When news of a good concert, famous play or a great movie arrives, some people are determined to attend despite the distance, cost, or weather conditions. Sound familiar? This might be the case for those who are looking for Hispanic/Latin@ movies that are rarely showcased in local theaters. Fortunately, this winter The Ohio State University provides two options to those who want to enjoy Latin American cinema and a great variety of films offered right here on campus.
CLAS: LATIN AMERICAN FILM SERIES
Increasingly larger audiences visit Room 180 in Hagerty Hall on Wednesday nights to participate in the Latin American Film Series presented by The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS). “By selecting feature films that would otherwise be overlooked by the general public in the United States, the series strives to promote Latin American (and domestic Latin@) films in the university community,” explains Dr. Laura Podalsky, Associate Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
Every other week, viewers can expect a movie with a thought-provoking message and walk away with an entertaining and educational experience. As it has happened in the past, the chances are high that the next “new favorite movie” will come from the series. The showing of Soy Cuba during the Spring Series was such an experience for me. The film was amazing in its own right, leaving me with a feeling of empowerment and stirred emotions (I have heard similar comments about other screenings too). But it was the smaller audience, first row seats, and the introduction by a faculty member what made my experience different from a visit to the theaters or watching a movie at home.
Each quarter the series offers a new topic and covers some aspect of Latin American culture and society. A faculty member from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese introduces each film by commenting on the film’s production history, its initial reception, the larger work of the film’s director, and the relevance of the film to the overall series. Such an introduction helps the viewer contextualize and appreciate how each film fits within the overall series’ puzzle.
This winter’s series, titled “Love, Greed, and Violence in Mexican Technicolor,” will feature films such as El crimen del Padre Amaro (The Crime of Father Amaro) and Amores Perros.
Before I forget, let me mention that this series is free and open to the public. All of the movies have English subtitles and you can bring your own snacks. Take your friends along and enjoy el cine latinoamericano!
For the most current Latin American Film Series schedule, visit http://clas.osu.edu
CINEMA LATINO @ THE WEX
The Wexner Center for the Arts, has historically featured Spanish-language films during its year-long Cinema Tropical series, but is taking a different approach this year. In January of 2007 the Wexner Center presented a New Argentine Film Series that spotlighted four directors responsible for making Argentina one of the world’s most vital national cinemas: Fabián Bielinsky, Lucrecia Martel, Martín Rejtman, and Carlos Sorín. The success of the film series led to the expansion of the center’s film focus by spotlighting the best new films from throughout Latin America.
An emphasis on recent Mexican cinema shows the diversity of the rich film culture produced by such heralded figures as Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, and Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu.
Films that are coming up include Under the Same Moon (Bajo la Misma Luna) featuring America Ferrera from the hit TV series “Ugly Betty,” Drama/Mex, and Chronicle of an Escape (Crónica de una fuga). Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for the general public. The first film in the series Under the Same Moon is free; however, a ticket is required and should be obtained by the day of the screening.
Simply put, the Wexner Center will continue being an internationally renowned contemporary arts center that takes great pride in presenting cutting-edge work by international artists, right here on the Ohio State University campus.
For more information on this event, please visit
http://www.wexarts.org
or contact Joel Diaz, Outreach and Marketing Manager of the Wexner Center for the Arts, at
jdiaz@wexarts.org
