Street of Shame

May 1, BAM, 30 Lafayette Ave. (at Ashland Pl.), Brooklyn; times vary, $11

You have to give it to BAM—they know how to program a festival. This one, Late Films, is as simple as it is genius: choose the late films of well-known directors. It runs from April 30 to May 21 and starts off with a bang. Since I love hookers an Japanese cinema, watching Kenji Mizoguchi's Street of Shame is a good way to spend a Friday night. Mizoguchi's scathing indictment of prostitution and nuanced portrayal of hookres (hint: not all happy) is his late, great masterpiece.

Bottom Line: This film in particular, but all of these films, represents not the senile ramblings of old directors but the work of a matured, steady and always-seeking hand.