Rosemary’s Baby

Friday, August 23 - Thursday, September 19, 2024

“A supremely intelligent and convincing adaptation of Ira Levin’s Satanist thriller about a woman who believes herself impregnated by the Devil (in the guise of her husband), its main strength comes from Polanski’s refusal to simplify matters: ambiguity is constant, in that we are never sure whether Farrow’s paranoia about a witches’ coven is grounded in reality or a figment of her frustrated imagination. Sexual politics, urban alienation, and a deeply pessimistic view of human interaction permeate the film, directed with a slow, careful build-up of pace and a precise sense of visual composition. Although it manages to be frightening, there is little gore or explicit violence; instead, what disturbs is the blurring of reality and nightmare, and the way Farrow is slowly transformed from a healthy, happily-married wife to a haunted, desperately confused shadow of her former self. Great performances, too, and a marvellously melancholy score by Krzysztof Komeda.” – Time Out (London)

Screening as part of our midnight series Late-Night Favorites: Summer 2024

Previously screened as part of our Spring 2019 season of “Waverly Midnights: Parental Guidance” and as part of our series Good Witch/Bad Witch and the series “Pregnant with Fear.”

• Country USA
• Year 1968
• Running Time 136 minutes
• Format DCP
• Distributor Paramount Pictures
• Director Roman Polanski
• Cast Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon
• Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.