Before 2001, no one even knew that the most beautiful phrase in the English language was “cellar door.” Can you imagine such a world? (Please ignore that phonesthetics were introduced in the mid-20th century.) Yes, much was different before Richard Kelly dropped his dark debut film, and in many ways we live in Mr. Donald Darko’s shadow – whether that’s one of a disenfranchised teen rattling with his own angst or a twisted rabbit costume come out of a wormhole. Under-advertised on release thanks to its post-9/11 depiction of a plane crash, the double Gyllenhaal-starring feature gained cult classic status among all black hoodie-wearing weirdos scuffling through a difficult adolescence. To them – and to those attending these AFS Big Screen Classics screenings – I say: cellar door.
– James Scott
Aug. 8-9 & 13
