Summary: Extra Credit Film Opportunities
Cultural Anthropology Extra Credit Film Opportunities Due: Week 16
You can choose up to 6 films (3 points each) to view and prepare a short (1-2 pages, typed, black ink, 12 pt. font, double spaced) paper discussing the film. You may want to choose one film from each group but that is not required. Please include the time of the class you are enrolled in and staple your papers. I will not accept emailed extra credit.
For your write up: * Identify the anthropological topic or subject of the film. What do you think is the topic film group? For example, does this film expose issues of gender inequality? Religious intolerance? Ethnocentric attitudes? In other words, why do you think I chose these particular films? How do they …show more content…
relate to class topics? Do not summarize the films but review them with an anthropological perspective.
* Include your own opinions when writing about your selections and comment on whether you experience any ethnocentrism and/or culture shock in the subjects you encounter. What is your reaction to some of the topics and some of the extreme ethnocentrisms that are portrayed?
You can find these titles in most Blockbuster Video stores, Netflix or in reserve in the LRC (ask at the check-in counter in the BEACH.) Several of these titles will be in the foreign film section and have subtitles. If you prefer not to read when you watch movies, do not choose the foreign titles. (Please note descriptions for films were obtained on Netflix.com)
Group I:
Bend it Like Beckham (2002) PG-13
An ardent fan of British soccer sensation David Beckham, Jess (Parminder K. Nagra) wants nothing more than to be on the field. But a proper Indian girl shouldn't be spending her time playing soccer -- or at least that's what her family thinks. Jess has the talent to play on a local all-girl team, but her parents want her to be like her older sister, who cooks chapati like a pro and wants a traditional Indian wedding. Keira Knightley co-stars.
Bride and Prejudice (2004) PG-13
Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson and Anupam Kher star in this joyous musical about the Bakhsi family, who's celebrating the arrival of a British-born man, Mr. Balraj, who may be perfect husband material for one the Bakhsis' four unmarried daughters. Maya, Lucky, Jaya and, most especially, their eldest, Lalita (Rai) are his for the taking. But Lalita refuses to marry someone handpicked for her, choosing to believe in true love instead
End of the Spear (2006) PG-13
Many years after his missionary father was speared to death at the hands of Waodani tribesmen, a young man (Chad Allen) returns to the Ecuadorian jungle to meet the native (Louie Leonardo) who murdered his father and learn the truth about his family's legacy. The result, in this film based on a true story, is a life-altering experience that brings him closer to the kin of his father's killer and impacts both of their lives forever.
My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding (2002) PG
Screenwriter Nia Vardalos also stars as Toula Portokalos, a single Greek woman who falls in love with a non-Greek (John Corbett), which is a no-no for members of her strict family -- particularly her traditional father (Michael Constantine), whose Greek pride knows no bounds. Andrea Martin shines in a hilarious supporting turn as Toula's aunt, who tries her best to charm Toula's fiancé (who's a vegetarian to boot!) with her delicious lamb
Rabbit Proof Fence (2002) PG
Australia's aboriginal integration program of the 1930s broke countless hearts -- among them, those of young Molly (Evelyn Sampi), Gracie (Laura Monaghan) and Daisy (Tianna Sansbury), who were torn from their families and placed in an abusive orphanage. Without food or water, the girls resolve to make the 1,500-mile trek home. Meanwhile, a well-intentioned tracker is trying to return the girls to the authorities.
Hotel Rwanda * (2005) PG-13
Amid the holocaust of internecine tribal fighting in Rwanda that sees the savage butchering of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, one ordinary hotel manager (Oscar nominee Don Cheadle) musters the courage to save more than 1,000 helpless refugees. Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix co-star in this powerful film -- often described as an African Schindler's List -- directed by Terry George.
Whale Rider (2003) PG-13
A Maori tribe must contend with the distinctly nontraditional concept of having a female leader when the intended heir to the throne dies during childbirth, leaving his twin sister, Paikea (Keisha Castle-Hughes), to prove herself. Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis and Grant Roa also star in this inspiring coming-of-age tale, which earned the then-13-year-old Castle-Hughes an Oscar nomination.
The Namesake (2006) PG-13
Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn) is torn between his parents' (Irrfan Khan and Tabu) Indian traditions and his decidedly modern lifestyle, and frankly prefers for his friends to call him "Nick." But the true meaning of his name is a story that spans two continents -- and two generations. Based on Jhumpa Lahiri's best-selling novel, Mira Nair's coming-of-age drama explores first-generation Americans' delicate dance between culture and identity.
