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Preview Part 3: Closing highlights at the 2017 Independent Film Festival Boston

Between the schizophrenic weather and the weird playoff showings of the Bruins and Celtics, it’s been hard to be excited about much this April outside of Free Fire and Fate of the Furious hitting theaters.

But fear not, Bostonians: The 15th annual Independent Film Festival Boston is back to give you a week’s worth of stimulating and interesting new movies for you to see and talk about, and a bevy of panels and parties to attend, as well. It runs from April 26 through May 3 at several locations around the city (though mainly the screenings are at the Somerville Theatre and Brattle Theatre).

In two previous posts (opening slate and weekend edition) we've already been busy breaking down our most-anticipated movies at the festival this year. The final section of the festival contains insightful looks inside Orthodox Judaism and the LA Riots, humor from two British comedians, the story of the real-life Rocky, and Gillian Robespierre’s triumphant return to the IFFB stage.

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Gook

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the LA Riots, which offers a prime chance for reflection on that time in our nation’s history. There’s a number of films coming out about the riots this year, including a documentary miniseries by 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley that’ll air on ABC this summer, but why wait? There’s a truly fascinating look at the era screening at the festival this year, one that highlights a different perspective on those events and also wins the award for “film with a title you have to whisper to the ticket seller” this year. Gook tells the story of two Korean-American brothers who own a shoe store in Los Angeles and hang out with a streetwise African-American girl who skips school to hang with them. Everything’s cool until the Rodney King verdict is read, and the brothers have to defend their store from the riots, and like the synopsis says, “while contemplating the future of their own personal dreams and the nature of family.” It sounds fascinating, and Director Justin Chon is anticipated to be in attendance for a Q&A.

Gook screens at the Somerville Theatre on Monday, May 1 at 7:15 p.m. Advance tickets are available here.

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