In the 2023–24 school year, more than 10,000 books were banned in American public schools.
This resurgence in censorship campaigns has been building since the pandemic, with most challenges targeting stories centering Black and LGBTQ+ perspectives. These efforts typically focus on school libraries, framed as protecting children from mature themes. But in an age when we all carry pocket computers that can stream almost anything on demand, why do books—one of the oldest, most analog forms of media—still feel so threatening to so many people?
That question drives our “Banned Books on Screen” series, presented with the Great Barrington Public Libraries. This Sunday at 4 p.m., we continue with “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Stephen Chbosky’s adaptation of his own bestselling novel about a group of Pittsburgh teenagers navigating love, trauma, and belonging. Honest about substance use, sexual abuse, and queer identity, the book and film have resonated deeply with millennials and Gen Z—and landed the novel on banned and challenged lists for over two decades.
Ironically, these bans highlight the enduring power of books. While TV and movies can blur into the digital noise of everyday life, books demand focus and invite an intimate exchange with an author’s voice. They are direct, portable, inexpensive to make, and easy to share—which makes them both impactful and difficult to control.
That power is exactly why banned books endure, and why their stories continue to matter on the page—and on screen.
Now Playing
“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”
The Crawleys return for one last fabulous adventure.
The Crawleys enter the 1930s in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” the final installment of the beloved PBS franchise. As Lord Grantham and family face down the prospect of financial ruin and social disgrace, their household staff prepare to take the Abbey into the future with a new generation at its helm.
Starts September 12.
“It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley”
An intimate look at the singer we lost too soon.
Despite only releasing one album before his tragic death in 1997, Jeff Buckley’s musical legacy has continued to grow in the decades since his passing. Using previously unreleased voicemails and concert footage, “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” provides new insights into Buckley’s life and career, giving you an intimate perspective on a massive talent who we lost too soon.
Limited Engagement starts September 12.
“Psycho Beach Party”
Lauren Ambrose and Charles Busch in person!
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the cult surf comedy/horror movie mashup “Psycho Beach Party” with star Lauren Ambrose and writer and actor Charles Busch!
Chicklet’s (Ambrose) dreams of learning to surf are endangered when she starts exhibiting multiple personalities, making her a person of interest in Captain Monica Stark’s (Busch) investigation into a string of murders. A campy sendup of movies as diverse as “Gidget,” “The Three Faces of Eve,” and “Scream,” don’t miss this special screening of the cult classic on September 13!
September 13, at 7 p.m.
No Comply Foods presents: “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”
San Dimas High School football rules!
Party on, dudes! We are traveling back in time for the greatest school project ever when No Comply Foods presents “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” on September 16! The fate of the future is at stake when lovable goofballs Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are at risk of failing their history final. With help from their time-traveling guide Rufus (George Carlin), the duo must travel back in time to collect a who’s-who of history’s greatest minds to get the grades they need to keep their band Wyld Stallyns together.
September 16, at 8 p.m.
“Stop Making Sense”
One of the greatest concert films of all time closes out “Sweaty Cinema.”
One of the greatest concert films of all time, join us for Jonathan Demme’s “Stop Making Sense” when it plays as the final film in our “Sweaty Cinema” series! Beautifully capturing the brilliance of The Talking Heads at the height of their career, “Stop Making Sense” is a joyful celebration that will have you dancing in the aisles.
September 18, at 8 p.m.
“The Roses”
A pitch-black update on the classic romantic comedy.
Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing—as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites. A reimagining of the 1989 classic film “The War of the Roses,” don’t miss this delightful dark comedy featuring a stacked cast including Alison Janney, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, and more!
Coming Soon
Triplex International Youth Film Festival
Join us for three days of screenings celebrating the next generation of cinematic visionaries and discussions with industry experts including actors Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater; Criterion Collection President Peter Becker; DreamWorks animation President Marjorie Cohn; and filmmakers Haley Elizabeth Anderson (“Tendaberry”), Zia Anger (“My First Film”), Tony Gerber (“War Game”), Carson Lund (“Eephus”), Diane Pearlman (Berkshire Film & Media Collaborative), Matthew Penn (“Law & Order”), and David Tochterman (“That ’70s Show”).
September 19 through 21.
“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey”
Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell embark on “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” at The Triplex on September 19! The latest from acclaimed filmmaker Kogonada (“Columbus,” “After Yang”), “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” is a visually stunning story of two strangers who take the leap into exploring the hidden parts of each other’s lives. A sweeping, bittersweet romance perfect for fans of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “La La Land,” don’t miss your chance to catch this “bold” film on the big screen!
Starts September 19.
“One Battle After Another”
When a former revolutionary’s daughter goes missing, he taps into his network of radicals and outcasts to bring her home in “One Battle After Another,” the latest from acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson (“There Will Be Blood,” “Boogie Nights”). Featuring an all-star cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Benecio Del Toro, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, and more, “One Battle After Another” is an action-packed ode to the lengths parents will go to protect their kids from their pasts.
Limited Engagement starts September 26.
“Amazing Grace”
Author Hanif Abdurraqib joins us to present the long-lost Aretha Franklin concert film “Amazing Grace” on September 27 as part of the Author’s Guild’s WIT Literary Festival! The MacArthur Fellow and cultural critic will be on hand to introduce this powerful recording of one of America’s greatest artists and discuss how Franklin’s music and activism continue to impact us today.
September 27, at 9 p.m.