Outsourced (2006) PG-13
When his department is outsourced to India, customer call center manager Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) heads to Mumbai to train his successor (Asif Basra), and amusing culture clashes ensue as Anderson tries to explain American business practices to the befuddled new employees. In the process, he learns important lessons about globalization -- and life. Ayesha Dharker and Matt Smith also star in director John Jeffcoat's cross-cultural comedy.
Lost Boys of Sudan (2003) NR
As orphans living in the midst of civil war, Peter and Santino dealt with dangers like lion attacks and gunfire from militia. But even more daunting are the challenges they face in suburbia after they're chosen to start a new life in America. Megan Mylan and Jon Shenk direct this award-winning documentary that follows two Sudanese refugees throughout their intense journey from their native Africa to the United States
God Grew Tired of Us (2006) NR
After raising themselves in the desert along with thousands of other "lost boys," Sudanese refugees John, Daniel and Panther have found their way to America, where they experience electricity, running water and supermarkets for the first time. Capturing their wonder at things Westerners take for granted, this documentary, an award winner at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, paints an intimate portrait of strangers in a strange land
Beyond Belief (2006) NR
Two strangers, Patti Quigley and Susan Retik, formed a common bond in their grief when both lost their husbands on Sept. 11, 2001. This documentary chronicles how the two coped with their unimaginable loss, traveling to Afghanistan to meet women there who were also widowed by violence. Director Beth Murphy follows Quigley and Retik as they discover that they share a kinship with their Middle Eastern counterparts, even though they're worlds apart.
Gran Torino (2008) R
Curmudgeonly Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood, who also directs) must confront his Hmong immigrant neighbors -- and his own long-held prejudices -- when the family's teenage son, Thao (Bee Vang), tries to steal Walt's beloved 1972 Gran Torino. Walt soon assumes the unlikely role of guardian angel to young Thao and his sister Sue (Ahney Her), both of whom are vulnerable to local gang influences
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance (1983) NR
Koyaanisqatsi, which marks Godfrey Reggio's debut as a film director and producer, is the first installment of the Qatsi trilogy. The title is a Hopi Indian word meaning "life out of balance." Created between 1975 and 1982, the film is an apocalyptic vision of the collision of two different worlds -- urban life and technology versus the environment. Philip Glass composed the film's musical score.
Amreeka (2009) PG-13
Eager to provide a better future for her son, Fadi (Melkar Muallem), divorcée Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) leaves her Palestinian homeland and takes up residence in rural Illinois -- just in time to encounter the domestic repercussions of America's disastrous war in Iraq. Now, the duo must reinvent their lives with some help from Muna's sister, Raghda (Hiam Abbass), and brother-in-law, Nabeel (Yussuf Abu-Warda). Cherien Dabis writes and directs
Good Hair (2009) PG-13
Actor and stand-up comic Chris Rock hops around the world going from beauty salons to science labs to comb through the mystery of African American hair in director Jeff Stilson's astute, hilarious documentary. Rock contemplates the purpose and application of a weave as well as women's self-esteem and their locks. He also gains varying insights from Ice-T, Nia Long, Rev. Al Sharpton, Raven-Symoné, Maya Angelou and other celebrities
Mardi Gras: Made in China (2005) NR
Each year, drunken revelers at Mardi Gras flash a little skin at parade floats and at the crowd in exchange for beads. But the streets of New Orleans couldn't be farther from the Chinese factory where the beads are made. David Redmon's documentary juxtaposes the excess of Carnival against the reality of workers who string 12 necklaces to earn one
Babies (2010) PG
Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures everything from first screaming breaths to first steps.
Group II:
Dangerous Beauty (1998) R
Prevented from marrying her nobleman lover (Rufus Sewell) because of her commoner status, real-life historical heroine Veronica Franco (Catherine McCormack) is left with two choices: join a convent or become a courtesan. Following in mother's (Jacqueline Bisset) footsteps, she chooses the latter. Set in 16th-century Venice, this biographical drama follows Franco as she rises to power and fearlessly fights off accusations of witchcraft.
