Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM
2220 Arts + Archives, Los Angeles
"In memoriam of actor, writer, and filmmaker Tom Noonan, whose striking and unmistakable presence—at once gentle, sharply observant, and quietly disarming—left an indelible mark on American independent cinema and theatre, 7th House and 2220 Arts present WHAT HAPPENED WAS…, his 1994 directorial debut. A towering performer and creator of rare sensitivity and precision, Noonan brought a deeply human attentiveness to every role and project, masterfully moving between vulnerability, humor, and unease. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Screenwriting Award at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, his arresting two-hander is a darkly humorous portrait of dating dread. Featuring powerhouse performances by Noonan and Karen Sillas as two lonely hearts spending a claustrophobic Friday night together in an imposing apartment, the film exposes with startling clarity the fragile ways people struggle to connect. As the evening unravels, unsettling secrets and eccentricities are laid bare, and polite conversation gives way to something stranger, sadder, and more revealing. Perhaps more resonant than ever in our age of strange and strained romantic connection, WHAT HAPPENED WAS… is presented in a pristine 4K restoration courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories, newly created from the original 35mm negative."