For this second part of our Boston on Film series, we go beyond the crime movie to focus on how the institutions of Boston – educational, social, scientific, medical, legal, and the press – are depicted on screen. Because the focus of these pictures is not on the underground criminal element, they are more likely to feel like time-capsules giving us a glimpse into a Greater Boston that many of us have never seen.

Inspired by our partnering with the Massachusetts Historical Society for a program focusing on the dichotomy of Boston’s image in Hollywood films, we begin a three part series with a selection of pictures that could be called "The Boston Crime Wave," or, as Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr calls this subgenera, "Boston Triple Decker Films," or, as Boston crime novelist Chuck Hogan refers to them, "Boston No-R movies." We explore what these films get right and what they get wrong in how they depict and use our fair city in geographical, character, and thematic terms.

We catch up with our longest running virtual series; movies for kids, about kids, for families, and about families.

We're joined by Shawn Cotter, director of Wicked Queer, The Boston LGBT Film Festival to talk movies to watch while closing Pride Month - including the three Pioneers of Queer Cinema re-released by Kino Lorber that are featured in the Brattle's Virtual Cinema. 

In a special interview episode we talk with Lisa Simmons of the Roxbury International Film Festival, which had to postpone its 21st season due to COVID-19.

We discuss films from our ongoing series that attempt to trick your streaming platforms (and your minds) into helping you discover a more eclectic mix of movies.

In recognition of the truth that BLACK LIVES MATTER, The Brattle has elected to press pause on new programs and announcements this week to allow more space for the amplification of voices directly affected by police brutality and institutional racism in our country. We stand in solidarity with those protesting during this important moment in the fight for justice and equality.

We discuss five films playing in our virtual cinema: The Ghost of Peter Sellers, Lucky Grandma, Vitalina Varela, Fourteen, and Thousand Pieces of Gold. Plus, we get a surprise visit from the editor of one of those films for an unplanned Q&A. 

For our annual Reunion Week, we take a look at some films from the classes of 1945, 1970, and 1995.

We're joined by our friends at Alex and Kristen from Strictly Brohibited for a series of sci-fi films that have a significant creative contribution from women – either behind the camera or the page of the script.