“Blithe Spirit,” a film about a crime novelist who is trapped between two wives — one alive, the other dead — after a séance opens Feb. 26 at Nebraska’s Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. Also showing for another week is “Nomadland.”
A remake of a Noel Coward comedy, “Blithe Spirit” opens with Charles (played by Dan Stevens), a best-selling crime novelist, suffering from a terrible bout of writer’s block. His picture-perfect wife, Ruth (Isla Fisher), is doing her best to keep him focused on finishing his first screenplay so they can fulfill her dream of leaving London for the glitz of Hollywood.
Charles’ quest for inspiration leads him to Madame Acarti (Judi Dench), an eccentric mystic, to request a séance be performed in his home. He gets more than he bargained for when Acarti inadvertently summons the spirit of Charles’ first wife — the fiery Elvira (Leslie Mann). Ready to pick up her “life” right where she left off, Elvira is shocked to discover the prim and proper Ruth is married to her husband and running her household.
Stuck between the two wives, Charles struggles as the duo unleash over-the-top attempts to outdo the other.
“Blithe Spirit” is not rated. It plays through March 11 at the Ross.
The much heralded “Nomadland” follows Fern (Frances McDormand) as life continues after the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada and the death of her husband. Fern packs her van and sets off on the road, exploring a life outside of conventual society as a modern-day nomad.
The third feature film from director Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland” features real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration across the American West.
“Nomadland,” which is rated R for some full nudity, is showing at the Ross through March 4.
Show times are available on the Ross website or by calling 402-472-5353.
