AFI FESTIVAL : Ray Adapts ‘An Enemy of the People’

Following are The Times’ recommendations for today’s schedule of the American Film Institute International Film Festival, with commentary by the film-reviewing staff. All screenings, except where noted, are at Laemmle’s Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica. Information: (213) 466-1767.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

“AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE”(India, 1989; director Satyajit Ray; 1:30 and 6:45 p.m.). In Ray’s adaptation of Ibsen’s play, the locale has been shifted to West Bengal and the subject to pollution: An idealistic doctor (Soumitra Chatterji) battles the forces that try to crucify him when he discovers impurities in a temple’s holy water. Made after Ray’s recovery from illness, its scope is severely limited--but it’s a film that both celebrates and radiates integrity. (Michael Wilmington)

“MEANTIME”(Great Britain, 1983; Mike Leigh; 1:45 and 7 p.m.). Generally considered the best of Leigh’s TV films (though its humor is less in evidence) and called one of the great British films of the ‘80s by the Melbourne Film Festival, “Meantime” typically defies plot summation. It deals with two related families, one well-off and the other on the dole, and what happens when the former offers a job to a mentally feeble member of the latter. Starring Tim Roth, in his debut as the luckless Colin, with exceptional supporting work by, among others, Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina and Phil Daniels. (Kenneth Turan)

“THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND”(France; Patrice Leconte; 4:15 and 9:30 p.m.). A droll, quirky and thoroughly distinctive fable on perfect love from Leconte, whose previous film, “Monsieur Hire,” also dealt, although somewhat differently, with romantic obsession. Jean Rochefort, in one of his most unusual and oddly enchanting roles, is a middle-aged man in a small town transfixed by a beautiful hairdresser (Anna Galiena) who triggers memories of another hairstylist who had a crucial impact upon his youth. (Kevin Thomas)

RECOMMENDED:

“THE GREAT KIDNAPPING”(Japan; Kihachi Okamoto; 1 and 6:15 p.m.). Veteran director Kihachi Okamoto (“Sword of Doom”) becomes so enamored of his film’s cleverness that he overplays his hand. The kidnaping of an elderly, very rich woman by three petty crooks has an ingenious payoff, but Okamoto pokes fun far too heavily at the elaborate police response, the frantic scurrying to assemble a 10-billon-yen ransom and the resulting media blitz. Tanie Kitabayashi, now past 80 herself, gets the role of a lifetime as the film’s enchantingly resourceful and subtle heroine; Ken Ogata is the shrewd police inspector. (Thomas)

“WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER”(United States; Matthew Irmas; 1:15 and 6:30 p.m.). One of the highlights of the Palm Springs Film Festival earlier this year, this independent feature written by Ann Wykoff and directed by Irmas gives Rae Dawn Chong her best shot ever, as the most driven and ruthless of three young women who share a home in the Hollywood Hills, all caught up in the career whirl of contemporary Los Angeles. (Thomas)

“THE REFRIGERATOR”(United States; Nicholas Jacobs; 3:30 and 8:45 p.m.). A supernatural horror comedy of much wit and imagination, marking the feature directorial debut of writer Nicholas Jacobs. A naive young couple from Ohio take an incredibly cheap apartment in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, which comes with a fridge from hell. This malevolent icebox becomes a metaphor for the fears and uncertainties of young people beginning careers and marriages. Terrific key performances, especially from Julia McNeal. (Thomas)

Others: “Unbecoming Age” (United States; Deborah and Alfredo Ringel; 3:45 and 9 p.m.). A 40-year-old woman suddenly discovers she has a 20-year-old mind, and acts accordingly. If these filmmakers had half a mind . . . (M.W.); “Our Hollywood Education” (Switzerland; Michael Beltrami; 4 and 9:15 p.m.). The difficulties of making it in Hollywood, as elucidated by such “experts” as Krzysztof Zanussi and Krzysztof Kieslowski--along with a number of established or frustrated local actors and directors. Hey, no one said life was fair . . . even in Poland. (M.W.)