Kandahar (2001) NR
Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf lenses this haunting drama that was shot during the Taliban era. The movie follows an Afghani-Canadian woman as she attempts to enter Afghanistan in search of her depressed sister. Since it's illegal for a woman to travel alone in Afghanistan, she must rely on the kindness of strangers, including a scrappy boy and a mysterious American doctor.
Osama (2003) PG-13
This stunning film, the first to be made in a post-Taliban Afghanistan and inspired by a newspaper account read by director Siddiq Barmak, recounts the efforts of a family of women to survive under an oppressive regime.
To eke out a meager living, they dress up their 12-year-old girl, Osama, as a boy so she can work. A talented cast of non-actors -- including Marina Golbahari and Zubaida Sahar -- adds integrity to the heartbreaking story.
Transamerica (2005) R
Bree (Felicity Huffman) gets the shock of her life a week before her final sex change surgery when she discovers a son she didn't know she had. After bailing him out of jail, the two set out on a cross-country journey riddled with road bumps. Huffman won numerous awards (and an Oscar nomination) for her role as a man longing to be a woman.
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) PG-13
When 9-year-old Chiyo is sold to a Kyoto geisha house, she endures harsh treatment from the owners and the haughty head geisha, Hatsumomo -- who's envious of Chiyo's stunning beauty -- only to be rescued by Hatsumomo's rival. Chiyo blooms in her role as a geisha, but World War II threatens to change her privileged life forever. Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh and Li Gong star in this Oscar-winning period drama based on Arthur Golden's …show more content…
novel.
Born into Brothels (2004) R
British filmmaker Zana Briski's Oscar-winning documentary is a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in Calcutta's red-light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes to ensure their survival. Spurred by the kids' fascination with her camera, Briski decides to teach them photography. As they begin to look at and record their world through new eyes, the kids awaken to their own talents and sense of worth.
Water (2005) PG-13
After losing her husband to illness, 8-year-old Chuyia (Sarala) is forced to live out the rest of her days in a temple for Hindu widows, communing with 14 other women and a cruel headmistress who agrees to take her in. But it's through the trials of another widow, a beautiful prostitute named Kalyani (Lisa Ray) who's being courted by a man from a higher caste (John Abraham), that Chuyia learns the true restrictions of widowhood.
The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008) R *
Set in 1986 Iran at the start of Khomeini's reign, director Cyrus Nowrasteh's drama tells the true story of Soraya (Mozhan Marnò), whose husband plots to have her falsely accused of adultery so he can divorce her and marry a young girl. French journalist Freidoune (Jim Caviezel) is pulled into Soraya's tragic story when he meets a desperate woman named Zahra (Shohreh Aghdashloo).
Dil Bole Hadippa! (2009) NR-Bollywood
To fulfill her dream of playing cricket professionally, spirited Veera disguises herself as a man and tries out for a struggling team. But while Veera makes a splash on the field, her crush on the squad's handsome captain may jeopardize her plan.
Group III:
Monsoon Wedding (2001) R
As the monsoon rains loom in director Mira Nair's romantic drama, Lalit Verma (Naseeruddin Shah) and his extended family reunite for the last-minute arranged marriage of his daughter Aiditi (Vasundhara Das) in New Delhi. But long-guarded secrets threaten to tear the family apart. As wedding preparations proceed, five stories intersect, highlighting different aspects of love and crossing boundaries of class and continent.
Devil’s Playground (2002) NR
When Amish teens turn 16, they have the opportunity to venture out in the "Devil's Playground" (the Amish's term for the outside world) and indulge in 21st-century vices such as drinking and smoking -- a period called "Rumspringa." This documentary tracks 18-year-old Faron's struggle to reconcile his drug addiction with his deeply ingrained desire to live his parents' Amish life. But ultimately, committing to the church will be his decision.
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) R
This foreign-language drama tells the incredible true story of a 23-year-old medical student from Argentina -- future revolutionary Che Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) -- who motorcycled across South America with his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) beginning in 1951.
Walter Salles's film is based on Guevara's diaries of the trek, a deeply personal odyssey that ultimately crystallized the young man's budding political beliefs.
Quinceañera (2006) R
This sensitive coming-of-age drama, a 2006 Sundance Film Festival award winner, tells the story of Magdalena (Emily Rios), who, on the brink of her 15th birthday, finds her comfortable existence shattered by the discovery that she's pregnant. Cast out by her parents, the once-privileged teen finds safe haven with a great-granduncle and a gay cousin (Jesse Garcia), who introduce her to a world far different from her gentrified middle-class life.
