Heroic Grace: The Chinese Martial Arts Film
Saturdays, September 6-27
Once upon a time in film history, "heroes and heroines somersaulted rather than walked the earth, villains were legendary, humbleness and loyalty were prized among all virtues, agility of mind and body was exalted, pursuits were almost always obsessive, and fighting wondrously became percussive dance" (Cheng Sim-Lim of the UCLA Film and Television Archive). Featuring eight newly restored prints of films produced at the eminent Shaw Brothers studio, this extensive series traces the work of some of the world's most innovative filmmakers and acrobatic performers, from the astounding "new school" swordplay films of the 1960s through the kung fu golden era of the 1970s. All films are in Mandarin with English subtitles.

Sponsored by the Center for East Asian Studies.
© Licensed by Celestial Pictures Ltd. (a company
incorporated in Hong Kong SAR) All rights reserved.

Saturday, September 6, 7:30 p.m.
Come Drink With Me (Dai Zui Xia)
Hong Kong, 1966, 94 min., 35mm
Directed by King Hu.
Produced by Run Run Shaw.
Written by King Hu, Er Yang.
Cinematography: He Lanshan.
Martial Arts Director: Han Yingjie.
Editor: Jiang Xinglong.
With Zheng Peipei, Yue Hua, Chen Honglie, Li Yunzhong, Yang Qiqing.

On a mission to rescue her kidnapped brother, the handsome warrior Golden Swallow (Zheng Peipei of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) seeks revenge against the sleazy Jade-Faced Tiger and his band of gangsters. One of the greatest martial arts films of all time, King Hu's dazzling debut in the genre ushered in the "new school" swordplay film as a major art form.   back to top

Saturday, September 6, 9:30 p.m.
One-Armed Swordsman (Dubi Dao)
Hong Kong, 1967, 111 min., 35mm
Directed by Zhang Che.
Produced by Runme Shaw.
Written by Ni Kuang, Zhang Che.
Cinematography: Yuan Zengshan, Guan Hanle.
Martial Arts Directors: Tong Kai, Lau Kar-leung.
Editor: Jiang Xinglong.
With Jimmy Wang Yu, Ban Yinze, Qiao Qiao, Zhang Beishan, Huang Zongxun.

A one-armed orphaned student returns to his martial arts academy to trounce his enemies with his unique left-handed fighting style. This riveting revenge thriller marks a transition between the old-school swordplay picture and the more modern kung fu movie, displaying spectacular clashes among the fighting styles of each.   back to top

Saturday, September 13, 7:30 p.m.
Golden Swallow (Jin Yanzi)
Hong Kong, 1968, 108 min., 35mm
Directed by Zhang Che.
Produced by Runme Shaw.
Written by Zhang Che.
Cinematography: Bao Xueli.
Martial Arts Directors: Tong Kai, Lau Kar-leung.
Editor: Jiang Xinglong.
With Jimmy Wang Yu, Zheng Peipei, Luo Lie, Zhao Xiuyan, Yang Zhiqing.

Bodily maiming and psychological trauma are two of the grislier aspects of violence explored in Zhang's sequel to King Hu's Come Drink With Me. Golden Swallow returns, but the spotlight remains on the antihero, Silver Roc, a tormented swordsman drawn to violence and plagued by powerful romantic yearnings.   back to top

Saturday, September 13, 9:30 p.m.
Vengeance! (Baochou)
Hong Kong, 1970, 103 min., 35mm
Directed by Zhang Che.
Produced by Runme Shaw.
Written by Ni Kuang.
Cinematography: Gong Muduo.
Martial Arts Directors: Tong Kai, Yuen Cheung-yan.
Editor: Jiang Xinglong.
With David Jiang Dawei, Di Long, Wang Ping, Ao Yanjing, Gu Feng.

The murder of a dignified Beijing Opera performer sends his brother on a quest for retribution. David Jiang Dawei and Di Long (Zhang's heroic duo throughout the '70s) team up for the first time in this ultra-violent revenge drama set against the backdrop of early 20th century China.   back to top

Saturday, September 20, 7:30 p.m.
Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (Ai Nu)
Hong Kong, 1972, 90 min., 35mm
Directed by Chu Yuan.
Produced by Runme Shaw.
Written by Qiu Gangjian.
Cinematography: Wu Zhuohua.
Martial Arts Director: Xu Erniu.
Editors: Jiang Xinglong, Li Yanhai.
With Lily Ho, Yue Hua, Bei Di, Dong Lin, Wang Zhongshan.

Perversity meets swordplay in this enthralling martial-arts murder mystery about an 18-year-old who is kidnapped and sold to a brothel. Ainu (Lily Ho) quickly draws the sexual attention of the brothel madam, who tenderly teaches her new protégée in the ways of kung fu-and in the ways of lust.   back to top

Saturday, September 20, 9:30 p.m.
Blood Brothers (Ci Ma)
Hong Kong, 1973, 118 min., 35mm
Directed by Zhang Che.
Produced by Run Run Shaw.
Written by Ni Kuang, Zhang Che.
Cinematography: Gong Muduo.
Martial Arts Directors: Tong Kai, Lau Kar-leung.
Editor: Guo Dinghong.
With David Jiang, Di Long, Chen Guandai, Jing Li, Tian Qing.

