Released simultaneously, Patrick Wang’s third and fourth features – both playing at the ICA – tell the two-part story of an arts centre and its struggles to survive in a town, a community and a world that’s changing faster than anyone can understand. Blessed with a brilliant ensemble cast (Tyne Daly, Elisabeth Henry, James Marsters, Janeane Garofalo et al), this is a morality tale of art, society and gentrification that speaks softly but carries a big stick.
Forty years ago, Dorothea (Daly) and Greta (Henry) moved to a small town named Checkford, bought an abandoned bread factory and transformed it into an arts centre. Four decades have turned it into a cherished community hub – but when two celebrity artists arrive from China and construct their own arts institute, the Bread Factory is threatened with the loss of the funding that helps to keep it alive.
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