3 Idiots (2009) NR- Bollywood While attending one of India's premier colleges, miserable engineering students and best friends Rancho (Aamir Khan), Farhan (Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman Joshi) struggle to beat their school's draconian system, which, in their eyes, unfairly values grades over creativity. Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat's best-selling novel Five Point Someone, this entertaining Bollywood comedy also stars Kareena Kapoor and Boman
Irani.
Group IV: Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) NR
Distracted by their complicated love lives and secret ambitions, three adult sisters reluctantly humor their widower father (Sihung Lung) by enduring the elaborate, traditional Taiwanese dinners he insists on having every Sunday. Ang Lee directs this charming tale that humorously examines the clash between modernity and tradition within the contemporary Taiwanese family. Yu-Wen Wang, Chien-lien Wu and Kuei-Mei Yang co-star.
Like Water for Chocolate (1992) R Passionate Tita (Lumi Cavazos) is in love with Pedro (Marco Leonardi), but her controlling mother (Regina Torné) forbids her from marrying him. So when Pedro marries her sister, Tita throws herself into her cooking -- and discovers she can transfer her emotions through the food she prepares. A feast for the senses, this magical romance from director Alfonso Arau was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and a Golden Globe.
Babette’s Feast (1987) G
Philippa (Hanne Stensgaard) and Martina (Vibeke Hastrup ) turn down a chance to leave their Danish town, instead staying to care for their pastor father and his small church. Thirty-five years later, a French woman (Stéphane Audran) seeks refuge, and Philippa and Martina (now Bodil Kjer and Birgitte Federspie) take her in. The feast the woman prepares in gratitude is eclipsed only by her secret in director Gabriel Axel's Oscar-winning drama.
Chocolat (2000) PG-13
Blown in by the north wind, an iconoclastic single mother (Oscar nominee Juliette Binoche) and her young daughter move into a peaceful French village and open an uncommon chocolate shop during the height of Lent -- directly across the street from a church. At first, the shop's rich, sensuous desserts scandalize the town. But the villagers (including Judi Dench, Lena Olin and Johnny Depp) soon learn to savor the sweetness.
Group V:
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring (2004) R
Under the vigilant eyes of Old Monk (Yeong-su Oh), Child Monk (Jong-ho Kim) learns a hard lesson about the nature of sorrow when his childish games turn cruel in a story that's divided into five segments, with each season representing a stage in a man's life. This exquisitely filmed drama directed by Ki-duk Kim is entirely set on and around a tree-lined lake, where a tiny Buddhist monastery floats on a raft amidst a breathtaking landscape.
Promises (2001) NR
Documentarians Justine Shapiro and B.Z. Goldberg traveled to Israel to interview Palestinian and Israeli kids ages 11 to 13, assembling their views on living in a society afflicted with violence, separatism and religious and political extremism. This 2002 Oscar nominee for Best Feature Documentary culminates in an astonishing day in which two Israeli children meet Palestinian youngsters at a refugee camp.
Baraka (1992) NR
Shot in 24 countries on 70mm film, this mesmerizing visual study conveys the relationship between humans and the environment, with images ranging from the daily devotions of Tibetan monks to time-lapse views of the Hong Kong skyline. Accompanied by diverse world music -- without narration or dialogue -- the scenes capture nature's glory as well as its destruction, all expertly photographed by director and cinematographer Ron Fricke.
Darshan: The Embrace (2006) NR
Known the world over as "the hugging saint," Mata Amritanandamayi Devi -- or Amma, as the masses call her -- shares her world and vision with Dutch documentarian Jan Kounen in this inspiring film. Following the famous mahatma across India -- from Jaipur to Calcutta via Benares -- Darshan places the spotlight on Amma's charitable work while providing a window into the mystical and logistical necessities of running a large-scale spiritual "tour."
Arranged (2007) NR
When Rochel (Zoe Lister Jones) and Nasira (Francis Benhamou) -- an Orthodox Jew and a Muslim, respectively -- meet as new teachers at a Brooklyn school, co-workers and students expect friction. But the women discover they have a shared expectation of entering into arranged marriages. As they experience tension between their traditional cultures and life in contemporary America, Rochel and Nasira form a special bond.
*This title may have disturbing and/or violent images- view with caution.
