Movie guide alt: Independent, limited release and foreign-language films

Ratings by the Motion Picture Association of America are: (G) for general audiences; (PG) parental guidance urged because of material possibly unsuitable for children; (PG-13) parents are strongly cautioned to give guidance for attendance of children younger than 13; (R) restricted, younger than 17 admitted only with parent or adult guardian; (NC-17) no one younger than 17 admitted.

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“The Ambassador” — This documentary follows a journalist and filmmaker masquerading as a diplomat to expose political corruption in the Central African Republic. Directed by Mads Brugger. In English, Danish and French, with English subtitles. (1:33) NR.

“The Anderson Monarchs” — A documentary following a nationally competitive girls soccer team from an at-risk neighborhood in urban Philadelphia. Directed by Eugene Martin. (1:16) NR.

“Beauty Is Embarrassing” — A documentary portrait of the prolific artist, designer and puppeteer Wayne White. Directed by Neil Berkeley. (1:27) NR.

“Blinky & Me” — This documentary tells the story of the animator Yoram Gross, from his childhood in Nazi-occupied Poland to his success in Australia. Directed by Tomasz Magierski. (1:15) NR.

“Branded” — In a dystopian future ruled by mega-corporations, a man tries to unravel a global mind-control conspiracy based on subliminal advertising. With Ed Stoppard, Leelee Sobieski and Jeffrey Tambor. Written and directed by Jamie Bradshaw and Alexander Doulerain. (1:46) R.

“Chicken With Plums” — Distraught since his treasured violin was broken, a renowned musician in 1950s Tehran confines himself to bed, where he awaits death and enters a deep reverie. With Mathieu Amalric, Edouard Baer and Maria de Medeiros. Written and directed by Marjane Satrapi. In French with English subtitles. (1:31) PG-13.

“Compliance” — An overworked manager at a fast-food restaurant receives a call from a police officer accusing one of her employees of stealing from a customer, leading to a situation that quickly escalates out of control. With Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy and Bill Camp. Written and directed by Craig Zobel. (1:30) R.

“The Day” — In a postapocalyptic world, survivors take refuge in a seemingly abandoned farmhouse that turns out to be a deadly trap. With Dominic Monaghan, Shawn Ashmore, Ashley Bell and Cory Hardrict. Written by Luke Passmore. Directed by Douglas Aarniokoski. (1:25) R.

“Downtown Express” — In a Russian immigrant enclave in New York, a young virtuoso violinist and Juilliard student prepares for a critical recital but also finds himself drawn to a woman and a world outside his purview. With Philippe Quint, Nellie McKay and Michael Cumpsty. Written by Kathleen Cahill. Directed by David Grubin. (1:30) NR.

“The Eye of the Storm” — As a domineering socialite lies on her deathbed in a Sydney mansion, her estranged expatriate son and daughter convene at her side. With Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis and Charlotte Rampling. Written by Judy Morris. Directed by Fred Schepisi. (1:59) NR.

“Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” — In imperial China, a pregnant concubine and her mysterious protector seek shelter from the emperor’s forces at an inn staffed by a band of marauders. With Jet Li, Zhou Xun and Chen Kun. Written and directed by Tsui Hark. In Mandarin with English subtitles. In Imax 3-D. (2:01) R.

“The Good Doctor” — An ambitious but anxious young doctor gets a boost of self-esteem when he successfully treats a young woman for a kidney infection, but his enthusiasm soon turns into an obsession. With Orlando Bloom, Riley Keough, Rob Morrow and Troy Garity. Written by John Enbom. Directed by Lance Daly. (1:30) PG-13.

“Hello I Must Be Going” — Recently divorced and facing an uncertain future, a woman moves back in with her parents in suburban Connecticut and beings an affair with a 19-year-old actor. With Melanie Lynskey, Blythe Danner, Christopher Abbott and John Rubinstein. Written by Sarah Koskoff. Directed by Todd Louiso. (1:35) R.

“Hermano” — Two boys raised as brothers in a Venezuela slum strive to escape poverty by becoming professional soccer players. With Fernando Moreno, Eliu Armas and Ali Rondon. Written by Marcel Rasquin and Rohan Jones. Directed by Rasquin. In Spanish with English subtitles. (1:37) NR.

“Hollywood to Dollywood” — In this documentary, two gay twin brothers embark on a journey to hand-deliver a script to country star Dolly Parton. Directed by John Lavin. (1:19) NR.

“Home Run Showdown” — After getting cut from the local baseball team, a down-on-his-luck boy starts his own misfit team in hopes of earning the chance to appear at a big-league event. With Kyle Kirk, Matthew Lillard and Dean Cain. Written by Tim Cavanaugh and John Bella. Directed by Oz Scott. (1:35) NR.

“The Inbetweeners” — Four socially inept British teenagers go on vacation to Greece in search of wild times. With Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison and Joe Thomas. Written by Iain Morris and Damon Beesley. Directed by Ben Palmer. (1:37) R.

