Things to do in Bloomington: Movies, quilts and comedy on tap this weekend

Movies — animated and otherwise — an HBO-featured comic and 19th century quilts are waiting to entertain and astonish us this weekend. Scare yourself witless at IU Cinemas' Not Quite Midnight series, then go view some comforting quilts at the Monroe County History Center, maybe seeing Jak Knight and the other movies in between.

Two Studio Ghibli films at BCT

"Castle in the Sky" and "Kiki's Delivery Service," two films from the Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli, will be shown at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater this weekend.

Friday night's "Castle in the Sky" depicts bravery and why we need friends. Animation is by Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki.

Pazu, an engineer’s apprentice, notices a girl, Sheeta, floating out of the sky; a mere lighted pendant keeps her aloft. Both Sheeta and Pazu are trying to locate a floating castle, Laputa, and they decide to venture onward as a team to deconstruct the mystery of a luminous crystal. Greedy pirates, the military and government agents, however, interfere.

For subscribers: New restaurant The Elm aims for February opening; Function Brewing under new ownership

In Saturday night's "Kiki's Delivery Service" a quick-witted young witch designs a broom-driven delivery service but loses the ability to fly after a period of self-questioning. Her wise-cracking black cat assists.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for these 7 p.m. general admission showings at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. Wearing a mask is required indoors in Monroe County. Vaccine verification or negative COVID-19 test results within 48 hours is required to enter the venue. Box office, 812-323-3020; boxoffice@buskirkchumley.org.

Jak Knight to bring laughs to the Comedy Attic

Jak Knight will make his Bloomington debut Friday and Saturday night at the Comedy Attic.

From Los Angeles comes this stand-up comic, actor and writer, who is presently on HBO Max’s "Pause with Sam Jay," where he also writes and produces. Next, he goes to Lorne Michael's and Peacock’s "BUST DOWN," alongside Chris Redd, Sam Jay and Langston Kerman: four casino employees search for self esteem using their — terrible — ideas.

Knight has worked as a voiceover actor and producer on Netflix' series "Big Mouth" and was named a Comedy Central Comic to Watch, a New Face at the Montreal JFL Festival and a Time Out Comic to Watch. He was also part of the Oddball Comedy Festival and has since headlined for clubs, colleges and festivals internationally. He has opened for comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Joel McHale, Eric Andre, Moshe Kasher and Aziz Ansari.

The shows at 123 S. Walnut St. will start at 7 and 9:15 p.m. each night. Phone is 812-336-5233. Mask use is requested when interacting with anyone outside your party.

Two newly restored films at IU Cinema

"Possession" will come to the Indiana University Cinema at 10 p.m. Friday as part of the Not Quite Midnight series. Another featured film, "Chameleon Street," is part of the International Art House series and is showing at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Both films are newly restored.

Originally banned, the horror-drama film "Possession" was released in 1981 and is rated R. Director Andrzej Zulawski choreographed the agony of a deteriorating marriage and uses, by the way, an unusual technique. A spy, Mark (Sam Neill), comes home to West Berlin and discovers his wife, Anna (Isabelle Adjani in a role for which she earned Best Actress at Cannes), demanding divorce. Anna is distraught, and Mark uncovers something awful. The score pulsates, and the performances and imagery will stick with viewers a long time.

Note: Contains self-harm and suicide. Masks are required for all attendees and Cinema staff.

More: New Indiana University exhibit explores works of artist-in-residence Andrea Ventura

"Chameleon Street" (1989) is an R-rated comedy-drama. Directed by Wendell B. Harris Jr., it took the Grand Jury Prize at the 1990 Sundance Film Festival but was long underseen. It's the true story of Michigan conman Douglas Street, who posed as other people, including a well-known surgeon, to climb the socioeconomic ladder.

With mischief and humor this story examines class and race in America, and a press release describes it as a “lost masterpiece of Black American cinema."

Patrons are urged to buy tickets online in advance at https://bit.ly/3FZeGY3 as sell-outs are possible. No standby or late seating. The cinema is at 213 E. Seventh St.

Hoosier pioneer quilts on display

Stitching and patterns can tell stories about a person's history, and quilts have long been shared throughout central Indiana as they traveled among generations. The Monroe County History Center's permanent collections include quilts, some of which, in the Hill Gallery, have survived intact since the 1800s.

See them at the center, 202 E. Sixth St., through March 26. While Monroe County is under a red COVID advisory, people are asked to call a day or so ahead of their planned visit to arrange a viewing time. Phone is 812-332-2517, and hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Walk-ins may be allowed or turned away depending on how many people are already in the center. Tickets are $2 adults, $1 students, free for members and under 5.

'The King's Man' at Spencer's Tivoli Theatre

This R-rated suspense thriller with comedy and action is a tale about some of the world's most hideous oppressors and criminals as they meet to plan a war that will destroy millions. One man will fight them.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, the cast of "The King's Man" includes Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou and Charles Dance.

The four showings at Spencer's Tivoli Theatre are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at 24 N. Washington St. Office hours are noon-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Email director@spencertivoli.org or call 812-714-8137. Movie line is 812-714-8069.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington events: Jak Knight, Studio Ghibli films and more