February is gearing up to be a good month for foreign film. We are smack in the middle of the French Film Festival at U of L, which we have discussed; the Oscars are coming up, which will showcase a number of excellent foreign films, both shorts and features; and, most excitingly, within then next few weeks, Amour
will be screening at Baxter Avenue Theater. (
Amour
is, of course, the new film by master German filmmaker Michael Haneke. If you have not heard of him, check out
Cache
or
The White Ribbon
or, my personal favorite,
Funny Games
.)
Today, Tuesday, is the start of the three-day International Film Festival at the University of Louisville. It starts with the Australian film
, directed by Peter Weir (
The Truman Show, The Dead Poets Society
). It tells the story of what happens when a group of girls from an Australian boarding school go inexplicably missing during a Valentine's Day picnic. It will be shown at 2:00 in the CHAO Auditorium.
Next up is tomorrow's screening of Satyajit Ray's
. This 1955 film was instrumental in bringing Indian cinema into greater world awareness. It is a story of a family struggling to get by, focusing on each member's efforts to earn money and support each other. It will be screened at 1:00 in the Shumaker Building.
Finally, corresponding with the aforementioned series of French films, head to the Floyd theater for the French film
, directed by Mia Hansen-Løve. Sullivan and Camille are teenagers in love – but Sullivan wants to see the world, and Camille must deal with her depression and figure out what to do with her life.
Goodbye First Love
screens at 5:00 and 8:00. The Floyd Theater is located in the Student Activities Center.
All films are free and will be followed by moderator discussions. Complete information about the films and their showtimes can be found here.
Image: Internet Movie Database
