Harper’s Film Lab to host two film series this fall

A pair of film series hosted by the Harper College Film Lab will take moviegoers on journeys around the world – from the streets of São Paulo (Kobra Auto-Retrato) to the banks of the Seine (Charade) to a basement in Aurora (Wayne’s World). Presented by Harper’s Mass Communications Department, all screenings are free and open to the public, taking place at 6 p.m. Tuesdays from September 9 through November 18 in Harper’s state-of-the-art Film Lab.

Kicking off with the 2024 dark comedy No Nos Moverán on September 16, the Cine Latino film series is tied to Harper’s celebration of Latine Heritage Month. It will include movies made in Mexico, Spain and Brazil with characters who speak Spanish, Portuguese and Mandarin (screenings will include English subtitles). Films feature Chinese immigrants growing up in Madrid (Chinas) and the Oaxacan Muxe community (a culturally recognized third gender) dealing with the effects of an earthquake in Finlandia.

The Harper Film Series begins September 9 with The Nice Guys, starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, and returns in October and November with selections such as the Chicago-set firefighter drama Backdraft, the lurid revenge story Desperado and the sci-fi apartheid parable District 9.

All screenings will include free popcorn, introductions from Harper employees and post-film discussions in the Film Lab, which features 4K laser projection, Dolby 7.1 surround sound and accessible seating. The Film Lab is in Building E, Room E109 on Harper’s Palatine campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road. Free, nearby parking is available in lots 9 and 10. See the full schedule for both series below:

Harper Film Series

September 9 – The Nice Guys (2016, Shane Black)

October 21 – Charade (1963, Stanley Donen)

October 28 – Wayne’s World (1992, Penelope Spheeris)

November 4 – Desperado (1995, Robert Rodriguez)

November 11 – District 9 (2009, Neill Blomkamp)

November 18 – Backdraft (1991, Ron Howard)

Cine Latino

September 16 – No Nos Moverán (2024, Pierre Saint-Martin)

September 23 – Chinas (2023, Arantxa Echevarría)

September 30 – A Busca (2013, Luciano Moura)

October 7 - Kobra Auto-Retrato (2024, Lina Chamie)

October 14 – Finlandia (2021, Horacio Alcalá)