Red Cliff (Chi bi)
Directed by John Woo/China/2008/USA 2009/150 min. With Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, You Yong, Chang Chen

In a return to Chinese cinema after over a decade of making films in Hollywood, legendary action master John Woo and international superstar Tony Leung (Ashes of Time, In the Mood For Love) reunite for the first time since the 1992 classic Hard Boiled in Red Cliff, the epic historical drama based on a legendary 208 A.D. battle that heralded the end of the Han Dynasty. Red Cliff opens as power hungry Prime Minister-turned-General Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) seeks permission from the Han dynasty Emperor to organize a southward-bound mission designed to crush the two troublesome warlords who stand in his way, Liu Bei (You Yong) and Sun Quan (Chang Chen), and continues with the spectacular Woo style, adapted to Chinese historical epic tradition. In Mandarin with English subtitles. 
Friday, Jan. 1 through Sunday, Jan. 3 at 7 and 9:35 p.m.

Tati Series
Trafic
Directed by Jacques Tati / 1971 / 97 mins. With Jacques Tati, Marcel Fravel, Honoré Bastel, Françoise Maisongrosse

This classic 1971 Jacques Tati comedy and social commentary features the director/writer as the likable character Mr. Hulot, the designer of a Paris car company named Altra. Hulot has designed a new van for camping, and the film showcases a timeline of minor comedic near catastrophes that arise while transporting it to the annual auto show in Amsterdam. A light-hearted farcical story meant to accentuate the silliness of human drama in progress and productivity on many levels, with the obvious focus on issues of transportation. Everyone from factory workers to the snooty American PR diva (who's fantastic and frequent wardrobe changes are truly a time capsule fashion fiesta) shepherding the production along with the bumbling Hulot, are delightfully, comically campy characterizations of their worst human frailties, posturing and traits. 
Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 8:30 p.m.

MBC Artist of the Month: Tennessee Williams 
A Streetcar Named Desire
Directed by Elia Kazan/1951/122mins. With Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden

The MBC “Steamy Tennessee” retrospective opens with the legendary cinema version of the Tennessee Williams classic. Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh) moves in with her sister Stella (Kim Hunter) and Stella’s husband, Stanley (Marlon Brando). Blanche refuses to come to terms with the death of her Southern aristocratic background, causing her conflict with her lower-class brother-in-law.  Stanley harshly forces her to face the facts, driving her to a complete personality breakdown. This is the version that all others must match.
Thursday, Jan. 7 at 8:30 p.m.

MBC January Exhibition
"Steamy Tennessee" in posters and graphics
Tennessee Williams is the artist of the month at MBC. A true "auteur" when it comes to the control of his work, MBC presents a month of the film adaptations of the work of this great American playwright. Supplementing these provocative classics are posters and graphics from the MBC Archive, and from the private collection of MBC member and supporter Kendall S. Natvig. The MBC January retrospective culminates in a two night special event: a play reading directed by David Tawil of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” on Feb. 2 and 3.

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