Santa Sangre (Holy Blood)
This surreal shocker from 1989 by Alejandro Jodorowsky follows a former circus performer played by Axel Jodorowsky leaving a mental institution to find his mom (Blanca Guerra), who has no arms thanks to her cheating husband having cut them off. The homebound son gets home, and gives her “arms” and helps her with her revenge. The Frida Cinema, on 305 E. Fourth St., in Santa Ana.
From Ashes to Eden: An Immigrant’s Story
This 2018 documentary from Jahangir Golestan-Parast showcases Amir Dialameh, an Iranian-born American, trying to revitalize a hillside in the nation’s largest city park amid racial and cultural injustice. The special screening is followed by a Q&A with the director. Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, on 2002 N. Main St., in Santa Ana.
Fantastic Fungi
This encore representation transforms Louie Schwartzberg’s new documentary surrounding an organism which feeds and heals you, can reveal secrets about the universe, and may help in saving the planet. Art Theatre, on 2025 E. Fourth St., in Long Beach.
When Harry Met Sally . . .
This 30-year anniversary screening of the 1989 rom-dramedy by Rob Reiner explores platonic pals played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, and the story is about them running into one another. The climactic party on New Year’s Eve may see them become more than just friends. Various theaters.
The Color Purple
Leonardo Ostergren, Volunteer of the Month for Frida, has chosen this drama by Steven Spielberg for everyone’s viewing pleasure. The movie is an adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel of the same name, and follows a black southern woman played by Whoopi Goldberg as she struggles to rediscover her identity following her father’s (Adolph Caesar) and husband’s (Danny Glover) abuse through the course of four decades. The Frida Cinema.
Faustina: Love and Mercy
Shot not just in the U.S. but also Lithuania and Poland, this recent docu-drama by Michal Kondrat follows central character Faustina Kowalska, a woman who claims Jesus showed himself to her in 1931, requesting her to make a painting of his image alongside the phrase “Jesus, I trust in you.” Various theaters.
The Best of Enemies
In this historical bio-drama by Robin Bissell that came out earlier this year, viewers get to see Taraji P. Henson’s Ann Atwater—a civil rights activist contend with Sam Rockwell’s C.P. Ellis concerning a school integration issue in Durham, North Carolina of the 1970’s. Fullerton Public Library, on 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., in Fullerton.
Gundam 40th Anniversary Celebration: Char’s Counterattack
Amuro and Char, two mobile suit pilots on the same side who squared off against Titans following the independency war of Jion, find themselves opposing each other in a duel that is set to impact life on Earth. At the screening event they’re set to show Anime NYC 2019 footage as well as hold an interview with Yoshiyuki Tomino, the man that created the Gundam franchise. English subtitles are included. Various theaters.
La Befana Vien di Notte (The Legend of the Christmas Witch)
Michele Soavi’s 2018 comedy features on Italian Movie Night, and in this, a regular primary-school teacher portrayed by Paola Cortellesi transforms into a witch come nighttime. She’s a witch in the sense that she brings good kids gifts. English subtitles are included. Regency San Juan Capistrano, on 26762 Verdugo St., in San Juan Capistrano.