Films from Argentina, France and Norway are among this week's movie offerings

Northwest Film Forum hosts "At The Edge of the World: The Cinema of Lisandro Alonso," a nine-day film festival featuring Seattle premieres of four movies by an Argentine director who specializes in "minimalist realism." It begins with a Wednesday screening of his first feature, "La Libertad," and runs through Nov. 19. The director will be in attendance at a number of screenings. NWFF, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle; for more information, see www.nwfilmforum.org or call 206-267-5380.

French director Alain Cavalier's rarely seen "Le Combat Dans L'Île" (1962), a combination political thriller/love-triangle story starring Romy Schneider, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Henri Serre, plays today through Sunday and next Wednesday and Thursday, SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer St., Seattle (206-633-7151 or www.siff.net/cinema).

"Max Manus" (2008), by Norwegian directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, based on real events from the life of a World War II resistance fighter against the Nazis, plays 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 N.W. 67th St., Seattle; $10 donation (tickets: 206-789-5707, ext. 10 or www.nordicmuseum.org).

Silent Movie Mondays continues with a screening of Lotte Reiniger's "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926). Jim Riggs is at the Wurlitzer keyboard. 7 p.m. Monday, Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $12 (877-784-4849 or www.stgpresents.org). Silent-film fans will also want to check out a preview of "The Downfall of Osen" (1935) by Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi, with live accompaniment by the Aono Jikken Ensemble, who will discuss their work and perform an excerpt from the film, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle; free (206-634-0919 or www.jackstraw.org). The full film with live music will screen later this month at SIFF Cinema.

A new 35 mm print of Carol Reed's classic "Odd Man Out" (1947), starring James Mason as an I.R.A. operative on the run, plays this week at the Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., Seattle (206-523-3935 or www.grandillusioncinema.org).

"Midnights at the Egyptian" continues with Jean-Pierre Jeunet's 2001 cult classic, "Amélie," starring Audrey Tautou in her breakout role, midnight today and Saturday, Egyptian Theatre, 805 E. Pine St., Seattle; $7-$9.50 (206-781-5755 or www.landmarktheatres.com).

Meanwhile at "Metro Classics," Wong Kar-wai's Hong Kong-set "Chungking Express" (1994), about cops snarled in love complications, will be projected in high definition, 7 and 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, Metro Cinemas, 4500 Ninth Ave. N.E., Seattle; $7-$10 (206-781-5755 or www.landmarktheatres.com).

Movie lovers who prefer home viewing may want to investigate Couchfest, a one-day traveling festival of short films shown Saturday in private homes in Wallingford and surrounding neighborhoods. Highlights include a "film noir about jaywalking" and two new shorts by animator Bill Plympton. An all-day pass is $10. Call 206-465-5702 or go to www.couchfestfilms.com for the full lineup of films and locations.

Michael Upchurch: mupchurch@seattletimes.com