¡Vivan
Las Independence! film festival
offers variety of independent films in Laredo
A selection of independent
films chosen for their excellence at film festivals
world-wide and not typically available to the general
public are the subject of ¡Vivan Las Independence!:
International Independent Films, a series sponsored
by the Laredo Public Library and the Texas A&M
International University Department of Language and
Literature. The films are shown Thursday nights at
7 p.m. in the TAMIU Student Center Auditorium. Admission
is free and open to the public.
Dr. William Nichols, assistant professor of Spanish
at TAMIU, explained that due to fair use issues, he
and co-sponsor Dr. Sean Chadwell, assistant professor
of English, were concerned they would not offer their
annual film festival.
"Sean and I were very fortunate to receive an
e-mail from Malia Watson at the Laredo Public Library,"
said Nichols. "Her dilemma was that they had
films to show but no space in which to present them.
Ours was we had a space but no films. So, this semester
we will be collaborating with the Public Library to
present a series on international independent film."
The films are distributed through a collaboration
between FilmMovement and RB Publishing, one of the
Library's vendors, said Malia Watson, technical services
manager at the Laredo Public Library.
"Our contract provides us with a subscription
to FilmMovement, and allows for one public showing
of each film," said Watson. "FilmMovement
travels to film festivals the world over and bids
on films they thought were interesting. While the
Library has a viewing space, it's not as comfortable
as the venue at TAMIU and we thought the audience
would more likely be found at the university, rather
than at the Library. It's a wonderful opportunity
to collaborate."
The schedule of films is as follows:
September 25. Marion Bridge (2002), directed by Wiebke
von Carolsfeld. English. Three sisters return home
to assist their dying mother, in the process learning
more than they might care to about their lives and
past. Won the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival's
"Best Canadian First Feature Film." Discussion
afterwards will be led by Dr. Debbie Blackwell, assistant
professor of history and women and gender studies.
October 9. Ali Zoua, Prince of the Streets (2000),
directed by Nabil Ayouch. Arabic and French, with
English subtitles. A saccharine-free, engaging story
about three street children in Morocco who vow to
bury their dead friend "like a king." This
film has won more than 11 awards at international
film festivals, including the Stockholm Film Festival
and the Montreal World Film Festival. Discussion afterwards
will be lead by Dr. Ezra Engling, professor of Spanish.
October 23. El Bola (2000), directed by Achero Mañas.
Spanish, with English subtitles. An intense look at
an abused Spanish boy, and the effect a new friendship
has on his life. The film was named "European
Discovery of the Year" at the 2001 European Film
Festival. Discussion afterwards will be lead by Dr.
Bill Nichols.
November 6. Light of My Eyes (2001), directed by Giuseppe
Piccioni. Italian with English subtitles. The film
follows chauffer Antonio through his relationship
with a single mother and her daughter. Won three awards
at the 2001 Venice Film Festival. Discussion afterwards
will be lead by Malia Watson.
November 20. He Died With a Felafel in His Hand (2001),
Richard Lowenstein. English. Based on John Birmingham's
novel of the same title, this comedy follows Danny
and his experiences in roommate living. Discussion
afterwards will be lead by Dr. Sean Chadwell.
For more information about the ¡Vivan Las Independence!
film festival, contact Dr. William Nichols at 326-2610,
e-mail wnichols@tamiu.edu; Dr. Sean Chadwell at 326-2471,
e-mail schadwell@tamiu.edu; or Malia Watson at 795.2400,
e-mail malia@laredolibrary.org. More information about
FilmMovement can be found at www.filmmovement.com.
