About the International Film Series

Fall Semester - 2012

Viva Cuba

• Join us for a presentation of the Cuban drama Viva Cuba at 7 p.m. Thursday October 25, 2012 in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library.  Dr. Yamile Silva will lead a discussion following the film.
  
  Viva Cuba is described by Film Movement as a tale akin to Romeo and Juliet.  The friendship between two children is threatened by their parents' differences. Malú is from an upper-class family and her single mother does not want her to play with Jorgito, as she thinks his background coarse and commonplace. Jorgito's mother, a poor socialist proud of her family's social standing, places similar restrictions on her son. What neither woman recognizes is the immense strength of the bond between Malú and Jorgito.
  
  Directed by Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti, Viva Cuba is in Spanish with English subtitles.
  
  This film was chosen in conjunction with the Scranton Reads: One City, One Book project and is open to the University community and the public.

Desk Set

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  It’s 1957 and computers are just being introduced into the corporate world.  When a consultant arrives at the Federal Broadcasting Company and starts asking questions, everyone feels threatened – especially the Reference Department. Will the “electronic brain” make the staff redundant?

  Join us for Desk Set on Friday September 21, 2012 in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library, and see if man, woman or machine is superior!   Free show (including popcorn) at 7 p.m.

  This classic American comedy stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in their eighth film together and is presented by the International Film Series (formerly the Foreign Film Series).   Jean Lenville, Assistant Dean of the Weinberg Memorial Library, will lead a discussion following the film.

Spring Semester - 2012

King of Devil's Island

• Join us for a presentation of the Norwegian thriller King of Devil’s Island at 7 p.m. Friday May 4, 2012 in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library.  Dr. Kathryn Meier and Professor Mark Meier will lead a discussion following the film.
  
  Described by Film Movement as the true story of the infamous Bastøy Boys Home correctional facility in Norway, the movie begins with the arrival of seventeen-year-old Erling, a rumored murderer.  He clashes with the island facility's governor (Stellan Skarsgård), who believes manual labor, rigid discipline, and harsh punishment are the only methods that can turn the boys into honorable members of society. Erling slowly rouses the rest of the boys out of their resigned existence, and encourages them to fight to lift their spirits. When tragedy falls at the hand of the cruel dorm master, Erling leads his comrades in a courageous and vicious rebellion that will bring them head to head with the Norwegian Army. 
  
  Directed by Marius Holst King of Devil’s Island is in Norwegian with English subtitles.

Alamar

• The Mexican drama Alamar will be presented by the Foreign Film Series at 7 p.m. on Friday March 23, 2012 in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library.  Professor Kevin Norris will lead a discussion after the film.
  
  Film Movement describes this beautifully scenic film as the story of a father and son. Jorge has only a few weeks with his five-year-old son Natan before Natan leaves to live with his mother in Rome. Intent on teaching Natan about their Mayan heritage, Jorge takes him to the pristine Chinchorro reef, and eases him into the rhythms of a fisherman's life. As the bond between father and son grows stronger, Natan learns to live in harmony with life above and below the surface of the sea. 
  
  Directed by Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio, this award winning film is in Spanish and Italian with English subtitles

Four Minutes

• The award-winning German drama Four Minutes will be presented by the Foreign Film Series at 7 p.m. on Friday February 10, 2012 in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library.  Dr. Monika Moyrer will lead a discussion following the film.

  Four Minutes tells the story of two very different women:  Jenny, a convicted killer with enormous musical talent and Traude, an aging music teacher at the women’s prison who is grooming Jenny to perform in a prestigious piano competition.  With powerful performances from Hannah Herzsprung as Jenny and Monica Bleibtreu as Traude, Four Minutes is an unforgettable film.

  Directed by Chris Kraus, Four Minutes is in German with English subtitles.

Fall Semester - 2011

The Colors of the Mountain
• The Foreign Film Series will present the Columbian drama The Colors of the Mountain at 7 p.m. Friday December 2, 2011 in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library. Dr. Yamile Silva will lead a discussion following the film.
  
  The Colors of the Mountain is a film about a boy’s desire to play soccer in an area surrounded by war. The boy, Manuel lives with his parents, who are hard-working farmers, in a remote, mountainous region of the Columbian countryside, according to Film Movement. As military forces square of against rebels in a civil war, Manuel and his friend Julian try to play soccer as much as possible.
  
  Manuel received a soccer ball for his birthday, but a few days later the ball gets kicked into a minefield. Not wanting to lose a huge part of their lives, Manuel, Julian and their albino friend, Poca Luz, embark on a journey to find the precious soccer ball.
  
  This award winning film is directed by Carlos Cesar Arbelaez and is played in Spanish with English subtitles.      
  
  
Helena from the Wedding

• The Foreign Film Series goes domestic this month with the presentation of the American dramatic comedy Helena from the Wedding on Friday November 18, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. in Room 305 of the Weinberg Memorial Library.   Professor Sheli McHugh will lead a discussion following the film.

  Written and directed by Joseph Infantolino, Helena from the Wedding is described by Film Movement as the story of Alex (Lee Tergesen) and Alice (Melanie Lynskey) who are hosting a New Year's Eve party for their closest friends at a remote cabin in the mountains.  But when the other couples arrive in various states of discord, their hopes for a relaxing weekend are quickly thrown out the window. The tensions in the cabin are compounded when Alice's friends bring along a surprise guest - the very young and very beautiful Helena (Gillian Jacobs). As the New Year creeps closer and closer, Alex and Alice must keep the evening from spiraling out of control.