You can choose up to 6 films (3 points each) to view and prepare a short (1-2 pages, typed, black ink, 12 pt. font, double spaced) paper discussing the film. You may want to choose one film from each group but that is not required. Please include the time of the class you are enrolled in and staple your papers. I will not accept emailed extra credit.
For your write up: * Identify the anthropological topic or subject of the film. What do you think is the topic film group? For example, does this film expose issues of gender inequality? Religious intolerance? Ethnocentric attitudes? In other words, why do you think I chose these particular films? How do they …show more content…
relate to class topics? Do not summarize the films but review them with an anthropological perspective.
* Include your own opinions when writing about your selections and comment on whether you experience any ethnocentrism and/or culture shock in the subjects you encounter. What is your reaction to some of the topics and some of the extreme ethnocentrisms that are portrayed?
You can find these titles in most Blockbuster Video stores, Netflix or in reserve in the LRC (ask at the check-in counter in the BEACH.) Several of these titles will be in the foreign film section and have subtitles. If you prefer not to read when you watch movies, do not choose the foreign titles. (Please note descriptions for films were obtained on Netflix.com)
Group I:
Bend it Like Beckham (2002) PG-13
An ardent fan of British soccer sensation David Beckham, Jess (Parminder K. Nagra) wants nothing more than to be on the field. But a proper Indian girl shouldn't be spending her time playing soccer -- or at least that's what her family thinks. Jess has the talent to play on a local all-girl team, but her parents want her to be like her older sister, who cooks chapati like a pro and wants a traditional Indian wedding. Keira Knightley co-stars.
Bride and Prejudice (2004) PG-13
Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson and Anupam Kher star in this joyous musical about the Bakhsi family, who's celebrating the arrival of a British-born man, Mr. Balraj, who may be perfect husband material for one the Bakhsis' four unmarried daughters. Maya, Lucky, Jaya and, most especially, their eldest, Lalita (Rai) are his for the taking. But Lalita refuses to marry someone handpicked for her, choosing to believe in true love instead
End of the Spear (2006) PG-13
Many years after his missionary father was speared to death at the hands of Waodani tribesmen, a young man (Chad Allen) returns to the Ecuadorian jungle to meet the native (Louie Leonardo) who murdered his father and learn the truth about his family's legacy. The result, in this film based on a true story, is a life-altering experience that brings him closer to the kin of his father's killer and impacts both of their lives forever.
My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding (2002) PG
Screenwriter Nia Vardalos also stars as Toula Portokalos, a single Greek woman who falls in love with a non-Greek (John Corbett), which is a no-no for members of her strict family -- particularly her traditional father (Michael Constantine), whose Greek pride knows no bounds. Andrea Martin shines in a hilarious supporting turn as Toula's aunt, who tries her best to charm Toula's fiancé (who's a vegetarian to boot!) with her delicious lamb
Rabbit Proof Fence (2002) PG
Australia's aboriginal integration program of the 1930s broke countless hearts -- among them, those of young Molly (Evelyn Sampi), Gracie (Laura Monaghan) and Daisy (Tianna Sansbury), who were torn from their families and placed in an abusive orphanage. Without food or water, the girls resolve to make the 1,500-mile trek home. Meanwhile, a well-intentioned tracker is trying to return the girls to the authorities.
Hotel Rwanda * (2005) PG-13
Amid the holocaust of internecine tribal fighting in Rwanda that sees the savage butchering of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, one ordinary hotel manager (Oscar nominee Don Cheadle) musters the courage to save more than 1,000 helpless refugees. Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix co-star in this powerful film -- often described as an African Schindler's List -- directed by Terry George.
Whale Rider (2003) PG-13
A Maori tribe must contend with the distinctly nontraditional concept of having a female leader when the intended heir to the throne dies during childbirth, leaving his twin sister, Paikea (Keisha Castle-Hughes), to prove herself. Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis and Grant Roa also star in this inspiring coming-of-age tale, which earned the then-13-year-old Castle-Hughes an Oscar nomination.
The Namesake (2006) PG-13
Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn) is torn between his parents' (Irrfan Khan and Tabu) Indian traditions and his decidedly modern lifestyle, and frankly prefers for his friends to call him "Nick." But the true meaning of his name is a story that spans two continents -- and two generations. Based on Jhumpa Lahiri's best-selling novel, Mira Nair's coming-of-age drama explores first-generation Americans' delicate dance between culture and identity.
