Desert Hearts  A landmark in queer cinema, Donna Deitch’s outstanding 1985 feature, based on a Jane Rule novel, sends newly divorced university prof Helen Shaver to 1950s Reno and straight into the arms of sculptor Patricia Charbonneau. The restored film returns to the Cinematheque for three nights starting Saturday (July 15).

Mali Blues  Lutz Gregor’s acclaimed 2016 doc follows four musicians as they challenge the regressive forces of religious fundamentalism. Screening at the Vancity Theatre on Monday (July 17).

Otello Catch the Royal Opera House’s latest version of Verdi’s Shakespeare-inspired masterpiece, with Jonas Kaufmann in the lead, for one night only at the Vancity Theatre on Tuesday (July 18).

Call Me Thief  Set in Cape Town’s gangland of the 1960s, the brutal, if ultimately uplifting, Call Me Thief comes to the Vancity Theatre on Wednesday (July 19) via the Vancouver Foreign Film Society.

The Last Picture Show  Screening with Starman in a one-night tribute to Jeff Bridges, here’s the 1971 coming-of-age drama that arguably kick-started the last great era in American film. Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman, Timothy Bottoms, and Cybill Shepherd (making her screen debut) costar in this must-see at the Rio Theatre on Sunday (July 16).