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Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years, 1954–1965

Monday, January 17
Note: Screenings at various locations throughout the day. Visit www.vanderbilt. edu/mlk for details.

Presented by: MLK Lecture Series

USA (1987) Dir. Henry Hampton. Spanning the period from the desegregation of schools ordered in Brown vs. Board of Education to the passage of the Civil Rights Act, this landmark documentary shows how and ordinary people brought an end to legalized segregation. Narrated by Julian Bond, former president of the NAACP. English. Not Rated. DVD. 360 mins. Funding provided by the Office of the Dean of Students.

I Am Cuba (Soy Cuba)

Wednesday, January 19

Presented by: Todd Hughes, Director of the Language Center Soviet Union/Cuba (1964) Dir. Mikhail Kalatozov. Co-produced by the Russian and Cuban film industries, this iconic and experimental film tells the peoples’ story of the Cuban Revolution. Forgotten and widely unavailable for decades until its restoration and rerelease were spearheaded by Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. Spanish with English subtitles. Not Rated. 141 mins. Funding provided in part by The Language Center.

Story of the Weeping Camel

RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 12

Presented by: Will Akers, Senior Lecturer, Department of Theatre and Film Studies Program

Germany (2003) Dirs. Byambasuren Davaa & Luigi Falorni. When a Mongolian nomadic family’s newest camel colt is rejected by its mother, a musician is needed for a ritual to change her mind. Mongolian with English subtitles. Rated PG. 87 mins. DVD.

The Limits of Control

Wednesday, January 26

Presented by: Jeff Menne, Lecturer, Department of English

USA, Japan (2009) Dir. Jim Jarmusch. Gorgeously shot in Spain, this enigmatic thriller follows Isaac de Bankolé on an inexplicable, but inevitable crash course with a crime syndicate. The Nashville first run of Jim Jarmusch’s latest creation. English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Japanese with English subtitles. Rated R. 116 mins. Funding provided by Nashville Premieres.

Presented By: The VIP Global Discovery Project &
Vanderbilt Undergraduate Chinese Association
Ip Man

Saturday, January 29

Note: Midnight in The Commons MPR

Presented by: The VIP Global Discovery Project

Hong Kong (2008) Dir. Wilson Yip. The story of the greatest martial arts grandmaster of 20th century China. The film recreates the Japanese invasion that led to a Chinese uprising. Outraged at the injustices perpetrated by occupying Japanese troops, Ip Man decides to revolt to save himself and his fellow workers. Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese with English subtitles. Rated R. 106 mins. DVD.

The 904

Tuesday, February 1

Presented by: Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center

USA (2010) Dirs. Frank B. Goodin II & Melissa Ross. An exposé of the escalating violence in Jacksonville, Florida (which has become one of the murder capitals of the South). Centered on Beverly McClain’s attempts to open a Center for Families of Slain Children in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city, this documentary shows us how ordinary people in Jacksonville are trying to turn the tide. English. Not Rated. 66 mins. DVD. Funding provided by The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center.

Presented as Part of Memory, Cinema, Archive: Focus on Afghanistan
Kandahar

Wednesday, February 2

Presented by: Samira Sheikh, Assistant Professor, History Department

Iran, France (2001) Dir. Mohsen Makhmalbaf. An Afghani refugee’s journey back to her native Kandahar reveals the grueling oppression that women face under Taliban rule and the struggle of Afghanis to survive against the physical and ideological landmines that surround them. Persian, English, Polish, Pashtu with English subtitles. Not Rated. 85 mins. Funding provided in part by the History Department. Presented by The Public Archive: http://www.publicarhive.com.

Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll

Wednesday, February 9
Presented by: Peter Guralnick, Writer in Residence, English Department; Writer and Co-Producer of Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll

USA (2000) Dir. Morgan Neville. The story of the founder of Sun Records, who discovered and recorded some of the greatest artists of American music in the 1950s, including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, among others. English. Not Rated. 90 mins. DVD.

Father of My Children (Le Père de Mes Enfants)

Thursday, February 10

Presented by: Mary Beth Raycraft, Senior Lecturer, Department of French & Italian

France, Germany (2009) Dir. Mia Hansen-Løve. A respected producer and family man who supports artful, independent films, grows increasingly wrapped up in his work. The chances he takes on films come back to haunt him, forcing him to confront the failure of his dreams. French with English subtitles. Not Rated. 110 mins. Funding provided by Nashville Premieres.

Freedom House: Street Saviors

Tuesday, February 15

Presented by: Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center

USA (2009) Dir. Gene Starzenksi. The overlooked story of the economically disadvantaged African-Americans in 1967 who were recruited from the streets of Pittsburgh to create the country’s first specially-trained paramedic emergency unit. Their groundbreaking work saved countless lives in the city’s most violent neighborhoods. English. Not Rated. 80 mins. DV Cam. Funding provided by The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center.

East/West Sex and Politics

Wednesday, February 16
Presented by: David Rubin, Senior Lecturer, Women’s & Gender Studies

Germany (2008) Dir. Jochen Hick. This documentary reveals the violent opposition that forced the cancellation of Russian gay pride parades in 2005 and 2006. An intense exposé of the intersection between the struggle for democracy and gay rights in contemporary Russia. German, Russian with English subtitles. Not Rated. 97 mins. DVD. Funding provided by the Office of LGBTQI Life.

