The Garden Theatre will take part in “Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair,” a week-long festival founded and organized by the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles. The Garden is offering its own original lineup of nine films defined by unpleasant truths and raw empathy throughout the first week in June.

The American Cinematheque launched “Bleak Week” in 2022 at their two cinemas in Los Angeles, spotlighting films that “explore the darkest sides of humanity, as well as some of the bleakest points in human history,” according to their website. The program has become international since then, with the Garden being the only theater in New Jersey to be invited to participate in the festival’s fourth iteration this year alongside iconic venues like the Prince Charles Cinema in London and Coolidge Corner in Boston.

With these films, the Garden encourages audiences to not simply wallow in sadness — though the feeling will be prevalent. “Bleak Week” is an opportunity to seek hope and healing through cinematic catharsis and a testament to the communal spirit of the movie theater experience.

Films are The Piano Teacher on June 1 at 7 p.m.; Targets on June 2 at 7p.m.; The Ascent on June 3 at 7 p.m.; Blow-Up on June 4 at 7 p.m.; Grave of the Fireflies on June 5 at 7 p.m.; Lady Snowblood on June 5 at 9:30 p.m.; Sorcerer on June 6 at 7 p.m.; Miracle Mile June 6 at 10 p.m.; and The Turin Horse on June 7 at 7 p.m.

Visit princetongardentheatre.org/bleakweek for tickets.