August 1 – August 2, 2023

Steve James: An American Cinematheque Tribute

Series | A COMPASSIONATE SPY, LIFE ITSELF and HOOP DREAMS

Aero Theatre and Los Feliz 3

ABOUT THE SERIES:

The American Cinematheque is thrilled to welcome documentary filmmaker Steve James in-person for his newest film A COMPASSIONATE SPY.

Over his 35-year filmmaking career, two-time Oscar and Emmy nominee Steve James has mostly trained his lens on contemporary subjects, often in his adopted hometown of Chicago. The city’s high school basketball games drive the acclaimed HOOP DREAMS while its most famous film critic, Roger Ebert, is celebrated in LIFE ITSELF. And with its emphasis on “cinematic social inquiry,” Chicago’s Kartemquin Films has been an ideal producing partner for the director for decades.

But James’ documentaries have found a worldwide audience by framing relevant social issues with relatable human drama. His latest, A COMPASSIONATE SPY, reflects our current era of global tensions and Wikileaks in the lives of Atomic Age couple Ted and Joan Hall. “This is a fascinating, important and largely unknown story about a guy who, at an incredibly young age, made this huge decision to pass secrets to the Soviets,” says James. “And he didn’t do it for financial gain. In his mind, he was doing it because he was trying to save the world.”

Read More about A COMPASSIONATE SPY
TUE AUG 1, 2023

7:00 PM

A COMPASSIONATE SPY

$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)

Los Feliz 3 | Q&A with filmmaker Steve James

Advance screening!

Read More about LIFE ITSELF
TUE AUG 1, 2023

10:00 PM

LIFE ITSELF

$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)

Los Feliz 3 | Introduction by filmmaker Steve James

Read More about HOOP DREAMS
WED AUG 2, 2023

7:30 PM

HOOP DREAMS

$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)

Aero Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Steve James

‘Steve James: An American Cinematheque Tribute’