Outsourced (2006) PG-13
When his department is outsourced to India, customer call center manager Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) heads to Mumbai to train his successor (Asif Basra), and amusing culture clashes ensue as Anderson tries to explain American business practices to the befuddled new employees. In the process, he learns important lessons about globalization -- and life. Ayesha Dharker and Matt Smith also star in director John Jeffcoat's cross-cultural comedy.
Lost Boys of Sudan (2003) NR
As orphans living in the midst of civil war, Peter and Santino dealt with dangers like lion attacks and gunfire from militia. But even more daunting are the challenges they face in suburbia after they're chosen to start a new life in America. Megan Mylan and Jon Shenk direct this award-winning documentary that follows two Sudanese refugees throughout their intense journey from their native Africa to the United States
God Grew Tired of Us (2006) NR
After raising themselves in the desert along with thousands of other "lost boys," Sudanese refugees John, Daniel and Panther have found their way to America, where they experience electricity, running water and supermarkets for the first time. Capturing their wonder at things Westerners take for granted, this documentary, an award winner at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, paints an intimate portrait of strangers in a strange land
Beyond Belief (2006) NR
Two strangers, Patti Quigley and Susan Retik, formed a common bond in their grief when both lost their husbands on Sept. 11, 2001. This documentary chronicles how the two coped with their unimaginable loss, traveling to Afghanistan to meet women there who were also widowed by violence. Director Beth Murphy follows Quigley and Retik as they discover that they share a kinship with their Middle Eastern counterparts, even though they're worlds apart.
Gran Torino (2008) R
Curmudgeonly Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood, who also directs) must confront his Hmong immigrant neighbors -- and his own long-held prejudices -- when the family's teenage son, Thao (Bee Vang), tries to steal Walt's beloved 1972 Gran Torino. Walt soon assumes the unlikely role of guardian angel to young Thao and his sister Sue (Ahney Her), both of whom are vulnerable to local gang influences
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance (1983) NR
Koyaanisqatsi, which marks Godfrey Reggio's debut as a film director and producer, is the first installment of the Qatsi trilogy. The title is a Hopi Indian word meaning "life out of balance." Created between 1975 and 1982, the film is an apocalyptic vision of the collision of two different worlds -- urban life and technology versus the environment. Philip Glass composed the film's musical score.
Amreeka (2009) PG-13
Eager to provide a better future for her son, Fadi (Melkar Muallem), divorcée Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) leaves her Palestinian homeland and takes up residence in rural Illinois -- just in time to encounter the domestic repercussions of America's disastrous war in Iraq. Now, the duo must reinvent their lives with some help from Muna's sister, Raghda (Hiam Abbass), and brother-in-law, Nabeel (Yussuf Abu-Warda). Cherien Dabis writes and directs
Good Hair (2009) PG-13
Actor and stand-up comic Chris Rock hops around the world going from beauty salons to science labs to comb through the mystery of African American hair in director Jeff Stilson's astute, hilarious documentary. Rock contemplates the purpose and application of a weave as well as women's self-esteem and their locks. He also gains varying insights from Ice-T, Nia Long, Rev. Al Sharpton, Raven-Symoné, Maya Angelou and other celebrities
Mardi Gras: Made in China (2005) NR
Each year, drunken revelers at Mardi Gras flash a little skin at parade floats and at the crowd in exchange for beads. But the streets of New Orleans couldn't be farther from the Chinese factory where the beads are made. David Redmon's documentary juxtaposes the excess of Carnival against the reality of workers who string 12 necklaces to earn one
Babies (2010) PG
Documentary filmmaker Thomas Balmes charts the simultaneous early development of four babies from different parts of the world, illustrating what makes human life unique, similar and precious wherever it occurs. Training his camera on newborns Hattie from San Francisco, Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia and Mari from Tokyo, Balmes captures everything from first screaming breaths to first steps.
Group II:
Dangerous Beauty (1998) R
Prevented from marrying her nobleman lover (Rufus Sewell) because of her commoner status, real-life historical heroine Veronica Franco (Catherine McCormack) is left with two choices: join a convent or become a courtesan. Following in mother's (Jacqueline Bisset) footsteps, she chooses the latter. Set in 16th-century Venice, this biographical drama follows Franco as she rises to power and fearlessly fights off accusations of witchcraft.
