Repertory Film

Your weekly guide to local film events, festivals and under-the-radar screenings.

AMBLER THEATER 108 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-345-7855, amblertheater.org. The Polar Express (2004, U.S., 99 min.) Tom Hanks plays several characters, including a train conductor and a hobo, in this animated Christmas stinker. Sat., Dec. 15, time TBD, $3.50-$4.50.

ANDREW'S VIDEO VAULT The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., armcinema25.com. Fanny and Alexander (1982, Sweden, 312 min.) Ingmar Bergman's lengthy oeuvre focuses on the eventful life of a theater family, from the perspective of the children, Fanny and Alexander, in turn-of-the-20th-century Sweden. Thu., Dec. 13, 8 p.m., free.

ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3000, pennpresents.org. Billy the Kid (2007, U.S., 85 min.) A doc about a boy with Asperger's syndrome growing up in small-town Maine. Thu., Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., $5-$10. (See Sam Adams' Just Do It on p. 63.)

A-SPACE 4722 Baltimore Ave., 215-727-0882, the-aspace.org. Afro-Punk (2003, U.S., 66 min.) James Spooner's doc looks at race identity among punk rockers. Fri., Dec. 14, 7 p.m., free.

THE BALCONY 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com. Elf (2003, U.S., 95 min.) A man raised by elves (Will Ferrell) leaves the North Pole, after accidentally causing trouble due to his large size, and heads to NYC in search of his biological dad. Mon., Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m., $3.

THE BRIDGE 40th and Walnut streets, 215-386-3300, bridgecinema.com. The Santa Claus Brothers (2001, Canada/U.S., 60 min.) Animated kiddie movie in which soon-to-retire Santa must hand down the Christmas wand to one of his three sons. Sat.-Sun., Dec. 15-16, 10 a.m., $3.50.

BRYN MAWR FILM INSTITUTE 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-527-9898, brynmawrfilm.org. The Rape of Europa (2006, U.S., 117 min.) Richard Berge, Bonni Cohen and Nicole Newnham's doc details how the Nazis looted and destroyed European art during WWII, and what efforts have since been taken to recover the stolen treasures. Thu., Dec. 13, 4 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 15, 11 a.m.; Wed., Dec. 19, 1:30 p.m., $4.50-$9.25. Elf (2003, U.S., 95 min.) Sat., Dec. 15, 11 a.m., $3.50-$4.50. My Kid Could Paint That (2007, U.S., 82 min.) Amir Bar-Lev's doc on Marla Olmstead, a 4-year-old girl who may or may not have painted some Pollock-esque artworks worth thousands of dollars. Wed., Dec. 19, 8 p.m., $4.50-$9.25.

COLONIAL THEATRE 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville, 610-917-0223, thecolonialtheatre.com. Animal House (1978, U.S., 109 min.) The original raunchy frat laughfest, starring John Belushi as John "Bluto" Blutarsky. Sun., Dec. 16, 2 p.m., $4-$7.

COUNTY THEATER 20 E. State St., Doylestown, 215-345-6789, countytheater.org. Home Alone (1990, U.S., 103 min.) Little cutenik Macaulay Culkin defends his home against thugs, even though his parents forgot to bring him on the family vacation. Sat., Dec. 15, time TBD, $3.50-$4.50.

GERSHMAN Y 401 S. Broad St., 215-446-3033, gershmany.org. Love and Dance (2006, Israel, 95 min.) Chen's mom is Russian and his dad is Israeli. To escape the cultural conflicts between them, he joins a ballroom dancing class, but finds melodrama there, too. Sat., Dec. 15, 8 p.m., $12; Sun., Dec. 16, 2 p.m., $10. In Treatment (2005, Israel, 150 min.) This Israeli television series shows us five therapy sessions with patients and a psychologist. Mon., Dec. 17, 7 p.m., $10.

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE 3701 Chestnut St., 267-765-9700, ihousephilly.org. Savoring the Salt: A Celebration of the Film Work of Toni Cade Bambara Scribe Video Center's two-day program (which continues at the Scribe Video Center on Dec. 14) in honor of Toni Cade Bambara, a filmmaker/writer/activist who taught at Scribe from 1986 to 1995. The evening features a panel discussion with Linda Janet Holmes and Cheryl A. Wall, editors of Savoring the Salt, a new book about Bambara; poet Sonia Sanchez; and filmmaker Louis Massiah, followed by a screening of The Bombing of Osage Avenue (1986, U.S., 58 min.) Massiah's doc checks in with the people affected by that fateful day in 1985, when we bombed our own city. Narrated by Bambara. Thu., Dec. 13, 7 p.m., $10. Free Radical: The Films of Len Lye + Explosions into Colour: New Zealand Experimental Film 1980-84 A selection of shorts by New Zealand animator Len Lye, who died in 1980. Followed by short experimental films made by other New Zealanders in the early '80s. Sat., Dec. 15, 7 p.m., $5-$7.

THE LITTLE THEATER 7141 Germantown Ave., 215-247-3020, mtairyvideolibrary.com. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007, U.S., 115 min.) This frenetic third part of the trilogy finds Matt Damon fighting off enemies in the Big Apple, still unsure of who he is (besides the sexiest man alive). Fri.-Sat., Dec. 14-15, 8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 16, 7 p.m., $5.

NATIONAL MECHANICS BAR 22 S. Third St., 215-733-0608, ext. 248. Naked Boys Singing (2007, U.S., 95 min.) Tagline of the week: No dress code required. Thu., Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., free.

SCRIBE VIDEO CENTER 4212 Chestnut St., 215-222-4201, scribe.org. Toni Cade Bambara Narrates Scribe shows two films, both narrated by Bambara. Fri., Dec. 14, 7 p.m., 5.

WHYY INDEPENDENCE FOUNDATION CIVIC SPACE 150 N. Sixth St., 215-351-0511, whyy.org. Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita (2007, U.S.) This doc tells the story of neurologist Jack Kessler, who used stem cells to look for a cure for spinal cord injuries. He was inspired by his own daughter, who was paralyzed from the waist down after a skiing accident. Wed., Dec. 19, 5:30 p.m. reception, 6:15 screening, free.

WOODEN SHOE BOOKS 508 S. Fifth St., 215-413-0999, woodenshoebooks.org. The Road to Guantanamo (2006, U.K., 95 min.) Mat Whitecross and Michael Winterbottom's film deals with a trio of British Muslims who were detained in Guantanamo Bay for more than two years, and were then released without charge. Sat., Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., free.