Screen Scene for week of Aug. 19: Independent films lead new releases

Best bets this week

A wave of several promising indies hits Wichita:

▪  “Gleason” – This moving documentary chronicles former NFL football player Steve Gleason, who after being diagnosed with ALS, begins making a video diary for his unborn child.

▪  “Hell or High Water” – Two brothers resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family’s farm in West Texas.

▪  “Indignation” – In 1951, a working-class Jewish student from New Jersey attends a small Ohio college, where he struggles with sexual repression and cultural disaffection amid the ongoing Korean War.

▪  “Kubo and the Two Strings” – This animated Japanese fantasy follows a young boy named Kubo who must locate a magical suit of armor worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit.

Also opening Friday

▪  “Ben-Hur” – Falsely accused of treason, a prince forced into slavery fights his way back to his homeland seeking revenge.

▪  “War Dogs” – Two 20-something Miami friends (Jonah Hill, Miles Teller) exploit a loophole and land a $300 million defense contract to arm the Afghan military.

This story was originally published August 18, 2016 at 10:08 AM with the headline "Screen Scene for week of Aug. 19: Independent films lead new releases."