Kandahar (2001) NR
Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf lenses this haunting drama that was shot during the Taliban era. The movie follows an Afghani-Canadian woman as she attempts to enter Afghanistan in search of her depressed sister. Since it's illegal for a woman to travel alone in Afghanistan, she must rely on the kindness of strangers, including a scrappy boy and a mysterious American doctor.
Osama (2003) PG-13
This stunning film, the first to be made in a post-Taliban Afghanistan and inspired by a newspaper account read by director Siddiq Barmak, recounts the efforts of a family of women to survive under an oppressive regime.
To eke out a meager living, they dress up their 12-year-old girl, Osama, as a boy so she can work. A talented cast of non-actors -- including Marina Golbahari and Zubaida Sahar -- adds integrity to the heartbreaking story.
Transamerica (2005) R
Bree (Felicity Huffman) gets the shock of her life a week before her final sex change surgery when she discovers a son she didn't know she had. After bailing him out of jail, the two set out on a cross-country journey riddled with road bumps. Huffman won numerous awards (and an Oscar nomination) for her role as a man longing to be a woman.
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) PG-13
When 9-year-old Chiyo is sold to a Kyoto geisha house, she endures harsh treatment from the owners and the haughty head geisha, Hatsumomo -- who's envious of Chiyo's stunning beauty -- only to be rescued by Hatsumomo's rival. Chiyo blooms in her role as a geisha, but World War II threatens to change her privileged life forever. Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh and Li Gong star in this Oscar-winning period drama based on Arthur Golden's …show more content…
novel.
Born into Brothels (2004) R
British filmmaker Zana Briski's Oscar-winning documentary is a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in Calcutta's red-light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes to ensure their survival. Spurred by the kids' fascination with her camera, Briski decides to teach them photography. As they begin to look at and record their world through new eyes, the kids awaken to their own talents and sense of worth.
Water (2005) PG-13
After losing her husband to illness, 8-year-old Chuyia (Sarala) is forced to live out the rest of her days in a temple for Hindu widows, communing with 14 other women and a cruel headmistress who agrees to take her in. But it's through the trials of another widow, a beautiful prostitute named Kalyani (Lisa Ray) who's being courted by a man from a higher caste (John Abraham), that Chuyia learns the true restrictions of widowhood.
The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008) R *
Set in 1986 Iran at the start of Khomeini's reign, director Cyrus Nowrasteh's drama tells the true story of Soraya (Mozhan Marnò), whose husband plots to have her falsely accused of adultery so he can divorce her and marry a young girl. French journalist Freidoune (Jim Caviezel) is pulled into Soraya's tragic story when he meets a desperate woman named Zahra (Shohreh Aghdashloo).
Dil Bole Hadippa! (2009) NR-Bollywood
To fulfill her dream of playing cricket professionally, spirited Veera disguises herself as a man and tries out for a struggling team. But while Veera makes a splash on the field, her crush on the squad's handsome captain may jeopardize her plan.
Group III:
Monsoon Wedding (2001) R
As the monsoon rains loom in director Mira Nair's romantic drama, Lalit Verma (Naseeruddin Shah) and his extended family reunite for the last-minute arranged marriage of his daughter Aiditi (Vasundhara Das) in New Delhi. But long-guarded secrets threaten to tear the family apart. As wedding preparations proceed, five stories intersect, highlighting different aspects of love and crossing boundaries of class and continent.
Devil’s Playground (2002) NR
When Amish teens turn 16, they have the opportunity to venture out in the "Devil's Playground" (the Amish's term for the outside world) and indulge in 21st-century vices such as drinking and smoking -- a period called "Rumspringa." This documentary tracks 18-year-old Faron's struggle to reconcile his drug addiction with his deeply ingrained desire to live his parents' Amish life. But ultimately, committing to the church will be his decision.
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) R
This foreign-language drama tells the incredible true story of a 23-year-old medical student from Argentina -- future revolutionary Che Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) -- who motorcycled across South America with his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) beginning in 1951.
Walter Salles's film is based on Guevara's diaries of the trek, a deeply personal odyssey that ultimately crystallized the young man's budding political beliefs.
Quinceañera (2006) R
This sensitive coming-of-age drama, a 2006 Sundance Film Festival award winner, tells the story of Magdalena (Emily Rios), who, on the brink of her 15th birthday, finds her comfortable existence shattered by the discovery that she's pregnant. Cast out by her parents, the once-privileged teen finds safe haven with a great-granduncle and a gay cousin (Jesse Garcia), who introduce her to a world far different from her gentrified middle-class life.
