Movie of the Week:
Surfing 50 States
This engrossing documentary follows two Australian surfers as they come up with ingenious ways to surf in every state in the union, regardless of whether they can find an ocean: riding arctic waves in Alaska, alongside a cowboy on horseback in Texas, even as part of a Wizard of Oz play in Kansas. Some people will let nothing get in the way of their love of the board. Hurley, 1945 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa, (949) 548-9375; www.hurley.com. Sat., 6 p.m. Free.
Also Showing:
The Best of Youth (La Meglio Goiventu)
The Bowers Museum’s Cinema Italiano series presents the second part (the ’80s) of this sweeping film spanning four decades in a family’s life, addressing social, cultural and familial issues in Italy toward the end of the 20th Century. Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 567-3600; www.bowers.org. Thurs., Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. $10.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (Brave Heart Will Take the Bride)
India’s longest-screening film concerns the experience of an Indian family living in London that’s still heavily influenced by the culture of their homeland. When one of the daughters of the patriarch wishes to buck tradition and marry a man of her choosing, the family must confront what it means to be Indian and what their values truly are. UC Irvine Film and Video Center, Humanities Instructional Building 100, Campus N W. Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-7418; www.filmandvideocenter.com. Thurs., Nov. 20, 7 p.m. $3-$5.
Explorers Club Film Festival
Founded in 1904, the Explorers Club is dedicated to the support and advancement of those who would go to the ends of the earth in pursuit of knowledge and discovery. This three-day festival features films that look at our universe and culture in new and exciting ways. See website for complete schedule. Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 567-3679; www.bowers.org. Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 9:30 a.m. $28-$80.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Cameron Crowe wrote the screenplay and Amy Heckerling directed what has come to be regarded as the quintessential ’80s teen comedy. Featuring a very young Jennifer Jason Leigh in the lead role and, of course, Sean Penn’s greatest triumph as an actor: Jeff Spicoli. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $6.50.
Hail the Conquering Hero
A Marine discharged for hayfever finds himself unwillingly made a hometown hero after he fabricates a more courageous story about why he was relieved from duty in this Preston Sturges classic. Long Beach School for Adults, 3701 E. Willow St., Long Beach, (562) 997-8000. Fri., 7 p.m. $1 materials fee.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Ricardo Montalban reprises his villainous role from the TV series in this film. When Kirk returns to the Enterprise to assist in a training mission, he gets more than he bargained for when his old enemy Khan returns to cause trouble. One of the best Trek films of the series. Regency Rancho Niguel Cinemas, 25471 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-4359; www.regencymovies.com. Thurs., Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. $7.
Swing Girls
One of the most highly acclaimed Japanese films of 2005, Swing Girls concerns a group of schoolgirls who form a big-band swing group in an effort to escape the drudgery of summer math classes. South Coast Cinema, 162 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971; www.lagunaartmuseum.org. Thurs., Nov. 20, 7 p.m. $20; Laguna Beach Film Society members, free.
The Warriors
In this late-’70s Water Hill exploitation classic, a gang of street toughs find themselves facing the wrath of every other street gang in New York City as they try to make their way back to their home turf after being wrongly accused of murder. Stylish, violent and frequently silly, The Warriors is a must-watch for anyone interested in the genre. The Bay Theatre, 340 Main St., Seal Beach, (562) 431-9988; www.baytheatre.com. Sun., 6 p.m.; Mon. N Wed., 8 p.m. $5-$8.
Where the Spirit Lives
This film tells the historically based story of Canadian First Nation children forced by the government to attend schools that placed an emphasis on their assimilation of white Canadian culture at the expense of their own historical, native roots. Cal State Long Beach, Lecture Hall 150, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, (213) 202-3970. Fri., 6 p.m. Parking, $4.
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