Late Night Film Series Sparkles at Cats Den

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 21, 2010) - Movie lovers couldn't ask for more than the offerings at the Cats Den in the University of Kentucky Student Center. The Late Night Film Series will show up to two movies each Thursday and Friday night of the spring semester. All movies are free to UK students, faculty and staff.  

This Thursday, Jan. 21, a double feature is on the marquee.  Academy Award winner "Departures" will be screened in Worsham Theatre at 7 p.m. followed by "Spirited Away" at 10 p.m. 

Daigo Kobayashi is a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and now finds himself without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad titled "Departures," thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a "Nokanshi" or "encoffineer," a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living. "Departures" is a winner of 10 Japan Academy Prize awards, Mercedes Benz Audience Award for best film, Grad Prix Amerique at the 32nd Montreal World Film Festival and best film, director, actor and screenplay from the Kinema Junpo Awards.

"Spirited Away" is the story of a family lost on a deserted country lane who learn the hard way  never to take an unfamiliar shortcut.

At 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, the Worsham Theatre will show the delightful adventure-comedy "The Goonies." The 1985 film was directed by Richard Donner with a screenplay by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg.