Open Air | The Graduate
A restored classic, The Graduate follows shy college grad Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman), who is seduced by the wife of one of his father’s close friends – only to fall in love with her daughter, complicating an already tangled affair.
After graduation, Benjamin Braddock finds himself lost and uncertain about his future. At a party celebrating his achievement, he is seduced by the enigmatic and significantly older Mrs. Robinson.
What begins as a secret affair quickly unravels when Benjamin falls in love with her daughter Elaine. Thus he becomes entangled in a web of lies and desires, unfolding against the backdrop of the rapidly changing social landscape of 1960s America.
The Graduate is a timeless classic that blends tragedy and comedy to explore themes of insecurity, rebellion and alienation in a new generation. The film marked Dustin Hoffman's breakthrough role and emerged at a pivotal moment in Hollywood history. Alongside influential films such as Bonnie and Clyde, Easy Rider, and Midnight Cowboy, The Graduate marks the transition to the New Hollywood era – a period defined by greater artistic freedom for filmmakers. The film received seven Oscar nominations and won the Academy Award for Best Director.
Pre-show: CineSud Summer Nights
What can you capture in sixty seconds? Summer Nights is an initiative by CineSud and Lumière that challenges filmmakers to create an ultra-short film inspired by the sultry, dreamy – or stifling – atmosphere of summer evenings, perfectly suited as a pre-feature for the Lumière Open Air Film Festival. Four selected filmmakers each received a production budget – provided by CineSud – along with professional support where needed to bring their films to life. The result: four distinctive miniatures that capture the essence of summer in just one minute.
This evening, we’ll be screening the short pre-feature films Nothing Sticks (Rozemarijn Elisa) and ChatGPT: Hot Girl Summer (Yuki Nakamura & Felice Peeters).