See this [holiday] film: It's a Wonderful Life @ the Brattle

The holidays inspire both romantics and cynics, and the Brattle Theatre is offering films for both points of view. If you decide to catch the screening of Rare Exports tonight - and subsequently need a good dose of authentic holiday cheer - then you can counter that with a viewing of Frank Capra's classic It's A Wonderful Life (1946), which screens through December 20, starting this afternoon. On second thought, it might not be that warm and fuzzy after all: it is a film about suicide, complete with a downright disturbing Christmas Eve nervous breakdown courtesy of James Stewart's beleaguered family man. It would take one with a heart of pure ice not to shed a tear or two at the beloved Christmas flick's undeniably heartwarming ending. The Brattle is at 40 Brattle St, Cambridge | Friday, December 16-Tuesday, December 20; Friday @ 4 + 7 pm | $9.75; $7.75 students; $6.75 seniors | 617.876.6837 or brattlefilm.org.