When two bandit brothers befriend a mercenary warrior, jealousy, treachery, and revenge ensue. Based on the actual assassination of a general during the Quing Dynasty (late 19th century), Blood Brothers's epic themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal were later pursued by the film's assistant director, John Woo (Bullet in the Head, The Killers).   back to top

Saturday, September 27, 7:30 p.m.
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (Shaolin Sanshiliu Fang)
Hong Kong, 1978, 115 min., 35mm
Directed by Lau Kar-leung.
Produced by Run Run Shaw, Mona Fong.
Written by Ni Kuang.
Cinematography: Huang Yuedai.
Martial Arts Directors: Lau Kar-leung, Tang Weizheng.
Editor: Jiang Xinglong.
With Lau Kar-fai, Luo Lie, Yu Yang, Wang Yu, Lau Kar-wing.

In this immensely popular screen version of a key foundational myth of kung fu, novice fighters must work their way up through a series of tortuous "chambers" while acquiring a variety of fighting skills. Lau Kar-fai, arguably the genre's finest performer, stars in some of the most brilliantly choreographed fight scenes ever filmed.   back to top

Saturday, September 27, 9:30 p.m.
Return to the 36th Chamber (Shaoling Dapeng Dashi)
Hong Kong, 1980, 111 min., 35mm
Directed by Lau Kar-leung.
Produced by Run Run Shaw, Mona Fong.
Written by Ni Kuang.
Cinematography: Ao Qiqun.
Martial Arts Directors: Lau Kar-leung, Qing Qu, Xiao Ho.
Editors: Jiang Xinglong, Li Yanhai.
With Lau Kar-fai, Wang Longwei, Chen Sijia, Xiao Ho, Hua Lun.

After a con man impersonating a Shaolin priest is trounced by thugs, he inexplicably gains superb fighting skills. A self-parody that pokes fun at the same conventions that The 36th Chamber helped establish, this freewheeling sequel adds a comic touch to the "warrior-in-training" subgenre.   back to top

Directed by Dorothy Arzner
Fridays, September 12-October 3 and Friday, October 4
When the era of silent cinema came to an end and talking pictures began, there were few women directors working in Hollywood; the most successful was the legendary Dorothy Arzner. Growing up among Hollywood celebrities, Arzner quickly advanced through the studio trades of script girl and assistant editor before landing in the director's seat of Paramount's first talkie, The Wild Girl (1929). Her subsequent films featured bold, confident women who simply did as they pleased. In the years just prior to the notorious Hays Code of censorship, Arzner's films succeeded as much for subversive interrogation of social norms and female behavior as for their lively wit and playful gusto.
"Directed by Dorothy Arzner" was conceived by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. With the cooperation of Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios the Archive has preserved Arzner's six extant films for Paramount from nitrate projection prints or acetate positives. None of the original negatives has survived. Preservation of the films was made possible with generous support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Myra Reinhard Family Foundation, and Jodie Foster.

Friday, September 12, 7:30 p.m.
The Wild Party
USA, 1929, 77 min., 35mm
Directed by Dorothy Arzner.
Written and Produced by E. Lloyd Sheldon.
Based on the story by Warner Fabian.
Cinematography: Victor Milner.
Editor: Otto Lovering.
With Clara Bow, Fredric March, Shirley O'Hara, Marceline Day.

In this nearly all-female affair, the fiery Clara Bow girl stars in her first talkie as a headstrong college flapper who forms a society of "hard-boiled maidens" to visit men's colleges and speakeasies. Frederic March plays the dashing anthropology professor who captures the young woman's heart.   back to top

Friday, September 12, 9:00 p.m.
Anybody's Woman
(USA, 1930, 80 min., 35mm)
Directed by Dorothy Arzner.
Written by Zoë Akins.
Based on the story "The Better Wife" by Gouverneur Morris.
Cinematography: Charles Lang.
Editor: Jane Loring.
With Ruth Chatterton, Clive Brook, Paul Lukas, Huntly Gordon, Virginia Hammond.

After a night of drunken debauchery, Pansy, a down-on-her-luck chorus girl, finds herself married to a wealthy lawyer. Soon, however, she must confront the gossip and disapproval of the entire community. Without sacrificing the expected touches of pre-Code raciness, director Arzner reveals the tension of class snobbery on every social level.   back to top

Friday, September 19, 7:30 p.m.
Sarah and Son
USA, 1930, 86 min., 35mm
Directed by Dorothy Arzner.
Written by Zoë Akins.
Based on the novel by Timothy Shea.
Cinematography: Charles Lang.
Editor: Verna Willis.
With Ruth Chatterton, Fredric March, Fuller Mellish, Jr., Gilbert Emery, Doris Lloyd.

Ruth Chatterton, the "Queen of the Talking Screen", plays a successful opera singer who struggles to reclaim her long-lost son from his new foster parents. The film made an international star of Chatterton and catapulted Arzner to success as one of Paramount's most celebrated directors.   back to top

Friday, September 26, 7:30 p.m.
Honor Among Lovers
USA, 1931, 75 min., 35mm
Directed by Dorothy Arzner.
Written by Austin Parker, Gertrude Purcell.
Cinematography: George Folsey.
Editor: Helen Turner.
With: Claudette Colbert, Fredric March, Monroe Owsley, Charlie Ruggles, Ginger Rogers.

