All showings are Fridays at 7 p.m. in room 150 Hawthorn. Admission is free and open to the public, with free refreshments and Sundance giveaway prizes. For more information, contact Kevin Moist at 814-949-5779, KMM104@psu.edu
JANUARY 25 – EVE AND THE FIRE HORSE
Eve and Karena, two young Canadian sisters of Chinese heritage, are determined to reverse the string of tragedies that has shadowed their working-class family ever since their mother (Vivian Wu) cut down the backyard apple tree. In response, the two girls embrace Christianity, with 11-year-old Karena trying to live the life of a saint. But what of the family's Buddhist tradition? Julia Kwan's wry and delicately observed debut feature about faith, religion and coincidence won the Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
FEBRUARY 29 – MARC JACOBS & LOUIS VUITTON
Bringing the same intimate insight into the fashion world as his previous acclaimed documentary series Signe Chanel, filmmaker Loic Prigent focuses on Marc Jacobs, called the most influential designer of his generation. This witty portrait follows Jacobs as he balances roles as artistic director of venerable French house Louis Vuitton and his own eponymous American line, in meetings, preparing collections and at high-profile shows. With Naomi Campbell, Sophia Coppola and Uma Thurman. “Artfully told with humor and panache” – Vogue.
MARCH 28 – MAN PUSH CART
In his award-winning feature directorial debut, Ramin Bahrani presents an unforgettable character study of a typical Manhattan street vendor. Early every morning, Pakistani immigrant Ahmad (Ahmad Razvi) sets up a coffee-and-bagel pushcart in Midtown. Yet solitary and stoic Ahmad is a man with a past. His wife is dead and he is so poor, his son must live with in-laws. Back home, he was known as a pop star, but his life in New York is almost an existential parable about the futility of getting by. Appeared at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. “Subtly resonant” – Village Voice.
APRIL 25 – NICE BOMBS
In Nice Bombs filmmaker Usama Alshaibi returns to Baghdad to reunite with his family after nearly 24 years. This documentary navigates through his unique relationship to an Iraq that is much different than the country of his childhood. Usama captures the conflicting reactions to the conditions of life in Baghdad. Through a wide range of opinions and experiences he provides a broad panorama of voices long neglected under Saddam’s regime. With humor and resilience Nice Bombs explores Usama’s dual role as both Iraqi and American. Produced by Studs Terkel. “Thoroughly engaging… offers a uniquely time-layered vision of the war” – Variety.
