Fans of Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series will be delighted to see heartthrob Robert Pattinson, who played the brooding vampire Edward Cullen, in a completely different role in "Little Ashes" playing at the Sunrise this week, July 16, 17, 19 and 20.

"Little Ashes" is the story of a friendship between three extraordinary college men. It is 1922, and the repressed city of Madrid is awakening to the influences of jazz, Freud, the avant-garde and political activism.

The shy, yet egotistical, Salvador Dali, played by Pattinson, is determined to be a great artist and arrives at Madrid's School of Fine Arts, with a flamboyant foppish wardrobe (think puffy shirt), a Prince Valiant haircut, and a book on Freud (he soon sports the famous curlicue mustache we all know and love). There he meets poet/playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, played by hunky Spanish TV star Javier Beltran, in his film debut. Lorca immediately sees the talent and wit in Dali's Surrealist painting. The third of the cabal is Luis Bunuel, Spain's most noted filmmaker and director played by Matthew McNulty, English TV and film actor.

The three most famous Spaniards after Picasso become fast friends spending many hours talking politics, philosophies and drinking adult beverages. The friendship gets complicated when Dali becomes drawn to the charismatic Lorca. Magdalena (Marina Gatell), an aspiring writer, is clearly attracted to Lorca, who seems oblivious to her beauty and feminine charms.

In the meantime, Bunuel goes off to Paris in search of success. Lorca takes Dali to his home to meet his family and after a bicycle ride in the beautiful Spanish countryside, they indulge in a sensual, moonlit swim culminating in a long-anticipated kiss. Upon their return, Bunuel immediately lures Dali to Paris. When Dali returns to Spain, he is involved with the mysterious Gala (Arly Jover) who eventually becomes his wife.

"Little Ashes" is based on Phillippa Goslett's book, and is directed by Paul Morrison who was nominated for an Oscar for "Solomon and Gaenor."

Richard Knight, of "Knight at the Movies" says: "Pattinson catches Dali's strange mix of insecurity and giant egotism with finesse while Beltran as Lorca has the fire and passion of a young Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem, or Andy Garcia With its sumptuous cinematograph (in HD, no less), gorgeous locations, moody story line, and nicely shaded performances, moviegoers will find much to satisfy their tastes."

The movie runs 1 hour and 52 minutes and is rated R for sexual content and strong language. All shows will be evenings at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. There are no Saturday shows because of the Blues Crawl.

Tickets for the movies are $7 for adults. The movies are commercial-free. Beer, wine, bottled water, sodas, candy, nuts and popcorn with real butter are available.

The Sunrise Theater is located on 250 NW Broad Street in Southern Pines.

For more information, call (910) 692-3611 or visit www.sunrisetheater.com.