The Coolidge Corner Theatre is once again bringing movies to one of the region’s most historic outdoor venues. On Tuesday, August 26, the Coolidge’s popular Cemetery Cinema series returns to Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge for an evening of films exploring memory, grief, and the bonds that connect us. The event begins at sunset, with a rain date set for Wednesday, August 27.
The night opens with the area premiere of a new 4K restoration of Atom Egoyan’s acclaimed 1997 film The Sweet Hereafter. Based on Russell Banks’ novel, the film follows a lawyer (Ian Holm) who arrives in a small Canadian town after a tragic school bus accident. As he attempts to rally families for a lawsuit, old wounds and private grief emerge, threatening to splinter the community further.
The second feature is Gates of Heaven, Errol Morris’ groundbreaking 1978 documentary. Both poignant and darkly humorous, the film explores the relocation of a California pet cemetery and the powerful, sometimes eccentric emotions of those devoted to their animals. Widely regarded as one of the finest debut documentaries, it remains an intimate study of love, loss, and human nature.
Audiences are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for seating on the grassy field amid the cemetery’s monuments. Light concessions will be available. Mount Auburn Cemetery, an active burial ground, asks visitors to respect the site’s significance to mourners.
Gates open at 8 PM, with screenings running until 11 PM on Tuesday, August 26. Rain date is Wednesday, August 27.
This is the fifth annual Cemetery Cinema screening. Tickets are $40 plus $3.75 in processing fees and can be purchased online.