The drama film “Frantz” will be opening May 26 at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. “Norman,” starring Richard Gere, will continue to show.
Set during the immediate aftermath of WWI, “Frantz” recalls the mourning period that follows great national tragedies as seen through the eyes of the war’s “lost generation.” Anna is a young German woman who lost her fiancé, Frantz, during trench warfare. Adrien, a French veteran, shows up mysteriously in Anna’s town and is seen placing flowers on Frantz’s grave. Adrien’s presence is met with resistance by the small community still reeling from Germany’s defeat. Yet, Anna gradually gets closer to the handsome and melancholy young man, as she learns of his deep friendship with Frantz.
What follows is a surprising exploration of how the characters wrestle with their conflicting feelings - survivor’s guilt, anger at one’s losses, the overriding desire for happiness and the longing for romantic attachments.
“Frantz” is rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief war violence.
“Norman” tells the story of a would-be operator dreaming up financial schemes that never come to fruition. As he has nothing real to offer, Norman strives to be everyone’s friend, but his incessant networking leads him nowhere. Always on the lookout for someone willing to pay attention to him, Norman sets his sights on Micha Eshel, a charismatic Israeli politician alone in New York City at a low point in his career. Sensing Eshel’s vulnerability, Norman reaches out with a gift of a very expensive pair of shoes, a gesture that deeply touches Eshel. When Eshel becomes prime minister three years later, he remembers Norman’s gesture.
With his very real connection to the leader of a major nation, Norman is awash in the respect he has always craved. Flush with his newfound feeling of success, Norman attempts to use Eshel’s name to leverage his biggest deal ever: a series of quid pro quo transactions linking the prime minister to Norman’s nephew, a rabbi, a mogul, his assistant and a treasury official from the Ivory Coast. Norman’s kaleidoscopic plans soon go awry, creating the potential for an international catastrophe he must struggle to prevent.
“Norman,” rated R for some language.
Both films will be showing through June 1.
For more information on films at the Ross, including show times, click here or call 402-472-5353.
