Tuesdays, 7:30pm in the Little Theatre (Ayres 106),
 $3 suggested donation
Director: Thomasin Saxe, 898-4642, tsaxe@csuchico.edu

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Edvard Munch, Part II (1974, Norway) about 110 min.

Directed by Peter Watkins for television.

Following a rough chronology from 1884 to 1894, when Norwegian artist Edvard Munch began expressionism and established himself as northern Europe's most maligned and controversial artist, the film also flashes back to the death from consumption of his mother, when he was five, his sister's death, and his near death at 13 from pulmonary disease. The film finds enduring significance in Munch's brief affair with "Mrs. Heiberg" and his participation in the café society of anarchist Hans Jaeger in Christiania and later in Berlin with Strindberg. Through it all comes Munch's melancholy and his desire to render on canvas, cardboard, paper, stone, and wood his innermost feelings. With Peter Watkins, Eli Ryg, Geir Westby, Gro Fraas, Knut Khristiansen. (Please note: we showed Part I January 2008.)

MadCat Women’s International Film Festival TOUR ID Docs (2005-2006, Lithuania, Croatia, Australia, Germany, U.S.A., Belgium, Austria) about 102 min.

Curated by Ariella Ben-Dov.

This is the second visit of MadCat to the University Film Series. First, it was based in San Francisco. Now, it hails from Brooklyn (what doesn’t these days?). Tonight’s program will include seven films: the longest is thirty minutes; the shortest is one.

Knife in the Water (1962, Poland) 94 min. Directed by Roman Polanski.

Hosted by Jason Tannen, University Art Gallery.*

The second protégé of the Lodz Film School to become an international art house sensation (after Andrzej Wajda), Polanski pounced on the scene with a mischievous glint in his eye with this film, whose title suggests violence, suspense, and mystery. A minimalist, three-character drama of simmering marital discord, class warfare, and eroticism, Knife constantly thwarts expectations.

Pancho Goes to College (2007, USA). Directed, written, and produced by Ruben Reyes.

Hosted and with a Q and A by Reyes and a cast member visiting from Tucson for the screening. Funded by the Committee on Arts and Lectures (CAL) and the Office of Diversity in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Note: at noon on the following day, Wednesday, Sep. 24, Reyes will be the guest at the Conversation on Diversity in BMU 304.

Pancho is looking forward to his new life in college, away from the barrio, his culture, and way of life. But then he meets his new zany roommates, and together, they discover girls, parties, study time, and multiculturalism in a large Arizona college campus. Can Pancho adapt? Will he survive away from home? Shot entirely in Southern Arizona, the film is a comedy feast for the eyes and ears. Scenic desert landscapes, crazy college parties, class lectures, rowdy Chicano bars, and an eclectic rock-norteño-hip-hop music soundtrack. OFFICIAL SELECTION in the Cine Las Americas International, Arizona International, and Campecine Film Festivals. Check out www.panchogoestocollege.com/

“A Chicano Animal House with heart.”—Tucson Citizen

“Secret Cinema with Juan-Carlos Selznick” approximately 90 min.

Hidden gems, selected shorts, assorted oddities, rarities, excerpts, glimpses, DVD extras, and other dazzlements from private collections and the archives of Prof. X.

With You! (2006, U.S.A.) 65 min. Directed, edited, and produced by Yaniv Dabach. Hosted by Robert Tinkler, History and Humanities Center Board, for National Coming Out Day and the Office of Diversity.

A documentary that follows New York's first gay rugby team, The Gotham Knights RFC, as it strives to gain points and respect against the established straight rugby clubs. It is the story of how a group of gay men from all walks of life come together and face their personal challenges to become a family of athletes. Official Selection of three film festivals: Frameline’s San Francisco LGBT, British Film Institute LGBT, and NewFest’s New York LGBT.

Flight from Death (2005, U.S.A.) 90 min. Directed and edited by Patrick Shen. Hosted by Jeff Livingston, History

Narrated by Gabriel Byrne, this seven-time Best Documentary award-winning film (including the Silver Lake and Beverly Hills Film Festivals) is the most comprehensive and mind-blowing investigation of humankind’s relationship with death ever captured on film. Hailed by many viewers as  “life-transformational,” the film uncovers death anxiety as a possible root cause of many of our behaviors on a psychological, spiritual, and cultural level. Following the work of the late cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker and his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Denial of Death, the film explores the ongoing research of a group of social psychologists that may forever change the way we look at ourselves and the world.

Roshômon (1950, Japan) 88 min. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Hosted by Rob Davidson, English and Humanities Center Board.*

Kurosawa working in close collaboration with cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa. It stars Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori and Minoru Chiaki. The film is based on two stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa ("Rashomon" provides the setting, while "In a Grove" provides the characters and plot). Rashomon can be said to have introduced Kurosawa and Japanese cinema to Western audiences, and is considered one of his masterpieces. The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and also received an Academy Honorary Award at the 25th Academy Awards.

