The Universal Theory at Real Art Ways

“…metaphysical thriller that delivers pastiche so meticulous it becomes its own source of supremely cinematic pleasure.” – Variety

“This wonderfully slippery Hitchcockian sci-fi is an elegant puzzle box full of ingenious ideas.” – Time Out

“Visually striking.” – The Hollywood Reporter

Set in 1962 at a quantum mechanics conference in an isolated lodge nestled amid the towering landscapes of the Swiss Alps, THE UNIVERSAL THEORY is the story of a gifted young physicist, his curmudgeonly mentor, and an enigmatic jazz pianist who knows things about our wunderkind scientist that he’s never told another living soul. German director Timm Kröger–himself also a cinematographer–films his tale with an eye for the majestic natural beauty that surrounds our characters, effectively evoking the paranoid postwar era. Driven by astonishing twists and improbable coincidences, THE UNIVERSAL THEORY unravels a captivatingly complex chronicle with brain-tickling suspense.

Real Art Ways presents a unique version of ENO with two showtimes on Thursday, October 10, during this exclusive engagement with Art House Convergence. These versions of the film will never be shown again.

This premium screening event allows arthouse cinemas like ours to utilize unique files of ENO to be screened in conjunction with other independent theaters around the country on the same day. The two versions of the film are created only for participating theaters—you’ll want to be part of this experience.

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“Writ large, it’s a meditation on creativity. But every version of the movie you see is different, generated by a set of rules that dictate some things about the film, while leaving others to chance.” – The New York Times

“There is a curious, intuitive logic weaving together these randomly chosen scenes and clips. It’s an outstanding achievement.” – Observer (UK)

96% on Rotten Tomatoes

Maverick recording artist Brian Eno co-founded Roxy Music, produced breakthrough albums for David Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo, and U2, and pioneered innovative work in ambient music. A renowned explorer of technology and “oblique strategies,” he is an unlikely subject for a conventional documentary. Still, in this first-of-its-kind portrait, Gary Hustwit (HELVETICA, RAMS) applies Eno’s concept of “generative” art: the filmmaker’s proprietary technology, developed with digital artist Brendan Dawes, produces a different movie every time it’s screened, presenting variations in sequence, music, and scenes (including some with such collaborators as Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, David Bowie, U2, and others).

ENO had its world premiere at Sundance in January 2024 and has garnered notable press coverage from The New York Times, NPR Weekend Edition, and The Guardian.

The film has wowed audiences, with some moviegoers returning five, six, or even 12 times to see how the film changes daily. On September 15, in its third month on screen, Hustwit debuted the next evolution of the film, Generation 4, which features new unreleased footage and software functions. Says Hustwit: “It’s exciting that we can continue to evolve the film over time, to incorporate more of Brian’s ideas and music. The film and the storytelling structure itself can continually grow, which is only possible with this generative film approach.”

“…asks you to look at subjects you think you already know from a different angle and witness what should never be forgotten.” – RoberEbert.com

“It would be hard for any narrative feature film to capture the many facets of the photographer responsible for some of the most indelible images of World War II. Winslet embodies those dimensions — as well as Miller’s propulsive drive — often with an askance look, a whetted remark, a resolve both stubborn and practical.” – NYT

Lee, the directorial feature from award-winning cinematographer Ellen Kuras (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), portrays a pivotal decade in the life of American war correspondent and photographer Lee Miller (Kate Winslet). Miller’s singular talent and unbridled tenacity resulted in some of the 20th century’s most indelible images of war, including an iconic photo of Miller herself, posing defiantly in Hitler’s private bathtub. Miller had a profound understanding and empathy for women and the voiceless victims of war. Her images display both the fragility and ferocity of the human experience. Above all, the film shows how Miller lived her life full-throttle in pursuit of truth, for which she paid a huge personal price, forcing her to confront a traumatic and deeply buried secret from her childhood.

“Beautifully acted all round, and a dazzling feat of stylistic play and period recreation…” – Screen Daily

“The film offers a unique twist on the boxing genre, combining elements of a mockumentary, with the intense drama of a sports comeback story.” – Social News 

Check out this wonderful review of the film in The New Yorker.

Synopsis:
Set in the mid-1960s in Hartford, Connecticut, The Featherweight presents a gripping chapter in the true-life story of Italian-American boxer Willie Pep (James Madio)—the winningest fighter of all time—who, down and out in his mid-40s and with his personal life in shambles, decides to make a return to the ring, at which point a documentary camera crew enters his life. Painstakingly researched and constructed, the film is a visceral portrait of the discontents of twentieth-century American masculinity, fame, and self-perception.

