This Week in Rep Cinema: LOTR Trilogy, The Inheritors, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Finding Fidel

This Week in Rep Cinema features second run and classic film selections from cinemas such as The Fox, The Revue, The Royal, Toronto Underground Cinema, the Projection Booth, TIFF Bell Lightbox and more.

It's pretty quiet on the rep cinema front this week, as January, or as I like to call it "Oh crap, I haven't watched half the acclaimed releases from 2011!" begins. Throughout this month, while rep cinemas will be falling all over themselves to screen whatever will be deemed the 'sleeper hit' at the Oscars this year, I'll also try to recommend some classics wherever they pop up. But these are the dog days of January after all.

TUESDAY - THURSDAY JANUARY 3RD-5TH / LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY / TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX / 2PM
Come in from the cold with Peter Jackson's adaptation of the grandpappy of all fantasy worlds, the Lord of the Rings. Screening as part of the Family Classics program, for three days the Lightbox will be transformed into Middle Earth as we revisit the helicopter shots and slow-mo that have remained cinematic cliches a decade later. Hard to believe that The Fellowship of the Ring premiered 10 years ago this holiday season, isn't it? But don't fret, The Hobbit is set to screen around Christmas 2012. Tickets are $12 and can be bought online or at the cinema.

THURSDAY JANUARY 5TH / THE INHERITORS / THE PROJECTION BOOTH / 7PM

Soak in some knowledge and awareness in your post-holiday-glaze with The Inheritors, a Mexican documentary about the plight of child labourers and their families. Unending labour is a reality for rural Mexicans as their basic survival is only tenuously assured with constant work and labour, even of small children. The film highlights the trouble with this cycle, as generations of Mexicans continue to remain in poverty, with no possible end in sight. The film runs from January 3rd to January 5th and tickets can be purchased at the cinema.

SATURDAY JANUARY 7TH / RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK / TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX / 2PM
I blame Harrison Ford for the startling realization I had in my first year Anthropology course that not all teachers who focused on relics would have his chisled good looks. Boy, was that embarrassing! But I can take solace with Indy on the big screen as he kicks some Nazi butt while hunting for the Ark of the Covenant alongside Sallah (John Rhys-Davies, aka Gimli from Lord of the Rings!) in the comfort of the cinema. Tickets are $12 and can be bought online or at the cinema.

SATURDAY JANUARY 7TH / FINDING FIDEL: THE JOURNEY OF ERIK DURSCHMIED / ROYAL CINEMA / 7PM

In 1958 a young war journalist Erik Durschmied, equipped with a camera and not much else, had the opportunity to meet a young revolutionary named Fidel Castro. Over the course of a few weeks he interviewed members of his camp, and left with the only known interview Castro did prior to power. Returning 50 years later, Durschmied revisits Cuba , revealing more details about his time with Castro and how that fated interview launched his career. Director in attendance. Tickets are $10 and can be bought 30 minutes prior to the screening at the cinema.

ADDITIONAL SCREENINGS

• To Catch a Thief - TIFF Bell Lightbox - Wed Jan 4 - 6:30pm
  
• Romancing the Stone - TIFF Bell Lightbox - Fri Jan 6th - 2pm
  
• My Week with Marilyn - Revue Cinema - Sunday January 8th - 4:15pm/7pm

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Still from the Lord of the Rings