We're mixing things up a bit with our Winter 2014 program by inviting five guests to each choose a "road movie".

George Figgs, actor, projectionist, former owner of The Orpheum Theatre in Fells Point, John Water's ensemble alum, and local cinephile legend, joins us on February 7th with  Wanda.

Wanda (1971) is the only film directed by Barbara Loden, who also acted in the title role of this tale of a woman who abandons her family and takes up with a petty criminal. Largely ignored in the US when it was originally released, it was praised in Europe, winning the International Critics' Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Loden, the wife of Elia Kazan, died of breast cancer in 1980.

Rarely seen for 30+ years, Wanda was rescued from obscurity in 2003 by the actress Isabelle Huppert. John Waters presentedWanda as his annual selection for the 2012 Maryland Film Festival.

MENU:

(Though Wanda noshes on spaghetti and a hamburger on screen, we're paying homage to her Pennsylvania mining town roots, instead.)

spinach salad, scrapple on toast with spicy ketchup

(vegetarian or scrapple-hater option: spinach salad, lentil & walnut pâté, toast points)

pork & sauerkraut, smashed potatoes

(vegetarian option: mushroom & roasted pumpkin ragoût, smashed potatoes)

apple pandowdy, vanilla ice cream

(gluten-free option: baked apple stuffed with walnuts & raisins, vanilla ice cream)

$15: RESERVATIONS WITH PAYMENT REQUIRED

BYOB

(We will, however, serve a thematic cocktail with a request for a $5 donation.)