Spring Break
Immigration at the movies
Alison Killy
Issue date: 9/23/08 Section: Features
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The organizers behind the Hispanic film series are professors Jennifer M. Valko and Juan J. Daneri. Their goal is to use the films as a medium to expand on topics taught in Spanish language and Hispanic studies classes. They intend to prompt further thought with discussions held after the film. Guest speakers will be invited to attend both films, and will help introduce the films and lead discussions afterwards.
"The overall goals with the Hispanic Film Series are to promote an informed respect and open-mindedness towards other cultures, to cultivate awareness of cross-cultural similarities and differences, and to encourage an understanding of international events from multiple viewpoints," said Daneri.
Directed by Gerardo Olivares, the first film, 14 Kilometros, chronicles the 14 kilometers that separate Spain and Africa. With hunger and violence forcing them to leave their homeland, Olivares shows the struggles of three Africans: Violeta, Buba and Mukela, who make the journey from Africa to Spain. They believe that in Europe, "nobody dies of hunger," but their journey is full of treacherous hardships and obstacles. This film can be viewed Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. in Bate 1032.
The second film will be shown on Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in Bate 1032. Directed by Marc Becker, Romántico, is a documentary about the life of Mexican mariachi musician Carmelo Muñiz Sánchez. After leaving Mexico to make his fortune in the U.S., Sánchez plays love songs for tips at local taco shops in San Francisco.
"I find these films thought-provoking," said Valko.
Keeping their goals in mind, every year films are grouped with similar themes to unify and prompt discussion on specific topics. The films the professors chose are recent films, unlikely to have been seen in local theaters, but have received critical acclaim in their respective countries and international film festivals.
"In the future, we hope to secure a budget that will enable us to open the series to a campus-wide audience and to the community at large," Daneri said.
For more information on the Hispanic film series visit ecu.edu/cs-cas/foreign/hispanicfilm.cfm.
This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.
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