What’s Westchester Watching? September Edition

“What’s Westchester Watching?” is ArtsNews’s guide to notable releases and special screenings for Westchester moviegoers.

As summer winds down, Westchester cinemas will screen early fall releases like Kogonada’s A Big Beautiful Journey and Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great. Moviegoers can also look forward to anniversary screenings of cult classics like The Breakfast Club and Bring it On, a screening and book talk centered on the work of director Hayao Miyazaki, a punctuation-themed documentary screening and more.

^{*All screenings are current as of the publishing of this article but are subject to change. Check with the individual venue before attending.}

New Releases

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

Columbus and After Yang director Kogonada’s latest film features Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell as two strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and find themselves on a fantastical journey during which they relive moments from their respective pasts together. The two reflect on how these moments have led them to the present. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey opens at The Picture House on September 18 and at Bedford Playhouse on September 19.

The History of Sound

Starring Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal, The History of Sound follows two musicians’ love story through numerous decades – from their introduction at a music conservatory in 1917 to their endeavor to record folk songs in rural post-WWI Maine. The film is based on Ben Shattuck’s short story of the same name, which the writer adapted for the screen. The History of Sound opens at Jacob Burns Film Center on September 19 and Bedford Playhouse on November 7.

Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror

The documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror chronicles the creation of the cult film phenomenon The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which celebrates the 50^th anniversary of its release this year. Produced and directed by the son of Rocky Horror’s writer, the documentary features interviews with original cast and crew members, including Tim Curry, Lou Adler, Susan Sarandon and more. Strange Journey opens at Bedford Playhouse on September 26.

Eleanor the Great

Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut stars June Squibb as 94-year-old Floridian Eleanor Morgenstein who, after suffering a major loss, moves to New York City to start anew. There she strikes a friendship with a 19-year-old student. Eleanor the Great opens at Jacob Burns Film Center on September 26 and at Bedford Playhouse on October 31.

Special Screenings

McGabe and Mrs. Miller
Jacob Burns Film Center
September 1 & 6

Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) hosts 35mm film screenings of Robert Altman’s McGabe and Mrs. Miller. Set in Washington State during the onset of the 21^st century, the film tells the story of a gambling man named McGabe and a savvy British woman, Mrs. Miller, who open and run a brothel in a rural boomtown. Considered by Altman to be an “anti-Western,” the film interrogates the Western genre and early American capitalism. The screenings are part of Altman at 100—JBFC’s retrospective series of the landmark director’s work, which continues through the end of the month. Showtimes: Mon. 1pm & 7pm; Sat. 4:30pm.

Suspiria (1977)
Jacob Burns Film Center
September 5 & 6

As part of its After Hours series, which spotlights horror and cult classics, Jacob Burns Film Center will screen Dario Argento’s Technicolor horror Suspiria. Born from the Italian horror movement “giallo,” Suspiria tells the story of ballet dancer Suzy’s initiation to a dance school in Germany—which may or may not be run by witches. At 9:30pm.

The Breakfast Club: 40^th Anniversary Screenings
Look Cinemas Bedford: September 7 & 10
Bedford Playhouse: November 2

John Hughes’s classic coming-of-age film returns to the big screen for its 40^th anniversary. Filmed in the 1980s, the story brings together a group of unlikely friends during a high school’s Saturday detention session and features ‘80s movie stars Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez and more. Various times.

Selections From the Glass Ceiling Film Festival
Bedford Playhouse
September 18

Bedford Playhouse will screen “best of fest” films from the 5th annual Glass Ceiling Breakers Film Festival in Garrison, NY that honors the work of female filmmakers across the world. Selected films include Danicah Waldo’s Sally, Naaji Sky Adzimah’s DERAILED and Sarah Carlot Jaber’s Olga’s Eyes/Les Yeux D’Olga. At 7pm.

Bring it On: 25^th Anniversary Screenings
Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers
September 19, 20 & 23

Bring it On will screen at Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers in honor of its 25^th anniversary. Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union play rival captains in this cult classic about the high school cheerleading world. Various times.

Porco Rosso Screening and The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki Book Talk
Jacob Burns Film Center
September 21

Film writer Nicholas Rapold will discuss his new book, The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki, during a Q&A that will follow a screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated Porco Rosso. The Academy Award-winning director’s film follows Porco, an ex-WWI fighter ace turned bounty hunter with the face of a pig—the consequence of a mysterious spell. Set in picturesque towns near the Adriatic Sea, Porco follows the pilot as he combats local sky pirates that terrorize the region. Copies of Rapold’s book will be available for purchase. At 2pm.

Rebel With a Clause
Bronxville Picture House
September 24

The Picture House’s Bronxville location celebrates National Punctuation Day with a screening of Rebel With A Clause. Director Brandt Johnson’s documentary centers on his wife Ellen Jovin, her pop-up grammar advice stand, and a road trip across all 50 states. The Picture House invites audience members to wear their favorite punctuation t-shirt. At 7:30pm.

The Graduate
Bedford Playhouse
September 26

Bedford Playhouse presents a screening of The Graduate, director Mike Nichols’s sophomore effort that put actor Dustin Hoffman on the map. Hoffman stars as Benjamin Baddock, a recent college graduate who is seduced by an older married woman. The film also notably features a soundtrack by Simon and Garfunkel and the musical duo’s hit song “Mrs. Robinson.” At 7pm.

Upcoming Film Festivals

YoFiFest (Yonkers Film Festival)
November 7-16

Every November, filmmakers and moviegoers flood downtown Yonkers for this YoFiFest. Now in its 13th year, the festival screens films in nearly 15 categories, most in short formats, including animated, dramatic, dance and locally sourced shorts and more, as well as narrative and documentary features. The ten-day festival includes workshops, panels and networking opportunities couched between an opening night red carpet reception and closing night party. Though known for its in-person parties, YoFiFest will also resume its virtual offerings, which were developed during the pandemic and continue in popularity, including virtual “Meet the Filmmaker” nights, networking events and mixers.