Masterly treats for cinema fans

Setsuko Hara (left) and Chishu Ryu in Late Spring.

The works of a Japanese master, a cycle of art-cinema epics and a handful of overlooked French movies from the 1990s anchor one of the best programmes for the Auckland and Hamilton film societies.

This year's programme begins on Monday in Auckland with a screening of Jules Dassin's classic jewel-heist caper Rififi. The same film screens the following night in Hamilton where the society's programme started this week.

The showings offer the chance to get acquainted or reacquainted with a handful of Hollywood classics (Cagney, Garbo, Dietrich) and half a dozen French titles - by noted directors that include Alain Resnais and Patrice Chereau - never released here.

But the meat of the programme is a retrospective assembled in 2003 for the centenary of the Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu. Eight of the director's 54 films, spanning the years 1932 to 1962, are on show in April and May, showcasing work of which Wim Wenders wrote "never before or since has cinema been so close to its true purpose".

Also on show is the bizarre cycle of five films by American conceptual artist Matthew Barney, The Cremaster Cycle. The cremaster being the muscle that raises and lowers the testicles may be a clue to the filmmaker's outre interests. Certainly, the programmers advise that complicated rights "issues" mean the cycle is unlikely to be available in home video formats.

The proposed renovation of Rialto Cinemas means the Auckland society's screenings (6.30pm Mondays) will be at the Village SkyCity Cinemas on Broadway. Hamilton screenings are at the Victoria Cinema. Society memberships cost $135/$125 ($95/$85 in Hamilton) which works out at about $4 ($3) a film. There are also $25 three-film "sampler" passes and society members get discounts at the Film Festival.