The Spring 2011 Foreign Film and Music Series will begin Sunday, January 30, offering a selection of internationally produced films and local musicians.
Sponsored and organized by the Office of International Education, the programs will be held Sunday evenings at McVitty Auditorium in Sprowls Hall from January 30 through April 10. Film showings are at 5:30 and 8:00 p.m., with live music immediately preceding the films. All films and musical performances are free and open to the community. Films are in their native language but have English subtitles.
January 30: Afghan Star
The first film of the series, to be shown January 30, is Afghan Star, the story of four hopeful Afghan pop stars competing on Afghan Pop Idol thirty years following Taliban rule. For many Afghan people, voting for contestants via mobile phone is their first experience with democracy. As the story plays out, the winner of the contest and the fate of the country hang in the balance.
Other films in the series are as follows:
February 13: A Town Called Panic
This Belgian film, presented in French, tells the story of three plastic toys. The trio travels to the center of the Earth, only to discover a parallel universe filled with creatures made of papier-mâché.
February 27: Tulpan
This film from Kazakhstan, presented in Kazakh, is about Asa, a young man looking to build a life in Kazakhstan after serving with the Russian navy.
March 13: Treeless Mountain
This South Korean film, presented in Korean, is about six-year-old Jin and her younger brother, Bin, who are abandoned by their mother and told she will return when their piggy bank is filled with coins.
March 27: The Maid
This Chilean film, presented in Spanish, is about Raquel, a live-in maid who becomes desperate to hold onto her position when her employers decide to bring in extra help.
April 10: Unmistaken Child
This Chinese/Tibetan film, presented in Tibetan, tells the story of a young boy who is believed to be the reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog. After passing many tests, the boy is chosen to meet the Dalai Lama.