Jazz Age New York townhouses and Long Island speakeasies set the mood for this story of a secretary (Claudette Colbert) who rejects the advances of her boss in favor of a young broker. Arzner's sophisticated tale of sexual politics in the workplace explores the conflict between moral earnestness and sexual desire.   back to top

Friday, October 3, 2003, 7:30 p.m.
Working Girls
USA, 1931, 80 min., 35mm
Directed by Dorothy Arzner.
Written by Zoë Akins.
Based on the play "Blind Mice " by Vera Caspary, Winifred Lenihan.
Cinematography: Harry Fischbeck. Editor: Jane Loring.
With Judith Wood, Dorothy Hall, Paul Lukas, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Frances Dee.

This racy tale of two sisters from Indiana who try to make it in New York is, according to one scholar, "perhaps the most daring and innovative film Arzner ever made" (Judith Mayne). Working Girls is funny, frank, and wonderfully ironic in its view of institutions as family, class, work, romance, and marriage.   back to top

Saturday, October 4, 7:30 p.m.
Merrily We Go to Hell
USA, 1932, 78 min., 35mm
Directed by Dorothy Arzner.
Written by Edwin Justus Mayer.
Based on the novel "I, Jerry, Take Thee, Joan" by Cleo Lucas.
Cinematography: David Abel.
Editor: Jane Loring.
With Sylvia Sydney, Fredric March, Adrianne Allen, Skeets Gallagher, Cary Grant.

The marriage of Jerry, a newspaper reporter turned playwright, and Joan, a socialite who gave up her fortune for love, turns sour as success goes to Jerry's head. A dark comedy and surprise box office hit, Arzner's last film at Paramount is an éxpose of soulless high-society antics and a cynical indictment of the prospects of modern romance.   back to top

Special Events

Thursday, October 9, 3:30 p.m.
Sunrise
USA, 1927, 95 min., 35mm
Directed by F.W. Murnau.
Written by Carl Mayer.
Based on a story by Hermann Sudermann.
Produced by William Fox.
Cinematography: Charles Rosher, Karl Struss.
Editor: Harold D. Schuster.
With George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor.

One of the greatest films of all time, Murnau's pioneering masterpiece tells the tale of a young farmer, who, smitten by a hussy from the city, decides to kill his wife but cannot when his conscience gets the better of him. The married couple's love is rekindled during a trip to the big city. Cinematheque proudly presents a newly restored print of this Academy Award-winner, complete with the first-ever restoration of the film's original Movietone soundtrack. This screening will be introduced by Schawn Belston (Director of Film Preservation at 20th Century Fox) and Michael Pogorzelski (Director of the Academy Film Archive), both of whom played vital roles in the restoration process.   back to top

Happy Birthday, CinemaScope!
October 10-18
Fifty years ago, 20th Century Fox unveiled to the American public "the modern miracle that you see without glasses": CinemaScope, the widescreen process that produces glorious images two-and-a-half times as wide as they are high. Soon after its inauguration by Fox, CinemaScope became the most successful widescreen practice in the history of cinema. To celebrate the golden anniversary of this spectacular technological innovation, Cinematheque is delighted to offer five newly restored prints of Hollywood treasures, courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Archive and 20th Century Fox. The films will be introduced by Schawn Belston (Director of Film Preservation at 20th Century Fox) and Michael Pogorzelski (Director of the Academy Film Archive).

Friday, October 10, 7:30 p.m.
The Hustler
USA, 1961, 134 min., 35mm
Directed and Produced by Robert Rossen.
Written by Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen.
Cinematography: Eugene Shuftan.
Editor: Dede Allen.
With Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott.

In the ultimate pool-playing movie, Paul Newman gives a virtuoso performance as "Fast" Eddie, a brash young pool shark who makes his living hustling unsuspecting opponents as he moves town to town. Set on beating the legendary Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason), Fast Eddie must also navigate his way through a tumultuous relationship and slimy promoters. Winner of an Oscar for Best Cinematography.   back to top

Saturday, October 11, 7:30 p.m.
The Apartment
USA, 1960, 125 min., 35mm
Directed and Produced by Billy Wilder.
Written by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond.
Cinematography: Joseph LaShelle.
Editor: Daniel Mandell.
With Jack Lemmon, Shirley Maclaine, Fred McMurray.

"Movie-wise, there has never been anything like it -- laugh-wise, love-wise, or otherwise-wise!" The film's tagline aptly describes Billy Wilder's melancholic farce about a lonely businessman who is trying to work his way up the corporate ladder but falls for his boss's mistress. Wilder's gem garnered numerous Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Screenplay, and Director.   back to top

Sunday, October 12, 1:00 p.m.
West Side Story
USA, 1961, 151 min., 35mm
Directed by Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise.
Written by Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents, Ernest Lehman.
Produced by Robert Wise.
Cinematography: Daniel L. Fapp.
Editor: Thomas Stanford.
Original Music: Leonard Bernstein, Saul Chaplin.
Libretto: Stephen Sondheim.
With Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno.

An astounding winner of ten Oscars, West Side Story became a landmark in the genre of the musical. Inventive choreography, passionate ballads, and moody sets are staples in this loose adaptation of Romeo and Juliette, in which a love affair between Maria and Tony, members of rival gangs, eventually leads to a showdown "rumble."   back to top

Friday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
The Fly
USA, 1958, 94 min., 35mm
Directed and Produced by Kurt Neumann.
Written by James Clavell.
Cinematography: Karl Struss.
Editor: Merrill G. White.
With David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price.

