RAAC

RAAC Movie - Beauty and the Beast
2026-02-13 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Little Washington Theatre, 291 Gay Street, Washington, VA, 22740, United States
In celebration of unexpected love on the Eve of Valentine’s Day, RAAC will show Jean Cocteau’s 1946 classic “La Belle et La Bete,” or Beauty and the Beast, at the Little Washington Theatre, at 6 o’clock on Friday February 13 ( a test run of an earlier start for RAAC movies). Based on the 18th century fairy tale, the story unfolds like a beautiful but disturbing departure from the ordinary, with plenty of special effects created without any of today’s computer-assisted techniques.
Cocteau’s treatment of the eerie romance has been called “realism of the unreal. ” Audiences can watch a credible, if dreamy, young woman’s journey from horror to empathy to love for the beast, who has taken her hostage as part of a shocking deal imposed on her father when he is staggered by a business failure. Jean Marais plays the lonely, misunderstood beast, as well as two competing suitors for the affection of Belle, played by Josette Day.
Reports of the filming experience in post-war France add to the fascination. Marais would endure five hours of make-up time, with fur strips attached to his face and hefty incisors inserted in his mouth. And during the production period, Cocteau himself was stricken by a painful skin disorder requiring penicillin every three hours.
This French film includes subtitles, and RAAC provides hearing assistance, helpful in taking in the French dialogue and the sumptuous score by the French composer Georges Auric.
This special evening is free, but RAAC welcomes donations to cover productions costs.

RAAC Movie - Hamnet
2026-04-10 19:00 - 21:00
RAAC’s second April movie will be Hamnet, the acclaimed Shakespeare-related film whose lead, Jessie Buckley, accepted the Oscar for best actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare. Hamnet, had multiple Oscar nominations, including best picture and best adapted screenplay. Hamnet director Chloé Zhao was nominated for best director. The film carries the name of Shakespeare’s only son, Hamnet, whose death was the inspiration of the play many consider the master playwright’s best, Hamlet. Max Weiss, critic of Baltimore, said “The film is thoroughly imbued with that blend of mysticism and naturalism.”

RAAC Movie - Train Dreams
2026-04-18 18:00 - 20:00
On Saturday, April 18 at 6PM (so viewers can set out for dinner after the movie ends), RAAC will screen the celebrated four-time Oscar nominee, Train Dreams. Train Dreams is an American period drama directed by Chris Bentley, adapted from Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella, starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones.. Set in Idaho, the story traces the 80-year life of Robert Grainier. Orphaned as a child, Robert drifts through life, finding work on railroad and logging projects, witnessing tragedies, including the deaths of fellow workers, and enduring the destruction of his family cabin. He eventually settles into a quieter existence, reflecting on life’s fleeting moments and maintaining a spiritual connection to lost loved ones.
Recognized as one of the top ten films of 2025, the film is celebrated for its cinematic artistry, evocative storytelling, and deeply human performances, establishing it as a standout work of contemporary American cinema.
Among the film’s many accolades, notable awards include: Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Cinematography at the Film Independent Spirit Awards; and nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Song, at the 2026 Academy Awards.
Though the RAAC film is free, donations are welcome to help offset production costs. Hearing assistance will be available.

RAAC Movie - Sentimental Value
2026-06-20 19:00 - 21:00
Sentimental Value is a multi-layered Norwegian drama directed by Joachim Trier that earned the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, a historic win for Norway following years of nominations. The movie follows an aging filmmaker embarking on what will likely be his final work. The making of the film involves a return to a family home he left decades earlier, and a traumatic history during his own childhood. The superb acting by the women playing his estranged daughters make this a psychologically nuanced film, whose brilliant ending affirms that art can reconcile and integrate all that history has left broken and damaged. Starring Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning.
Though the RAAC film is free, donations are welcome to offset production costs. Hearing assistance is available.
