Spring 2023
INTERNATIONAL LENS, a film series with a global perspective, provides a forum to promote conversation among Vanderbilt’s diverse students, faculty, staff, and the greater Nashville community. International Lens endeavors to transcend geographic, linguistic, ethnic, religious, and political boundaries by encouraging conversation and greater cross-cultural understanding through cinema.
The series is organized by the Department of Cinema & Media Arts in collaboration with College of Arts and Science, Dean of Students offices, and other departments, centers, and programs across the University.
There is no charge for admission.
Films are screened in Sarratt Cinema at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Spring 2023 Schedule of Films
A Night of Knowing Nothing
Thursday, February 9
Presented by Carmine Grimaldi, Assistant Professor of Cinema & Media Arts; and Samira Sheikh, Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies
France, India (2021) Dir: Payal Kapadia
Through fictional love letters found in a cupboard, a film student writes to her estranged lover while he is away. Gradually we are immersed in the drastic changes taking place at the school and the lives of young people across the country as they take the streets to protest the widespread religious and caste-based discrimination intensifying under Narendra Modi. Deftly merging reality with fiction, the film is both an essential document of contemporary India and a nostalgic look at youth fighting the injustice of their time. Hindi, Bengali, English, French with English subtitles. 99 min.
The Handmaiden
Thursday, February 16
Presented by We Jung Yi, Assistant Professor of Asian Studies
Korea (2016) Dir: Park Chan-wook
1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a young woman (Sookee) is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress (Hideko) who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering uncle. But, the maid has a secret: she is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the heiress to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions. Korean with English subtitles. 144 min.
Aftersun
Thursday, February 23
Presented by: Iggy Cortez, Assistant Professor of Cinema & Media Arts and English
United Kingdom (2022) Dir: Charlotte Wells
At a fading vacation resort, 11-year-old Sophie treasures rare time together with her loving and idealistic father, Calum. As a world of adolescence creeps into Sophie’s view, beyond her eye Calum struggles under the weight of life outside of fatherhood. Twenty years later, Sophie’s tender recollections of their last holiday together become a powerful and heartrending portrait of their relationship, as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t. English. 103 min.
Partner Screening at Belcourt Theatre
Thursday, March 2, 8:00pm @ The Belcourt Theatre
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Introduced by Jennifer Fay, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of Cinema & Media Arts and chair of the English department
China/Taiwan/Hong Kong (2000) Dir: Ang Lee
Two master warriors are faced with their greatest challenge when the treasured Green Destiny sword is stolen. A young aristocrat prepares for an arranged marriage, but soon reveals her superior fighting talents and her deeply romantic past. As each warrior battles for justice, they come face to face with their worst enemy — and the inescapable, enduring power of love. This new 4k restoration of this classic film returns to theaters nationwide for another fresh look. Mandarin with English subtitles. 120 min.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline
Thursday, March 23
Presented by Eric Gurevitch, National Endowment for the Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow, Asian Studies, Climate and Environmental Studies
USA (2022) Dir: Daniel Goldhaber
Based on Andreas Malm’s controversial manifesto tackling the climate crisis, this timely eco-thriller follows a group of young environmental activists who set out on a daring mission to sabotage an oil pipeline. Part high-stakes heist, part radical exploration of direct action as climate activism, the film is a smartly told and emboldening tale about a new generation desperate for justice in the face of the growing climate crisis. English. 103 min.
Filmmakers will be in attendance for a virtual post-screening discussion.
Manila in the Claws of Light
Thursday, March 30
Presented by Iggy Cortez, Assistant Professor of Cinema & Media Arts and English
Philippines (1975) Dir: Lino Brocka
Júlio Madiaga, A young fisherman from a provincial village, arrives in Manila on a quest to track down his girlfriend, who was lured there with the promise of work and hasn’t been heard from since. In the meantime, he takes a low-wage job at a construction site and witnesses life on the streets, where death strikes without warning, corruption and exploitation are commonplace, and protests hint at escalating civil unrest. Tagalog with English subtitles. 125 min.
And Your Love Too (…und deine Liebe auch)
Thursday, April 6
Presented by Celia Applegate, William R. Kenan, Jr. Chair and Professor of History; and David Blackbourn, Cornelius Vanderbilt Distinguished Chair and Professor of History
East Germany (1962) Dir: Frank Vogel
On August 13th, 1961 – the night that the Berlin Wall goes up – three people must make a decision that will change their lives forever… Upon learning of the building of the Wall, the director and scriptwriter changed their story to center it on this historic event. For months a small team filmed with mobile cameras on the streets of East Berlin, capturing both its ordinary life and the extraordinary atmosphere of the period with precision and humor. German with English subtitles. 92 min.
Where is Anne Frank
Thursday, April 13
Presented by Mazalit Haim, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Hebrew Language Instruction
Belgium, LU, FR, NL, IL (2021) Dir: Ari Folman
Kitty, Anne Frank’s imaginary friend to whom her famous diary was dedicated, comes to life in the modern day in the Amsterdam house where Anne had taken refuge with her family. Her memories reawakened by reading the diary – believing that if she’s alive, Anne must be alive as well – the teenaged Kitty sets out on a quest to find her. Kitty journeys across modern day Europe and back to Anne Frank’s time, armed with the precious book and in search of her beloved friend. English. 99 min.
Filmmakers will be in attendance for a virtual post-screening discussion.
Films are 7:30pm in Sarratt Cinema unless otherwise noted
There are no longer masking requirements inside of Vanderbilt campus buildings or at Sarratt Cinema. In order to keep our community safe, please do not attend any of our screenings if you are feeling unwell.