While experimenting with teleportation, a scientist inadvertently integrates parts of his body with that of a housefly, resulting in two hybrid monstrosities: one man/fly and the other fly/man. The chilling consequences of the irreversible process render this sci-fi classic a true spine-tingler.   back to top

Saturday, October 18, 7:30 p.m.
How to Marry a Millionaire
USA, 1953, 95 min., 35mm
Directed by Jean Negulesco.
Written and Produced by Nunnally Johnson.
Cinematography: Joseph MacDonald.
Editor: Louis R. Loeffler.
With Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall.

In a film labeled "the most glamorous entertainment of your lifetime in Cinemascope," Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall play three models who move into a Manhattan penthouse and devise a plan to land filthy-rich bachelors. Soon, however, the gold-diggers discover that love may be more important than money after all.   back to top

Fifth Annual CineFest Nuestra America
Thursday, October 22 through Sunday, October 26
The annual CineFest celebrates the vitality and diversity of Latino and Latin American cinema. Presented by the Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies Program, the festival will feature films, visiting filmmakers, talks and discussions with special guests. This year's festival shines a spotlight on director Hector Gallan. For more information, contact (608) 262-2811 or visit http://www.cinefest.wisc.edu/.

Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 p.m.
Lecture by Marcelo Brodsky
Artist and Human Rights Activist.
"Buena Memoria, an attempt to transmit a traumatic experience to the new generations"
Professor Ksenija Bilbija (Spanish and Portuguese) will introduce Brodsky.

Marcelo Brodsky is an artist and activist whose work illuminates the more sensitive aspects of traumatic experiences, particularly the consequences of state terrorism in Argentina. The key objective of Brodsky's work is the transmission of memories, and he uses photography to bridge generations. Brodsky's work has a global relevance, as his reflections have entered the widespread debate on memory in contemporary times.

Tuesday, October 21, 9:30 p.m.
September Flowers (Flores de septiembre)
Argentina, 2002, 111 min., BetaSP
U.S. Premiere!
Presented by Marcelo Brodsky.

September Flowers tells the story of Ruben, Mauricio and Juan Carlos, "Fourth Night" classmates who went to high school together from 1973 to 1978 during the tumultuous years of Argentina's "Dirty War."  The story of these three students, who, like other young people at the time, "disappeared," is revealed retrospectively through various testimonies. By way of anecdote and the recollections of everyday life recollection, witnesses tell of militancy, friendship, illusions and loss. The protagonists pull into their narrative teachers, authorities, current and former students, and relatives, thus elaborating on the effects of the dictatorship and how its consequential repression impacted upon life at a secondary school. The film stages a continuous exchange between the recent past and the present of Argentina.

Thursday, October 23, 3:30 p.m.
Keynote Lecture by Hector Galán

As one of the most prolific and impassioned independent filmmakers working today, Hector Galán has contributed over thirty hours of quality programming to the national PBS television schedule including eleven episodes for the provocative series Frontline, two programs for the PBS series The American Experience , and the landmark four-part PBS series, Chicano! A History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement , for which Galán was invited to the White House to screen the work for President Bill Clinton. As part of his keynote address, Mr. Galán will talk about his career in filmmaking and discuss the challenges and possibilities of creating films from a Latino perspective.

Friday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.
Retrospective of Hector Galán: Chicano! A History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement (Episode 1)

This award-winning series covers the Chicano movement from 1965 to 1975 and features the Chicano land struggle, Cesar Chavez and the UFW, Los Angeles High School walk-outs and the creation of La Raza Unida third political party.

Saturday, October 25, 3:00 p.m.
Retrospective of Hector Galán: Accordion Dreams
Featuring special guest performance/lecture by Dr. Jose Cuellar aka Dr. Loco.
Produced and Directed by Hector Galán.
Narrated by singer/songwriter Tish Hinojosa.

Accordion Dreams features yesterday's and today's squeezebox trailblazers that defined Texas Mexican Music. The arrival of the European button accordion to Texas and its merging with traditional Mexican songs gave birth to an explosive new sound. From lively polkas to smooth waltzes, Accordion Dreams captures an exhilarating musical style that is rapidly gaining fans worldwide. This program looks at today's young rebel accordionists who have expanded this musical style to the fringes of rock, blues, and pop, while paying homage to its pioneers. Nominated for a 2002 American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Award for Outstanding Documentary. For more information: http://www.pbs.org/accordiondreams/main/ .

Saturday, October 25, 5:00 p.m.
Voices from Texas
Presented by Ray Santisteban and featuring special spoken word performance by Tammy Gomez (Texas Poetry Slam Winner).

Winner of the Best Documentary at the 2003 CineFestival in San Antonio Texas, Voices from Texas is a one-hour video documentary exploration of poetry and spoken word traditions in the Chicano communities of Texas. It provides an intimate look at the lives of some of the nation's most respected poets and the community and culture from which they often draw their inspiration.

Sunday, October 26, 1:00 p.m.
Retrospective of Hector Galán: The Forgotten Americans
Producer/Director: Hector Galán.
Executive Producer: Jaime Chahin.
Director: Hector Galán.
Narrator: Henry Cisneros.
Original Music Score: Joseph Julian Gonzales.

