THREE TO SEE FRIDAY

RITCHIE VELTHUIS SHOW

Harcourt House opens its season with a couple shows, including Ritchie Velthuis: SCTV Monument — Journey of an Artist, which traces the sculptor's years-long process and journey creating the Bob and Doug Mackenzie statue at the corner of 103 Street and 103 Avenue, taking us behind the scenes and showing off sculptures of other characters in the pantheon he's sculpted.

On the site you'll also find images of Harcourt's Art- O -Members'naked Art Sale Fundraiser, which runs through March. 5.

Back to Velthuis, his love for the characters is so obvious, and he notes, “Bob and Doug spoke to Canadian culture so profoundly, so eloquently in such a relatable way. And there's folklore about them working here, stories that probably aren't even half true. But they left a mark.” One hundred per cent. Details: through Feb. 20 online at harcourthouse.ab.ca no charge.

VIRTUAL ELGAR

Led by Robert Uchida, Elgar's Serenade for Strings (1892) is the first of two highlighted performances on the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's new virtual stage. This new digital subscription series will feature two performances a month. The other one for January is Jocelyn Morlock's 10-minute Solace.

Details: running through June 30 at winspearcentre.com/virtual, $90 subscription.

CHUNGKING EXPRESS (1994)

World of Wong Kar Wai continues with the director's masterpiece Chung King Express, one of the defining moments of '90s cinema. Two heartsick Hong Kong cops (Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony

Leung), both jilted by ex-lovers, cross paths at the Midnight Express takeout restaurant stand, where the ethereal pixie waitress Faye (Faye Wong) works.

Anything goes in Wong's gloriously shot and utterly unexpected charmer, which cemented the sex appeal of its gorgeous stars and forever turned canned pineapple and the Mamas and the Papas' California Dreamin' into tokens of romantic longing. New 4k restoration, 102 mins.

Details: Streaming through Feb. 19, $9 at metrocinema.org.