Show
Dates and Film Titles
September 23 Black
Book
(Netherlands
2007) 146 minutes
A furious mix of sex,
violence, and moral relativism, Paul Verhoeven's ambitious and
controversial World War II saga follows a Jewish singer as she
escapes persecution by the Nazis and forms a complex alliance
with the Dutch resistance. “A crackling good melodrama --
inspired, remarkably, by actual events -- with few clearly defined
heroes and villains.” Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
September 30 Saraband
(Sweden
2005) 120 minutes
This memorial screening
in honor of cinematic master Ingmar Bergman (1918 - 2007) showcases
his final film. Marianne (Liv Ullmann) makes an unexpected visit
to see her ex-husband Johann and finds herself drawn into a tug-of-war
between Johann's son and granddaughter. “ An intensely dramatic
examination of life's conundrums that is exhilarating in its fearlessness
and its command.” Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times ** Shown
on DVD **
October 7 Fallen
Angels
(Hong Kong 1996) 95
minutes
Classics Pick
Acclaimed director
Wong Kar-Wai's neo-noir fantasy about a hitman who is disturbed
to realize that he is falling for his partner. Throw into the
mix a mysterious drifter who is searching for her ex-boyfriend
and a humorous mute, and the results are an ingenious blend of
art and entertainment set amidst Hong Kong 's bleak urban landscape.
One of the decade's most influential films. “An exhilarating
rush of a movie, with all manner of go-for-broke visual bravura
that expresses perfectly the free spirits of [Wong's] bold young
characters.” Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
October 14 After
the Wedding
(Denmark 2007) 120
minutes
Nominated for a Best
Foreign Film Oscar, this poignant melodrama tells the intimate
story of a wealthy businessman whose philanthropic offer to an
aide worker at an Indian orphanage sets in motion a series of
surprising revelations. “A thrilling -- and harrowing, and
beautiful -- celebration of the unpredictability of life.”
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
October 21 Offside
(Iran 2006) 99 minutes
A comedic tale of a
disparate group of Iranian girls, prevented by law from attending
live soccer matches, who attempt to sneak into the stadium to
watch their team's World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain
. “A beguiling, deceptively simple slice-of-life drama,
Offside reaffirms Jafar Panahi's preeminence as one
of the most humanistic and socially progressive filmmakers in
contemporary Iranian cinema.” Timothy Knight, Reel.com
October 28 Paprika
(Japan
2007) 90 minutes
A dazzling mind-trip,
this adult animated feature follows Dr. Atsuko Chiba, genius scientist
by day, dream warrior by night, as she grapples with the consequences
of a device which enables researchers to enter the dreams of a
subject and explore matters of the unconscious mind. “Whatever
it is you're looking for -- comedy, horror, parades of singing
frogs and dancing kitchen appliances -- you'll find it in Satoshi
Kon's jaw-dropping feat of imagination.” Elizabeth Weitzman,
New York Daily News
November 4 The
Return
(Russia
2004) 96 minutes
In the remote Russian
wilderness, two brothers face a range of conflicting emotions
when their father -- a man they only know through a single photograph
-- resurfaces. “With its elegiac mood and pulse-quickening
suspense, the pared-down narrative is unforgettable.” Sheri
Linden, Hollywood Reporter
November 11 Estamos
Aquí / We Are Here
(U.S.
2006) 89 minutes
Co-sponsorship
withThe Center for International Studies, The Office of Latino
and Latin American Heritage, and UD Student Centers
The story of one community
in a changing nation, this local documentary film explores the
evolving social, political and economic landscape of Georgetown
, Delaware . As the United States experiences the largest immigration
wave in its history, this rural farming community becomes home
to thousands of predominantly Guatemalan immigrants fleeing from
the aftermath of a brutal civil war and escalating poverty in
their homeland in search of opportunity and employment. Special
guest speaker Prof. April Veness.
November 18 Avenue
Montaigne
(France
2007) 106 minutes
A young woman from
the provinces comes to Paris to experience life in its infinite
variety, talking her way into a job waiting tables at a chic bistro
on fabled Avenue Montaigne. “An absolute must for Francophiles
and a great choice for anyone who loves a vibrant ensemble dramedy,
[this film] is a bustling delight, a slice of Parisian artistic
life that will have you dialing Air France the morning after you
see it.” Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
No Screening November 25
December 2 Once
(Ireland
2007) 85 minutes
Co-Sponsorship
with SCPAB
A charming, captivating
modern musical about a guy (a street musician) and a girl (an
immigrant from the Czech Republic) as they bond over their shared
love of music. “Sweet but never cloying, simple without
being simplistic, delicate yet not at all precious, this is a
film guaranteed to set your toes to tapping even as it plays a
number on your heartstrings.” Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
The
International Film Series is run by an interdisciplinary committee
of UD Faculty, Staff, and Students. The 2007/08 Committee roster
is as follows:
Mark
Beitman, Student, College of Arts and Sciences
Sean
Cox, Assistant Director, Center for International Studies
Michael
Green, Student, College of Arts and Sciences
Carla
Guerron-Montero, Anthropology Department
Kevin
Kerrane, English Department
Jooyoung
Lee, College of Arts and Sciences
Meghann
Matwichuk, Library, Instructional Media Collection Department
(Chair)
Claire
McCabe, English Department
Edgard
Sankara, Foreign Language and Literatures Department
Series
Assistant: Therese Rizzo, College of Arts and Sciences
Fall
2007 International Film Series
