It wouldn't be late December without a run of "Ronia, the Robber's Daughter" (★★★★, unrated with brief, innocent nudity and salty language, in subtitled Swedish), Astrid Lindgren's beloved children's adventure. It has become a local tradition for hundreds of families over its 23-year run at the Film Society of Minneapolis and St. Paul (formerly Minnesota Film Arts). The story is sort of a half-pint "Romeo and Juliet," with a spunky 10-year-old girl and boy from rival clans discovering that they'd rather be friends. The 1985 Swedish blockbuster, with its lovely sense of medieval make-believe, jolly brigands and live-action troll dolls, has become local cinephiles' answer to "A Christmas Story." It's being presented in a near-mint new print, reportedly the only one in the world. If your young ones can put up with subtitles and a 126-minute running time, you shouldn't deny them the experience, even if you have to strap on cross-country skis to get there. Come to think of it, that's the ideal way to see this one. (4:30 p.m. Sun.-Tue. and Dec. 31-Jan 2. St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 SE. Main St., Mpls. $8.50 adults, $6 children, students and seniors. Call 612-331-4723 or visit www.stanthonymaintheatre.com.)
COLIN COVERT
