Hello dear readers. It is with a sigh of relief and that I can happily report that the good Professor Kaufmann and I have fully recovered from our March movie malaise. We’ve got an interesting array of offerings this month and an even more interesting array of offerings on the horizon.

At press time, The Great and Powerful Oz has held the top spot at the box office for the last two weeks. Meanwhile Emperor, the little known post war drama about McArthur’s investigation of Emperor Hirohito’s culpability for Pearl Harbor and Japan’s part in the war. The film has received next to no promotion and has been quietly playing to small crowds for a couple of weeks at The Carolina Asheville. The overkill press junkets on some films and the complete lack of promotion on others is exasperating sometimes, but in the film industry, it is par for the course.

Emperor may even be gone by the time this issue comes out. We figure, when a film is really worthwhile, it still warrants a mention here in hopes that folks will either catch them at second run theatres or rent them when they come out on DVD.

Out in limited release, but not yet here in Western North Carolina, is Ginger & Rosa, a coming of age film of two young women in early 1960’s England. This too is bound to be a little known, short run title in Asheville. Be on the lookout for it at either the Fine Arts Theatre or the Carolina Asheville.

One of our most interesting takes this month was Stoker. the latest film from Chan-wook Park. It’s a chilling, but visually lush, psychological thriller. This one isn’t for everyone, but it is a thrill ride of sorts for those who dare.

Be sure to check out the April schedules for the Asheville Film Society and the Hendersonville Film Society which are everything from An Affair to Remember to The Shining. Also happening April 4^th is the Wild & Scenic Film Festival hosted by the WNC Alliance at the Fine Arts Theatre. Also of note this month is the Israeli Palestinian Conflict Film Series with The Gatekeepers April 4^th at 7 p.m. at The Fine Arts Theatre and 5 Broken Cameras April 18^th at 7 pm at Alumni Hall on the UNCA campus. The Asheville Jewish Film Festival will kick off this spring on April 25^th at The Fine Arts Theatre with a screening of Hava Nagilia. Details for this festival are coming soon at the Fine Arts Theatre web site.

Until May dear readers, be well, have fun and we’ll see you at the movies.