The Birth of a Nation

Director D.W. Griffith's epic 1915 silent film about two families during the Civil War and Reconstruction is still fascinating. The heroic portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan has kept this work at the center of controversy through the present day. Stars Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall and Miriam Cooper. At 8 p.m. Jan. 17, and 1, 4:30 and 8 p.m. Jan. 18; $5. (Unrated)

Theater: Movie Museum

Divorce - Italian Style

1962 Italian movie, with English subtitles, stars the late Marcello Mastroianni as a man who can't stomach his wife (Daniela Rocca), and schemes to wed the sexy young Stephania Sandrelli. A twist ending adds a perfect, and most ironic, touch. The comedy won an Oscar for its screenplay. At 3, 5:30 and 8 p.m., Jan. 19; $5. (Unrated)

Theater: Movie Museum

The General

Buster Keaton's comic flair is set against a true Civil War story of a stolen train and Union spies. Keaton also directed the 1927 silent film, one of his best features, though not as fanciful as his other efforts. At 8 p.m. today and at 6 and 8 p.m. Monday; $5. (Unrated)

Theater: Movie Museum

Johnny Stechino (Star rating unavailable)

1991 Italian film directed by Roberto Benigni stars Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi and Paolo Bonacelli. With English subtitles. At 8 p.m. Jan 23 and 24, and 6 and 8 p.m. Jan. 27; $5. (Unrated)

Theater: Movie Museum

Mabarosi

Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's 1996 film follows the spiritual odyssey of a young woman recovering from her husband's inexplicable suicide. An exquisite, perhaps overexquisite meditation on grief and guilt, this almost painfully subtle emotional study may prove taxing to Western sensibilities. At 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 and 25, and 4 p.m. Jan. 26; $5. (Unrated)

Theater: Academy of Arts

Small Faces

Lex Maclean, 13, is growing up fast on the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland, circa 1968. When Lex accidentally hits the leader of a rival gang with his air-gun, it leads to a gang war, a family tragedy for the MacLeans and - in the way of all "coming-of-age" dramas - a bittersweet rite of passage. Something of an endurance test with its upsettingly explicit and mean-spirited violence and because maybe 80 percent of the dialogue is so incomprehensible, the movie is difficult, but worth the trouble. At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 18, 20 and 21, and 4 p.m. Jan. 19; $5. (R)

Theater: Academy of Arts Theater

Snowriders (Star rating unavailable)

Warren Miller's ski adventure film. At 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; $10 adults, $6 students, plus $1 theater surcharge. (Unrated)

Theater: Hawaii Theatre

Synthetic Pleasures (Star rating unavailable)

Fascinating "Mondo Techno" documentary uses computer-generated graphics on a tour of synthetic environments, molecular reconstruction, smart drugs and more. At 1 p.m. today; $4. (Unrated)

Theater: Academy Theater