West Newton Cinema

New York, 1961. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. He forges intimate relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking and controversial performance that reverberates worldwide. Timothée Chalamet stars and sings as Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, the electric true story behind the rise of one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in history.

Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern physics teacher, watches his life unravel over multiple sudden incidents. Though seeking meaning and answers amidst his turmoils, he seems to keep sinking.

Film Overview: Made in Ethiopia takes viewers on an immersive journey into a rural Ethiopian town transformed by a sprawling Chinese industrial park. Over four years of exclusive access, the film captures the unfolding drama as the ambitious Chinese director, Motto, spearheads an expansion promising 30,000 new jobs. Central to the narrative are Ethiopian farmer Workinesh and factory worker Beti, whose personal stakes in the promised prosperity soon collide with the painful realities of rapid industrialization. This compelling documentary not only charts the collision between modern industrial forces and traditional agrarian life, but also challenges simplistic narratives by exposing the nuanced, multifaceted impacts of globalization on Ethiopia. Expert Panel Discussion: Following the screening, a distinguished panel of experts will delve into the film’s themes and the broader economic implications of rapid industrialization and globalization. The panelists bring a wealth of academic expertise and real-world experience to the conversation: Moderator: Paul Solman Paul Solman has been a correspondent for the PBS News Hour since 1985, specializing in business and economics. He began his journalism career in the early 70s, founding and editing alternative weeklies, before joining PBS, where he has established himself as an influential voice. Solman has produced notable documentaries, taught at institutions, including the Harvard business school, Yale and Brandeis, and contributed to shaping public discourse on economic issues. His engaging style and deep insights make him a celebrated moderator and educator in the field. Dani Rodrik (Harvard University) Dani Rodrik is a globally recognized economist whose research centers on globalization, economic growth, and political economy. As the Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, he brings a deep understanding of the forces shaping modern economies. Currently, his work focuses on creating more inclusive economies in both developed and developing societies. Rodrik co-directs the Reimagining the Economy Program at the Kennedy School and the Economics for Inclusive Prosperity network, and he has previously served as President of the International Economic Association (2021-23). His influential publications, including his recent work Combating Inequality: Rethinking Government's Role (2021) and Straight Talk on Trade: Ideas for a Sane World Economy (2017), have sparked vital debates on trade, growth, and inequality, making him an essential voice in understanding the complex interplay of globalization and development. Mesay Melese Gebresilasse (Amherst College) Mesay Melese Gebresilasse is an Assistant Professor of Economics whose research offers critical insights into development economics and applied microeconomics. With a Ph.D. from Boston University and a B.A. with honors from Colby College, his work harnesses rich firm and household data from Ethiopia to uncover the causal effects of economic policies on structural transformation. Mesay’s research not only tackles the roots of underdevelopment but also illuminates how specific policy choices influence long-term economic trajectories. His commitment to empirical analysis and real-world application in the Ethiopian context makes his perspective particularly resonant as we explore the film’s portrayal of the intersection between industrialization and traditional agrarian life. Margaret McMillan (Tufts University) Margaret McMillan is a professor of Economics with the Neary Family Professorship of International Relations, Economics at Tufts University. With a Ph.D. in Economics (with distinction) from Columbia University, an MPA from Princeton University, and a B.S. from Boston University, her academic foundation is as robust as her professional experience. McMillan’s extensive research spans international trade, investment, structural change, and economic growth, with a keen focus on developing countries. Her work has been widely published in leading journals and featured in influential media outlets, and she has worked on development projects across Africa. Her research delves into the distributional consequences of economic integration, shedding light on how rapid industrialization affects both growth and welfare. McMillan’s insights are especially valuable when examining the transformative, yet challenging, effects of globalization depicted in the film. Tsegay Tekleselassie (Wellesley College) Tsegay Tekleselassie is a Visiting Lecturer in Economics at Wellesley College with a rich background in development economics, labor economics, and political economy. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University, a Master’s in Economics from the University of Copenhagen, and a PhD in Economics from the University of Sussex. Before joining Wellesley, he served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Northeastern University and a Senior Researcher at the Policy Studies Institute in Ethiopia, experiences that have enriched his perspective on economic development. His research and teaching emphasize the critical role of economic policy in shaping labor markets and driving development, providing a vital lens through which to analyze the film’s exploration of the transformative yet disruptive impacts of industrial expansion. Join us as we go behind the screen to explore how Made in Ethiopia reveals the intricate relationship between modern industrialization and traditional life, and how this dynamic interplay informs our understanding of globalization and development in a rapidly changing world.

Join us as we go Behind the Screen with Secret Mall Apartment with Providence artist and onetime mall resident Michael Townsend. In 2003, eight young Rhode Islanders created a secret apartment in a hidden space inside the Providence Place Mall and lived in it for four years, filming everything along the way. They snuck in furniture, tapped into the mall's electricity, and even secretly constructed a brick wall with a locking door, smuggling in over 2 tons of cinderblock. Far more than just a wild prank, the secret apartment became a deeply meaningful place for all its inhabitants - a personal expression of defiance against local gentrification, a boundary-pushing work of public/private art, a clubhouse to coordinate their artistic charity, and finally, a 750 square foot space that sticks it to the man. Michael Townsend is known as “that guy that lived in a mall” and “that guy who invented Tape Art.” He has made over 500 temporary tape art murals on buildings all over the world, has taught collaborative drawing to over 60,000 students, and still sneaks in the time to make large secret artworks that no-one will ever see.

Father-Daughter duo, Ridley and Elliot, hit a unicorn with their car and bring it to the wilderness retreat of a mega-wealthy pharmaceutical CEO.

“Disney’s Snow White,” a live-action musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film, opens exclusively in theaters March 21, 2025. Starring Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) in the title role and Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”) as her Stepmother, the Evil Queen, the magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.

Grown men's recreational baseball game stretches to extra innings on their beloved field's final day before demolition. Humor and nostalgia intertwine as daylight fades, signaling an era's end.

A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, Flow follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning Gints Zilbalodis (Away) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, Flow is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.

This film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval.

Franziska Blome, Llewellyn Smith Echoes from Elaine Franziska Blome: Director, Producer, Editor Llewellyn Smith: Director, Executive Producer, Writer Echoes from Elaine is a feature length narrative that intimately examines how a long enshrouded race massacre that continues to haunt Black and White descendants a century later. While trauma, shame and denial persist in the massacre’s long shadow, some descendants are trying to reconcile with the past. 1919, Elaine Arkansas. When white landowners sent men to investigate a union meeting by Black sharecroppers, a shooting broke out, triggering a bloodbath. Over several days, posses and federal troops gunned down as many as 200 African Americans. Captured “insurrectionists” were jailed and tortured, including Sheila Walker’s great grand uncles. When Sheila befriends the grandson of a Klansman who took part in the killings, she sets out to Elaine, compelled to shine a light on this largely unknown history. Sheila’s forgiveness and focus on catalyzing healing inspires her daughter-in-law, the film’s director, to reflect on what marrying into this legacy means for herself and for her sons, but also what her own family history adds to this inheritance. Echoes From Elaine has received support to date from the LEF Foundation, Black Public Media, ITVS, McMillan-Stewart Foundation and the McMillan-Stewart Foundation. Franziska Blome is an Emmy Award winning filmmaker with over twenty-five years of experience making documentaries, primarily for public television. As the daughter-in-law of Sheila Walker, the film’s central character, a native of Germany with family who both supported and opposed the Third Reich. Franziska brings a perspective informed by an understanding of the power of history, the pain of silence and the value of reconciliation and reparations. Llewellyn Smith has written, produced and directed groundbreaking documentary films for over thirty years and received numerous broadcasting honors, including the DuPont and Peabody Awards, and the Kavli Science Journalism Award (filmography here). At the heart of his work are stories that explore how racial injustice is too often nourished by misuses of history and science.

A raw exploration of what it means to be in recovery as seen through the eyes of four women whose lives share a common thread: addiction. In the working class city of Worcester, Massachusetts, Christine fights to regain custody of her young children while grappling with a traumatic past, and battling stigma from the very systems that are designed to help her. Bridget, who found recovery while in prison, now facilitates peer-led support meetings for women. On the frontlines, recovery coaches Janis and Rebecca navigate the city’s toughest corners offering support and trying to save lives. In this portrait of resilience, grit, and camaraderie, the women use their lived experience to lift up those still struggling while refusing to give up hope. Screening followed by Q&A with the director Lisa Olivieri and the film participants.

Join us for the GEN X Movie Club special screening of Stand By Me (1986), the iconic coming-of-age classic based on Stephen King’s novella The Body. A nostalgic and deeply affecting film about friendship, adventure, and the passage of time, Stand By Me remains one of the most beloved Gen X films of all time. After the screening, we’ll dive into a discussion with Paul Tremblay, best selling horror author (A Head Full of Ghosts, The Cabin at the End of the World, Horror Movie), and Brad Abraham, screenwriter and author of the graphic novel Mixtape, and host of The Celluloid Heroes Podcast, who will share his insights on how Stand By Me captures King’s signature themes of childhood, memory, and fear. Tremblay’s own novel The Cabin at the End of the World was adapted into M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, and A Head Full of Ghosts is set to be produced by Robert Downey Jr. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear him discuss King’s influence on his work and the lasting impact of Stand By Me.

A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart.

Inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down.

A music festival symbolizing peace, freedom, and eternal love transforms into a horrifying nightmare of terror. Survivors, marked by death and trauma, reconstruct the event through their perspectives, embodying the lost innocence and beauty of youth, forever scarred by the tragic events that unfolded. We Will Dance Again is a horrifying glimpse through the eyes of the individuals who endured the brutal October 7th onslaught at the Nova music festival.