World Film and Lecture Series Begins

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 12, and continuing through November, the International Education Committee of Fairmont State is hosting a series of international films and lectures titled "Families and Communities in World Film."

All films will be shown at 7 p.m. Members of the campus community who have volunteered to host a film will give a brief overview of the film they've chosen and will lead a discussion afterwards. All films not in English have English subtitles, so no knowledge of a foreign language is required to enjoy the films.

Admission to the series is free and open to the public. For more information, call Dr. Angela Schwer at (304) 367-4723.

The schedule of films is as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 12
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"Millions" (United Kingdom 2005)
Introduced by Professor Nancy Parks
It's holiday season and 7-year-old Damian believes he's received a divine gift from
above when a suitcase filled with cash literally falls out of the sky. Damian is anxious to share the wealth with those less fortunate while his fun-loving brother Anthony would rather spend it like there's no tomorrow. But when the loot turns out to be stolen, both the boys' plans are put to the test with heartwarming and hilarious results.

Monday, Sept. 18
Gaston Caperton Center, Room 136, Clarksburg
"Dead Ringers" (Canada/USA 2005)
Introduced by Professor James Savchuk
The Mantle brothers are both doctors -- both gynecologists -- and identical twins. Mentally however, one of them is more confident than the other and always manages to seduce the women he meets. When he's tired of his current partner, she is passed on to the other brother -- without her knowing. Everything runs smoothly until an actress visits their clinic, and the shy brother is the first to fall in love. Will they be able to "share" her?

Monday, Sept. 25
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"The Joy Luck Club" (USA 1993)
Introduced by Dr. Tad Kato
Through a series of flashbacks, four young Chinese women born in America and their respective mothers born in feudal China, explore their past. This search will help them understand their difficult mother/daughter relationship.

Monday, Oct. 2
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"Er Di" (China 2003)
Introduced by Dr. J. Robert Baker
Would-be immigrant Er Di is expelled from the United States for working illegally. The son he fathered in the U.S. comes to China but Er Di is barred from seeing him. At the same time, he becomes involved with a member of a touring Shanghai opera company and tries to resolve the conflicts between his past and future.

Monday, Oct. 9
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"Munnabhai M.B.B.S." (India 2003)
Introduced by Professor Maggy Helwig
In this comedy, a gangster sets out to fulfill his father's dream for him to become a doctor.

Monday, Oct. 16
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"Campfire" (Israel 2005)
Introduced by Bill Grubb
A 42 year-old widowed mother of two teen-age daughters wants to join the founding group of a new settlement in the West bank while she and her daughters struggle with the acceptance committee and live as outcasts in the settlement.

Monday, Oct. 23
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"Lagaan" (India 2001)
Introduced by Professor Vijay Raol
The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers. This is a Bollywood musical.

Monday, Oct. 30
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"Bye-Bye" (France 1995)
Introduced by Dr. Erin Hippolyte
The French-born son of North African immigrants attempts to cope with his guilt after he accidentally causes a family tragedy.

Monday, Nov. 6
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"Das Boot" (Germany 1982)
Introduced by Dr. Pat Albano
Autumn, 1941: Forty-three young German sailors aboard U-96 enter the war against Britain. They seek adventure, respect and heroism. For them, this voyage is for glory. For their captain, a seasoned war veteran at the young age of 30, it is a mission against enemy destroyers in a blood-red sea that can devour a ship and its crew without leaving a trace.

Tuesday, Nov. 14
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
"The Triplets of Belleville" (France 2003)
Introduced by Dr. James Matthews
When her grandson is kidnapped during the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her beloved pooch Bruno team up with the Belleville Sisters -- an aged song-and-dance team from the days of Fred Astaire -- to rescue him. This is an animated feature.

Thursday, Nov. 30
Ruth Ann Musick Library, Multi-media Room B
(following the World AIDS Day Ceremony)
"Yesterday" (South Africa, 2004)
After falling ill, Yesterday learns that she is HIV positive. With her husband in denial and a young daughter to tend to, Yesterday's one goal is to live long enough to see her child go to school.