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Daniel Robinson is a young artist based in the small town of Fossil, Oregon. His paintings, often depicting idealized industrial and rural landscapes, recall the social realist images of the 1930s and '40s. A new exhibition of Robinson's paintings, titled In Oregon, opens at Boston's Mercury Gallery on April 1. NPR's Howard Berkes speaks with Robinson.

The movie Greendale -- a celebration of small-town life and a cautionary tale about greed and commercialism -- comes from musician Neil Young. It was shot in five weeks with a $500 camera, and characters are played by Young's friends and family. David D'Arcy reports.

The new documentary Imelda examines the life of Imelda Marcos, the ousted first lady of the Philippines. Filmmaker Ramona Diaz says Imelda Marcos' life and 20-year rule with her husband, the late Ferdinand Marcos, reflect their country's dramatic political history. Diaz talks with NPR's Bob Edwards.

Alan Cheuse reviews Loving Che by Ana Menendez, a novel about paternity, citizenship, and identity told from the perspective of a young Cuban-American woman seeking to learn the truth behind her family history.

Mel Gibson's much-anticipated biblical drama The Passion of the Christ arrives in theaters. The film's release, on Ash Wednesday, follows months of controversy over its depiction of the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ. NPR's Bob Mondello has a review.

Legendary actor Omar Sharif is returning to prominence after years of relative obscurity. The 72-year-old Egyptian actor has two new movies out, Monsieur Ibrahim and Hidalgo. He says he almost retired after years of being offered caricatured roles of Arabs. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and Sharif.

The Passion of the Christ opens Wednesday in 2,800 theaters. Mel Gibson's interpretation of the final 12 hours of Jesus' life has already generated much talk, anticipation and controversy. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

NPR's Scott Simon talks to New York Times entertainment critic Elvis Mitchell about this year's nominees for the American Spirit Awards, which showcase independent films. This year's nominees include House of Sand and Fog, In America, The Fog of War and Pieces of April. Mitchell says the American Spirit Awards have a long track record of celebrating exceptional films overlooked by the major studios.

The notorious Rio de Janeiro slum known as "The City of God," is a place most self-respecting Brazilians would prefer to avoid. But it is now the subject of a film that focuses on drug-dealing. It has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including best director. For the film, co-director Katia Lund recruited a number of young men from the slum and trained them as actors. NPR's Martin Kaste reports.

Nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary, Balseros chronicles the tale of Cubans who tried to escape to the United States on rafts in 1994. Filmed over the course of a decade, the movie uses Cuban TV footage to help tell the stories of seven balseros who made it to the United States -- and of their families in Cuba. David D'Arcy reports.