Tararua Cinematheque Presents: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Travel to Bedford Falls, NY and revisit the life of George Bailey (James Stewart) who, time and time again, dreams big only to have those dreams shift into something less spectacular.

After acknowledging he'll "never leave this crummy old town," Geoorge marries Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) and they form a family. Things seem to be going well-enough, but a financial error at his father's business brings on an unbearable weight, and George’s life comes to a crashing halt one fateful Christmas night. But an unexpected visit from a mysterious stranger helps put it all into perspective.

While Frank Carpa's film was met with harsh criticism for its sentimentality upon release in 1946, in the decades since, it's become a cinematic staple of post-war ideals about hard work and community. Not to be written off as just another Christmas film, It's a Wonderful Life has a forgotten darkness, especially in the latter half of the film. But it's the aforementioned visitor (who is only onscreen about 10min) that helps turn the darkness into a heartwarming finale.

Join us on the 19th, and experience this joyous, tragic, and uplifting film that has earned its reputation as one of the greatest holiday pictures of all time. (130min) (PG)