WEEKEND AT AFI FESTIVAL

Following are The Times’ recommendations for today’s and Sunday’s schedule of the American Film Institute Los Angeles International Film Festival, with commentary by the film reviewing staff. Information: (213) 480-3232 or (213) 520-2000.

SATURDAY Highly recommended:

“THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PARKING LOTS”(U.S., 1990; Director: Everett Lewis; AFI Mark Goodson, 9 p.m.). The horror stories of privileged throw-away kids, considered disposable by new stepparents, gave writer/director Lewis the spine of his story. From these, he’s created a breathtaking breakthrough film, made with the urgency one finds in works of the French New Wave. This one has poetry, irony, compassion, eroticism, beauty, a Bresson-like purity, excellent acting and slyly great music. (Sheila Benson)