The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)

Thursday, February 17

Presented by: Paz Pintané, Senior Lecturer, Department of Spanish & Portuguese and Andrés Zamora, Associate Professor, Department of Spanish & Portuguese

Argentina, Spain (2009) Dir. Juan José Campanella. A gritty examination of recent Argentinian past told through the story of a crime novelist trying to wrap up an old case that went cold. Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film in 2010. Spanish with English subtitles. Rated R. 129 mins. Funding provided in part by the Department of Spanish & Portuguese.

The Counterfeiters (Die Fälscher)

Monday, February 21

Presented by: Peggy Setje-Eilers, Assistant Professor, Germanic & Slavic Languages Department

Austria, Germany (2007) Dir. Stefan Ruzowitzky. The story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis to destroy the British economy by flooding it with forged bank notes. A Jewish forger ends up in the concentration camps where he has to bargain with the Nazis by taking over their counterfeit operations. Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film in 2007. German, Russian, English, Hebrew with English subtitles. Rated R. 98 mins. Funding provided in part by the Department of Germanic & Slavic Languages.

Tropical Moloch

Wednesday, February 23

Presented by: Peter James Hudson, Assistant Professor, History Department

Haiti, France (2009) Dir. Raoul Peck. Magnificently shot on location in the Citadelle Laferrière, built in the 1800s by Henri-Christophe, the first King of independent Haiti, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Retells Christophe’s fall from power in a modern Haitian context. French, English, Creole with English subtitles. Not Rated. 107 mins. DVD. Funding provided in part by the History Department.

9th Company (9 Rota)

Thursday, February 24

Presented by: Konstantin Kustanovich, Associate Professor of Slavic Languages & Literature, Germanic & Slavic Languages Department

Finland, Russia, Ukraine (2005) Dir. Fyodor Bondarchuk. Revisits the last years of the bloody Soviet War in Afghanistan following one company of young soldiers from their departure from home, to violent rites of passage during their training, to their first major battle with the mujahideen. A box-office smash in Russia. Russian with English subtitles. Rated R. 139 mins. DVD.

5th Annual Vanderbilt Student Film Festival

Sunday, February 27
This competitive festival, sponsored by the Film Studies Program and the Office of the Dean of Students, showcases the best student media works in all genres (experimental, nonfiction, fiction) by Vanderbilt students. For information on submission deadlines and the schedule of film screenings visit Film Studies at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/filmstudies/

Presented as Part of Memory, Cinema, Archive: Focus on Afghanistan
Osama

Wednesday, March 2

Presented by: Samira Sheikh, Assistant Professor, History Department

Afghanistan, Netherlands, Japan, Ireland, Iran (2003) Dir. Siddiq Barmak. A riveting portrait of an Afghani family without male support, causing the mother to send her daughter to seek work disguised as a boy. Swept up by the Taliban who conscript young men as soldiers, her true identity becomes a life threatening secret. The first Afghani film made after the fall of the Taliban. Pashtu, Dari, English with English subtitles. Rated PG-13. 83 mins. Funding provided in part by the History Department. Presented by The Public Archive: http://www.publicarhive.com.

Opera Jawa

Thursday, March 3

Presented by: Rahul Agarwal, MBA Candidate, Owen Graduate School of Management

Indonesia, Austria (2006) Dir. Gargin Nagruho. A traditional Indonesian tragedy inspired by the “The Abduction of Sita” from the Ramayana is reworked into a visually stunning musical. Featuring classical Javanese music and dance, it is a feast for the eyes. Indonesian with English subtitles. Not Rated. 125 mins. Funding provided by Nashville Premieres.

Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon

Wednesday, March 16

Presented by: Gregory Barz, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology, Blair School of Music; Faculty Head of House, North House, The Commons

France (1982) Dirs. Jean-Jacques Flori & Stéphane Tchalgadjieff. A documentary highlighting Nigerian musician Fela Kuti who launched the sound known as Afrobeat. These polyrythmic jams also served to denounce the corruption of military dictatorship in post-colonial Nigeria and the oppression of Black peoples worldwide. English, French with English subtitles. Not Rated. 54 mins. DVD. Funding provided in part by North House, The Commons.

Solentiname: Ernesto Cardenal

Wednesday, March 23
Presented by: Fernando Segovia, Professor, Divinity School

Mexico (2006) Dir. Modesto López. The story of Ernesto Cardenal, poet, priest, and revolutionary, who fought to bring down the US-backed Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua. Interviews with Cardenal and his poetry readings bring alive the people and place. Spanish with English subtitles. Not Rated. 87 mins. DVD. Funding provided by The Center for Latin American Studies as part of the year-long program on Liberation Theology.

