Today's SIFF schedule

Today's schedule

Egyptian

4:45 p.m. — "Exiled"

7 p.m. — "Fair Play"

9:30 p.m. — "The Ten"

Harvard Exit

4:45 p.m. — "The Elephant and the Sea": Maybe it's a cultural thing, maybe it's because certain kinds of deadpan humor don't travel well, but this flat, lulling Malaysian film seems populated almost exclusively by sleepwalkers. Whether the characters are bargaining over the price of a camera, learning about the sudden death of a wife or being serviced by a prostitute, the actors project the same lack of expression. When one woman does register anger, the movie suddenly springs to life, but even this outburst leads nowhere. Perhaps Jim Jarmusch's movies look like this to Malaysians? 100 minutes. (John Hartl)

7 p.m. — "The Champagne Spy": Nadav Schirman's thoughtful Israeli/German documentary, making its North American premiere here, enters a little-seen world: that of the Israeli intelligence agency, the Mossad. Oded Gur Arie, now in his 50s, speaks of his late father Ze'ev, a spy with the Mossad who led a complicated double life (which included maintaining two separate marriages). Oded, who learned the truth about his father at age 12 (but never spoke of it until now), hauntingly speaks of the price paid by the family; his face trembling, he tells how he "kept it inside." 91 minutes. Director Schirman is scheduled to attend the screening. (Moira Macdonald)

9:30 p.m. — "Outing Riley"

Lincoln Square Cinemas

4 p.m. — "Reprise"

7 p.m. — "Outsourced": Seattle filmmaker John Jeffcoat's likable first feature, co-written with local screenwriter George Wing, takes on a topical issue with relaxed charm. Todd (Josh Hamilton), a laid-off Seattle telemarketing manager, is sent to India to train his replacement (Asif Basra). As he slowly emerges from his fish-out-of-water shock, he falls for an employee (Ayesha Dharker, who has an irresistibly wide smile). Cultural differences are gently skewered — Todd must explain why Americans wear cheese-head hats to sporting events — and the story ends on just the right smile. An award winner at several film festivals, this should be an audience favorite in its hometown debut. 102 minutes. (M.M.)

9:45 p.m. — "Black Sheep"

Neptune

4:30 p.m. — "Ghosts"

7 p.m. — "Eagle vs. Shark" : This oddball romantic comedy from New Zealand is perhaps too quirky for its own good; its characters speak in a droning deadpan that too soon grows tiresome. Lily (Loren Horsley), a sad-eyed cashier at a Meaty Boy restaurant, falls hard for fellow geek Jarrod (Jemaine Clement), who's distracted by his own plans for revenge against a former schoolmate. There are sweetly funny moments throughout (Lily, timidly suggesting a screen name for a video-game duel: "Dangerous Person?"), but overall filmmaker Taika Waititi seems to be trying too hard not to try too hard. Worth a look, though. 93 minutes. Director Waititi is scheduled to attend the screening. (M.M.)

9:45 p.m. — "Angel-A": French director Luc Besson, who's often been derided for being a Hollywood sellout, returns to his roots in this delightful, funny and stylish fantasy. Shot in gloriously crisp black and white, it's also a bit of a throwback to the French New Wave for its technique and dazzling location vignettes across Paris (Paris je t'aime, indeed). Andre (Jamel Debbouze) is a small-time hustler who's gotten in way over his head with the mob. Straight outta "It's a Wonderful Life," he discovers his guardian angel, Angela (Rie Rasmussen) a blond knockout with legs up to here. Together they fulfill their destinies on mutual wings of desire. Slight and sometimes a little sappy, "Angel-A" is nonetheless a sweet postcard to Paris and Besson's beloved cinema. 88 minutes. (Ted Fry)

Northwest Film Forum

7 p.m. — "Strange Culture" Only a few tickets left.

9:15 p.m. — "Ghosts of Cité Soleil"

Pacific Place

Cinema

2 p.m. — "Doghead"

4:30 p.m. — "Born and Bred"

7 p.m. — "A Friend of Mine"

9:45 p.m. — "Bajo Juarez, the City Devouring Its Daughters"

SIFF Cinema

4:30 p.m. — "Crossing the Line"

6:30 p.m. — "Everything's Cool" Director Judith Helfand is scheduled to attend the screening.

9:30 p.m. — "Dames in Frames"