This Summer At The Varsity Theater

The Varsity will be offering up its usual variety of indie, foreign and lesser-known films all summer long.

What's so special about the summer, you ask? 

The answer lies in some combination of warm and romantic evenings, a surplus of leisure time and steadily positive  vibes. The bottom line: The Varsity is a pleasant evening destination, and the venue's offerings must be sought out deliberately or they can easily go unnoticed. Here you go: 

Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us?
June 17-23 - Director: Taggart Seigel

This documentary explores the “catastrophic disappearance” of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive. The term “Colony Collapse” describes the rapid decline of pollinators we depend on agriculturally. Watch the trailer and see what is causing the bees to disappear (pesticides?) and what will happen if the pace of collapse holds steady (hint: we’ll lose more than just honey).

The Tree of Life
June 24  | Director: Terrence Malick | Starring: Brad Pitt and Sean Penn

The Tree of Life is a big-screen attempt to snapshot the life of a human as well as the life of our planet, according to Davis Patch blogger Zac Oldenburg. director Terrence Malick accomplishes this daunting task and leaves you with plenty to mull over after the credits role. Check out  to see what grade he gave the film and to watch a trailer.

Beginners
Coming Soon | Director: Mike Mills | Featuring: Ewan McGregor

Beginners tells the bittersweet story of a man who learns that his terminally ill father is gay and has a young lover, according to the Varsity’s website. Watch the trailer.

The Art of Getting By
July 15 | Director: Gavin Weisen

George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who's made it all the way to his senior year without ever having done a real day of work, is befriended by Sally, a popular but complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit. Watch the trailer.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
July 15 | Director Wayne Wang

Seven-year-old girls Snow Flower and Lily are bound together for eternity after an oath of sisterhood. Isolated by their families, they communicate with one another by taking turns writing in a secret language between the folds of a white silk fan. This story takes place in 19th century China and explores an extraordinary friendship destined to last lifetimes. Watch the trailer. 

The Debt
Coming Soon | Director: John Madden | Starring: Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson

The assignment of these three young Israeli Mossad agents back in 1965 was to capture and kill a Nazi war criminal who had left thousands disfigured or dead. Now, 30 years later, a man is claiming that the Nazi has surfaced once again in Ukraine.  Watch the trailer.