The Valley Film Society
of
Saginaw Valley State University
2009-10 Season
2009
September 11
Keeping Mum (United Kingdom, 2005; Niall Johnson, 103 min.)
Black comedy about a vicar, his sexually frustrated wife, their two children, and their eccentric new housekeeper (Maggie Smith). A massively quirky family. Small gem, sparked by sterling cast.
September 25
The Tracker (Australia, 2002; Rolf de Heer, 90 min.)
In the 1922 Australian outback three white men, led by an aboriginal tracker, hunt an aboriginal fugitive. In the course of their beautifully filmed quest the supposedly subservient tracker is more in control than they realize.
October 2
84 Charing Cross Road (USA, 1987; David Jones, 97 min.)
A twenty-year correspondence between a feisty NYC woman & a London bookseller who provides her with rare books leads to friendship. Ideal performances by Bancroft, Hopkins, Dench.
October 16
L'Auberge Espaniole (France/Spain, 2002 ; Cdric Klapisch, 116 min.)
French graduate student goes to Barcelona for his year abroad, then finds himself in a cramped apartment with six strangers of different nationalities. Mirthful adventure.
October 30
Color of Paradise (Iran, 1999; Majid Majidi, 88 min.)
Blind 8-year old Iranian boy, deeply sensitive to nature, returns to his home in mountainous northern Iran, where he must cope with a father who considers him a burden.
Songcatcher (USA, 2000; Maggie Greenwald, 109 min.)
Woman musicologist visiting her sister in Applachia stumbles upon a treasure trove of ancient Scots-Irish ballads hidden away for centuries by the isolated mountain folk. She avidly collects them, hoping to gain promotion at her university.
November 6
Bread and Tulips (Italy/Switzerland, 2000; Silvio Soldini, 114 min.)
Suburban Italian housewife/mother is stranded in a roadside cafe when her family leaves without her, so she hitchhikes to Venice. There she settles in and meets strange, but fascinating, people and perhaps a new life.
November 20
Monsieur Ibrahim (France, 2003; Franois Dupeyron, 94 min.)
Jewish teen in 1960's Paris befriends an elderly, philosophical, Muslim Turkish neighbor. Their growing friendship & life's lessons in the stuff of this movie. Omar Sharif plays the Muslim.
2010
January 15
Danton (Poland/France, 1982; Andrzej Wajda, 136 min.)
Historical drama about the reign of terror during the French revolution. Brilliant, literate, absorbing film, with Depardieu outstanding in the title role.
January 29
Saraband (Sweden, 2003; Ingmar Bergman, 107 min.)
Dysfunctional couple are reunited 30 years after their divorce, and are involved in family turmoil. Rich, deep emotional complexity that characterized director Bergman's best films.
February 12
Mifune (Denmark, 1999; Soren Kragh-Jacobsen, 99 min.)
Newly wed man must take care of his mentally retarded brother after their father dies. Complications follow when his new housekeeper turns out to be an ex-hooker with her own problems.
February 26
Secret of Nicola Tesla (Yugoslavia, 1980; Krsto Papic, 115 min.)
Biography of Tesla, outstanding inventor of electrical applications in the late 19th-early 20th century. Orson Welles plays J.P. Morgan. Among Testla's inventions were radio and alternating current.
March 5
La Vie en Rose (France, UK, Czech Republic, 2007; Oliver Dahan, 140 min.)
A film biography about the short and tragic life of Edith Piaf.
March 19
Taxing Woman (Japan, 1987; Juzo Itami, 126 min)
Comedy about a tireless, zealous woman investigator for the Japanese IRS and her confrontation with a businessman who considers himself a pro in evading taxes.
April 2
The Prisoner of Shark Island (USA, 1936; John Ford, 95min.)
Story of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who treated the injuries of Lincoln's assassin, then was imprisoned for life. Gripping story. Maltin awards it ***½. (Leading lady was still working in 2004.)
April 9
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring (South Korea/Germany, 2004; Ki-duk Kim, 103 min.)
Tenets of Buddhism illustrated by cyclical patterns of young monk's life: he confronts birth, death, rebirth via violence, danger, love, and compassion.
April 30
8 Women (France, 2002; François Ozon, 113 min.)
A melodrama/musical featuring some of France's most beautiful women. The plot serves as a vehicle for the songs & dances: murder in an isolated mansion in the 1950's, secrets hidden by the women. Funny.
May 21
Film selection meeting.
The purpose of this meeting is to allow the membership to nominate films for the next season. Anyone who joins the VFS for next season may nominate films either at this meeting or by mail. To be held in Curtiss 100, where our screenings are held.
All screenings will be held in room Curtiss 100 (which is across Groening Commons from the Performing Arts Center) at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays.