Inside the Arthouse: A Little Prayer

Posted on by Team Sbarge

There’s something magical about watching great actors fully inhabit their characters—especially when a talented director gives them the space to riff and discover new layers. In A LITTLE PRAYER —the latest drama from acclaimed writer-director Angus MacLachlan (Junebug)—the performances feel lived-in, heartfelt, and deeply human.

Veteran stars David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck) and Celia Weston (Dead Man Walking) portray an older married couple navigating the challenges of their adult children. But their greatest joy? Their daughter-in-law—played by breakout talent Jane Levy (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist). Levy delivers a luminous performance, balancing sweetness and steel, evoking comparisons to Amy Adams in the Oscar-nominated Junebug.

Lightning may not strike twice, but Angus MacLachlan has once again discovered a new star. Jane Levy’s role in A LITTLE PRAYER confirms she’s one to watch in American independent cinema.

A LITTLE PRAYER starts now, right here on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE.

Inside the Arthouse: Any Day Now

Posted on by Team Sbarge

Genre in film is a way we group stories — by shared style, form, or subject. 

In the new film ANY DAY NOW, writer-director Eric Aronson takes the familiar framework of a heist movie and flips it on its head. Instead of leaning on nonstop action, Aronson delivers a sharp, character-driven story that leans on comedy — anchored by veteran actor Paul Guilfoyle, whose wit and depth shine in every scene.

At the center of the story is the infamous 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum robbery in Boston — one of the most audacious and unsolved art heists in American history. Thirteen priceless paintings vanished without a trace, but here the crime is the backdrop to a more intimate tale: how people, in a specific time and place, can collide in ways that reveal our quirks, contradictions, and unexpected outcomes.

As you’re about to see, Eric Aronson and Paul Guilfoyle had an undeniable chemistry bringing ANY DAY NOW to life. Join us as they share the inside story of making their film, on Inside the Arthouse, starting now… 

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Inside the Arthouse: I know Catherine, The Log Lady

Posted on by Team Sbarge

For so many of us who grew up captivated by the strange, haunting world of Twin Peaks, the Log Lady was a mystery, a messenger, and somehow—comforting. But what we didn’t always know was that the actress who played her, Catherine Coulson, was so much more than her role. She was a beloved collaborator of David Lynch, one of the earliest female camera assistants in Hollywood, and someone whose quiet presence left a deep impression on everyone she worked with.

A new documentary titledI KNOW CATHERINE, THE LOG LADY is more than a portrait of a beloved character—it’s a revealing and heartfelt exploration of the woman behind the legend. Through rare archival footage, intimate interviews, and stories from those who knew her best, this film traces Coulson’s singular journey from the sets of avant-garde student films, her prolific career as a stage actress, to the heart of one of television’s most enigmatic creations.

At once a celebration and an act of remembrance, this documentary captures the spirit of a true original—someone who, like her famous counterpart, saw things most of us couldn’t and never stopped quietly guiding us toward something deeper, stranger, and more profound.

Join us with director Richard Green as we sit down with him to discuss his film, I KNOW CATHERINE, THE LOG LADY, on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, starting now…

Inside the Arthouse: It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley

Posted on by Team Sbarge

You may not be familiar with Jeff Buckley’s name. But you almost certainly have heard his haunting cover of Leonard Cohen’s HALLELUJAH, a song which was named to Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and has been inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. 

In this episode of Inside the Arthouse, we sit down with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg to discuss her new documentary, It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley.

Tragically, Buckley drowned while swimming in the Wolf River in Memphis just as he was about to start work on his second album. But his stature as a singer and songwriter has only grown in the years since his early death at the age of 31. Acclaimed by musicians like Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Jimmy Page, Jeff Buckley’s life and legacy is being given a thoughtful and thorough review in this new documentary — which includes a treasure trove of archival material,  candid interviews with Buckley’s family and friends, lovers and collaborators. We emerge from the film with a greater understanding of the forces that shaped his artistic aspirations and an appreciation for all that he accomplished in his short life. 

Join us for our conversation with filmmaker Amy Berg, on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, starting now…

Inside the Arthouse: Film Forum

Posted on by Team Sbarge

At INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, we love discovering bold new voices and emerging filmmakers. But there’s something uniquely rewarding about revisiting a classic—whether it’s an old favorite or a legendary film you’ve always meant to watch. And seeing these films on the big screen in a real movie theater is the way they were meant to be experienced.

Repertory cinema in the U.S. has faced its share of challenges, from the rise of home video and streaming to rising urban real estate costs. Many iconic rep theaters have closed. But in recent years, there’s been a revival of interest in classic and cult films, shown theatrically in new restorations and 35mm prints.

One of the most influential figures in this movement is Bruce Goldstein, longtime repertory programmer at Film Forum in New York City and founder of Rialto Pictures. For over 50 years, Bruce has been a champion of film history—curating, restoring, and re-releasing cinematic landmarks. In early 2025, Rialto re-released Claude Lelouch’s A Man and a Woman, and coming soon is a brand-new 4K restoration of Jean-Jacques Beineix’s Diva.

We sat down with Bruce Goldstein in New York to talk about the past, present, and future of repertory film programming in the U.S.—and how he’s helped shape what American audiences get to see on the big screen.

2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA

Posted on by Team Sbarge

The war in Ukraine may no longer dominate the headlines, but the brutal fight for freedom continues — and brave filmmakers are risking everything to tell the world what’s really happening on the front lines.

Oscar-winning Ukrainian filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, who won Best Documentary Feature for his 2023 Academy Award-winning film 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL, returns with his powerful new documentary 2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA. This gripping film captures the intense 2023 battle to drive Russian forces out of the small village of Andriivka, Ukraine.

Using raw body cam footage, immersive drone shots, and frontline cinematography, Chernov delivers an unflinching look at the courage, sacrifice, and reality of Ukraine’s ongoing fight for survival. Masterful editing transforms chaotic combat into a clear, deeply human story that demands to be seen — and felt.

As difficult as it can be to watch at times, 2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA reminds us why frontline documentaries are more vital now than ever, leaving us wiser and more inspired from the experience.  

Watch our conversation with Oscar-winning director Mstyslav Chernov as he shares what it takes to film in a war zone and why the world must keep watching Ukraine — on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE starting now.

Inside the Arthouse: Don’t Let’s Go To the Dogs Tonight

Posted on by Team Sbarge

As part of producing Inside the Arthouse, we see a lot of movies. And while many are compelling and well-made, naturally some of them stand out. Of all the films we’ve seen so far this year, DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT has definitely moved to the top of the list.  

Based on a memoir of the same name by Alexandra Fuller, this powerful film has been brought to the screen by first-time director Embeth Davidtz. An actress who has worked with filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Robert Altman, and Sam Raimi, Ms. Davidtz draws from her own experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa to bring striking authenticity to the story of a family of white farmers in Zimbabwe.

The film is told through the eyes of young Bobo — played with extraordinary depth by newcomer Lexi Venter — as she witnesses the political upheaval in a land on the brink of change.

A hit at the prestigious Telluride and Toronto International film festivals, DON’T LET’S GO THE DOGS TONIGHT is opening on July 11 in New York and Los Angeles before rolling out nationally.

You won’t want to miss our conversation with Ms. Davidtz where we discuss her journey from actor to filmmaker and the challenges of adapting this beloved memoir — on Inside the Arthouse, starting now…

Inside the Arthouse: Roger Christensen

Posted on by Raphael Sbarge

The staff members at your local arthouse — they’re generally as unique as the films they show. And thank God for that. Because without their disregard for corporate uniformity, the experience of going to the cinema would not have that distinctive quality that makes each visit unique.

In this episode of INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, we get to talk with Roger Christensen, a longtime movie theater employee who spent the last part of his 40-plus year career as the locally famous, beloved, and hilarious general manager of the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood. At a time when that venue was the hottest arthouse west of the Angelika Film Center in New York, he was there when indie icons like Todd Haynes, Lisa Cholodenko, and Doug Liman debuted their first films. And just to prove that it wasn’t all Oscars and accolades, he also bears some responsibility for the launch of the phenomenon of Tommy Wisseau and his cult B movie THE ROOM.

Downtown movie palaces fade away. New venues take over as the audience shifts geographically. Single screens give way to multiplexes. But through it all, the audience still craves that moment when the house lights dim and the screen comes to life. And for the people who work at the theater – the managers, projectionists, and box office and concessions personnel – they get to share in that journey of change and discovery that comes with seeing a great movie.

We had a lot of fun recording this episode, and we hope that you’ll also find it fun and illuminating. So join us as we share war stories with Roger Christensen, General Manager of the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, starting now…

Inside the Arthouse: FAMILIAR TOUCH

Posted on by Team Sbarge

As the new luminous film FAMILIAR TOUCH opens, we meet Ruth, an independent and self-assured octogenarian who is embarking on a journey of both mind and body. Her body is moving into a memory care facility. Her mind is evolving in ways that are hard for her family to understand. But as played by acclaimed actress Kathleen Chalfant, we vividly experience this journey through Ruth’s eyes. And Ruth is never lost. She just is where she is: in the moment.

Inspired by her experiences as a caretaker, writer-director Sarah Friedland has made a “coming of age story” and imbued FAMILIAR TOUCH with a spirit and depth that avoids the usual tropes that we associate with films about cognitive decline. Filmed almost entirely at a retirement community, which involved members and staff of the facility both behind and in front of the camera, FAMILIAR TOUCH feels “real” in a way that most films can only hope to achieve.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it was awarded the Best Director and Best Actress prizes, and it is now opening in theatres across the U.S.

We love this movie and are so happy that writer-director Sarah Friedland and actress Kathleen Chalfant were able to join us to talk about making FAMILIAR TOUCH. So sit back and join us for our conversation on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE,starting now…

Inside the Arthouse: TATAMI

Posted on by Team Sbarge

In a strange and sad twist of fate, TATAMI arrives in theaters as Israel and Iran are engaged in armed struggle. And yet this film, the first to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker, makes the compelling point that we as individuals are not bound by the political positions of our rulers.  

TATAMI is co-directted by Zar Amir and Guy Nattiv and follows the story of Leila, an Iranian judo athlete who is forced into a compromising situation when she is told by government officials that she should pull out of a world championship competition by faking an injury to avoid facing an Israeli rival in the final round.

With the clock ticking, we see how pressure is applied to Leila, her family, and her coach, and the moral decay that happens when individual expression is crushed by autocratic control.

Beautifully shot in black and white, the film features a fierce lead performance by Arienne Mandi as Leila. Co-director Zar Amir, a winner of the Best Actress prize at Cannes for her role in THE HOLY SPIDER, is also terrific in the role of Leila’s coach.

Join us as we sit down with the co-directors, Zar Amir and Guy Nattiv, on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, starting now…