Robert Kolodny’s (cinematographer of Procession and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed) feature directorial debut follows the true story of legendary 2x World Featherweight boxing champion Willie Pep. The impressive cast is led by James Madio (The Penguin, Band of Brothers, Hook, Basketball Diaries) with a career-best performance as Pep, alongside Ruby Wolf in her feature debut, Keir Gilchrist (Love & Death, Atypical), Stephen Lang (Avatar Franchise), Ron Livingston (Swingers, Office Space, The Flash, Loudermilk), Lawrence Gilliard Jr (The Walking Dead, One Night in Miami…), undefeated professional featherweight boxer Bruce Carrington, and Hartford local Imma Aiello in her big-screen debut as Mama Papaleo, Willie Pep’s mother.

This acclaimed Hartford-based Willie Pep biopic opens in theaters across Pep’s hometown state of Connecticut on September 20. It had a world premiere in 2023 at the ​​80th Venice International Film Festival with a 6-minute standing ovation.

“The making of The Featherweight in our beloved Hartford is a case study on how filmmaking can create community pride, honor the legacy of a hometown hero, and provide local economic impact. More than a film production, it is a community collaboration.” – Executive Producer Donna Collins

Check out the latest review of this film on The New York Times.

98% on Rotten Tomatoes

In India Donaldson’s insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Lily Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (James Le Gros), and his oldest friend, Matt (Danny McCarthy). As the two men quickly settle into a gently quarrelsome brotherly dynamic, airing long-held grievances, Sam, wise beyond her years, attempts to mediate. But when lines are crossed, and Sam’s trust is betrayed, tensions reach a fever pitch. Sam struggles with her dad’s emotional limitations and experiences the universal moment when the parental bond is tested. Selected in both Sundance and Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, Good One is an emotionally expansive work that probes the limits of familial trust, understanding, and forgiveness.

Synopsis:

A mysterious grifter appears on an isolated seaside estate, claiming to be a wealthy family’s new chef. When a plague descends on the island, the mischievous cook rouses his fellow staff to rebel and take over the mansion. The servant becomes the master in this devious class-war comedy starring Peter Sarsgaard (The Batman, Dopesick) and Billy Magnussen (Road House, No Time to Die).

Check out this recent review of the film from NYT.

“The remarkable thing about Silver’s work is how many of the traps it avoids, reminding us how this kind of thing can be done well when it feels focused on character and truth instead of theme or message.” – RogerEbert.com

Synopsis:

In BETWEEN THE TEMPLES, Ben (Schwartzman) is a forty-something cantor losing his voice and possibly his faith. Struggling to meet the expectations of his rabbi, congregation, and not one but two Jewish mothers (Aaron and de Leon), Ben finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher re-enters his life as an adult bat mitzvah student. This warm and anxious comedy from prolific writer/director Nathan Silver explores the complexities of belief, connection, and what it means to be a real mensch.

Check out The NY Times interview with director Oz Perkins (son of Psycho star Anthony Perkins).

Synopsis:

In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.

Synopsis:

A sweeping family adventure, My Penguin Friend is a triumphant tale of friendship between a lonely father and a little lost penguin who recharges his spirit and heals his family with an unshakable, ocean-crossing loyalty.

Humble fisherman João (international star Jean Reno) has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To his wife’s (Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza) dismay, he rescues the sea creature and takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years, João starts to feel joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed. When the penguin suddenly disappears back into the immense wilds of the ocean, João believes it is impossible that he will ever see his friend again. But thousands of miles away, the penguin is caught in misadventures of his own, determined to use his unique GPS-like powers to find his way back to the place he now considers home. Based on an emotional true story that riveted the world and filmed on the spectacular coasts of Brazil and Argentina, My Penguin Friend is a tale that traverses the magic of the ocean, the beauty of nature, and the transformative power of love.

“Vast in scope, stretching over decades, languages, continents, and cultures, with themes of memory, aging, loss, and love. But its sensibility is as exquisitely tender as the flutter of a butterfly wing.” – RogerEbert.com

Synopsis:

TOUCH follows one widower’s emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out.

93% on Rotten Tomatoes

“Argentinian divine comedy is a visual miracle” – The Austin Chronicle

“Chronicles of a Wandering Saint” refuses to be boxed in — much like the indefatigable Rita herself. If the movie is ultimately a statement on spiritual faith and the existence of an afterlife, then Bustillo leaves no doubt where his beliefs lie, although you don’t have to share them to savor the slightly off-kilter world he has created here.” – Variety

96% on Rotten Tomatoes

Synopsis

In a tiny rural village in Argentina, Rita Lopez, a pious yet insatiably competitive woman, decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood.

