Viewfinder Global Film Series
Friday, March 5, 6:30 p.m.
Stand Like Still Living and 5 Heroes of AIDS in Africa
A man and woman living in a San village in western Botswana buck the silence shrouding AIDS in their community.
An uplifting documentary on the journey of South Africa's Agape Children's Choir
Hosts: Jessica Marlitt, MK Otlhogile, Tasha Tobias-White & the Global Citizens' Club
Friday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.
Eye of the Leopard (young audience)
Dereck and Beverly Joubert follow the life of Legadema, a young leopard in the Mombo region of Botswana.
Baraka
An incredible silent film containing images of 24 countries from 6 continents.
FLOW
Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigates what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st century - the world water crisis.
Alethea
Since 1989 the local Turkish community in Bergama, Turkey, has resisted an Australian and Canadian joint venture to mine gold with a cyanide leaching process.
Hosts: Peter Shulman, Dan Griffiths, Eric Shawn, Nagme Karamustafaoglu, and Carter Latendresse
Friday, May 7, 6:30 p.m.
Children of Jerusalem (young audience)
This collection of films profiles the daily lives of five children living in Jerusalem.
Promises
Several Jewish and Palestinian children are followed for three years and put in touch with each other.
Ujeli: Child Bride in Nepal
Against the advice of her teacher and doctor, who warn of the dangers of early child bearing, Ujeli's parents arrange for her to be married.
Hosts: Paul Andrichuk, David Ellenberg, Mark Lawton, Paul Monheimer, Laurie Carlyon-Ward
The global education program is proud to host the Viewfinder Global Film Series.
Films are recommended by faculty and chosen as extensions of curriculum.
All films start concurrently at 6:30 p.m. in Vollum Humanities Center classrooms and Gerlinger Auditorium.
Some films have been chosen for younger audiences from festivals such as Chicago International Children's Film Festival. Few of these films are rated and some depict "mature" content. Please, click the title and use discretion in deciding on films.
VGFS Discussion Forum
Previous Films
Madame Ti Zo
Madame Ti Zo, a midwife and herbal doctor, runs her own clinic in Jacmal, Haiti.
Thursday, October 8, 6:30 p.m.
Taare Zameen Par (for young audiences)
Ishaan Awasthi (Darsheel Safary) is an eight-year-old whose world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate; colors, fish, dogs and kites are just not important in the world of adults, who are much more interested in things like homework, marks and neatness. And Ishaan just cannot seem to get anything right in class.
When he gets into far more trouble than his parents can handle, he is packed off to a boarding school to be disciplined. Things are no different at his new school, and Ishaan has to contend with the added trauma of separation from his family.
Born into Brothels
Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta, and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city's notorious red light district.
Still Life
The movie takes place amid the clatter and misery of the Three Gorges Dam, which cuts across the Yangtze in central China. The largest dam in the world...
Mardi Gras Made in China
This examination of cultural and economic globalization follows the life cycle of Mardi Gras beads from a small factory in Fuzhou, China, to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and to art galleries in New York City
Hosts: Tony Stocks, Mariam Higgins, Li-Ling Cheng, Beining Hu, and Veronique de la Poterie
Thursday, November 12, 6:30 p.m
Kirikou (young audience)
A small, African boy named Kirikou is born, walking and talking. A sorceress has dried the springs and devoured the males. Kirikou journeys to the sorceress to confront...
Persepolis
Poignant coming-of-age story of a precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl that begins during the Islamic Revolution.
Released in 2005, astounding shots of Istanbul, capturing the craziness and humor of 'organized' crime and unorganized society.
Hable con Ella
Two men share an odd friendship while they care for their girlfriends who are both in deep comas.
Hosts: Richard Kassissieh, Holly Walsh, Brett Mathes, Carter Latendresse and Nagme Karamustafaoglu
Friday, January 22, 6:30 p.m.
Viva Cuba (80 min) (young audience... ages 7 and up)
Viva Cuba is a Cuban independent film that explores emigration and the effects it can have on children who have to leave friends and extended families behind.
Lost Son of Havana (102 min)
After 46 years in exile, former major league baseball star Luis Tiant returns to Cuba, where he encounters unexpected demons and receives unexpected gifts from his family.
Hosts: Roberto Villa, Nance Leonhardt
Friday, February 19, 6:30 p.m
Diversity and Multiculturalism in Independent Schools
Long Way from Home (82 min)
Three very capable girls enter 9th grade at top schools. There they confront worlds very different from the ones they come from.
Host: Diversity Steering Committee members Paul Andrichuk, Allen Schauffler, David Ellenberg, Zalika Gardner, Brett Mathes, Ann Fyfield, Veronica Ledoux
Rights from the Heart (I & II) (80 mins)
Based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of a Child, these short, nonverbal films engage even the youngest audience members in conversations about equity and diversity. Funded by the National Film Board of Canada, these films address topics from the right to self-expression, homelessness, and racism with innovative and beautiful animation techniques. Suitable for children age 5 and older.
Hosts: Nance Leonhardt & Spencer White
Global education helps us better understand people from other cultures and ourselves.
While the language of film is universal, topical approaches, directorial styles, and contextual elements are as diverse as the regions in which they are created. Like works of literature, films allow viewers to access authentic, first-person points of view. We see the world through the eyes of others, and in the process expand our own view.
Viewfinder co-coordinators Spencer White and Nance Leonhardt meet with global trip leaders, student groups, classroom teachers and others to select a series of films that will engage students and parents across divisions and give voice to the diversity of people and cultures here at Catlin Gabel. We sincerely hope that the Viewfinder Series inspires teachers to build curriculum around the subject matter of films and look for possible thematic collaborations. If there is a particular film you'd like to have us consider screening in the 2010 -11 VGFS, please click here.
Choosing films that are inspired by our curriculum, the Viewfinder Global Film Series aims to:
- Inspire curiosity and ignite conversation about people and places across the globe.
- Invite an audience representing all constituents of our community.
- Disrupt and question preconceptions and stereotypes.
- Broaden our points of view on global issues.
- Access films that we would not normally encounter in mainstream media.
- Deepen our conversations about what global education, diversity, and multiculturalism mean at Catlin Gabel.
Trips
While trips are an important aspect of global education, we want both traveling and non-traveling students to gain exposure to the cultures some students have visited.
International students and leave of absence students
By choosing films that relate to our international students' home countries and the destinations of our returning and outbound SYA students, we deepen our international connections to each other.
Filmmakers-in-residence
Eventually, Viewfinder hopes to invite and attract distinguished filmmakers to Catlin Gabel campus to present their work and experience to our community.
News
