After years in limbo, Roman Polanski’s “An Officer and a Spy” is quietly making its way into select U.S. theaters this month, courtesy of distributor Vitagraph Films.
The 2019 Venice Grand Jury Prize winner, which has long been unavailable in North America, had already received a limited theatrical rollout at New York’s Film Forum, much to the hate of its staff, and now it’s set to hit a handful of other markets.
The film, based on the Dreyfus Affair and starring Jean Dujardin and Louis Garrel, has had a complicated distribution history in the U.S. Despite winning critical acclaim in Europe, American release plans stalled for years, largely due to Polanski’s controversial reputation.
Vitagraph Films has now stepped in, with screenings already underway at:
Angelika Film Center (18 W. Houston, NYC)
Cinemas 1, 2, 3 (1001 3rd Ave at 59th, NYC) – Ends Sept. 6
Look Cinemas (W. 57th St at Westside Hwy., NYC) – Ends Sept. 4
New Plaza Cinema (Upper West Side, NYC) – One show only on Sept. 27
The film expands September 5 to additional cities, including:
Angelika Film Center & Café (Dallas, TX)
Angelika Film Center & Café at Mosaic (Fairfax, VA)
Angelika Pop Up at Union Market (Washington, DC)
Cinema Arts (Huntington, NY)
Montgomery Cinemas (Skillman, NJ)
Reading Cinemas at Cal Oaks (Murrieta, CA)
Tower Theatre (Sacramento, CA)
UA Regal (East Hampton, NY)
Strangely, there’s still no sign of an official Los Angeles booking, which is the biggest market in the States, and that feels like a glaring omission given the city’s arthouse audience. Then again, if there ever was one city that would boycott this release then it’s probably L.A.
The Facebook page for Vitagraph Films has been tracking updates, and the hope among cinephiles is that this run might finally pave the way for a proper Blu-ray release with English subtitles.
American distributors have consistently passed on opportunities to screen “An Officer And A Spy” at industry markets, so credit to Vitagraph for taking the risk and finally bringing Polanski’s remarkable work to audiences.