In collaboration with the Comparative Literature department, the World Cinema Series is bringing to campus this spring a range of significant films that in most cases would not be available to local audiences. The film titles selected are international in scope, concentrating on foreign and independent films, as well as award-winning films from international movie festivals and/or historical archives. Many films will be screened in conjunction with academic courses, will be introduced by faculty members and/or graduate students and followed by discussions or receptions. All foreign films are shown in their original language with English subtitles.
1. BLACK VENUS by Abdellatif Kechiche (France, 2010)
Synopsis: The film is based on the life of Sarah Baartman, a Khoikhoi woman who in the early 19th century was exhibited in freak shows in Europe under the name of “Hottentot Venus”. The film was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 67th Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Equal Opportunity Award.
2. TIME/ SHI GAN by Kim Ki-Duk (South Korea, 2006)
Synopsis: Seh-hee and Ji-woo are a young couple living for two years together. Though he rarely acts on his impulses, Ji-woo has something of a roving eye and Seh-hee is intensely jealous and fearful that her boyfriend will soon lose interest and leave her. Believing that Ji-woo is bored with seeing her same face, boring her all the time, Seh-hee takes drastic action, leaving him without warning and having drastic cosmetic surgery, taking on a new face, which she hopes to use to snare him again, under an assumed identity, once she has healed. The film premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and awarded in the Chicago International Film Festival.
3. ROMA by Alfonso Cuaron (Mexico, 2018)
Synopsis: Cleo is one of two domestic workers who help Antonio and Sofía take care of their four children in 1970s Mexico City. Complications soon arise when Antonio suddenly runs away with his mistress and Cleo finds out that she is pregnant. When Sofía decides to take the kids on vacation, she invites Cleo for a much-needed getaway to clear her mind and bond with the family. The movie received a number of accolades with ten nominations at the 91st Academy Awards, among them are the Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. It became the first Mexican entry to win Best Foreign Language Film, and also won for Best Cinematography and Best Director, becoming the first foreign language film to win in the last category, as well as marking the first time a director won Best Cinematography for his or her own film.
4. SHEHERAZADE, TELL ME A STORY by Yousry Narallah (Egypt. 2009)
Synopsis: Hebba, a TV presenter hosts a high-rated Television show about urgent socio-political issues in the country. The government is scandalized by the show, which insists thst terrorism is primarily caused by unemployment, poverty and corruption. Hebba’s handsome new husband, Karim is a deputy editor of a daily newspaper. As a condition to become an editor-in-chief, Karim is informed that his wife has to tame down her “depraved” show that “trashes Egypt’s reputation.” When Hebba accepts to switch to stories focusing on women’s oppression, things get even more controversial. The film participated in the official competition of Venice Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival and was awarded in the Festival Des Trois Continents
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Binghamton University Comparative Literature 