Local film highlights

There are a lot of sweet films playing at local theaters this week and unless you’re already staring at the calendar and counting down the days until summer, you probably don’t have the time to pick out the best ones. But don’t worry about it—we’ve searched through them for you.

Wednesday

Red Riding: 1983
By this point, we’re familiar with the serial killings in 1970s and ‘80s Britain, as well as the conflict within the police force working the case, and now, without further adieu, we are graced with the third and final installment of the Red Riding trilogy. In the 1983 segment, we find Detective Chief Superintendent Maurice Jobson realizing he may have put the wrong man behind bars when a young girl’s abduction follows the same disturbing trends as those in 1974.

Living Room Theaters
12:20 p.m., 5 p.m., 9:40 p.m.
$6 w/PSU ID
21+ after 4:30 p.m.

Thursday

G.I. Joe Film Festival 2010
If you were to pick only one film event on this list to go to this week, it had better be this one. Sponsored by The Onion, the G.I. Joe Film Festival 2010 is making a stop in Portland on its nationwide tour, and it is not something you will want to miss. Featuring an array of fan-submitted short films, the festival showcases up-and-coming filmmakers in this incredible event. The bonus: All of the films are not only stop-motion, but only star G.I. Joe action figures.

Hollywood Theatre
7:30 p.m.
$7
All ages

Friday

Mid-August Lunch
Mid-August Lunch is an award-winning Italian film that will be making its U.S. debut this week. Starring and directed by the incredible Gianni Di Gregorio, the film follows the broke Gianni as he lives with his 93-year-old mother in a terribly expensive condo that he cannot afford. As the rent debts rise, Gianni must take care of his landlord’s mother during the biggest Italian holiday of the summer in order to pay his dues. When she shows up with both an aunt and doctor in tow, he must keep the four women happy and fed in the tiny apartment.

Living Room Theaters
Time TBA
$6 w/PSU ID
21+ after 4:30 p.m.

Saturday

Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger
This coming-of-age story follows Esther Blueburger, a young Jewish girl sorely uncomfortable with her family and appearance when compared to her beautiful blonde classmates. When Sunni—who goes to public school—befriends her, Esther decides to go undercover and pretends to be a Swedish exchange student at Sunni’s school. Through the less sheltered realm of public school, Esther learns more about herself as she encounters sex, loyalty and class differences. Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger is featured as part of the 18th  annual Portland Jewish Film Festival.

Whitsell Auditorium
8 p.m.
Free w/PSU ID
All ages