Eephus

Few films capture the ineffable rhythms and charms of our national pastime as humorously and poignantly as Carson Lund’s Eephus (Carson Lund, 2024) . Clad in uniforms that once fit and fueled by a steady infusion of beer, two rival small-town ball clubs play their final game on a baseball diamond about to be replaced by a soccer field. Old grudges flare, muscles are pulled, and beers are shared as an era of middle-aged escapism fades into the future. Centered more on the inaction in the dugout, beyond the fence, and out in the field, Eephus transcends the typical sports film by capturing the special human relationships fostered by ritual, time, and chewing tobacco. With special cameos by Bill “Spaceman” Lee and the voice of legendary documentarian Frederick Wiseman. Sportswriter Craig Calcaterra, author of Rethinking Fandom (2022) and editor of the newsletter Cup of Coffee, moderates the post-screening Q&A with Lund. (98 mins., DCP)