Everything Coming to Criterion Channel in June 2024

In June 2024, join Criterion Channel for its mind-blowing collection, featuring movies with vibrant characters and standout performances. Dive into their playlist showcasing some of the greatest synth soundtracks of all time. For those seeking solitary experiences, explore the compelling “Man in a Room” films by Paul Schrader, the focus of their latest Adventures in Moviegoing. Enjoy a diverse selection this month, including essential queer films from the last fifteen years, retrospectives honoring Ingmar Bergman and Jean Grémillon, newly restored treasures from Bob Odenkirk and Jacques Rivette, and a fascinating journey into the mind of jazz visionary Milford Graves.

Everything Coming to Criterion Channel in June 2024

Synth Soundtracks

Synth soundtracks, once futuristic, are now delightfully retro, adding a unique atmosphere to some of the coolest films ever made. Created with cutting-edge analog and digital technologies by pioneering musicians like Bebe and Louis Barron (Forbidden Planet), Wendy Carlos (A Clockwork Orange), Sun Ra (Space Is the Place), Tangerine Dream (Thief), Vangelis (Missing), and Ryuichi Sakamoto (Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence), these soundtracks expanded cinematic storytelling and forever altered movie soundtracking. With eerie, pulsating, and emotionally thrilling compositions, these scores take audiences on a journey through uncharted sonic territories.

Here’s the list of titles featuring under Synth Soundtracks:

1. Forbidden Planet (1956)
2. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
3. Solaris (1972)
4. The Legend of Hell House (1973)
5. Messiah of Evil (1973)
6. Space Is the Place (1974)
7. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
8. The Last Wave (1977)
9. Stalker (1979)
10. Shogun Assassin (1980)
11. Scanners (1981)
12. Thief (1981)
13. Liquid Sky (1982)
14. Missing (1982)
15. Next of Kin (1982)
16. Tenebrae (1982)
17. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983)
18. Delta Space Mission (1984)
19. Manhunter (1986)
20. For All Mankind (1989)

Directed by Paul Schrader

In anticipation of his upcoming film, “Oh, Canada,” we’re revisiting the works of Paul Schrader, a prominent figure in American cinema known for his exploration of existential themes. Raised in a strict Calvinist household, Schrader’s upbringing heavily influenced his cinematic philosophy, drawing inspiration from directors like Yasujiro Ozu and Robert Bresson. He gained recognition with his screenplay for Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver,” which delved into urban alienation. Throughout his career, Schrader has focused on damaged characters seeking salvation through extreme means, exploring a variety of styles and genres, from serious to ironic to sleazy, in films like “Hardcore,” “Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters,” and “Auto Focus.” His works delve into themes of faith, violence, sin, and redemption, offering insight into his personal preoccupations.

Here’s the list featuring films under the category:

1. Blue Collar (1978)
2. Hardcore (1979)
3. Cat People (1982)
4. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)
5. Patty Hearst (1988)
6. The Comfort of Strangers (1990)
7. Light Sleeper (1992)
8. Affliction (1997)
9. Touch (1997)
10. Auto Focus (2002)
11. The Canyons (2013)

Ensemble Casts

The finest ensemble cast movies showcase talented actors portraying diverse characters who interact seamlessly, akin to a skilled musical ensemble. Guided by directors such as George Cukor (“The Women”), Spike Lee (“School Daze”), Mike Nichols (“The Birdcage”), and Wes Anderson (“The Royal Tenenbaums”), these films captivate audiences with intricate storylines and compelling character development, keeping viewers fully immersed in each unfolding narrative.

Here’s the list featuring under the Ensemble Casts section:

1. The Women (1939)
2. The Big Chill (1983)
3. School Daze (1988)
4. Noises Off (1992)
5. Dazed and Confused (1993)
6. The Birdcage (1996)
7. Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)
8. State and Main (2000)
9. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
10. The Barbarian Invasions (2003)
11. Another Round (2020)

Paul Schrader’s Adventures in Moviegoing

Paul Schrader, a renowned screenwriter, director, critic, and cinephile, didn’t watch a movie until his teenage years due to his strict Calvinist upbringing. In this installment of Adventures in Moviegoing, he joins Criterion Channel programmer Aliza Ma to discuss his journey into the world of cinema, which began with the films of Ingmar Bergman and his influential encounters with critic Pauline Kael. Schrader shares how each film he’s chosen has deepened his understanding of the medium, including works by Carl Theodor Dreyer (“Ordet”) and Yasujiro Ozu (“An Autumn Afternoon”), reflecting his fascination with what he famously termed “transcendental” filmmaking.

Here’s the list featuring the additional films:

1. Journey to Italy (1954)
2. Ordet (1955)
3. Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
4. An Autumn Afternoon (1962)
5. Red Desert (1964)
6. Masculin féminin (1966)
7. Claire’s Knee (1970)
8. In the Mood for Love (2000)

Queersighted: The Queer and Now

In the latest installment of Queersighted, series curator Michael Koresky and his guest Dennis Lim (artistic director of the New York Film Festival) explore contemporary cinema’s diverse expressions of queerness. They discuss a range of films from the 2010s and ’20s that challenge and expand the concept of queerness on screen. These films offer unique perspectives on narrative, form, and character, reflecting the evolving boundaries of human experience.

