Fall 2006 - UMF Sunday Film Series
7pm Lincoln Auditorium (Roberts C131)
Sponsored by the Arts institute and umf film classes
9/10 The Birds (U.S., 1963; dir. Alfred Hitchcock. 119 minutes).
Avians of various species flock together to terrorize an isolated town in N. California. One of Hitchcock’s very best—the suspense is absolutely lethal. The apocalyptic scenario is heightened by the terrifying (nonmusical) soundtrack. A film not to be missed.
9/17The Life of Oharu (Japan, 1952; dir. Mizoguchi Kenji. In Japanese with English subtitles, 137 minutes).
MIzoguchi’s greatest work on the plight of women. Oharu slowly descends in life from imperial concubine to streetwalker. Based on the 17th-century novelette, The Woman Who Loved Love by Ihara Saikaku, available at Mantor Library on reserve in Hibbett’s The Floating World in Japanese Fiction.
9/24 Kippur (Israel, 2000: dir. Amos Gitai. In mostly Hebrew with English subtitles).
Powerful, poetic evocation of the chaos and despair of war in 1973 when Syria and Egypt launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel on the quiet, contemplative Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. The film is based on the director’s memories of service in a helicopter rescue unit. Tragic and painfully balanced view of a terrible conflict that continues today.
10/1 Pulse (Kairo) (Japanese, 2001; dir. Kurosawa Kiyoshi. In Japanese with English subtitles. 119 minutes).
Truly disturbing, often oddly beautiful chiller focused on the alienated lives of individuals in contemporary society. A college student, a neophyte to the internet, is contacted by ghosts online. Then entire population of the world begins to dissipate into puffs of black soot. (No embarrassing resemblance whatsoever to this summer’s stinky U.S. remake!).
10/8 You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man (U.S. 1939; W.C. Fields. 79 minutes).
W.C. Fields stars as Larson E. Whipsnade, the incompetent and incorrigible impresario of the almost-bankrupt Circus Giganticus. His nemesis is (are?) his star act of Edgar Bergen and infamous puppet Charlie McCarthy. Bad things happen to all! One of Fields’ best-ever!
10/15 The Decameron (Italy, 1970; Pier Paolo Pasolini. In Italian with English subtitles. 112 minutes).
Bravura filming of some of Boccaccio’s naughtiest Renaissance tales of life during the time of the Plague. The director himself stars as the father of Renaissance painting, Giotto di Bondone.
10/22 American History X (U.S., 1998; dir. Tony Kaye. 119 minutes).
Racist skinhead scumbag Edward Norton reforms and tries to save his younger brother from the fetid morass of racism. Tragically acute portrayal of bigotry in America.
10/29 Pather Panchali (India, 1955; dir. Satyajit Ray. In Bengali with English subtitles. 115 minutes).
This first and best film in the famous Apu trilogy, ”Song of the Little Road,” is the boy Apu’s tale of his family’s struggle with terrible poverty and loss of dreams, ending in their desperate move to the big city. Starkly beautiful film. Grand Prize at Cannes 1956. Stunning soundtrack by Ravi Shankar.
11/5 Beauty and the Beast (France, 1946; dir. Jean Cocteau. In French with English subtitles. 93 minutes).
Magical, dark telling of the famous tale in Cocteau’s first feature film. Surreal and unforgettable, with a burnished, silvery patina of timelessness. Wow. Discussion to follow.
11/12 Tokyo Drifter (Japan, 1966; dir. Suzuki Seijun. In Japanese with English subtitles. 83 minutes).
One of Suzuki’s signature wicked-crazy yakuza films (so crazy it helped get the director fired from Nikkatsu studios), Tokyo Drifter follows a gangster’s desperate attempt at retirement from the gang. The colors and cinematography are astounding—the plot wondrously incoherent.
11/19 Fahrenheit 451 (U.S., 1966, dir. Francois Truffaut. In English; 113 minutes).
Haunting vision of Ray Bradbury’s 1951 classic science-fiction novel. Firefighters are no heroes here--instead, their primary mission is to burn dangerous books. One firefighter falls in love with a beautiful book collector and challenges the administration’s anti-intellectual, fascist stance. Fantastic cast led by Julie Christie.
11/26 Woman in the Dunes (Japan, 1964; dir. Teshigahara Hiroshi. In Japanese with English subtitles. 123 minutes).
Stunning adaptation of the bizarre Abe Kobo novel about a hapless entomologist ensnared in a woman’s isolated den of sand. Rich, raw eroticism blends with claustrophobic frenzy, heightened by Takemitsu Toru’s amazing musical score. The novel is available at DD&G Booksellers.
12/3 Nobody Knows (Japan, 2004; dir. Koreeda Hirokazu; In Japanese with English subtitles, 139 minutes).
Based on a true, recent story, this film chronicles the life-struggles of children left to fend for themselves as their childlike mother disappears (for months) . Much of the film was total improv—no script. 14-year-old star Yagira won Best Actor at Cannes 2004
12/10 Spirited Away (Japan, 2001; dir. Miyazaki Hayao, a Studio Ghibli production. In Japanese with English subtitles. 131 minutes).
Spirit yourselves away from Exam Hell into this beautiful film, a story of myth and rapture. Chihiro, a modern girl, is uprooted and transported to a supernatural world of dragons, monsters and Shinto spirits. She fights all the malevolent beasties and prevails, of course! As will you. Gambatte yo (Go for it)!!!