Thom Andersen's LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF – Thom Andersen in Person!

"The best documentary ever made about Los Angeles." —Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"Los Angeles may be the most photographed city in the world, but it may never have been captured with such complex layers of meaning and fascination as in Thom Andersen's remarkable Los Angeles Plays Itself. The wealth of film clips will make cinephiles feel they've gone to heaven." —Robert Koehler, Variety

"Absorbing and revelatory, this is film criticism of the highest order." —Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

"A manifesto as well as a monument…an essay in film form with near-universal interest and a remarkable degree of synthesis." —J Hoberman, Village Voice

"A veritably encyclopedic tract, it grapples with subsidiary subjects as diverse as the reverberations of the Watts uprising, fake movie phone numbers, and, in one of the more memorable passages, Hollywood's sustained ideological war against the reputation of modernist architecture…As criticism, the film is perceptive, persuasive, even educational. As cinema, it's something more: one of the great films of the century to date, poignant and affecting." —Calum Marsh, Village Voice

As part of YesterdayLA (apologies for the use of "LA", Thom!), the Philosophical Research Society’s monthlong exploration of Los Angeles history, Los Angeles Filmforum and 7th House are proud to present one of the greatest films — documentary or non — about our so-called "City of Dreams", Thom Andersen's monumental masterpiece LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF (2003-2014), with the director joining us in person!

Perhaps the most essential and indispensable exploration of Los Angeles’ mythos (and aggrandizing fictions), Thom Andersen's landmark documentary Los Angeles Plays Itself explores the tangled relationship between the movies and their fabled hometown - as seen entirely though the films themselves.

From its distinctive neighborhoods to its striking architectural homes, Los Angeles has been the backdrop to countless movies. In this dazzling work, Andersen takes viewers on a whirlwind tour through the metropolis' real and cinematic history, spanning nearly 100 years, from the silent era to modern times. Like a detective in pursuit of an elusive adversary, Andersen investigates the myriad stories and legends that have come to define this ‘dream factory.' With extensive research, and an abundance of clips, anecdotes and analysis, he adroitly peels back layers of fiction to reveal the real city and the actual lives of its denizens beneath the glaring lights.

Newly remastered, Los Angeles Plays Itself is an extraordinary cinematic achievement, a documentary unlike any that has come before or since.

Dir. Thom Andersen, 2003-2014, 169 Minutes (presented in 2 parts with intermission), United States, English, Color, Unrated, Digital.

Special thanks to the filmmaker and to Dylan Foley of Cinema Guild.

TICKETS: $12 | FREE w/ code to Los Angeles Filmforum Members (In Person Event Only)

Please email events@prs.org or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

ABOUT LOS ANGELES FILMFORUM

Los Angeles Filmforum is the city’s longest-running organization dedicated to weekly screenings of experimental film, documentaries, video art, and experimental animation. 2025 is our 50th year. www.lafilmforum.org

ABOUT YesterdayLA

This June, the Philosophical Research Society celebrates our beloved city’s rich and diverse past with YesterdayLA, a month-long exploration of unique stories and works of art that have become part of the fabric of Los Angeles history. The landscape of our city is changing faster than ever before. By examining the LA of yesterday, we invite Angelenos to gather together to not only look back but forward to the possibilities of our great city’s tomorrow.

Throughout its 90+ year history The Philosophical Research Society has stood as a sanctuary for those seeking truth and enlightenment, with its doors open to Angelenos who have created great works of art and innovation, political movements, and spiritual evolutions across the eras. YesterdayLA will explore the fascinating stories of our city’s past with the continued spirit of curiosity that has stood as the pillar of PRS’s mission.

ACCESSIBILITY

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REFUND POLICIES

All sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events , except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test. Ticket exchanges may be granted on a case by case basis, pending circumstances.

In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.

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