An elegant, critically acclaimed adaptation of Ian McEwan’s celebrated 2001 novel, Atonement presents a complex and emotionally rich story of British class relations before and during WWII with unforgettable imagery.

(2006) Directed by John Carney. Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová. (85 min.) R

The low-budget independent film from Ireland became a runaway hit in 2007. Glen Hansard of the Irish pop band the Frames and first-time actress Markéta Irglová star in this heart-melting love story that features the achingly beautiful Oscar-winning song Falling Slowing.

The Lives of Others
Friday, June 13 | 9 p.m.

The remarkable debut by German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck that won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2007. Set in East Berlin before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the story centers on the relationship of a brave playwright and a secret security agent. New York Times critic A. O. Scott calls it a “supremely intelligent, unfailingly honest movie.”

In the Shadow of the Moon
Friday, June 20 | 9 p.m.

(2007) Directed by David Sington. (100 min.) PG

Accompanied by breathtaking film footage, some never before seen by the public, surviving Apollo astronauts reflect on their voyages to the moon and back with eloquence and wit. For a brief moment in history, their achievement was shared and celebrated by all of humankind, a unique moment in history.

In the Spirit of the NCMA Exhibition Far from Home
The Namesake
Friday, June 27 | 9 p.m.

(2006) Directed by Mira Nair. (122 min.) PG-13

With vivid colors, Mira Nair, the director of Monsoon Wedding, has brought the cultural landscapes of India and America in close proximity with her generational tale of a transplanted Bengali couple whose son must negotiate carefully between the two worlds.

The Iranian-born graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi recounts her experience of the Islamic revolution that upended society in her homeland in this deeply affecting and visually captivating animated feature film. A high watermark of world cinema in 2007.

Don’t miss your chance to see this John Hughes classic on the big screen. The film that made Matthew Broderick a household name still makes us want to twist and shout. One of the best teenage movies ever.

The timeless and semiautobiographical coming-of-age story that stands as the first and perhaps most enduring masterpiece from the most famous founding father of the French New Wave, François Truffaut.

The inscrutable object of obsession Bob Dylan is reimagined in the form of multiple characters played by Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, and others, but it’s Cate Blanchett’s performance that steals the show. “A preposterous idea that works brilliantly,” says music critic Anthony DeCurtis.

The latest incarnation of the 1988 John Waters movie that inspired the popular Broadway musical finds John Travolta in rare form, quite literally. Pure campy fun.

Audio description provided by Arts Access.

The third and final feature in a trilogy of movies starring Matt Damon and based on Robert Ludlum’s best-selling thrillers brings one of the most successful film franchises in cinema history to a satisfying conclusion.

Great performances by George Clooney and Tilda Swinton propel Michael Clayton to the top rank of legal thrillers. Clooney plays a “fixer” in a powerful Manhattan law firm whose life is jeopardized by the sordid actions of his employers.

The classic Dr. Seuss tale of a compassionate elephant named Horton is brought to the big screen with state-of-the art animation and the voices of comedic superstars Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Amy Poehler, and Carol Burnett.

Horton Hears a Who Family Fun Night
7:30 p.m.

Join us before the film for special concessions, prize giveaways, facepainting, and a chance to take your picture with "Horton." Popcorn, cotton candy, and activites are free for Museum Members.

The young actor Ellen Page makes an indelible mark in her portrayal of a teenage girl confronting accidental pregnancy. This brilliantly written and directed hit movie led venerated critic Roger Ebert to proclaim it the best film of the year.

Audio description provided by Arts Access.

A visually entrancing tale of lovers caught in the whirlwind of the 1960s, told almost entirely through the songs of the Beatles. It’s another bit of creative genius from Julie Taymor, the director of the phenomenally successful stage production of Disney’s The Lion King. The movie musical stars Raleigh’s own Evan Rachel Wood and features an over-the-top cameo by Bono.

In a stunningly poetic coincidence, the great masters of European art cinema, Ingmar Bergman and Michelangelo Antonio, died last summer on the same day. We pay tribute to the memory of Swedish auteur Bergman with a special screening of his iconic masterpiece that pits Max von Sydow as the medieval knight against the persona of Death in the ultimate high-stakes chess match.

The director of the popular Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line updates a classic 1950s western and proves the resilience of a quintessential American film genre. Terrific performances by Russell Crow and Christian Bale.

Sean Penn directs a critically acclaimed adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s best-selling book based on the true story of a spirited, but emotionally wounded young man who seeks freedom, joy, and healing in the great Alaskan wilderness.

Audio description provided by Arts Access.

A remarkable and original film from Six Feet Under writer, Nancy Oliver. Academy-Award nominee Ryan Gosling gives a superb, heartfelt performance as a lovable introvert with emotional baggage who breaks out of his shell when he starts a relationship with the girl of his dreams—only, she’s not what you would expect.

The story of Ian Curtis and Joy Division, the first and most influential post-punk band to rise from the thriving underground music scene in Manchester, England, featuring magnificent performances by the principal actor/musicians, and cinematography that’s been likened to a work of art.

Master filmmaker Martin Scorcese turned 16 cameras loose on the Rolling Stones when they played New York’s Beacon Theater in late 2006. You can joke about their ages, but the quality of the their music and live performances still give them claim to the title of “the world’s greatest rock and roll band.”