Filmmaker Hector Galán takes you on a journey to the colonias. It's an adventure into American communities where hope resides despite the fact that the streets have no names and often there is no running water or electricity.  The poignant program, which had its world premiere in March 2000 at the Smithsonian Institute, captures a day in the life of America's poorest people along the Texas border. For more information: http://www.pbs.org/klru/forgottenamericans/ .

Sunday, October 26, 3:00 p.m.
Adio Kerida (Goodbye, Dear Love)
Bosnia-Herzegovina/USA, 2002, 82 min., BetaSP
Presented by co-director Ruth Behar.
Directed by Ruth Behar, Vesna Ljubic.
Narrated by Elizabeth Peña.
Cinematography: Hakija Topic.
Editor: Blanka Jelic.
In Spanish/Ladino/English with English subtitles.

Distinguished Anthropologist Ruth Behar (recipient of the McArthur Genius Award) returns to her native Cuba to profile the island's remaining Sephardic Jews and chronicle her family's journey to the U.S. as Cuban-Jewish exiles. Highlighting themes of expulsion and departure that are at the crux of the Sephardic legacy, Behar seeks reconciliation with Cubans on the island and advocates for the possibility of return and renewal. She debunks myths about the country's Jewish community and unravels the influence of interfaith marriage, Afro-Cuban santería, tourism and the embargo on contemporary Cuban-Sephardic cultural identity. The result is a bittersweet, lyrical, and often humorous portrait of modern-day Cuba that few know exists today.

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The Mountains of Destiny: Dr. Arnold Fanck Directs Leni Riefenstahl
Fridays, October 31-November 14
An expert geologist and mountain climbing enthusiast, Arnold Fanck pioneered the mountain film (Bergfilme), an immensely popular genre of the German cinema. At a young age, Fanck's recovery from illness led him to Switzerland, where he developed keen interests in photography and mountainous landscapes. Between 1926 and 1933, he directed the now legendary and controversial filmmaker-photographer Leni Riefenstahl in several films, each shot on-site in the majestic Bavarian and Austrian alps. Magnificently photographed, the three features of this series showcase Riefenstahl's valiant performances among spectacular mountain vistas. Special thanks to Dean Otto and Joe Beres of the Walker Arts Center, Bill Kirkpatrick of the UW-Madison Department of Communication Arts, and Matthias Fanck.

Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.
The Holy Mountain (Der heilige Berg)
Germany, 1926, 100 min., 35mm
Written, Directed and Edited by Arnold Fanck.
Cinematography: Sepp Allgeier, Albert Benitz, Helmar Lerski, Hans Schneeberger.
With Leni Riefenstahl, Luis Trenker.

The alluring Leni Riefenstahl stars (in her first film role) as a tough tomboy, the object of rivaling attractions between a reclusive climber and a young skier. In this melodramatic epic that pits the human spirit against the power of nature, gorgeous cinematography captures frozen vistas and treacherous glaciers. German intertitles read in English. With live piano accompaniment by Todd Borgerding!  back to top

Friday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.
The White Hell of Piz Palü (Die Weiße Hölle vom Piz Palü)
Germany, 1929, 150 min., 35mm
Directed by Arnold Fanck, G.W. Pabst.
Written by Arnold Fanck, Ladislaus Vajda.
Produced by Harry R. Sokal.
Cinematography: Sepp Allgeier, Richard Angst, Hans Schneeberger.
Editor: Arnold Fanck.
With Gustav Diessl, Leni Riefnstahl.

Arnold Fanck's eye for cinematography combines with co-director G. W. Pabst's ( Pandora's Box ) flair for drama in this prototypical mountain film about a newlywed couple who join a man in search for his wife on the dangerous north wall of the Piz Palü mountain. The film was recently restored by the Munich Film Archive to its original length. German intertitles projected in English. Jazz pianist Matan Rubinstein will accompany this screening with a live performance.  Mr. Rubinstein studies at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and most recently performed at the Isthmus Jazz Festival.  He has also performed at the Jerusalem Film Festival, where he served as musical director and coordinator for two years.
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Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m.
Storm Over Mont Blanc (Stürme über dem Montblanc)
Germany, 1930, 91 min., 35mm
Written, Directed, and Edited by Arnold Fanck.
Produced by Harry R. Sokal.
Cinematography: Sepp Allgeier, Richard Angst, Hans Schneeberger.
With Sepp Rist, Leni Riefenstahl.

Fanck's first sound film was shot entirely on location in the Alps-a dangerous feat for the cast and crew, who found themselves working amidst treacherous conditions. Critically acclaimed for its stunning cinematography, Storm depicts the daring adventures of Hella (Riefenstahl), who falls in love with a meteorologist whom she rescues from the Mont Blanc observatory. In German with English subtitles.   back to top

Pursuits of Passion: Visions in Biographical Documentary
Saturdays, November 1-15
A deep investigation into an individual's life and the discovery of intricacies that lie there: such are the guiding forces of the biographical documentary. This remarkable series brings together three award-winning films about subjects completely engrossed in their work-- from a tranquil and mesmerizing Spanish painter, to a legendary three-time heavyweight champion boxer, to a groundbreaking artist of the American avant-garde cinema. Armed with probing cameras and a drive to capture the complexity of an individual's personality, the filmmakers represented by this series reveal as much about their own passions as those of their subjects.

