TO DIE FOR

January 8, 9 & 11, 2026
To Die For
Introduced by Olympia Film Society Volunteer, Vivienne Lumière on 1/8 at 7pm
The all-American obsession with celebrity turns monstrous in this deliciously subversive (and disturbingly prescient) satire of our television-mediated, true-crime-obsessed age. In a career breakthrough, Nicole Kidman delivers a diabolical deconstruction of the girl next door as a local TV weather reporter whose perfectly perky facade belies a murderous heart, as her ruthless pursuit of fame ensnares three disaffected teens in a sordid, tabloid-ready scandal. Deftly deploying shifting perspectives, faux-documentary interviews, and a supporting cast featuring Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon, and Casey Affleck, director Gus Van Sant adds provocative layers of meaning to this darkly funny examination of suburban sociopathy.
Dir. Gus Van Sant / 1995 / US / 106 min

“An irresistible black comedy and a wicked delight.” – Janet Maslin, New York Times

“Nicole Kidman’s work here is inspired. Her clothes, her makeup, her hair, her speech, her manner, even the way she carries herself (as if aware of the eyes of millions) are all brought to a perfect pitch.” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

“Her role as a deranged newscaster with a gorgeous wig is incredible. Obviously, Joaquin Phoenix is such a heartthrob in this. I think you can always feel when there’s a queer director behind the camera. To Die For isn’t explicitly queer, but it’s a Gus Van Sant movie. There’s something implanted within the feeling of the film, and I sense it strongly in Nicole’s character—the diva behavior, the styling, the makeup and hair. It feels like the story is being captured through the eyes of a gay person. Nicole is playing this broken, malfunctioning character holding it together by a thread, and it’s scary to watch.” – King Princess, Criterion

SCREENING: THU 1/8 7PM; FRI 1/9 4PM; SUN 1/11 4PM

$14 GA & $11 OFS. Tickets are available at the box office 30 minutes before showtimes.