In what the New York Times heralded as, “An Apocalyptic Star Is Born,” VOX LUX follows the rise of Celeste from the ashes of a major national tragedy to pop super stardom. The film spans 18 years and traces important cultural moments through her eyes, starting in 1999 when as teenager Celeste (Raffey Cassidy, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, in dual roles) survives a violent tragedy. After singing at a memorial service, Celeste transforms into a burgeoning pop star with the help of her songwriter sister and a talent manager (Jude Law). Celeste’s meteoric rise to fame and concurrent loss of innocence dovetails with a shattering terrorist attack on the nation, elevating the young powerhouse to a new kind of celebrity: American icon, secular deity, global superstar.

By 2017, adult Celeste (Natalie Portman) is mounting a comeback after a scandalous incident that derailed her career. Touring in support of her sixth album, a compendium of sci-fi anthems entitled “Vox Lux”, the indomitable, foul-mouthed pop savior must overcome her personal and familial struggles to navigate motherhood, madness and monolithic fame in the Age of Terror.

In Brady Corbet‘s second feature (following his 2015 breakout debut THE CHILDREN OF A LEADER – winner of the Best Director and Best Debut Film prizes at the Venice Film Festival), Celeste becomes a symbol of the cult of celebrity and the media machine in all its guts, grit and glory. Featuring original songs by Sia, an original score by Scott Walker, and a transcendent performance by Portman, personifying and pummeling the zeitgeist, VOX LUX is an origin story about the forces that shape us, as individuals, nations – and gods. Also starring Willem Dafoe, Jennifer Ehle, and Stacy Martin.

“Brady Corbet’s Vox Lux, with a big performance by Natalie Portman, is an audacious story about a survivor who becomes a star, and a deeply satisfying, narratively ambitious jolt of a movie.” (The New York Times)

“The film creates a universe where fame crowds out humanity. You can’t stop thinking about it… Prepare to be wowed by Natalie Portman, who delivers a take-no-prisoners performance as Celeste, a swaggering rock diva who tends to burn down everything in her path, especially when she’s crossed.” (Rolling Stone Magazine)

“A bold, brilliant trip through the celebrity spin cycle.” (Variety)

Monday, January 14 *Start time subject to change
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm
Advance tickets $10.50 | $12.50 at the door

*Minors welcome in the balcony! Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service and main floor seating.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK! Please redeem at the door.

VOX LUX (Brady Corbet, 2018 / 112 mins / 14A) In 1999, teenage sisters Celeste and Eleanor survive a seismic, violent tragedy. The sisters compose and perform a song about their experience, making something lovely and cathartic out of a catastrophe – while also catapulting Celeste to stardom. By 2017, Celeste is a mother to a teenage daughter of her own and is struggling to navigate a career fraught with scandals when another act of terrifying violence demands her attention.