NOW PLAYING AT THE FILM FORUM. Don't let the title of Masaki Kobayashi's Samurai Rebellion (1967) fool you into thinking it's an action movie. It's actually a thoughtful, deliberately paced, crisply photographed period drama about maintaining humane values within an inhumane political system. The film, scheduled to end its run tonight, offers a refreshing spin on the samurai genre, with feminist themes and directorial quirks evocative of the French New Wave. Plus Toru Takemitsu works his soundtrack magic.

Miles Davis works his own soundtrack magic in Louis Malle's 1957 debut feature, Elevator to the Gallows, which just started a week-long run. Historic as a harbinger of the French New Wave, Elevator is not as polished as Samurai Rebellion but still worthwhile. This low-key suspenser also downplays action as it unfolds, giving viewers ample opportunity to imagine for themselves how the story might play out.

Photo: David Marc Fischer