L’avventura (The Adventure) (1960, Italy) 141 min. Written and directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. Hosted by Troy Jollimore, Philosophy and director of the Humanities Center.*

Monica Vitti and Gabriele Ferzetti star. The film is notable for its slow pacing, careful composition, and unusual narrative structure. It made Vitti an international star. The film is the first of a trilogy by Antonioni; it is followed by La notte and L'eclisse. Roger Ebert describes the character Anna's vanishing as indicative of the dubious presences of all the film's characters. The film is populated with wealthy and vacuous characters devoid of close, fulfilling relationships. They are all, says Ebert, "on the brink of disappearance."

Narrative Shorts International Film + Video Festival about 90 min. Hosted by Jason Tannen, University Art Gallery (UAG) director, and in conjunction with UAG show Nov. 4-20

A program of film and video works that are narrative in structure. 16 filmmakers, 12 films. Participating filmmakers: Terry Chatkupt, Los Angeles, California; Scott Eathorne, Melbourne, Australia; Jenn Figg, Jennifer Smith, Sean Stewart, Kristine Trever and Melinda White, Richmond, Virginia; Jelmar Hufen, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Aleta Lanier, Carbondale, Illinois; Riaz Mehmood, Montréal, Québec; R.T. Pannell, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Julie Perini, Portland, Oregon; Christopher Robbins, Vranje, Serbia and Queens, New York; Eugene Rodriguez, San Francisco, California; Bradly Dever Treadaway, Brooklyn, New York; Lisa Vinebaum, Montreal, Quebec.

The History Boys (2006, U.K.) 109 min. Written and directed by Alan Bennett. Hosted by Laura Nice, Humanities Program, for the Phi Alpha Theta History Club.*

In 1980s Britain, a group of young men at Cutlers' Grammar School all have the brains, and the will to earn the chance of getting accepted in the finest universities in the nation, Oxford and Cambridge. Despite the fine teaching by excellent professionals like Mrs. Lintott in history and the intellectually enthusiastic Hector in General Studies, the Headmaster is not satisfied. He signs on the young Irwin to polish the students' style to give them the best chance. In this mix of intellectualism and creative spirit that guides a rigorous preparation regime for that ultimate educational brass ring, the lives of the randy students and the ostensibly restrained faculty intertwine that would change their lives forever.

Sawdust and Tinsel (1953, Sweden) 92 min. Directed by Ingmar Bergman. Hosted by Peter Hogue, emeritus, English*

The story of the charged relationship between a turn-of-the-century traveling circus owner (Ake Gronberg) and his performer girlfriend (Harriet Andersson), this film with its dreamlike detours and twisted psychosexual power plays sets the battle of the sexes in a ramshackle, grotesque carnival.

Secret Cinema #2 with Juan-Carlos Selznick about 90 min. Part of the Humanities Center's theme "Regarding Beauty."*

Hidden gems, selected shorts, assorted oddities, rarities, excerpts, glimpses, DVD extras, and other dazzlements from private collections and the archives of Prof. X.

The Real Charlie Wilson's War Sponsored by The Book in Common at CSU, Chico.

This documentary is about Charlie Wilson, the Texas congressman who teamed with a CIA agent to provide arms for the Afghani freedom fighters against the Soviets, which resulted in helping lay the groundwork for the growth of the Taliban. A question to ponder: Why did the U.S. understand the need for economic reconstruction after WWII but fail to incorporate this practice in the political turmoil of the Middle East? The film features a number of CIA, Pakistani, and Russian military operatives along with live footage of the conflict.

Norma Rae (1979, U.S.A.) 110 min. Directed by Martin Ritt. Introduced by Robert Tinkler, Humanities Center Board and History, for the History Club (PHATHH).

The story of a woman from a small town in the Southern United States who becomes involved in the labor union activities at the textile factory where she works. Stars Sally Field, Beau Bridges, Ron Leibman, and Pat Hingle. Written by Harriet Frank, Jr. and Irving Ravetch. Based on the true story of Crystal Lee Sutton. It won Academy Awards for Best Actress and Best Original Song (David Shire and Norman Gimbel's "It Goes Like It Goes"). The film was also nominated to the Palme d'Or and at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.