“Keep the Lights On” — In New York City, a closeted lawyer and a documentary filmmaker deal with love, addiction and dysfunction throughout a decade-long relationship. With Thure Lindhardt, Zachary Booth and Julianne Nicholson. Written by Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias. Directed by Sachs. (1:42) NR.

“Life Is Strange” — A documentary about the life of Jewish families in pre-World War II Europe. Directed by Isaac Hertz. In Hebrew and Yiddish, with English subtitles. (1:35) NR.

“Little White Lies” — In the wake of a tragic accident involving one of their own, longtime friends reunite for an annual beach vacation, where they must confront the lies they’ve been telling one another and themselves. With Francois Cluzet, Marion Cotillard, Benoit Magimel and Jean Dujardin. Written and directed by Guillaume Canet. In French with English subtitles. (2:34) NR.

“Love Free or Die” — A documentary about the life and work of Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. Directed by Macky Alston. (1:22) NR.

“Of Two Minds” — This documentary about bipolar disorder follows a number of men and women living with the disorder. Directed by Doug Blush and Lisa Klein. (1:29) NR.

“The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure” — A group of friends try to recover five magical balloons in time for a surprise birthday party. With Toni Braxton, Cloris Leachman, Christopher Lloyd and Chazz Palminteri. Written by Scott Stabile. Directed Matthew Diamond. (1:23) G.

“Raaz 3” — A fading Bollywood movie diva turns to black magic to thwart the aspirations of a rising starlet. With Bipasha Basu, Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta. Written by Shagufta Rafique. Directed by Vikram Bhatt. In Hindi with English subtitles. (2:20) R.

“Red Hook Summer” — After his father is killed in combat in Afghanistan, a middle-class black teenager is sent from the suburbs of Atlanta to spend the summer with his religious grandfather, whom he has never met, in a Brooklyn housing project. With Clarke Peters, Jules Brown, Toni Lysaith and Nate Parker. Written by Spike Lee and James McBride. Directed by Lee. (2:01) R.

“The Right to Love: An American Family” — A documentary about a gay married couple and their two adopted children who fight discrimination via home videos posted on YouTube. Directed by Cassie Jaye. (1:22) NR.

“Robot & Frank” — In the near future, an aging former cat burglar’s two adult children buy him a humanoid robot helper, with whom he forms an unexpected partnership. With Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden and Liv Tyler. Written by Christopher Ford. Directed by Jake Schreier. (1:29) PG-13.

“R2B: Return to Base” — A demoted hotshot pilot for the South Korean Air Force and his squad mates must spring into action when an unidentified jet appears in the middle of Seoul. With Jung Ji-hoon, Shin Sae-kyung and Yu Jung-san. Written by Ahn Sang-hoon and Kim Dong-won. Directed by Kim. In Korean and English, with English subtitles (1:53) NR.

“Samsara” — This documentary devoid of dialogue and descriptive text explores the wonders of the modern world, including sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes and natural spectacles. Directed by Ron Fricke. (1:39) NR.

“Sleepwalk With Me” — A stand-up comedian grapples with a stalled career, a stale relationship and wild spurts of severe sleepwalking. With Mike Birbiglia, Lauren Ambrose and Kevin Barnett. Written by Mike Birbiglia, Ira Glass, Joe Birbiglila and Seth Barrish. Directed by Barrish and Mike Birbiglia. (1:20) NR.

“This Time” — This documentary follows six performers struggling to find success in the music industry. Directed by Victor Mignatti. (1:51) NR.

“Toys in the Attic” — In this animated film set in a secret world inhabited by toys, a beautiful doll is kidnapped and must be rescued from a land of evil. With the voices of Forest Whitaker, Joan Cusack and Cary Elwes. Written and directed by Vivian Schilling. (1:19) PG.

“Supercapitalist” — A maverick New York hedge fund trader moves to Hong Kong to orchestrate a big deal, but it quickly escalates beyond his control. With Linus Roache, Kenneth Tsang, Richard Ng and Kathy Uyen. Written by Derek Ting. Directed by Simon Yin. (1:36) NR.

“The Tall Man” — In a decaying mining town, a nurse tries to find her missing son, the latest victim in a string of child abductions. With Jessica Biel, Jodelle Ferland and Stephen McHattie. Written and directed by Pascal Laugier. (1:46) R.

“The Victim” — A young woman finds herself in a life-and-death situation when she witnesses a violent act by two sheriff’s deputies, and her best chance for survival might be a recluse she meets in the woods. With Michael Biehn, Jennifer Blanc, Ryan Honey and Tanya Newbould. Written and directed by Biehn. (1:23) R.

“We Women Warriors” — This documentary follows three native women advocating for indigenous rights and practicing nonviolent resistance in war-torn Colombia. Directed by Nicole Karsin. In Spanish with English subtitles. (1:19) NR.

“Words of Witness” — A documentary following 22-year-old journalist Heba Afify as she covers the 2011 Egyptian revolution and experiences her own personal and political coming of age. Directed by Mai Iskander. (1:09) NR.

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©2012 Los Angeles Times

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