Saturday, November 1, 7:30 p.m.
Dream of Light (Quince Tree of the Sun) (El Sol del membrillo)
Spain, 1990, 138 min., 35mm
Directed by Víctor Erice.
Written by Víctor Erice, Antonio López García.
Produced by Carmen Martínez, María Moreno.
Cinematography: Javier Aguirresarobe, Angel Luis Fernández.
Editor: Juan Ignacio San Mateo.
With Antonion López García, Marina Moreno, Enrique Gran. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Dream of Light follows Antonio Lopez's creation of a single painting of a beloved quince tree in his garden. Director Victor Erice's masterpiece is a "thoughtful, delicate inquiry into the essence of the artistic process and a tribute to the beauty and mutability of nature." - New York Times. Winner of the 1992 Grand Prix Jury Prize at Cannes.   back to top

Saturday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.
Muhammad Ali, the Greatest
France, 1964-1974, 110 min., 35mm
Directed by William Klein.
With Muhammad Ali, Sonny Liston, Angelo Dundee, Jack Nilon, Malcolm X.
Editors: Francine Grubert, Eva Zora.

Acclaimed photographer and filmmaker William Klein spent over ten years making this vibrant and intimate documentary about Muhammad Ali. The changing nature of Ali's inner circle and the racial climate of the times are brilliantly captured, as are Ali's fights. "The most evocative movie ever made about Ali." - The Village Voice.   back to top

Saturday, November 15, 7:30 p.m.
In the Mirror of Maya Deren (Im Spiegel der Maya Deren)
Austria/Switzerland/Germany, 2002, 104 min., 35mm
Written and Directed by Martina Kudlácek.
Cinematography: Wolfgang Lehner.
Editor: Henry Mills.
Original music: John Zorn.
With Miriam Arsham, Stan Brakhage, Chao-Li Chi, Alexander Hammid, Jonas Mekas.

Maya Deren, crowned "Fellini and Bergman wrapped in one gloriously possessed body" by the L.A. Weekly, was one of America's defining avant-garde filmmakers. In this remarkable portrait of the poetic visionary, Martina Kudlacek interweaves archival footage with observances from other avant-garde filmmakers. Original score by John Zorn. This screening is sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program.   back to top

Ann Arbor Film Festival
Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22
The Ann Arbor Film Festival is the premier festival for independent and experimental film. Established in 1963, this internationally renowned festival - which, obviously, is not confined to Michigan - is the oldest of its kind in North America. Each year, it attracts over 400 entries from filmmakers worldwide. This two-evening event presents a mix of awarded films and highlights from the festival-week program.   back to top

Friday, November 21, 7:30 p.m.
Ann Arbor Film Festival, Program 1
(104 min., 16mm)
Films include Ted Gesing's Nutria, a comedy about a Argentinean swamp rat; Mike Hoolboom's poetic Damaged; Bernhard Schreiner's Arrêté, an experimental documentary concerning a herd of goats and possibly other animals; and Diane Bonder's Closer to Heaven, an homage to the filmmaker's father. Visit http://www.aafilmfest.org/tour/program/ for details.   back to top

Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m.
Ann Arbor Film Festival, Program 2
(96 min., 16mm)
Films include Rick Raxlen's Rude Roll, which boogies to Lee Perry-King Tubby grooves; Percy Fuentes's Sand, featuring a unique hybrid technique of sand and computer animation; and Deborah Stratman's In Order Not to be Here, winner of the Gus Van Zant Award for Best Experimental Film. Visit http://www.aafilmfest.org/tour/program/ for details.   back to top

Annual Polish Film Festival
Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7
One of the our most popular events, the Polish Film Festival returns to the Cinematheque in December, co-sponsored by the Polish Students Association. This year's festival continues to emphasize recent Polish films, all of which deal with issues in contemporary Polish society.

Friday, December 5, 7:30 p.m.
Antichrist ( Antychryst )
Poland , 2002, 24 min., BetaSP
Written and Directed by Adam Guzinski, based on a short story by Endre Toth.
Produced by Index Film Studio, TVP S.A.
Producers: Konstanty Lewkowicz, Zdzislaw Kuczynski.
Cinematography: Marek Gajczak.
Editing: Jaroslaw Kaminski.
Cast: Dariusz Maciuk (Kacper), Marcin Zaluski (Szafran), Tomasz Szczesniak (Usza), Adam Witkowski (Koko).

Winner of a FIPRESCI Award at the 2002 Torino International Festival of Young Cinema, Adam Guzinski 's short film tells a menacing story of four boys who spend a day in wild and forbidden places. The eldest, a self-proclaimed demon, terrorizes and thrills his friends, but takes his amusements too far. Dreamily shot, and winner of the Grand Prix at the Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Films, Antychryst reveals the sinister side of a child's universe.

Czterech chlopców wlóczy sie po dzikich i zakazanych miejscach. Najstarszy z nich, Szafran, próbuje przekonac pozostalych. ze jest Antychrystem. Chcac udowodnic swoja nadprzyrodzona sile wymysla coraz bardziej wyszukane i niebezpieczne zabawy. Kazda próba, na która wystawia kolegów, upewnia go w niedorzecznym wyobrazeniu. Przekonany o swej diabelskiej mocy, kaze zakopac sie w ziemi. Wierzy, ze dzieki sile demona, potrafi sie z niej wyrwac. Próby koncza sie niepowodzeniem. Koledzy widzac, ze jest bezbronny, dokonuja na nim zemsty za przesladowania.

