Entertainment Editor- Laura Ostrander |
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| Volume 26, Issue #2 |
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September 22, 1999
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Entertainment Editor- Laura Ostrander |
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| Volume 26, Issue #2 |
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September 22, 1999
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| FOREIGN FILM FEATURES 10 FILMS... by Laura Ostrander |
| From nine different countries come
ten different foreign films shown on ten different Thursday’s in NIACC’s
Beem Forum at 3 p.m. and MacNider Art Museum’s Salsbury Room at 7 p.m.
According to Paul Nagy, the NIACC instructor who is in charge of the event, “ Central Station, a1998 Portuguese film with subtitles about a woman who hacks out a living writing letters for illiterate people searching for estranged relatives, played Septembert 9. The Tango Lesson, playing September 23, is a 1997 British, Spanish, and French film about an English filmmaker who attends a tango exhibition and decides to make a movie about the dance and her experience with the man who teaches her. Playing October 14 is La Promesse, a1996 French film about a fifteen-year-old boy who defies his father by making a promise to a dying illegal immigrant who worked in the construction business of his father. Waking Ned Divine, a1998 Irish film about two men who impersonate a dead man in order to cash in his winning lottery ticket, will play October 28. A 1998 Russian film, The Thief, playing November 11, is about a single-parent family that is seduced by the charms of an immoral soldier as they travel their troubled country during the Stalinist 50s while stealing to make a living. Playing December 2 is Dancing at Lughnasa, a1998 Irish film starring Meryl Streep about a Catholic family who must face the tumultous return of their priest/missionary brother from Africa during the annual religious festival based upon a pagan ritual. Bolshe Vita, a1996 Hungarian and Russian film playing January 27, 2000, features a mismatched group of young people who meet in a rock-pub in Budapest while celebrating the fall of Communism in Hungary in 1989. A 1974 Italian film about the memories and imagination of the director, Fellini, during his childhood in the seaside village of Rimini, Amacord will play February 17. Brassed Off, a1996 British film starring Ewan McGregor, is about a mining town community who enters their local band in a national competition to stave off the impending loss of their livelihood. It will play March 23. Playing April 13 is Ju Dou, a1989 Mandarin film about the young bride of an abusive man who seduces the man’s foster son. Because this film depicted the strict, male-dominated Chinese society in the 20s, it was suppressed in China. This foreign film series, presented by the MacNider Art Museum and sponsored in part by Friends of the Mason City Public Library, NIACC’s Get Global Committee, and individual sponsors, is open to the public and free of admission. Following the 7 p.m. showing of the film at the Museum, there will be a casual discussion of the film. |
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| CHECK IT OUT... column by Laura Ostrander, entertainment editor |
| For most individuals, music is a
hobby, a simple, passive form of entertainment; we listen to the works
of a favorite group or musician. The majority of music lovers do
not even consider where their favorite music originates from.
For every song written, there was a dedicated musician involved somewhere in the making who spent countless hours agonizing over melodies, key signatures, and possibly even lyrics. Unfortunately, music fans usually fail to appreciate the amount of time a musician must invest in composing original music. The talent for composing music is a rare gift bequeathed to few aspiring musicians, a talent which should be appreciated by those who reap the benefits of that musician’s labor. Most musicians, myself included, spend most of their time performing music that others have created. We may improvise or play it in a different style, but the original idea remains unchanged. I have played piano for twelve years, but I have yet to compose a single song; I am currently mired in the process of composing my first song, but frankly I don’t believe I have the talent for it. In light of what I view as a shortcoming on my part, I appreciate the music of those who are able to compose better than myself. Now that I understand the amount of time it takes to compose a single line of music, I marvel at some of the music which crosses my path. I am able to respect even those musicians who compose music I despise. I respect the talent and true dedication it takes to accomplish such a feat. In the same way, I respect the talent and dedication of my teachers, the authors of the books I read, and the directors of the movies I watch. All of these things, even learning, can be considered entertainment and we should respect the people who can do things that we cannot, teach, write books, direct movies, and even compose music. |
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