Languages Film Festival

Join us for the 2nd Film Festival!

Relation.s”

Come explore languages, communities, cultures, and their multi-faceted connections

This program is supported by the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, the Library, and the Office of the Provost. This program is presented by the Division of Modern and Classical Languages.


Come Watch!

  1. Check out the exhibit in relation to the film, the culture and/or the language, displayed during the day in Dewing Commons.
  2. Come back at 8:15 p.m. in Dewing 103 for the movie, complimentary popcorn, soda, and a raffle ticket for the opportunity to win a prize. Culturally relevant treats will also be offered!

About “Relation.s”

The theme for our second edition is “Relation.s”: Come explore languages, communities, cultures, and their multi-faceted connections!

Additional Information

  • Due to public performance rights limitations, nearly all movies are open to K College students, faculty & staff only.
  • The movie showing on October 3 is open to all.
  • Movies are shown in the original language(s) with English subtitles.

Festival Schedule

Week 4


The World, un film de Ha Zhangke movie cover.

Monday, October 3

“The World” (Chinese)

A group of migrant workers live and work in a theme park “Shijie” (world) in the suburb of Beijing, with their live and relation shaped by the production chain and commodity technoculture of the globe. Directed by Jia Zhangke, 2004.

Volver, un film de Almodovar, movie cover.

Thursday, October 6

“Volver” (Spanish)

Volver, a film by Pedro Almodóvar (2006), is an intergenerational story of family secrets, trauma and redemption.

Week 5


We Are Not Princesses, movie cover.

Monday, October 10

“We are not Princesses” (Greek)

We Are Not Princesses [dir. Bridgette Auger and Itab Azzam, 2018] documents the courage of four women, Syrian refugees living in Beirut, who relate their stories through their performance of Sophocles’ Antigone. Like the Greek heroine, these women have suffered pain, loss, and displacement, yet are able to give voice to their trauma and hopes through this ancient tale.

Transit, movie cover.

Tuesday, October 11

“Transit” (German)

The 2018 drama Transit (dir. Christian Petzold) has been described as “Casablanca as written by Kafka”; the film, which could be set during WWII or today, tells the gripping story of a political refugee who assumes another man’s identity to flee a fascist state.

Week 6


Visages Villages, "Faces and Places" movie cover.

Monday, October 17

“Faces Places” (French)

The 2017 documentary Faces Places takes us on a detour-rich road trip with acclaimed filmmaker Agnes Varda and photographer/muralist JR, as the kindred spirits and intergenerational duo interact with people along the way and create sites together where all are welcome. Directed by Agnes Varda & JR.

Wednesday, October 19

“Maborosi” (Japanese)

Despite her outwardly happy and tranquil life as a wife and new mother, Yukimo is regularly troubled by a horrific nightmare about the death of her grandmother. When tragedy strikes her husband, Ikuo, the stress forces Yumiko into hermit-like solitude until a kindly widower attempts to draw her from her shell. This is the first scripted film by Japanese filmmaker KORE’EDA Hirokazu, who had previously been been known for his documentaries.

Week 7


Cesare Deve Morire un film di Paolo E Vittorio Taviani movie cover

Monday, October 24

“Caesar Must Die” (Latin)

Cesare Must Die [dir. Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, 2012] follows a group of inmates in a high security area of Rome’s Rebibbia prison as they rehearse a performance of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Walking a line between documentary and drama, Caesar Must Die examines the relationships between past and present, tyranny and freedom, fiction and reality in a way that makes the past feel achingly present.

Budrus, movie poster

Thursday, October 27

“Budrus” (Arabic)

Budrus is an award-winning feature documentary film about Palestinian community organizer, Ayed Morrar, who unites Palestinian political factions and invites Israeli supporters to join an unarmed movement to save his village of Budrus from destruction by Israel’s Separation Barrier. Directed by Julia Bacha, 2009.

Week 8


Baba Joon movie poster.

Monday, October 31

“Baba Joon” (Hebrew)

Note: this screening will take place at 6 p.m.
The son of a family of Iranian farmers in Israel rebels against his strong-willed father. Directed by Yuval Delshad, 2015.

Past Languages Film Festivals

Interested in exploring past Languages Film Festivals? Learn more about the 1st Languages Film Festival, “Encounters.”

Questions?

Please contact Dr. Chatton at aurelie.chatton@kzoo.edu.