The Beverly Theater brings together two masterworks of experimental cinema in this rare double feature. Chris Marker's "La Jetée" (1962) unfolds its post-apocalyptic tale almost entirely through still photographs, creating a haunting meditation on memory and time that later inspired Terry Gilliam's "12 Monkeys." The film's stark black-and-white images and poetic narration have made it one of the most influential experimental works in cinema history.
Paired with Marker's minimalist approach is Federico Fellini's "Toby Dammit" (1968), a hallucinogenic adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe featuring Terence Stamp as a dissolute British actor navigating Rome's surreal landscape. Shot in Fellini's signature vivid colors and dreamlike sequences, the film showcases the director at his most visually daring. The contrast between these two films—Marker's meditative stillness against Fellini's kinetic chaos—creates a fascinating study in how cinema can fragment and reshape our perception of reality.
The Beverly Theater's intimate 150-seat space provides an ideal setting for these art-house classics, where the quiet atmosphere lets you sink into the experimental nature of both films. It's the kind of programming that reminds you why downtown's Arts District has become essential viewing for anyone looking beyond the Strip's more obvious offerings.