Retrospective: Richard Linklater

“Linklater [is] … an exemplar of American independent cinema.”—New York Times

On the occasion of the release of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, a film that many are already calling his masterpiece, the Wexner Center revisits the American independent director’s career with a retrospective that runs through August and includes a visit from the filmmaker himself. The series picks up where a previous Wexner Center retrospective left off in 2000, by following his career from that point to the present, and will be kicked off on Monday, July 21, when Linklater visits the Wex to introduce the Ohio premiere of Boyhood and discuss his career in film.

Since he was last at the Wexner Center, Linklater has continued the often-audacious formal gestures found in Slacker (1991) and Dazed and Confused (1993) in his subsequent films, which include Tape, Boyhood, his widely acclaimed Before trilogy (which the Wex is screening in full), and what quickly became an all-ages classic, School of Rock.Since he was last at the Wexner Center, Linklater has continued the often-audacious formal gestures found in Slacker (1991) and Dazed and Confused (1993) in his subsequent films, which include Tape, Boyhood, his widely acclaimed Before trilogy (which the Wex is screening in full), and what quickly became an all-ages classic, School of Rock.

The retrospective is part of the Wexner Center’s 25th anniversary season, which includes the exhibition Transfigurations: Modern Masters from the Wexner Family Collection and other programming across the center’s film/video, performing arts, and education program areas. 

Since he was last at the Wexner Center, Linklater has continued the often-audacious formal gestures found in Slacker (1991) and Dazed and Confused (1993) in his subsequent films, which include Tape, Boyhood, his widely acclaimed Before trilogy (which the Wex is screening in full), and what quickly became an all-ages classic, School of Rock.

David Filipi, director of film/video, says, “We’re thrilled to present this second retrospective of work by Richard Linklater, truly one of cinema’s greatest and most versatile directors and someone with whom the Wex has long enjoyed a relationship, including hosting the area and local premieres of his movies A Scanner Darkly and Before Sunset, as well as retrospective in which he programmed some his favorite films. To bring him back with the debut of the remarkable Boyhood is a great honor and a perfect way to celebrate not just his work, but the Wex’s 25th anniversary as well.” 

Boyhood, which evokes elements of Michael Apted’s famed Up documentary series and Linklater’s own Before trilogy, follows 12 years in the life of the young boy Mason (Ellar Coltrane) as well as the lives of his divorced parents (Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette) and their individual struggles to find happiness. Linklater began shooting the film in 2002, gathering his actors each subsequent year to continue his depiction of the emotional (and physical) growth of a boy and his family from the first grade to the time when he’s leaving for college. (164 mins, DCP)

Visitor information: Tickets for Boyhood are $12 for the general public and $10 for member, students, and senior citizens and will be available to members starting June 9. Public sales begin June 16. Unless otherwise noted, all films will be held at the Wexner Center’s Film/Video Theater, 1871 N. High St. Tickets are $8 general public, $6 members, students, and seniors, and are available in advance at tickets.wexarts.org, 614-292-3535, or at the ticket office and will be onsale June 9. Visit wexarts.org for more information.

The full schedule for Retrospective: Richard Linklater follows.

Retrospective: RICHARD LINKLATER

Richard Linklater introduces
Boyhood (Richard Linklater, 2014)
Mon, Jul 21 | 7 pm
Free public reception with the director at 6 pm

Bad News Bears (Richard Linklater, 2005)
Sat, July 26 | 4 pm
Free

Before Sunrise (Richard Linklater, 1995)
Tue, July 29 | 7 pm

Before Sunset (Richard Linklater, 2004)
Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater (Gabe Klinger, 2013)
Tue, Aug 5 | 7 pm

Me and Orson Welles (Richard Linklater, 2008)
Bernie (Richard Linklater, 2011)
Thu, Aug 7 | 7 pm
2nd film | 9 pm

Before Midnight (Richard Linklater, 2013)
Tue, Aug 12 | 7 pm

School of Rock (Richard Linklater, 2003)
Thu, Aug 14 | 7 pm

A Scanner Darkly (Richard Linklater, 2006)
Waking Life (Richard Linklater, 2001)
Sat, Aug 16 | 7 pm
2nd film 8:50 pm

Tape (Richard Linklater, 2001)
Fast Food Nation (Richard Linklater, 2006)
Tue, Aug 19 | 7 pm
2nd film 8:20 pm

Fall Student Party
Dazed and Confused (Richard Linklater, 1993)
Mon, Sep 2 | 7 pm
Film screens outdoors at dusk on the Wexner Center Plaza. Film will screen in Mershon Auditorium in the event of rain
Free for students