between a drifter (Garfield) and a married, but unsatisfied, waitress (Turner) in a roadside café, which leads to mutual destruction in classic unexpected noirish ways.
Screening poolside at WET, outdoors at W South Beach, 2201 Collins Ave., Complimentary admission; seating is limited - No reservations.
Monday, March 22 at 8:30 p.m.

The Kurosawa Centennial Series
RASHOMON
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, Japan, 1950, 88 mins. With Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura
For master Akira Kurosawa’s centennial birthday (he would have been 100 this year), MBC brings you the Florida premiere of the restored “Rashomon,” to start a continuing series of his films. Brimming with action while incisively examining the nature of truth, “Rashomon” is perhaps the finest film ever to investigate the philosophy of justice. Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the story of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife. Screens with a live birthday musical tribute to the director by Ensemble Otodama.
Wednesday, March 24 at 8 p.m.

The Miami Beach Cinematheque is located at 512 Espanola Way, Miami Beach. For more information call 305-673-4567 or visit mbcinema.com.

comments@theleadmiamibeach.com