[NY Programmer Choice]

For many, the appeal of moving to New York City is the opportunity to reinvent oneself. Whether you are trekking from as close as Long Island, taking a long bus ride all the way from Texas, or making a journey from a far-flung country, the lure of the city allows for a certain amount of anonymity, full of endless possibilities to try on a different persona. Several films have depicted this, including Midnight Cowboy (1969) and Working Girl (1988), but my favorite in this category is Smithereens (1982). Directed by Susan Seidelman, it bears a similarity to her more popular Desperately Seeking Susan (the onscreen debut of probably NYC’s most famous self-reinventor, Madonna), which she made a few years later. But for me, Smithereens feels more raw and relatable.

Full Program Notes

Cristina Cacioppo
Director of Programming
Nitehawk Cinema
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Nitehawk Cinema is an independently run movie theater with two locations in Brooklyn. The first to open was in Williamsburg in 2011, then the Prospect Park location (taking over a historic building that started as a single screen movie house in 1928) in 2018. Programming includes a mix of new releases, repertory (often on 35mm) and smaller independent films, featuring guest appearances, Q&As and other fun additions.