Bleak Week Returns to the Paris Theater with Mary Bronstein, Carrie Coon and Tracy Letts, and More

The American Cinematheque‘s “Bleak Week” continues to get bigger and better in its fifth year, and once again the Los Angeles-based organization is teaming with the Paris Theater in New York for an East Coast incarnation. This annual celebration for cinephiles who feel good when they watch movies designed to make you feel bad will return to the Paris on June 5 with 17 films, seven special guest appearances, five films screening on 35mm, six new restorations, and five anniversary screenings.

Highlights include a 35mm screening of the Kirk Douglas vehicle “Lonely Are the Brave,” programmed and introduced by Letterboxd’s favorite cinephile power couple, Carrie Coon and Tracy Letts. Other in-person guests presenting favorite films include “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” director Mary Bronstein with a 35mm print of Todd Solondz’s “Welcome to the Dollhouse” and “His Three Daughters” filmmaker Azazel Jacobs introducing an archival print of Sydney Pollack’s “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”

The festival will also feature several filmmakers discussing their own work, including Steve Buscemi with a 4K restoration of his directorial debut “Trees Lounge,” which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham will be there to talk about “Miracle Mile,” the now-married couple’s first onscreen collaboration, and composer Carter Burwell will participate in a Q&A following the East Coast premiere of a new 4K restoration of “The Man Who Wasn’t There.”

A 4K restoration of the director’s cut of Michael Almereyda’s vampire film “Nadja” will also screen, with Almereyda, producer Amy Hobby, actor Galaxy Craze, and editor David Leonard in person. Almereyda will also sign copies of his book “Writings and Relics: 1990-1995.”

The festival will also feature East Coast theatrical premieres of new restorations of Pedro Almodovar’s “Matador” and David Cronenberg’s “Spider,” and screenings of Robert Altman’s “Images,” David Fincher’s “Zodiac,” and Lars von Trier’s “Breaking the Waves.” There’s a new 4K restoration of Claire Denis’ “Trouble Every Day,” a tribute to the late Béla Tarr with a screening of his “Werckmeister Harmonies,” and presentations of Gaspar Noé’s “Irreversible” and Fernando Meirelles’ “City of God.” Finally, there’s an opportunity to see Nicolas Cage’s Oscar-winning turn in “Leaving Las Vegas.”

In short, no matter what cinematic approach to the dark side of existence is your cup of tea, you’ll find something representing it at the Paris next month.

Bleak Week runs at the Paris Theater from June 5-11. For more information, visit the theater’s website.