Caché (Hidden)

Thursday, March 24

Presented by: Rachel Nisselson, Senior Lecturer, Department of French and Italian

France, Austria, Germany, Italy, USA (2005) Dir. Michael Haneke.The quiet life of a Paris family is disrupted when they receive a series of surveillance tapes of their own residence from an anonymous source. A perplexing and disturbing film of great effect with masterful performances by Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche. French with English subtitles. Rated R. 117 mins. Funding provided by the Department of French & Italian and FLiCX: Faculty Led interactive Cinematic eXplorations.

Let the Right One In (Låt Den Rätte Komma In)

Saturday, March 26

Note: Midnight in The Commons MPR Presented by: The VIP Global Discovery Project

Sweden (2008) Dir. Tomas Alfredson. A subtle, touching, and highly original take on vampire mythology. Oscar is relentlessly tormented by bullies at school until he befriends a mysterious girl next door and things begin to change. Swedish with English subtitles. Rated R. 115 mins. DVD.

Red Desert (Il Deserto Rosso)

Wednesday, March 30

Presented by: Andrea Mirabile, Assistant Professor of Italian, Department of French and Italian

Italy, France (1964) Dir. Michelangelo Antonioni. A provocative look at the spiritual desolation of the technological age. Antonioni’s first color film transforms the screen into a rich canvas with a sound collage of electronic music and industrial noise that complements the visual landscape of alienation. Italian with English subtitles. Not Rated. 120 mins. DVD. Funding provided by the Department of French & Italian.

Mountains of Hope

Thursday, March 31
Presented by: GlobeMed Lesotho

USA (2008) Dir. Patrick Christell. A portrayal of the difficulties faced by those working Lesotho’s under-resourced health care system. A group of Boston University medical students documents the migration of medical professionals from Lesotho to neighboring South Africa, where they earn more and have better career prospects. For the courageous few that choose to stay, treating patients becomes a constant struggle. Sasotho, English with English subtitles. Not Rated. 30 mins. DVD.

The Red Light Bandit (O Bandido da Luz Vermelha)

Monday, April 4

Presented by: Brian Boling, Library Assistant, Jean and Alexander Heard Library

Brazil (1968) Dir. Rogério Sganzerla. The shocking story of the Red Light Bandit who terrorized mid-1960s Brazil by breaking into houses, murdering and raping his victims. His calling card was the red-tinged flashlight he shined in the houses as he broke in. Made during Brazil’s military dictatorship. Portuguese with English subtitles. Not Rated. 92 mins. Due to a change this film will be shown in DVD.

Presented as Part of Memory, Cinema, Archive: Focus on Afghanistan
Opium War

Tuesday, April 5
Presented by: Samira Sheikh, Assistant Professor, History Department

South Korea, Afghanistan, Japan (2008) Dir. Siddiq Barmak. A dark comedy about two stranded American soldiers’ journey through the Afghani countryside. When their helicopter crashes, the soldiers are taken in by an unusual opium-growing family. Gaining special permission from the Afghani government to grow opium poppies to create a realistic environment, the film went on to become Afghanistan’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2009 Academy Awards. Dari, English with English subtitles. Not Rated. 90 mins. Funding provided in part by the Department of History. Presented by The Public Archive: http://www.publicarhive.com.

Story of the Weeping Camel

Tuesday, April 12

Presented by: Will Akers, Senior Lecturer, Department of Theatre and Film Studies Program

Germany (2003) Dirs. Byambasuren Davaa & Luigi Falorni. When a Mongolian nomadic family’s newest camel colt is rejected by its mother, a musician is needed for a ritual to change her mind. Mongolian with English subtitles. Rated PG. 87 mins. DVD.

 

Knocks at the Door (Golpes a Mi Puerta)

Wednesday, April 13
Presented by: Fernando Segovia, Professor, Divinity School

Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba (1994) Dir. Alejandro Saderman. Two nuns in an unnamed Latin American country decide to risk their lives by protecting a political dissident on the run. A suspenseful film which tells the story of Latin American countries that experienced military dictatorships, ruthless imprisonment, and “disappearance” of left-wing political activists during the 1960s and 1970s. Spanish with English subtitles. Not Rated. 106 mins. Funding provided by The Center for Latin American Studies as part of the year-long program on Liberation Theology.

The String (Le Fil)

Thursday, April 14

Presented by: Robert Watson, PhD Candidate, Department of French and Italian

France, Tunisia, Belgium (2009) Dir. Mehdi Ben Attia. An edgy drama exploring the taboo of homosexuality in contemporary Tunisia through the story of a successful young architect who returns home after years of living in France. His overbearing mother schemes to marry him off, but he falls for the family’s house servant—forcing him to confront his mother and society’s class prejudice and homophobia. French, Arabic with English subtitles. Not Rated. 93 mins. DVD. Funding provided in part by the Department of French & Italian.

The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions Barbares)

Wednesday, April 20

Presented by: Susan Kevra, Senior Lecturer, Department of French and Italian

Canada, France (2003) Dir. Denys Arcand. Seventeen years after the Decline of the American Empire, a group of left-wing Québec intellectual friends reunite around their friend suffering from terminal cancer. A melancholic retrospective on the utopian ideals of Québecois society in the 1960s and 70s. Won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2004. French with English subtitles. Rated R. 99 mins. Funding provided in part by the Department of French & Italian.