The Cathedral ( Katedra )
Animation/Fantasy short
Poland , 2002, 8 min., BetaSP
Written and Directed by Tomek Baginski, based on a short story by Jacek Dukaj.
Produced by Jarek Sawko, Piotr Sikora.
Original music: Adam Rosiak.
Sound: Kuba Pietrzak.
Voices: Jola Rzebuska, Maria Kucharska, Marcin Jaskowski, Piotr Widlarz.

In this Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Film, a weary pilgrim reaches the edge of the world at the end of his long journey. "The computer-animated The Cathedral from Poland is absolutely stunning. A figure enters a strange palace-like dwelling decorated with tree branches and sleeping figures. There's no real plot, but the amazing use of light is worth the price of admission." (Jeffrey M. Andreson, San Francisco Examiner ).

Krótka, metafizyczna przypowiesc o czlowieku, który szuka sensu zycia.

When the Sun Was God ( Stara Basn)
Drama/Fantasy
( Poland , 2003 , 107 min., 35mm)
Directed by Jerzy Hoffman.
Written by Jerzy Hoffman and Józef Hen, based on a novel by Józef I. Kraszewski.
Produced by Jerzy R. Michaluk, Jerzy Hoffman.
Cinematography: Pawel Lebieszew, Jerzy Goscik.
Music: Krzesimir Debski. Editing: Cezary Grzesiuk.
Cast: Daniel Olbrychski (Piastun), Michal Zebrowski (Ziemek), Bohdan Stupka (Popiel), Malgorzata Foremniak (Princess), Marina Aleksandrowa (Dziwa), Jerzy Trela (Wizun), Ewa Wisniewska (Jarucha), Anna Dymna (Jaga), Ryszard Filipski (Wisz), Andrzej Krukowski (Ludek).

WEBSITE: www.starabasn.pl

Polish history and folklore unite in this epic tale of war, crime, love, and betrayal. In the ninth century, 100 years before the creation of the Polish state, the crimes of cruel Prince Popiel incite a rebellion among the peasants of his land. Ziemek, a young hunter and warrior, takes up arms to fight for his people's country and for a woman destined for death. Veteran Polish director Jerzy Hoffman loosely based this fantastical account of Polish history on Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski's classic novel, Stara Basn . The film's lush landscapes and gory battles were shot by renowned Russian cinematographer Pawe l Lebieszew.

Film o zbrodni i karze, milosci i zazdrosci, o zyciu i obyczajach Praslowian. A takze o poczatkach polskiej panstwowosci. Akcja rozgrywa sie w IX wieku, sto lat przed przyjeciem chrztu przez Polske. W nadgoplanskim kraju krwawe rzady sprawuje ksiaze Popiel. Jego zbrodnie wywoluja bunt kmieci. Ziemek, mlody mysliwy i wojownik, zakochany w Dziwie, córce kmiecia Wisza, nie chce pogodzic sie z wola ojca dziewczyny, który przeznaczyl ja bogom i oddal do chramu Swietowita. Postanawia wlaczyc o ukochana. Ziemek spotyka Piastuna, bylego dowódce zbrojnych ksiecia Popiela, i wraz z innymi kmieciami podejmuje walke przeciwko krwawemu wladcy.

Saturday, December 6, 7:30pm
Eden
Animation/Comedy
Poland , 2002, 35mm, 85 min. Written and Directed by Andrzej Czeczot.
Produced by Tomasz Filipczak.
Original music: Michal Urbaniak.
Editing: Tereza Miziolek.
Voices: Urszula Dudziak, Eugene Lazarotti.

WEBSITE: http://www.eden-film.com

Do animated films have to be made just for kids? Well, we now have the answer in Andrzej Czeczot's Eden , a color-saturated, visually gorgeous adult fable that is by turns funny, outrageous, and philosophical. Conceived with the pictorial imagination of Hieronymus Bosch, the story is richly infused with characters, plots, and gimmicks from sources that range from Greek mythology and the Bible to favorite childhood comic strips and cartoons. Charged with metaphor and symbolism, Eden follows its striped-pants hero, the villager Youczek, through the creation of the world, the evolution of life, a harrowing descent into hell, the flood, visits to purgatory and paradise, the Bermuda triangle, and, finally, New York City. Caught in the middle of an eons-long running battle between good and evil, Youczek encounters everything from the combat of hideous monsters to a hot romance with Naomi, the wife of Noah. The multifaceted work of painter/writer/cartoonist/director Czeczot, originally from Lodz , Poland , has appeared in the New York Times , the New Yorker , and the Wall Street Journal . In Eden , he runs directly counter to the current trend toward all-digital production. Each frame was drawn on celluloid tape in an effort that took sixty artists five years to complete. The result is 85 minutes of eye-popping visual imagery and a radical sound design based on Michal Urbanik's superb and sly musical score. Eden is nothing short of a masterpiece. (Miami International Film Festival program note)

Glównym bohaterem filmu jest Józek, który gra na fujarce i podrózuje - w powietrzu, na ladzie i w wodzie - spotykajac na swojej drodze postaci-symbole kultury europejskiej i amerykanskiej. Natyka sie na Prometeusza, Herkulesa, Janosika, Salvadora Dali, Chopina w muzycznym pojedynku z Paganinim, Charliego Parkera, Elvisa Presley'a, Beatlesów w zóltej lodzi podwodnej, Noego z rodzina, Napoleona, Neptuna, braci Wright, Kolumba, Isadore Duncan, orkiestre z Titanica, Robinsona z Pietaszkiem, George'a Washingtona, a takze mase dziwnych zwierzat, potworów, aniolów, diablów, czarownice, a nawet samego Pana Boga.