The AIDS Chronicles—Here to Represent (2007, U.S.A.) 90 min. Directed by Bailey Barash. Sponsored by the Office of Diversity

This documentary focuses on the social and cultural impact of HIV/AIDS on the African American community of Atlanta. The stories, produced from material gathered over the last four years, give insight into the reasons why HIV/AIDS is still a major threat to the black population of urban centers nationwide. The film opens a window on the lives of Atlanta's African American population and reveals the thoughts and actions of African-Americans of every walk of life, economic and educational level, and gender identification. Includes frank interviews with activists, health educators, and persons with HIV/AIDS. Also includes comments of African-American HIV/AIDS experts on the front lines of the AIDS epidemic in public health, prevention, treatment, education and outreach, including Phill Wilson (Black AIDS Institute), Mindy Fullilove, MD (Columbia University), David Malebranche, MD (Emory University/Grady Hospital & The President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS), and Bill Jenkins, PhD (Morehouse College Center on Health Disparities). Official Selections of the International Film Festival South Africa 2008 and of the Atlanta Film Festival 2008.

Richard III (1955, U.K.) 160 min. Starring and produced and directed by Laurence Olivier. Introduced by Robert O'Brien, Humanities Center Board and English.*

Laurence Olivier's production shot in brilliant Technicolor was something of an ironic landmark: it was the first time that a motion picture premiered simultaneously in the theater and on television, the latter transforming its gorgeously vibrant palette into black and white for the vast majority of home viewers. It is believed this film was the most widely seen Shakespeare production up until that point, garnering more viewers in its television broadcast than all other stagings combined.

The film was a staggering success for Olivier. Full of highly theatrical yet cinematic flourishes (vertiginous angles, stunning deep-focus photography, and subtle deployment of ghostly optical effects), Richard III was Olivier's ultimate big-screen Shakespeare adaptation, even more viscerally thrilling than his Best Picture Academy Award winner, Hamlet (1948). Olivier's performance as the diabolical tyrant hacking, slashing, and decapitating his way to the throne of England was his most thrilling to date, a dazzling mixture of menace and mordancy. With Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, and Claire Bloom.

The Exiles (1961, U.S.A.) 72 min. Directed by Ken Mackenzie. Introduced by Sarah Pike, Humanities Center Board and Religious Studies

“One of the key attractions of this lost and legendary Los Angeles documentary, unseen in nearly 50 years, it is luminous black-and-white photography. A cinema verite look at the rootless Native American community that once upon a time lived in Bunker Hill and hung out in downtown bars such as Club Ritz, this film is a brooding picture of a darkly beautiful, long-gone Los Angeles, from the houses of Bunker Hill to the raucous downtown of 55-cent shots and Lucky Lager in cans. It should be seen.”—Kenneth Turan.

Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête) (1946, France) 93 min. Directed and written by Jean Cocteau. Introduced by Jason Tannen, Art and Art History*

Adaptation of Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont's fairy tale. starring Josette Day as Belle and Jean Marais as both Avenant and The Beast. The plot revolves around Belle's father who is sentenced to death for picking a rose from Beast's garden. Belle offers to go back to the Beast in her father's place. Beast falls in love with her and proposes marriage on a nightly basis, which she refuses. Belle eventually becomes more drawn to Beast, who tests her by letting her return home to her family telling her that if she doesn't return to him within a week, he will die of grief.

Still Life (2006, China) 108 min. Directed by Jia Zhang-Ke, Introduced by Wai-hung Wong, Humanities Center Board and Philosophy*

From the acclaimed director of The World and Unknown Pleasures come this sweeping drama of love and loss set against the epic backdrop of the Yangtze River near Fengjie, China. Two people return home to salvage their crumbling marriages just as the city itself faces inevitable ruin during the creation of the Three Gorges dam.

M. Hulot’s Holiday (1953, France) 114 min. Directed by Jacques Tati. Hosted by Linda Rogers, Butte College

Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot—a recurring character in several Tati movies—is a blithely clumsy troublemaker, an insouciant twit who leaves uproar in his wake without being aware of it.

The Color of Paradise (Rang-e khoda) (1999, Iran) 90 min. Directed by Majid Majidi Sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, Chico State’s Alpha Kappa Tau chapter of the English Honor Society*

Visually magnificent and moving, this is a story of a boy whose inability to see the world enhances his ability to feel its powerful forces.

Dancer in the Dark (2000, Denmark) 140 min. Written and directed by Lars Von Trier. Sponsored by the Humanities Student Society and hosted by Billy Guilfoyle, filmmaker and arts promoter.

Dancer was shot with a hand-held camera and inspired by Dogme 95. With Björk , Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, and Peter Stormare.

Control Room (2004, U.S.A.) 84 min. Directed by Jehane Noujaim. Sponsored by the Middle Eastern Studies Program and hosted by Mahan Mirza, Religious Studies

Documentary about Al Jazeera and its relations with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), as well as the other news organizations that covered the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Made by Egyptian-American filmmaker Noujaim.

Sixth Annual International Shorts Festival 2008 Hosted by Weston Thomson and produced by the Electronic Arts Program, Art and Art History