In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, flirt, and love your mom.

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Dìdi is the debut feature from director and writer Sean Wang. You may remember watching his Oscar-nominated short, Nai Nai & Wài Pó, earlier this year in our cinema. There has been so much buzz around Dìdi all summer, we are thrilled to be screening it after much anticipation.

On Friday, September 6th, 6 PM (for one night only), we are hosting a conversation with Angela Rola (founding Director of the Asian American Cultural Center at the University of Connecticut, Storrs campus), Catherine Shen (host of CT Public’s Where We Live), and Jaspreet Singh (Trumbull High School senior). This presentation is co-hosted by our community partner, Asian Pacific American Coalition of CT (APAC CT). APAC is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 that provides services and education for and about the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Connecticut.

If you are a member of APAC CT, you will be offered a discounted price of $7 for admission. When ordering tickets online, please select Adult Member for the discounted pricing.

*The September 6 event has passed.*

​Angela Rola is the founding Director of the Asian American Cultural Center (AsACC) at the University of Connecticut, Storrs campus. This student-centered space focuses on cultural identity, equity, and inclusion, where students can be part of many programs that develop their leadership skills and sense of belonging.

She is an Affiliate Faculty for the UConn Asian & Asian American Studies Institute and developed and taught a course on Asian American mentoring and leadership. She lectures extensively in undergraduate and graduate courses on campus and at local colleges and universities. Most recently, she also served as a co-principal investigator for a $1.9 million grant at the UConn Hartford campus that centers on developing courses and programs focused on the Asian American community.

Angela develops and facilitates workshops on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, implicit bias, cultural competency, and creating inclusive environments. Within the state of Connecticut, Angela lobbied for the creation of the first Asian American Affairs Commission, which is now part of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity (CWCSEO).

In 2006 she co-founded the Asian Pacific American Coalition of CT, a non-profit, non-partisan community group that provides services and education for and about the Asian American community in Connecticut. She presently sits on its Executive Board.

Before working in Higher Education, Angela worked in both the corporate and non-profit worlds as a Human Resources specialist in New York, California, and Alaska.

​Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Catherine Shen is the Host of Connecticut Public’s morning talk show and podcast, Where We Live. Catherine and the WWL team focus on going beyond the headlines to bring in meaningful conversations that put Connecticut in context.

Before her current position, Catherine was Connecticut Public’s education reporter for just over a year. She covered a variety of stories like student mental health, childcare shortages, and teacher burnout. She joined Connecticut Public’s newsroom in 2021. The Los Angeles native came to CT Public after a decade of print and digital reporting across the country.

She started her journalism career in the Los Angeles fashion scene. While that was an exciting time, Catherine ultimately needed to get back to her news roots. She was soon traipsing all across California’s Central Coast as a freelance news reporter for several newspapers, where she broke stories about local government, law enforcement, and education. She also covered crime, healthcare, business, as well as arts and culture.

After finding herself on the East Coast, she continued reporting in New Jersey, covering a mix of academic news, nonprofit projects, and human feature stories both off and on camera. Then she moved to Connecticut and started reporting for the New Britain Herald, where she won several Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists awards for her coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice movements, and police accountability.

Catherine received an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. While an undergraduate student, she was a reporter for the university newspaper and its student-run television station, Cable 8 News. She’s also a proud member of the Asian American Journalism Society.

In her downtime, she tries her best to catch up on her reading list but often fails due to a variety of distractions, including reorganizing her bookshelves, scavenging library book sales, and thinking about reading books.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Jaspreet Singh is a senior at Trumbull High School, where he’s captain of the cross country track team, VP of Finance for the DECA chapter and a member of FBLA. Outside of school, he enjoys serving his community and is an intern with the Sikh American Legal Defense Education Fund (SALDEF) and Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut. Jaspreet volunteers at his local place of worship (gurdwara) on Sundays and is CFO of a tutoring non-profit called Trumbull Tutors, whose goal is to provide students in underprivileged areas with free access to education. When he’s not in school or volunteering and has some time to himself, he enjoys playing basketball with friends and skiing during the winter.

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“It’s a love letter to the world of Top 8s and status updates, an apology to beleaguered parents everywhere,” Li continues. “And, perhaps for Wang, an embrace of his younger self’s disorientation.” – The Atlantic

“There’s a particular scene in the film that is pure in its heart-on-its-sleeve naked brilliance, one that’s as full of rich emotion as anything you’ll see in any movie this year.” – SF Chronicle

Listen to this They Call Us Bruce podcast episode featuring Sean Wang