Here’s the list featuring the additional features and shorts:

**Features:**
1. Weekend (2011)
2. Fort Buchanan (2014)
3. End of the Century (2019)
4. Lingua Franca (2019)
5. Days (2020)
6. If from Every Tongue It Drips (2021)
7. Trenque Lauquen (2022)

**Shorts:**
1. Flores (2017)
2. Parsi (2018)

Directed by Ingmar Bergman

Ingmar Bergman, a prominent figure in postwar international art-house cinema, was known for his intense storytelling and exploration of profound metaphysical and spiritual themes. Through his films, he delved into the struggles of faith, morality, dreams, and human relationships, ranging from lighthearted comedies to intimate examinations of family life and groundbreaking formal experiments.

Here’s the list featuring the films that will be available in June 2024:

1. Crisis (1946)
2. A Ship to India (1947)
3. Port of Call (1948)
4. Thirst (1949)
5. To Joy (1950)
6. Summer Interlude (1951)
7. Waiting Women (1952)
8. Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)
9. Summer with Monika (1953)
10. A Lesson in Love (1954)
11. Dreams (1955)
12. Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
13. The Seventh Seal (1957)
14. Wild Strawberries (1957)
15. Brink of Life (1958)
16. The Magician (1958)
17. The Devil’s Eye (1960)
18. The Virgin Spring (1960)
19. Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
20. The Silence (1963)
21. Winter Light (1963)
22. All These Women (1964)
23. Persona (1966)
24. Hour of the Wolf (1968)
25. Shame (1968)
26. The Passion of Anna (1969)
27. The Rite (1969)
28. The Touch (1971)
29. Cries and Whispers (1972)
30. Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
31. The Magic Flute (1975)
32. Autumn Sonata (1978)
33. Fårö Document 1979 (1979)
34. From the Life of the Marionettes (1980)
35. Fanny and Alexander (1982)
36. After the Rehearsal (1984)

LGBTQ+ Favorites

These visions of LGBTQ+ life include beloved classics and hidden gems. From art-house staples like “Je tu il elle” and “Querelle” to highlights of New Queer Cinema like “Paris Is Burning,” and contemporary works from new talents like “Shakedown,” these films showcase the diversity, creativity, and resilience of queer cinema.

Here is the list of titles under LGBTQ+ category:

1. Portrait of Jason (1967)
2. Je tu il elle (1975)
3. Jubilee (1978)
4. Greetings from Washington, D.C. (1981)
5. Querelle (1982)
6. Born in Flames (1983)
7. The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
8. Desert Hearts (1985)
9. Mala Noche (1985)
10. Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt (1989)
11. Tongues Untied (1989)
12. Paris Is Burning (1990)
13. A Place of Rage (1991)
14. Young Soul Rebels (1991)
15. Flaming Ears (1992)
16. The Watermelon Woman (1996)
17. Trick (1999)
18. Lan Yu (2001)
19. Weekend (2011)
20. Shakedown (2018)

Streaming Premieres – A Prince (2023)

Pierre Creton’s “A Prince,” winner of the Cannes Queer Palm award, is a subtly surreal tale set in the pastoral landscapes. It intricately weaves together themes of botany and sexuality across generations. The film primarily relies on the captivating voice-over narrations by Mathieu Amalric, Françoise Lebrun, and Grégory Gadebois, Gallic luminaries. The story revolves around a young man, Antoine Pirotte, embarking on a gardening apprenticeship in the French countryside. His journey intertwines with encounters with three men who profoundly influence both his career as a horticulturist and the awakening of his sexuality.

Rediscoveries And Restorations

• Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003)
• Beijing Watermelon (1989)
• Lilies (1996)
• Duelle (1976)

Criterion Collection Editions

• I Am Cuba (Mikhail Kalatozov, 1964)
• Girlfight (Karyn Kusama, 2000)
• The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001)
• Dazed and Confused (Richard Linklater, 1993)*

Director Spotlights

Three by Céline Sciamma:

1. Water Lilies (2007)
2. Tomboy (2011)
3. Girlhood (2014)

Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi:

1. House (1977)
2. Beijing Watermelon (1989)
3. Sada (1998)
4. Casting Blossoms to the Sky (2012)
5. Seven Weeks (2014)
6. Hanagatami (2017)

Shorts:

1. Emotion (1966)

Directed by Miryam Charles:

Features:

1. Cette maison (2022)

Shorts:

1. Fly, Fly Sadness (2015)
2. Towards the Colonies (2016)
3. A Fortress (2018)
4. Three Atlas (2018)
5. Second Generation (2019)
6. Song for the New World (2021)
7. All the Days of May (2023)

Directed by Jean Grémillon:

1. Lady Killer (1937)
2. Strange M. Victor (1938)
3. Remorques (1941)
4. Lumière d’été (1943)
5. Le ciel est à vous (1944)

Two by Joe Swanberg:

1.  Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007)
2. Nights and Weekends (2008)

Music Films: The Magic of Milford Graves

Features:

– Milford Graves Full Mantis (2018)

Shorts:

– Earthquake Clips (2011)
– Milford Graves Live at Jamaica Arts Center (2019)
– Graves in the Garden (2020)
– Bata Wormhole (2020)
– Prof at Home Painting 2021 (2021)

Twenty-first-century Cinema

• Piaffe (2022)
• Falcon Lake (2023)

Read More: Everything Coming to Shudder in June 2024