3 Idiots (2009) NR- Bollywood While attending one of India's premier colleges, miserable engineering students and best friends Rancho (Aamir Khan), Farhan (Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman Joshi) struggle to beat their school's draconian system, which, in their eyes, unfairly values grades over creativity. Loosely based on Chetan Bhagat's best-selling novel Five Point Someone, this entertaining Bollywood comedy also stars Kareena Kapoor and Boman
Irani.
Group IV: Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) NR
Distracted by their complicated love lives and secret ambitions, three adult sisters reluctantly humor their widower father (Sihung Lung) by enduring the elaborate, traditional Taiwanese dinners he insists on having every Sunday. Ang Lee directs this charming tale that humorously examines the clash between modernity and tradition within the contemporary Taiwanese family. Yu-Wen Wang, Chien-lien Wu and Kuei-Mei Yang co-star.
Like Water for Chocolate (1992) R Passionate Tita (Lumi Cavazos) is in love with Pedro (Marco Leonardi), but her controlling mother (Regina Torné) forbids her from marrying him. So when Pedro marries her sister, Tita throws herself into her cooking -- and discovers she can transfer her emotions through the food she prepares. A feast for the senses, this magical romance from director Alfonso Arau was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and a Golden Globe.
Babette’s Feast (1987) G
Philippa (Hanne Stensgaard) and Martina (Vibeke Hastrup ) turn down a chance to leave their Danish town, instead staying to care for their pastor father and his small church. Thirty-five years later, a French woman (Stéphane Audran) seeks refuge, and Philippa and Martina (now Bodil Kjer and Birgitte Federspie) take her in. The feast the woman prepares in gratitude is eclipsed only by her secret in director Gabriel Axel's Oscar-winning drama.
Chocolat (2000) PG-13
Blown in by the north wind, an iconoclastic single mother (Oscar nominee Juliette Binoche) and her young daughter move into a peaceful French village and open an uncommon chocolate shop during the height of Lent -- directly across the street from a church. At first, the shop's rich, sensuous desserts scandalize the town. But the villagers (including Judi Dench, Lena Olin and Johnny Depp) soon learn to savor the sweetness.
Group V:
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring (2004) R
Under the vigilant eyes of Old Monk (Yeong-su Oh), Child Monk (Jong-ho Kim) learns a hard lesson about the nature of sorrow when his childish games turn cruel in a story that's divided into five segments, with each season representing a stage in a man's life. This exquisitely filmed drama directed by Ki-duk Kim is entirely set on and around a tree-lined lake, where a tiny Buddhist monastery floats on a raft amidst a breathtaking landscape.
Promises (2001) NR
Documentarians Justine Shapiro and B.Z. Goldberg traveled to Israel to interview Palestinian and Israeli kids ages 11 to 13, assembling their views on living in a society afflicted with violence, separatism and religious and political extremism. This 2002 Oscar nominee for Best Feature Documentary culminates in an astonishing day in which two Israeli children meet Palestinian youngsters at a refugee camp.
Baraka (1992) NR
Shot in 24 countries on 70mm film, this mesmerizing visual study conveys the relationship between humans and the environment, with images ranging from the daily devotions of Tibetan monks to time-lapse views of the Hong Kong skyline. Accompanied by diverse world music -- without narration or dialogue -- the scenes capture nature's glory as well as its destruction, all expertly photographed by director and cinematographer Ron Fricke.
Darshan: The Embrace (2006) NR
Known the world over as "the hugging saint," Mata Amritanandamayi Devi -- or Amma, as the masses call her -- shares her world and vision with Dutch documentarian Jan Kounen in this inspiring film. Following the famous mahatma across India -- from Jaipur to Calcutta via Benares -- Darshan places the spotlight on Amma's charitable work while providing a window into the mystical and logistical necessities of running a large-scale spiritual "tour."
Arranged (2007) NR
When Rochel (Zoe Lister Jones) and Nasira (Francis Benhamou) -- an Orthodox Jew and a Muslim, respectively -- meet as new teachers at a Brooklyn school, co-workers and students expect friction. But the women discover they have a shared expectation of entering into arranged marriages. As they experience tension between their traditional cultures and life in contemporary America, Rochel and Nasira form a special bond.
*This title may have disturbing and/or violent images- view with caution.