Saturday, December 6, 9:00 pm
Squint Your Eyes ( Zmruz oczy )
Drama/Comedy
( Poland , 2003, BetaSP, 88 min.)
Written and Directed by Andrzej Jakimowski.
Produced by Arkadiusz Artemjew, Tomasz Gassowski, Andrzej Jakimowski.
Cinematography: Adam Bajerski, Pawel Smietanka.
Editing: Cezary Grzesiuk, Tomasz Gassowski.
Cast: Zbigniew Zamachowski (Jasiek), Ola Prószynska (Mala), Rafal Guzniczak (Sosnowski), Malgorzata Foremniak (Mala's Mother), Andrzej Chyra (Mala's Father), Andrzej Mastalerz (Eugeniusz).

WEBSITE: http://www.zmruzoczy.pl

Polish director Andrzej Jakimowski's first feature is a winningly original, offbeat comedy that raises some serious questions about the values that adults unwittingly pass on to kids. Former teacher Jasiek, now caretaker of a farm in the Polish countryside, finds his quiet life disrupted when a former student runs away from home and comes to hide out on the farm. When the girl's pretentious parents follow, Jasiek tries to do the right thing for everyone. (Denver Film Society program note)

Byly nauczyciel pracuje jako stróz, pilnujac skromnych reliktów techniki rolniczej. Jego towarzystwo stanowia miejscowy glupek oraz bezpretensjonalny mlodzieniec. Dolacza do nich rezolutna 11-latka, która woli azyl posród lak od nowobogackiego domu rodzinnego.

Sunday, December 7, 2:00 pm
Tales from the Kingdom of Lailonia: Five Animated Fables of Kolakowski
Poland, 1999, 78 min., BetaSP
A Tale about Children's Toys ( O zabawkach dla dzieci )
15 min., dir. Hieronim Neumann
How the Divine Maior Lost His Throne ( Jak Bóg Maior stracl tron )
16 min., dir. Pawel Walicki
The Story of the Greatest Quarrel ( O najwiekszej klotni )
18 min., dir. Zbigniew Kotecki
A Tale of Great Shame ( O wielkim wstydzie )
15 min., dir. Jacek Adamczak
The Famous One ( O slawnym czlowieku )
14 min., dir. Krzysztof Kiwerski
Based on the celebrated works by Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski, this extraordinary collection comprises five fables of unusual and satirical appeal. Showcasing some of the best Polish talent in the field of animation, each tale illustrates some aspect of human inability to come to terms with imperfection, infinitude, history, and nature.
Na podstawie pieciu z trzynastu bajek filozoficznych wedlug polskiego filozofa Leszka Kolakowskiego.

Sunday, December 7, 3:30 pm
Mr. Virgin ( Jak to sie robi z dziewczynami )
Poland , 2002, 90 min., BetaSP
Written and Directed by Przemek Angerman.
Produced by Waldemar Dziki.
Cinematography: Bartek Prokopowicz.
Editing: Krzysztof Szpetmanski.
Produced by Dziki Film, ITI Cinema
Cast: Radek Kaim (Bogo), Krzysztof Pralat (Rychu), Elzbieta Komorowska ( Ada ), Malgorzata Foremniak ( Mela), Agnieszka Dygant (Zora).

WEBSITE: http://dziewczyny.tenbit.pl

Approaching adulthood, best friends Bogo and Rysiek cannot handle one of its most pressing problems - women. When Rysiek has trouble finding a girlfriend, Bogo, a self-confident tough guy, decides to lend him a helping hand. Winner of Best Comedy at the 2003 Gdynia Polish Film Festival, Mr. Virgin might well be Poland's answer to American Pie.  

Bogo i Rychu stojac na progu doroslego zycia nie potrafia sobie poradzic z bardzo istotnym problemem: z kobietami. Chlopcy sa przyjaciólmi od zawsze. Bogo, twardziel, przekonany o swojej skutecznosci w podrywaniu dziewczyn, w drodze do celu nie przebiera w srodkach. To on jest motorem akcji. Rysiek to marzyciel, który nie bardzo umie sie odnalezc w realiach doroslego zycia, zagubiona ofiara losu. Nigdy jeszcze nie mial dziewczyny. Przyjaciel postanawia mu pomoc.

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Friday, December 12, 7:30 pm
IFVC Showcase: IFVC Open Video Show

Saturday, December 13, 7:30 p.m.
IFVC Showcase: IFVC Open Film Show

Highlighting the work of local filmmakers and videographers, the Independent Film and Video Collaborative holds its semianual Open Shows, to which anyone who has made a film or video can submit. All entries should list title, director, and length (less than 10 minutes), and must be submitted in 16mm, 35mm, video, or BetaSP format.   back to top