FILM

HCC Northwest presents The Fall 2009 Reel Culture Film and Speaker Series.

HCC Northwest presents The REEL Culture Film & Speaker Series at the Town & Country Campus. All programs are on Wednesday and begin at 12:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Faculty members will introduce films and lead critical evaluation/discussion. Guest speakers will be available for questions and answers following presentations. Book-signing opportunities are provided as appropriate.

This series headlines with prominent speakers and intriguing films meant to inform and motivate people to think more critically about their surroundings. 

Students, faculty, staff, and the community are invited to attend.

Schedule of Events:

September 9th, Wednesday
11: 00 a.m. Film
Frozen River (97 minutes) 2008
When her husband runs off with the payment for their new home, Ray turns to crime to keep herself and her two sons afloat. A chance encounter with Lila, an equally desperate young Mohawk woman, leads Ray to smuggling illegal immigrants by driving across the frozen Hudson River onto tribal land.

1 p.m. Film
Le Grand Journey (103 minutes) 2004
The stern father of a Muslim family in France has his teenage son drive him to Mecca for the religious pilgrimage known as the hajj. A travel adventure that explores the generation gap of father and son and carries the viewer to new cultural horizons.

Introduction/ Discussion with Professor Melissa Miller-Waters

September 16th, Wednesday
11: 00 a.m. Film
The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships (56 minutes) 2008.

Introduction/ Discussion Dr. Robert Jensen, Professor Univ. of Texas School of Journalism.

12:45 p.m. Talk “Getting Off: Pornography and the End of Masculinity” with Professor Jensen (Dr. Jensen’s several books will be available at program.)

FILM STUDYGUIDE: http://www.mediaed.org/assets/products/235/studyguide_235.pdf

September 23rd, Wednesday
12:30 p.m. Film
Jean de Florette (121 minutes) 1986.
A 1986 French historical drama film based on a novel by Marcel Pagnol. The story takes place in rural Provence (southern France) shortly after World War I when two local farmers scheme to trick a newcomer out of his newly inherited property. “Guy de Maupassant would have loved this!” In French with English Subtitles.

Introduction/ Discussion with Professor Ana Hnat.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th (HCC) West Loop Auditorium
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. – Performance Charles Darwin – Live! Interpreted by Robert Dennison HISD Advanced Placement Lead Teacher
5601 West Loop South Houston, Texas 77081
See link @ http://www.darwin2009houston.org/  

October 7th Wednesday
12:30 p.m. Readings & Film
You Gotta’ Stand Up: The Life and High Times of John Henry Faulk History Professor and Author Chris Drake, will read from his recently published book and share film of the one-man drama of John Henry as performed by Professor Drake. “John Henry Faulk not only broke the blacklist in the 1950s ending a communist witch hunt headed by Joe McCarthy – [he was] A wise man and
talented humorist.”(Alexandra’s Review)

October 14th, Wednesday
12:30 p.m. Film
Autism the Musical (94 minutes) 2007.
UnStrange Minds? The Worlds of AUTISM documented in six months in the 2005-06 lives of five children with autism and their parents in Los Angeles, California as their children write and rehearse for an original stage production.
http://www.themiracleproject.org/ 

(Possible showing of Malathon (2005) film about Korean boy with autism who runs a marathon.)   

October 21st, Wednesday
12:30 p.m. Film
The Soloist (109 minutes) 2008
Music Sublime on Los Angeles Streets! Story of friendship of Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez and a homeless and genius street musician suffering from schizophrenia. From book The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music, authored by Steve Lopez; see “60 Minutes” Report.

October 28th, Wednesday
12:30 p.m. Film
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (95 minutes) 2004
Oscar winning documentary in which McNamara, a key architect of the US war in Vietnam, speaks in assessment of American and Johnson administration policy in Southeast Asia in retrospect. [Robert McNamara (1916 - 2009)] “Fog of war” describes an ambiguity in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. http://www.sonyclassics.com/fogofwar/

Introduction/ Discussion with History Professor and Chair Gisela Ables.

November 4th, Wednesday
12:30 p.m. Film
FLOW: For Love of Water (93 minutes) 2008.
Irena Salina’s documentary investigates what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century – The World Water Crisis. As suggested by W. B. Auden “Thousands have lived without love; not one without water.” LINKS FOR STUDY: http://www.flowthefilm.com/ 

Introduction/ Discussion with Professor Donna Rhea.

November 11th, Wednesday
12:30 p.m. Film
Food, Inc (95 minutes) 2009
Hungry? The Food We Eat Exposed! Documentary that lifts the veil on our nation’s food systems. Film shows what happens with our industrialized food system run primarily by corporations that typically put profit ahead of consumer and national health, including the
livelihood of farmers, the safety of workers, and the sustainability of our environment while our government’s regulatory agencies, the USDA and FDA, turn a blind eye to it.  http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-film.php